The Pizza Monster

April 1, 1989
This inaugural title in the Olivia Sharp, Agent for Secrets series is told in the first person by a slightly daffy rich kid. Olivia has a chauffeur, a housekeeper, three telephones and two bedrooms: ``One to be myself in and one to be a special agent in.'' Because she's lonely (but believes she can't tell anyone) Olivia figures other people have secret problems, too, and she goes into business to discover them. Her first case involves friendship and is resolved happily once she learns that ``sometimes money can solve problems. But sometimes it can't.'' Although not as funny as Sheila Greenwald's Rosy Cole books, which are aimed at the same audience, this attractively designed, easy-to-read title will undoubtedly garner its own fans. Ages 7-9.

April 25, 2005
A slightly daffy rich kid narrates this inaugural title in a series starring Nate the Great's cousin. "Her first case involves friendship and is happily resolved," according to PW
. Ages 6-9.

July 1, 2005
Olivia Sharp, cousin to Nate the Great, advertises her skills as an "agent for secrets" and takes on her first case. She has unbelievable amounts of money, freedom, and moxie, and the first-person narration sounds like a cross between Eloise and Junie B. Jones. The story is slight, but Nate the Great readers will find this an approachable next step toward reading independence.

(Copyright 2005 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)