What a trip! An exciting page turner with lots of heart. Readers willl long to give Sam-Sam a pet and help Jesse on her journey.

I wasn't sure what I was going to get with this book, but I can say I am glad I requested it and glad I read it. This is one of those books that will be overlooked by people and it need more recognition than what it is getting. 

I was such a fan of the characters. I didn't realize going into this that Jesse was going to be on the spectrum and I can't speak to the realistic-ness of her character, but I thought she was done brilliantly. Jesse is such a great character, with strength and a thirst for justice within her. She's blamed for things going wrong, and continues to persevere. I liked that her mother is the soldier abroad-- it felt like a nice flip of the usual and something that many families will be able to relate to. There is also a great friendship shared here too which I think many people will enjoy.

As for the mystery, the bad guys aren't completely obvious... or at least the entirety of the crime. Even the villains here have layers. Of course, I can't truly sympathise with the bullies. I do like that there are consequences at the end of the book for the wrong doers. A really good happy ending. 

The book is told in two timelines, the flashbacks might be confusing to some of the younger readers, but the clearly labeled days and times at the chapter heads will be (and were to me) a big help. 

This is a book I will be recommending to many, many readers. If you like mysteries and contemporary reads with strong main characters, cute dogs, and good family relations shown, this is a book you should try!

Jesse is a girl "on the spectrum" whose dad is a high school teacher and mom a soldier in Iraq. When her dad is arrested for stealing, Jesse and her new friend Springer launch an investigation to clear his name while avoiding the school bullies. The truth is revealed after a tornado roars through town, and as a bonus Jesse finds that her dog Sam-Sam isn't the bomb-sniffing dog she hoped he'd be, but something even better.

Vaught shows how a neurodivergent character sees the world, while telling a great story all kids can relate to. Like her previous book Super Max & the Mystery of Thornwood's Revenge, she has created a lovable, feisty heroine in a small Southern town. Jesse and Springer make a great team with their affection and support for each other, and also present food for thought with their contrasting approaches to bullying. Jesse wants to fight back aggressively while Springer believes violence is always wrong. This is a wondrful book for middle grade readers.