care-center, senior-citizens, bar-mitzvah, Oklahoma, falsely-accused, family, family-dynamics, friendship, robotics, theft, memories, investigation*****

Eddie is an ordinary kid preparing for his Bar Mitzvah and that includes community service at the local care home. He also has some problems in his home life that the parents don't want the kids to know about. While at the home he learns that the old folks are interesting once he takes the time to listen to them, even when some of them repeat the same things over and over or don't talk at all. He even learns things about the holocaust and even about gangsters. Then the thefts begin and his sleuthing follows soon after. .Excellent story!
I can testify to the changes that can happen to young folk when they spend time with folks at care home as I worked as a second shift nurse in them for several years.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Lerner Publishing Group, Carolrhoda Books ® via NetGalley. Thank you!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book and the child I read it to enjoyed it as well.

Eddie has to do 25 of community service for his Bar Mitzvah. He ends up at a retirement community that has a mystery going on. He learns more about his family and his heritage through getting to know Lina.
Eddie is funny, but the story is a little slow at times.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

I found myself laughing out loud reading this story. Eddie has to do community service hours for his bar mitzvah and his mom volunteers him to do his hours at the senior facility in town. Eddie reluctantly complies. It doesn't take long for Eddie to start enjoying his time getting to know the seniors. One elderly woman tells him that her dead sister is a ghost at the center. Eddie learns that one of his classmates Tessa, stopped volunteering at the center so he is curious if it is because of the ghost. He gets Tessa to come back to help him solve the mystery of the ghost and why the residents are losing their valuables. Eddie gets accused and he and Tessa come up with a plan to clear his name. There are serious moments in the story as Eddie gets to learn about the residents' lives. Almost too much- holocaust, gangsters...and on top of that Eddie's family is going through a rough time with his father losing his job. Thank you, Net Galley and Lerner Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this story.

The basic story is the Eddie has to do some community service by working at a senior citizens home, in preparation for his bar-mitzvah.

This is a bit of a mystery, in that while Eddie is making friends with all the seniors, there is a woman who says that her sister is haunting the place, and things keep going missing. Who is taking things, and is there really a ghost, when everyone says that the woman never had a sister?

And then Eddie is accused of being the thief, so he really has to solve the mystery.

A slightly slow story, which I didn't really get interested in, until Eddie started getting interested in the seniors, and their past, which happened about the 40% mark. Up until then, I really didn't care about anything that was happening.

Once we and Eddie gets to know these people, and care about them then there is more to the story. And we find out about the missing sister, and the mysterious voices in the heating vents, and all the things that work together, along with red herrings, to solve the mystery.


<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>

Eddie begins volunteering at a local retirement home as a part of his bar mitzvah preparation. He is NOT looking forward to it, but finds how just his interesting the residents are if you listen.

He shortly discovers a mystery, helps a lonely resident find connection and more.

His connection with the residents, particularly Lina, also help him finder a deeper connection to his family’s past and history.

Eddie's life is busy. But is it full? He doesn't find out until he's forced to spend 25 hours doing community service. At an old-folks home! His grandparents aren't this old, so he wonders how to fill 2 hours a week...refilling water pitchers?

He was silly to worry! How likely is it, really, that a young boy (working toward his bar mitzvah) could work that long without some odd things happening? The first day begins with a ghost. Another unexpected thing is that he begins to care about the people; a lot. Thefts and shady pasts are uncovered! Then things get even more difficult!

Stuff at home is tense too. Eddie's parents think they're protecting their kids by hiding a secret. But kids always know when something is wrong, and their fears are torture! After some parental honesty, things go better at home, but other problems become almost unmanageable.

This book has funny moments, embarrassing kid moments, successes, and mystery. But the primary story is about how Eddie discovers a new world through these "old seniors," and the things he learns and experiences change who he is. Some are fun, some are serious, but he has the support of friends, a wonderful family, and a group of residents who won't bother to remember his last name--in case he doesn't stay. In time, he learns to love the name Eddie Whatever.

The mystery moves the story along, but it's more character-driven. Memorable and thoughtful; it's a refreshing look into the lives of good people with positive intentions.

This book would make a great gift for kids interested in the Jewish culture in America, in middle-school, relationships, and a light mystery.

5/5 Stars

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook!

#EddieWhatever #NetGalley

Quick and easy middle grade read! I have been on the hunt for when my son starts to read these types of books and this was perfect! Some mystery, a grade school crush, and Eddie ! Perfect leading hero!