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The Case of the Missing Lightning Bat: An Evan Sinclair Mystery
Life hasn’t been entirely fair to Evan Sinclair, or ‘Sissy Sinclair’ as most of his classmates like to call him, but now it’s seventh grade – and the universe owes him. A missing baseball bat, belonging to star player Jayden Stevens, provides him with the perfect chance to put his love of detective shows to good use. His objective? Find the lucky “lightning bat” and score himself a place with the most popular kids in school: The Untouchables.
However, just like in the TV shows, nothing goes according to plan. As Evan delves into the investigation, his personal life turns to shambles. His father’s overbearing nature and extreme religious devotion lengthen the rift between them, while Evan is still processing the loss of his mother. His grandmother, his BFF and an unexpected old friend are the only people he can count on to help him crack the case.
There are numerous suspects in Lincoln Middle School, but this mystery goes deeper, becoming even more complicated than anyone first thought. Is it just petty jealousy that has fueled this theft? Or is something more sinister going on behind the scenes of the baseball team? There’s one person who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth, even if that means confronting his own deep dark secret – it’s Evan Sinclair.
However, just like in the TV shows, nothing goes according to plan. As Evan delves into the investigation, his personal life turns to shambles. His father’s overbearing nature and extreme religious devotion lengthen the rift between them, while Evan is still processing the loss of his mother. His grandmother, his BFF and an unexpected old friend are the only people he can count on to help him crack the case.
There are numerous suspects in Lincoln Middle School, but this mystery goes deeper, becoming even more complicated than anyone first thought. Is it just petty jealousy that has fueled this theft? Or is something more sinister going on behind the scenes of the baseball team? There’s one person who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth, even if that means confronting his own deep dark secret – it’s Evan Sinclair.
- GenresLGBT
185 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 22, 2022
Gifted a signed copy as a recipient of Goodreads Giveaway.
Evan Sinclair feels like he's lost at sea, a social outcast among his peers and a seeming disappointment to his workaholic father. When the popular kid's famous 'lucky' bat goes missing, Evan sees his chance to finally change his social status and set himself up for his high school years. Years of studying detectives solve different mysteries leaves Evan feeling more than prepared to take on the challenge. That is, until more threads than he expected start to come unravelled. All his relationships are called into question the deeper he delves into the Case of the Missing Lightning Bat; will Evan have the strength to do what is right?
I loved this book because it really managed to develop an interesting mystery, rather than being fully taken over by the teenaged angst. That is a hard balance to strike in juvenile fiction, but Dr. Evans managed it. The mystery is on par with a juvenile reading level, but it did still manage to throw me off the track a few times, and I genuinely enjoyed following along with Evan and his many helpful Watsons. Evan learned some hard lessons throughout the story, but I really think he came out better for them in the end.
This is a mystery book, with a crack detective on the case. There are some marvelous references throughout, and a few fantastic twists and turns in the case that prove shocking. This is also an LGBTQ, Coming-of-Age story that puts our lead detective through an emotional ringer. At the precipice of great changes, Evan's quest for happiness leads him amiss, forcing him to question what he knows about his relationships, his morals, and his beliefs. For a black boy in the church loving state of Texas beginning to question his sexuality, there are some major questions that pop up.
I loved the representation visible in this book, accompanied by a truly engaging storyline. Queer people and people of color are more than their identities, and I appreciated that this book tried to bring those other facets in.
Evan Sinclair feels like he's lost at sea, a social outcast among his peers and a seeming disappointment to his workaholic father. When the popular kid's famous 'lucky' bat goes missing, Evan sees his chance to finally change his social status and set himself up for his high school years. Years of studying detectives solve different mysteries leaves Evan feeling more than prepared to take on the challenge. That is, until more threads than he expected start to come unravelled. All his relationships are called into question the deeper he delves into the Case of the Missing Lightning Bat; will Evan have the strength to do what is right?
I loved this book because it really managed to develop an interesting mystery, rather than being fully taken over by the teenaged angst. That is a hard balance to strike in juvenile fiction, but Dr. Evans managed it. The mystery is on par with a juvenile reading level, but it did still manage to throw me off the track a few times, and I genuinely enjoyed following along with Evan and his many helpful Watsons. Evan learned some hard lessons throughout the story, but I really think he came out better for them in the end.
This is a mystery book, with a crack detective on the case. There are some marvelous references throughout, and a few fantastic twists and turns in the case that prove shocking. This is also an LGBTQ, Coming-of-Age story that puts our lead detective through an emotional ringer. At the precipice of great changes, Evan's quest for happiness leads him amiss, forcing him to question what he knows about his relationships, his morals, and his beliefs. For a black boy in the church loving state of Texas beginning to question his sexuality, there are some major questions that pop up.
I loved the representation visible in this book, accompanied by a truly engaging storyline. Queer people and people of color are more than their identities, and I appreciated that this book tried to bring those other facets in.
March 22, 2022
No AR. For Middle Grades.
Evan Sinclair is on the precipice, and he is running out of time to tip the scales in his favor. After all, middle school only lasts for so long, and he needs to secure his popularity before high school runs around or he'll be stuck as 'Sissy Sinclair' for the rest of his life. When the popular kid's famous 'lucky' bat goes missing, Evan sees his chance to finally change his social status. Years of studying detectives solve different mysteries leaves Evan feeling more than prepared to take on the challenge. That is, until more threads than he expected start to come unravelled. All his relationships are called into question the deeper he delves into the Case of the Missing Lightning Bat; will Evan have the strength to do what is right?
I really enjoyed the mystery in this book and the way it unraveled in time with Evan's own realizations about his life and relationships. Some of the elements in the mystery and the characters seemed a bit fantastic, but it just made for an interesting read. Some of the elements felt all too real though, including the emotional ringer Evan is put through.
This is an LGBTQ, Coming-of-Age story. Evan's quest for happiness leads him amiss, forcing him to question what he knows about his relationships, his morals, and his beliefs. For a black boy in the church loving state of Texas beginning to question his sexuality, there are some major questions that pop up. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun mystery or is interested in seeing more positive representation in stories.
Evan Sinclair is on the precipice, and he is running out of time to tip the scales in his favor. After all, middle school only lasts for so long, and he needs to secure his popularity before high school runs around or he'll be stuck as 'Sissy Sinclair' for the rest of his life. When the popular kid's famous 'lucky' bat goes missing, Evan sees his chance to finally change his social status. Years of studying detectives solve different mysteries leaves Evan feeling more than prepared to take on the challenge. That is, until more threads than he expected start to come unravelled. All his relationships are called into question the deeper he delves into the Case of the Missing Lightning Bat; will Evan have the strength to do what is right?
I really enjoyed the mystery in this book and the way it unraveled in time with Evan's own realizations about his life and relationships. Some of the elements in the mystery and the characters seemed a bit fantastic, but it just made for an interesting read. Some of the elements felt all too real though, including the emotional ringer Evan is put through.
This is an LGBTQ, Coming-of-Age story. Evan's quest for happiness leads him amiss, forcing him to question what he knows about his relationships, his morals, and his beliefs. For a black boy in the church loving state of Texas beginning to question his sexuality, there are some major questions that pop up. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun mystery or is interested in seeing more positive representation in stories.
February 1, 2022
This was a really interesting read for me - it's always great to see LGBTQ+ representation in fiction, and The Case Of The Missing Lightning Bat certainly provided that, alongside a story which had many very in-depth, human characters, especially for middle-grade. There were times when I laughed - largely thanks to Big Momma - and definitely times when I really felt for Evan and the unfortunate situation he's growing up in, with regards to his family and also the hard time he has at school. It's certainly one of those books where you really get into the head of the main character and experience every rise and fall alongside them. I also genuinely enjoyed the mystery elements of the plot which really drive the story forwards as well as the clear character progression throughout, which kept me invested. Great book.
June 21, 2022
My grandson loved this story. He said he will be rereading this.
November 19, 2024
This book is an absolute treat. The author did such a beautiful job creating characters that were so relatable and vulnerable that it was impossible to not fall in love with them. My favorite is definitely Big Momma. Evan's inner turmoil and the situations he gets himself in brought me straight back to my middle school days and it really made me feel for the sweet and confused kid he is. The mystery kept me turning pages, I had to know who did it! I will say it was a very satisfying ending. It is clear the book was written with lots of love and I think any kid would enjoy reading it. I hope it reaches the hands of many and I'm looking forward to more Evan Sinclair mysteries!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews