Review
======
Title: Sophie and Scottie’s Adventures of Something’s Fishy
Author: Cindy C. Murray
Publisher: Madmac Press P. O. Box 1262 Poway, CA 92974
Genre: Youth Fiction/Fantasy
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 192
Binding: Paperback
ISBN13: 978-1517127947
ISBN10: 1517127947
Price: $9.99 On Amazon
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association for Mormon Letters
After twin sisters Sophie and Scottie return home from their amazing adventures in Mexico, where they helped save the missing monarchs, they are surprised to see Dr. Drake in their living room. They learn that he has brought an envelope to them from their Aunt Jill. The envelope contains another picture from their Aunt, which could only mean one thing- they are to place the picture in the magic frame their aunt previously gave them, and learn what their next adventure will be and where it will take them.
Aunt Jill’s instructions to the girls are very detailed: Once the picture is activated by placing it in the frame, they are to ride their horses to a certain location where they are to put the frame on the ground and then have their horses actually ride through the frame to their new destination.
Upon arriving at the site of their new mystery adventure, they discover they are overlooking a vast coastline and a glistening ocean as far as their eyes can see. Dr. Drake is there and informs them that they are on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean where a research center is located. Sophie and Scottie soon learn that the water currents and tides have changed in that area recently, causing a lot of confusion with the sea animals that are normally there. The changes have also brought in sea creatures that are not usually present – like a 14 foot hammerhead shark. It seems like something is feeding these fish, which causes them to stay in an area they are not native to.
The twins and Dr. Drake believe the moon’s gravitational pull might be affecting the tides and the wind changes might be affecting the currents. As the winds start dying down, the ocean currents change, and the fish stop at the outer ocean and lagoon of the island.
All of this brings many fish to the area, where there is not enough food for them in the local waters; and that in turn brings the sharks that come to feed on all the fish. But the mystery remains – what has suddenly caused all these changes? Could the evil Dr. Zooger and his men be behind this diabolical plot? And, if he is,what does he stand to gain? Will Sophie and Scottie be given special powers once again to help them solve the mystery? Will they meet other interesting people and creatures who will assist them in their search?
This volume ends with the sisters returning to their parents’ ranch on horseback, where they discover their father in the yard with something in his back pocket. When they inquire about it, they learn it was in the mail and is an envelope from their Aunt Jill! They look at each other and silently mouth the word, “photograph?”
I love how Ms. Murray expertly weaves the story of twin sisters, age 11 1/2, into a well crafted adventure mystery, while mixing in educational facts of how nature works for the good of all life on earth. The author adds in wit and whimsy. She is a master storyteller, and richly deserves the 2015 Family Choice Award, and the Mom’s Choice Award Honoring Excellence, for “Sophie and Scottie’s Adventures of Something Fishy.”
Stay tuned- there is probably another mystery on the horizon!