Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf

by Wendelin Van Draanen

Book Overview

"The most winning junior detective ever in teen lit. (Take that, Nancy Drew )" --Midwest Children's Book Review

The Christmas parade gets furry in a hurry when three pranksters dressed as wise men toss some cats onto Sammy's float. Dogs shoot off in all directions, and the prize Pomeranian Sammy's supposed to be watching disappears. Turns out the darn fuzzball's been kidnapped. The owner is demanding that Sammy find...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 037580255X
• ISBN13: 9780375802553
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Yearling Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf

Once again Sammy manages to find herslef in trouble! This time, though, she's dealing with an interesting little 8 year girl old who can't get enough of her, a stolen dog, a crocodile type of woman, and some odd suspects! In the begining Sammy goes to the the yearly Christmas Parade to watch, but when she's asked to take care of the main dog on the float for the parade she agrees not knowing that she's getting herself in a heep of trouble! Every thing on the float was going fine until the dog, Marique, who Sammy's watching, jumps of the float not to be found! Sammy looks everywhere, but what she finds instead of Marique is a little elf girl sitting in a tree! At first Sammy thinks Santa's actually sent down a pal, if you know what I mean. But when Sammy get's closer she finds and eight year old little girl who has dreams of the moon. Apparently she's not to fond of "The Borsh-man" either. No suprise though because she's constantly running off! But she took to Sammy imediately! So now Sammy has a little friend to watch! And to top it all off this mystery, for once, is one Sammy does not want to be stuck in. Unfotunately that is not what happens! The woman who is owner of the dog is EXTREMELY rich! Richer than Marissa! (Which came as a slight shock to her!) And this woman is no Teddy Bear! She's a Croc! (Or that's at least the only way Sammy can describe her.) So when she finds out that Sammy lost her "Precious Baby" well she's got it in for Sammy! This woman is a bit too nosy and has one in-or-out way to blackmail Sammy. (And just about everyone else in that town!)So Sammy is stuck in the middle of this mystery. Well Sammy thinks it's just a missing dog until she finds out the dogs been dognapped! With a ransom note and all! Well once again Sammy uses her genius mind to figure this mystery out! And as usual you never know until the end. I thought I knew who it was and I was pretty dran close but I didn't figure it out quite right. She figures it out with some mighty hidden clues! I LOVED this book so much I finished it in ONE day! (And I'm a pretty slow reader!)Well I hope you liked this review and I hope you LOVE the book!

Another Sammy Keyes winner!

I read these books to my 7th grade language arts students. They really get into them! I just picked this one up last weekend for spring break reading and enjoyed it very much! Looking forward to the new book next month!

Girls who read, read Sammy Keyes

Have you read Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf? If not, you should. Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf is an exciting book full of adventure, mystery, suspense and dirty tricks. Sammy Keyes is a 13-year-old girl who is as smart and tricky as any detective or spy. In the book, Sammy is forced to find Mrs. Landvogt's prized Pomeranian Marique before it is too late. Sammy searches all over Santa Marina and finds clues, that when put together, reveal the thief. For more fun and adventure, read the other Sammy Keyes books.

Another Wonderful Sammy Mystery

I buy these books for my daughter as soon as they come out in paperback, and I have to say this is truly the best one we've read yet. In this adventure, Sammy investigates dognappers, and the story is very fresh and funny. A real contribution to quality mysteries for girls.

THIS IS THE BEST SAMMEY KEYES YET!

This new Sammey Keyes book is definitely the best yet! It is so believable and has fun new charaters! I reccomend this book to everyone!