The Case of the Bug on the Run

First Kids #6

by Martha Freeman

First Kid Tessa loves pets, so when she finds out that a hissing cockroach at the National Zoo might meet a terrible fate, how can she resist adopting it? The rest of her family are not so thrilled, especially when the giant cockroach turns up missing. Did it escape? Or was it stolen? Who besides Tessa would want a cockroach? There is more to this bug than meets the eye in the sixth book about three mystery-loving kids (and one too-energetic dog) who live in the White House.

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Martha Freeman was born in Southern California in 1956. It is not actually true that pterodactyls ruled the skies then, but her three children believe this.

Martha graduated from Glenoaks Elementary, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and Glendale High School. Until Martha came along, Glendale High's most famous graduate was a fellow named Marion Michael Morrison. He later went into the film game and changed his name to John Wayne, which you might very well do, too, if you were a boy named Marion in unenlightened times. In 1978, Martha graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history. She remains Stanford's most illustrious graduate if not its most wealthy.
Stink Bomb Mom

Martha's First Book.

Martha worked as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, substitute teacher, college lecturer, advertising copywriter, and freelance magazine writer before she found her true calling as a writer of children's books in 1994. Her first book was "Stink Bomb Mom," now, tragically, out of print. She has since published 14 more books for children and as you read this, she is probably working on another one. Besides writing and visiting schools to talk to students, Martha teaches occasional classes at Penn State University, volunteers as an emergency medical technician, and works for a wonderful little company called Wall Street Communications. She is a very busy person.

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first daughters have a new pet. They have adopted a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. There are also a lot of guests in the White House. When the cockroach goes missing for a few hours the girls know they have a new case. Who would take their new pet? What does the kidnapper want? And why would they return it with a bug to spy on them? Cammie and Tessa are on the case. They make a list of suspects and start their investigation. Will they figure it out before too much mischief is caused in the White House?

This is a good series for beginning chapter book readers. There is a lot of action and mystery and it is written at a level new readers can understand. I like the mix of mystery, humor and information in the book. The author includes a section on protesting at the White House to explain what that can accomplish since there are political protesters in the book. My only complaint is something that has been included in the entire series and one that probably doesn't bother young readers. The kids always refer to "a nearby nation". Not sure if it is Canada or Mexico or what, but I find it frustrating that they don't just name the country.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sixth title in the First Kids Mystery series involves siblings Tessa and Cammie and their new pet, a hissing cockroach from Madagascar. Strangely, the cockroach disappears briefly and then reappears, and the President's security team detects signals coming from it. It's up to the girls to make a list of suspects and then narrow them down. Woven into the story are hilarious scenes with their exuberant dog and several rambunctious kittens that cause a mess at a White House gathering. Although being First Daughters can't be easy with all the attention that position brings, this book shows the fund side to the position. Readers may be surprised once the mystery is solved. I like the fact that the author has included notes on protests that have been held outside the White House for various reasons, a nice connection to the protesters in the book who wanted the cockroach to be freed.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book #6 in the A First Kids Mystery" series. Tessa and Cammie have a mother with an unusual job. She's President of the United States. That means that the girls live in the White House. Lots of strange things happen there, and they follow clues to solve mysteries. This book is all about pets. When the girls acquire a hissing cockroach from the National Zoo, and the bug is, quite literally, bugged, they are left to wonder who did it. The girls follow clues, find and eliminate suspects, and cope with both their kittens and dog who keep life exciting. This is a fun mystery that also informs young readers about places in our nation's capital. I'll admit I wasn't overly impressed when I first ran into this series, but they grow on you.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute little mystery - how did I not know of this series? Ordered the previous installments - students did a big White House lesson in the library this year and should enjoy the First Kids books. Love this line towards the end: "It's a shame when money and fame make people think they can get away with bad behavior."

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

When their pet cockroach disappears and then reappears wearing a tiny transmitter, seven-year-old Tessa and ten-year-old Cammie, daughters of the first female president, search for spies in the White House. Kids 2-4th grade will like this book, bugs, kids, White House, of yes, and a dog.

[Dawn Moews]

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