Future Detectives of Flint, Michigan: Mr. Chickee's Funny Money by Christopher Paul Curtis

In Mr. Chickee's Funny Money Newbery Award author Christopher Paul Curtis has written a genre-busting mystery/science fiction/fantasy/satire/adventure story starring nine-year-old Steven Carter, president of the Future Detectives of Flint Club and second-smartest student at Clark Elementary School.

Mr. Chickee, neighborhood blind man and public mystery man, starts it all when he rewards Steven's help with groceries with an envelope containing a four quadrillion dollar bill with the likeness of James Brown in the place where dead presidents' portraits usually reside. Steven's parents are intrigued but sure the bill is a worthless prank, but Steven manipulates them into meeting with Mr. Fondoo, a Treasury Department agent whose reaction to their description of the bill is definitely suspicious. Stephen makes use of his Snoopeeze 9000 (disguised as an orginary MP3 player) to discover that the bill was printed to offset Federal debt and that Agent Fondoo and his boss known only as Madam Director want very much to get the funny money back without revealing its true value.

It's time to call in the assistance of the charter members of the FDOF, seven-year-old Russell and his giant dog Zoopy, before the electronic bug Fondoo has planted on Steven reveals that the quadrillion dollar bill is hidden in Stephen's room. When the Secret Service agents begin to close in, only Zoopy can help Steven and the funny money elude the chase, even if it means a leap off the Flint River Dam!

Steven's humorous thoughts on the absurdities of adult posturing and the wild turns of plot as he tries to hang on to the funny money will appeal to middle readers. Fastastical elements such as a dictionary copyright page with attitude and Steven's magical mail order detective gizmos are appealing touches for young mystery and humor fans.