LitPick Review
Keah is fairly certain she just witnessed the most recent pizza-napping…well maybe?? After the pizza guy mistakingly attempts to deliver a pizza she hadn't ordered to her door, she watches through the peephole and thinks she sees something. All Keah knows for certain is a funny smell, some strange noises, and the DS Grimes at her door are adding up to something happening in her building! And to top it off, one of the missing delivery boys is a friend of Keah’s! Working together with her friends and the DS, Keah decides action is needed, and they start investigating the string of missing pizza delivery boys that are somehow connected to her. Through many twists and turns, the group not only discovers the connection to Keah but also what the kidnappers are truly after. Now it’s up to them to venture into the underbelly of Australia to learn the fate of the kidnapped delivery boys and the identity of the kidnappers. What they discover is certainly larger than they ever imagined and more harrowing to escape!
Opinion:
Pepperoni Pizza Pinching Chimps is a fast-paced read that leaves the reader wanting more with each chapter! It is fun and lighthearted with enough “history” woven in to make the reader wonder if this could really happen (given the right circumstances). I found the inclusion of space travel extra interesting right now with the current space exploration happening; I even did some research into monkeys in space after finishing! Along with the overall story, the characters are easy to picture and entertaining to follow through the story. The group is a bunch of reluctant teenagers realizing it is their duty to do something, and that is exactly how they are portrayed. I like that the point-of-view is of the most reluctant character because you feel her tension in the action moments. Lastly, the book ended with a potential for more story, which is always fun. The plot line of this book was wrapped up nicely, but I could easily see more mysteries happening with the same group of characters investigating them.
Overall, I think readers ages 12-18 would enjoy reading this book. The characters are high schoolers in the story and do mention partying/relationships so younger readers should read with caution. I also think any reader with an interest in space travel or a good mystery will really enjoy Pepperoni Pizza Pinching Chimps.
