Farewell, My Lunchbag: A Chet Gecko Mystery

Chet Gecko Mystery #3

by Bruce Hale

Danger may be Chet Gecko's business, but dessert is his delight. . . .
Chet Gecko's hunger for mystery is matched only by his appetite for cockroach casserole, mosquito marshmallow surprise, and stinkbug pie. So when the cafeteria needs help nabbing a food thief, Chet digs into the case with a passion he usually reserves only for dessert. But this time Chet may have bitten off more than even he can chew.
Someone has framed him, and now everyone at Emerson Hicky--even his trusted partner, Natalie Attired--thinks the food thief is none other than Chet!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Animals, Childrens, Juvenile, Fantasy

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

A serious book addict, Bruce wanted to be a children's book author since he was in 4th grade (right after he got over wanting to be a pirate, Tarzan, and Daniel Boone). Today he's the author-illustrator of over 70 seriously funny books for kids, so some dreams do come true.

The Malted Falcon, one of his Chet Gecko Mysteries series, was an Edgar Award finalist, and Murder, My Tweet won a Little D Award for Juvenile Humor Writing. Bruce has written everything from picture books and easy readers, to graphic novels and novels.

Bruce's recent Monstertown Mysteries series blends horror and humor, based on his childhood love of monster movies. His other series include Class Pets, about the secret lives of classroom pets, and the forthcoming Outerspace Mystery Pizza Club books, due in 2024.

A Fulbright Scholar (in Storytelling), Bruce is also a popular speaker, both in the U.S. and internationally. He lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and knuckleheaded dog Riley. When he's not writing or reading, you may find him hiking, kickboxing, or singing with a latin-jazz band called Mezcal Martini.

Reviews

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Chet Gecko Mystery" series has the intrepid fourth-grade gecko helping the lunchroom cook, an iguana, looking for the food thief that strikes after school. Chet and his sidekick, a mockingbird named Natalie Attired, look for clues, and discover a long snakeskin that appears in the bushes. Readers will figure out pretty quickly who the thief is, but not before Chet has been framed, unfairly accused, and sentenced to dishwashing duty in the lunchroom. The puns, hard-boiled detective conventions turned on their ears, funny similes, and snappy parley will entertain readers. And the things they might not know¾as when Chet tells Natalie that they will "case the joint". It's all good fun, although the animal teachers act. But the elementary school humor, the outrageous food like green sowbug jello, and details of school familiar to children, such as pecking order by grade level and lunchroom disasters, are all just right for middle elementary readers who enjoy a good laugh and a good story.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, silly, and enjoyable read. 3rd in the series, and Chet still makes me laugh. I can't help wondering just how much of the humor the kids reading these books will get. I find the humor to be very clever, but also very intellectual. Perhaps children go out to search why those things are funny. Or maybe these books are teaching them humor, and they're taking some of it to be funny, whether or not they understand it, and may some day figure out why certain things were funny. (I say this from personal experience.)

Either way, I'm still glad I recommend the books. Even if the kids don't get all of the humor, they cannot mistake the lightness of the book, watching Chet's adventures, and following along with an interesting mystery.

Oh yes. With this one, I listened to the audio. And Jon Cryer is a perfect narrator for Chet.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing of the Chet Gecko Mystery series is supposed to sound a bit like the old classic detective movies from the 1940s. I really enjoyed the style - it's got a ton of old movie language (like dame, scram, and legwork), really funny, interesting similes and idioms (like spill the beans and bend your ears). It has clever language, and it often gives good explanations for the idioms and turns of phrases, but it may be frustrating, especially for readers whose first language isn't English.

If you like the Bunnicula series, I think you'll like these mysteries.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chester the Gecko is hired by the head lunch lady to discover who is stealing food from the cafeteria but he ends up the main suspect. He knows he's been framed but how to prove it?

I love this series. I love the puns. Since he is a 4th grader, it sounds like Chester is a 1940's film noir PI narrator. He is so funny as are the pictures that pop into my mind when he says his lines. So much fun!

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chet Gecko has been retained by Mrs. Bagoong, the head cafeteria lady to find out who has been stealing food from Emerson Hicky cafeteria. Him and his mockingbird partner Natalie Attired take the case, but Chet soon finds himself framed for the thefts, and has to clear his name, and solve the case before his career as a detective, and reputation are ruined

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly acceptable filler YA. Pretty cute. Nothing special.

[Collin Hrenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

through out story I could not put it down

[Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

BANGER

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Chet Gecko Mystery by Bruce Hale. We've read a few of the books in this series (completely out of order) and both times our girls weren't quite ready for the word play and the style of the storytelling. I have waited a couple of years in between each book for our girls to be old enough to get the humor.

Finally, I think they understand at least most of the puns and the hard-boiled detective style of story. They really like the Ace Lacewing picture books, so they understand the concept and are ready for these chapter books.

This was an entertaining story, filled with drama and intrigue and the solution was very interesting, if a bit odd. The anthropomorphized characters are very humorous, and I love the name of Chet's partner, Natalie Attired. We enjoyed listening to Jon Cryer narrate this story on audio CD.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably my favorite of the Chet Gecko series--I had two copies and kept one at school and one under my bed with a flashlight. It was the first time I'd ever heard of someone being "framed" and I remember being so excited that I'd learned a new detective term. Also quite hillarious--I loved saying the name "Mrs. Bagoong"

[Mary Gulivindala · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son is going into fifth grade and had to read this over the summer. I love comedy and this book delivered for me as an adult reading a children's book. Bruce Hale has comedic one-liners throughout this book that are witty and visual! I will be going through it with a highlighter to reread these sentences for my own work as a humorist.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ryan and I are reading this mystery book for his class project. The gecko has a pretty funny sense of humor (for a reptile.) :)
Lots of groan-worthy puns, but definitely written at the kid level to appreciate them.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a real pleasure. Just as with the one I just read, this was funny and light while maintaining a plot that made me think twice on a couple of occasions. A real detective mystery pleaser! Highly recommended!

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This probably IS the best Chet Gecko book.

[Amy]

Currently reading for my step-daughter's book battle team.

[Jake Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of comedy

[Jayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I read it in fourth grade and absolutely adored every single chapter. I read them over and over again. I would recommend this to anyone with a sense of humor.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite series as a kid.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to figure this mystery out from looking ahead at the pictures in the book

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super corny and filled with bad puns! Some of the attempts to be funny kinda took away from the story though. I would def recommend this series for 2-5th graders!

[Malcolm Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

woah!

[Londell Jones]

This book is so intreging to me and i believe that if animals could talk they would be secret agents like Perry the platapus on Phineas and Ferb. But, i want to be a secret agent some day.

[Muhammad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an "old school" book... It uses the words the would use in the old movies... I think this is a good book and I would tell someone about this book if they have an interest in Mystery. :-]

[Luca · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was over dramatic but still awesome, man that giant cobra was ugly, but really, a giant worm, disgusting.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone is stealing the cafeteria food and it is up to Chet Gecko to find out what's happening to the cafeteria food.

[Krithi]

It is when food goes missing in the school.Chet Geck Private-Eye is on the mission, with his partner Natalie.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

M: This book is so funny. Super funny.

[Calder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars because of the cobra. I also like to story it's about.

[Candace Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for third grade kids! Great adventures !

[Laurie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read aloud book.