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Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers
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Packed with high stakes mystery and tons of heart, this first installment in a new series introduces Kazu Jones-a spunky, scrappy detective who's this generation's Harriet the Spy.
When a string of dognappings grips her Denver neighborhood, Kazu Jones vows to track down the culprits. She can't stand to see more dogs go missing-especially once her neighbors' beloved pet is t ...more
When a string of dognappings grips her Denver neighborhood, Kazu Jones vows to track down the culprits. She can't stand to see more dogs go missing-especially once her neighbors' beloved pet is t ...more
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What an amazing read! I read it with my 11 year old son and 9 year old daughter and we all loved it. It's fast paced, thoughtful, fun and insightful. My daughter absolutely loved the characters, especially Kazu. It's wonderful to read about kids who do things themselves, but the book strikes a nice balance between action and suspense without being scary. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, adventure and plucky heroines (and heroes) who take initiative and go get t
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Apr 08, 2020
Patrick
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Anyone.
Recommended to Patrick by:
my fiancé
Shelves:
mystery
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This was so good! It was engaging and suspenseful, and I loved all the characters. I had to take a break a few times to go play with my own dog.
I admit to being biased towards loving this book--for the fun name and the dog-centric storyline! But the story itself lived up to the name and the theme. Fun, delightful, and an easy way to engage a middle-grade reader. Thanks, Disney Books for sending an ARC my way for review!
The connection I have with this book brought back a lot of memories. 😭
I really liked it. While at times I thought it could maybe use a little more action, it really got my attention. I think it has a good balance between the mystery and the characters. Not only do they help solve a crime, but also learn and build friendships. It's a great read.
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I loved the premise of a Japanese American young female detective hit the plot had so many horrible pieces to it. The characters built didn’t match the decisions they made and the last scene where they hid in garbage cans was completely ridiculous, making no dang sense. I’m almost mad I spent time on this book.
I hate to be too negative about the GR community but there’s no way everyone on here read the story through the end and rated it 5 stars. I guarantee you they got an ARC from NetGalley and ...more
I hate to be too negative about the GR community but there’s no way everyone on here read the story through the end and rated it 5 stars. I guarantee you they got an ARC from NetGalley and ...more
KAZU JONES AND THE DENVER DOGNAPPERS was a blast. A hit-the-ground-running caper that I don't doubt middle-grade readers will enjoy. When Kazu's on the case, she simply cannot be stopped. And with the Denver dognapper on the loose, Kazu's the perfect detective for the job. With well-realized characters and non-stop sleuthing, KAZU is a ton of fun.
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Apr 24, 2019
Haley Renee The Caffeinated Reader
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
earcs,
read-to-levi
This was definitely a five star read, I read about half of it out loud with my daughter, and we'll continue to read it but I had to steam on ahead to finish for the review. She's patiently waiting to find out just exactly was the Denver Dognapper! Truthfully Shauna gave us a great diverse cast of characters, not just in a beautiful blend of different backgrounds but each character stood on their own. Kazu Jones is our spunky fifth-grade detective with her dog Genki and her best friend March who
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May 07, 2019
Elisquared
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
coming-of-age,
friendship,
owned,
multicultural,
family,
contemporary,
mystery,
crime,
middle-grade
A super cute and fun mystery from debut author Shauna Holyoak, Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers is book that evokes the Nancy Drew of old with a modern twist!
Kazu is a sleuth-in-training, keeping copious notes on the mysterious goings on in her suburban Denver neighborhood. With her best friend March, a hacker extraordinaire (for a fifth grader), she is always on the case! But when it comes to the string of dognappings plaguing the city, Kazu, and her group of friends, may be in over the hea ...more
Kazu is a sleuth-in-training, keeping copious notes on the mysterious goings on in her suburban Denver neighborhood. With her best friend March, a hacker extraordinaire (for a fifth grader), she is always on the case! But when it comes to the string of dognappings plaguing the city, Kazu, and her group of friends, may be in over the hea ...more
So, Kazu has a nose for sleuthing...and a penchant for jumping to conclusions. Well, all great detectives have to start SOMEWHERE, right? Right! This is how Kazu starts and while you might go into it thinking...okay, a few dogs will randomly disappear, she'll snoop a bit, find the pooches, and be the town hero...THINK AGAIN.
What starts off with a few fidos missing, turns into an all out hunt for the evilness that would dare take the neighborhood dogs from their loving owners. Thing is...it seems ...more
What starts off with a few fidos missing, turns into an all out hunt for the evilness that would dare take the neighborhood dogs from their loving owners. Thing is...it seems ...more
Feb 09, 2019
Sofiya Pasternack
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
kids who love mysteries!
Shelves:
novel19s
What I Liked
This is a very sweet book about a girl seeking the truth against all odds! Kazuko AKA Kazu begins the story with immediate action, and doesn't slow down until the very last page. The mystery of the dognappers is played out slowly so the reader has the chance to follow along and try their best to deduce alongside Kazu's deductions. Kazu is enterprising and hard-working, and even though she's nosy, she's easy to root for!
What I Would Have Liked to See
I thought most of Kazu's decisions ...more
This is a very sweet book about a girl seeking the truth against all odds! Kazuko AKA Kazu begins the story with immediate action, and doesn't slow down until the very last page. The mystery of the dognappers is played out slowly so the reader has the chance to follow along and try their best to deduce alongside Kazu's deductions. Kazu is enterprising and hard-working, and even though she's nosy, she's easy to root for!
What I Would Have Liked to See
I thought most of Kazu's decisions ...more
Such a great book! When Kazu Jones, detective extraordinaire, gets a lead on the Denver Dognappings case that is terrorizing her neighborhood, she can’t help but follow it. Especially when her rule-breaking is responsible for one of the missing jobs. A rag-tag team of detectives formed from kids whose flags were taken plus Kazu’s best friend follow the leads to figure out the mystery that is eluding the Denver police.
I loved the mystery and Kazu was a fun and interesting character. The combo of ...more
I loved the mystery and Kazu was a fun and interesting character. The combo of ...more
In this middle-grade series opener, eleven-year-old Japanese-American Kazuko, a spunky self-proclaimed detective who lives with her parents and dog, Genki, walks dogs, delivers newspapers, and does odd jobs for a neighbor in Denver, where dognapping is occurring. While walking the neighbor’s dog, Barkley, Kazu lets him off leash. Barkley runs away, and, when she can’t find him, she suspects he has been dognapped. Within the week, classmates CindeeRae and Madeleine have their dogs stolen, and her
...more
Japanese-American Kazu Jones is a student, a papergirl, a friend, a dogwalker, and a detective. Her parents have no problem with the first few items, but when dogs go missing in town and Kazu starts investigating, she breaks a few laws and puts herself and her friends in danger. Who is stealing the dogs? Where the dogs going? Things get tense when a dog she's walking disappears, and even tenser when her own dog becomes a victim. She's sure she knows who is involved. She even goes to the police w
...more
I am always looking for mysteries for middle grade readers, and I loved the premise of this book. I’m just afraid that this is going to give kids bad ideas… Truly the main characters put themselves into heaps of danger and repeatedly ignore the police and their parents. Sneaking into dangerous peoples houses? In real life, these kids would’ve been killed. And I do think it was quite convenient that the cops were never called when she located her missing dog in the first place yet they were calle
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Just when you think you know what's next, there's another fun twist! I loved this book and I loved Kazu. She's smart, tough and tender all in one. And, despite moments of despair, she never gives up trying to reunite all the missing dogs with their worried families. I immediately liked Kazu and rooted for her from beginning to end. I also found myself cheering for her best friend March, her loyal and loveable dog Genki, and all the well-developed characters who made their way from Shauna Holyoak
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Entertaining read! Took me back to the days when I read the hardy boys. The mystery is fun keeps you guessing who the dognapper is. I enjoyed the characters and how they worked together to solve the mystery. There is an element of suspense, especially at the end, kept me at the edge of my seat. It makes me wonder how I would react if I had kids putting themselves in similar danger. This is a great story to read with the kids. I'm excited to read the next book Kazu Jones and the Comic Book Crimin
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This fantastic new sleuth is one of my new favorite characters; she is full of spunk, courage, and independence. This middle grades novel will capture kids and suck them into Kazu's sleuthing adventures with her friends. Well-paced, this book has plenty of edge-of-your-seat action sprinkled with real life conflicts like growing up, navigating relationships with friends and parents, and knowing when to come clean with the truth. All of the characters are delightfully quirky and real. Both my 10 y
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I love stories where the MC is passionate about something—and Kazu Jones is passionate about sleuthing! So when the neighborhood dogs start going missing, of course she's on the case! Kazu is an energetic, spunky, sharp heroine. Along with her super-tidy, hacker best friend March and two new friends, Kazu follows the clues that lead her to the dognappers, and readers will be flipping pages as fast as they can to keep up with her adventures. I especially enjoyed the plot twists and Kazu's relatio
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Definitely is a mysterious book. Everything starts to piece it's self together. I would probably read this book over and over. Author did a great job writing this book and I can't wait to read some of her other books. I hope others enjoy this book if they read it too.
Kazu Jones personality was great for the books and her friends that helped her we're very helpful and all had different talents to help solve there goals. Hope that the author can make some other really good characters for her othe ...more
Kazu Jones personality was great for the books and her friends that helped her we're very helpful and all had different talents to help solve there goals. Hope that the author can make some other really good characters for her othe ...more
I really wanted to like this mystery, but I found myself getting more and more frustrated with Kazu and her poor choices. And while the lack of graphic violence makes this very appropriate for an elementary grade mystery, I felt like the fear of the dog-napping villains became overwrought. Still, this is an adequate option for students in grades 3-5 who devour mysteries. Review based on an ARC received through NetGalley.
A fast-paced mystery filled with twists and turns and four-legged friends in need! I absolutely loved Kazu. She's tough, smart, and determined. Her friends are delightfully quirky, but realistic and relatable--and at times the book takes a tender turn that makes you love it all the more. Kids and adults alike will have a wonderful time figuring out the mystery and sleuthing alongside a memorable cast!
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Middle graders are sure to love this book - and, no doubt, stay up WAY past their bedtimes to devour it. It's filled with gutsy, resourceful characters; unexpected friendships; vivid backdrops, like abandoned amusement parks; and clever, fun spy stuff like lock-picking and deciphering codes. What's not to love? Oh - and, did I mention, lots of dogs?
...more
This fast-paced MG mystery had me on the edge of my seat! With dogs disappearing all over town, canine-loving Kazu is on the job. Using her carefully honed detective skills, and making friends along the way, Kazu stops at nothing to bring the dognappers to justice. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs, mysteries, or plucky MG heroines.
Kazu is the new Nancy Drew. I love a good mystery and Kazu Jones did not disappoint. Her sleuthing skills are unstoppable. With a great mix of determination and loyalty, Kazu and her friends will stop at nothing to uncover the dog napping ring in their neighborhood. A great read for anyone who love MG and a good detective. The only thing I wanted was more! Can’t wait for her next adventure!
Kazu is a lovable character with a passion for sleuthing. The book is a page-turning adventure that keeps you guessing. There's a lot to love--the mystery, the relationships, the twists and turns--but my very favorite thing about this book is Kazu's relationship with her puppy, which read authentic, as did her connection to her parents and friends. A great read.
...more
My daughter and I both loved this book. There is something magical about being a detective and solving a mystery. I loved going with Kazu Jones on this adventure finding clues like receipts or drawing on a notepad to figure out the last message that was written. It was a delight to read and I can't wait to read the next book!
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I love the idea of a modern day Nancy Drew! My imagination worked just like Kazu’s and I can’t wait to introduce her to my students! This is a perfect addition to middle grade classrooms; especially for students who love adventure and suspense!
A fast-paced and nostalgia-inducing mystery with tons of heart and a wonderfully plucky MC. I could totally see Kazuko in her own Saturday morning cartoon, solving a new case every week. Already looking forward to the next installment in the series!
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Shauna has been telling stories long before she could ride a bike, and some of them are even true! She writes for kids and teens and thinks it’s kinda the best job ever. Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers is her debut novel, and it will be released on April 23, 2019! She lives in Idaho Falls, ID with her husband, six of their seven children, and two naughty dogs.
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“After he left, dad said he looked like a middle-aged Ron Weasley who abandoned wizardry for law enforcement." - March”
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“You can make anything sound dumb if you try hard enough." - Kazu”
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