Review: Josh and the Gumshoe News Crew by Melissa Perry Moraja

Summary: 
Up until a few days ago, nothing extraordinary had ever happened in ten year old Josh Wunderkind's life--except eating a whole pot of pasta by himself. But that all changed after a mammoth-sized raptor hit him smack on the face with a glob of neon green bird poop. triggering his superhuman Wunderkind ability and leaving him with the responsibility of caring for a baby raptor he named Max. But what Josh didn't realize was that being super extraordinary was't all fun and games. Especially because he was still living in the shadows of his older brother Jake's greatness. And things only got more complex in Josh's life when his two siblings and a couple neighborhood friends persuade him to lead a super crime-solving, neighborhood news team-the Gumshoe News Crew. But not before they agree on the Super Secret and complete Gumshoe Boot Camp. Find out what the Super Secret is. Will the Gumshoe News Crew complete boot camp? Or will Josh let his team down?

My review:
Josh is just an ordinary kid who does ordinary things with his friends and siblings. When he accidently gets super powers he is not sure what is happening. He also at least at first does not have much control over them either. His brother Jake concocts a training exercise to help him and friends.

As the story unfolds, his super powers come in handy as he leads four other kids through the training and subsequently a adventure to re-obtain stolen items from his baby sister, Mom, and neighbors. The thief is not at all who one would think as a thief. 

Josh does learn to work together with his team and that all of them have something to offer and that super powers are not always useful or needed. The book winds up with the creation of the "gumshoe news crew" who will no doubt have more adventures and crime seeking explorations in subsequent books.
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This is a humorous first chapter book in a series aimed at 6-12 year olds, although I think it is more suited for 8-12. I found myself chuckling at a few things and I know kids will too. 
The book was a fairly easy read so the youngest of new readers will not have much difficulty. The older reader will love the humor throughout and should be able to read the book with ease.

My only disappointment was that the book left me hanging and wanting more.
Great book. 4 stars.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The review expressed here is 100% my own and may differ with yours.

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