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Table of Contents
About The Book
The Secret Life of Pets meets Spy School as furry friends come out of retirement to do some secret spy work sure to inspire “chuckles aplenty” (Kirkus Reviews) in this hilarious companion to The Great Pet Heist and The Great Ghost Hoax.
Big plans are afoot! Butterbean is going to become a therapist (unless maybe she means a therapy dog?). The white cat is going to do a commercial for caviar-flavored pet treats. And Wallace is moving into a great new apartment. But these plans don’t include a group of rowdy raccoons taking over the loading dock and throwing the building into turmoil.
Now residents from the whole building are coming to the Strathmore Seven for help—from Second Floor Biscuit, a Yorkie with an unfortunate haircut who faces eviction for barking at the intruders, to the loading dock rats, who are feeling intimidated and upset. And even worse, Madison gets blamed for the vandalism! It’s up to Butterbean and the rest of the pets to stop the raccoons and restore their friend’s reputation—before it’s too late.
Big plans are afoot! Butterbean is going to become a therapist (unless maybe she means a therapy dog?). The white cat is going to do a commercial for caviar-flavored pet treats. And Wallace is moving into a great new apartment. But these plans don’t include a group of rowdy raccoons taking over the loading dock and throwing the building into turmoil.
Now residents from the whole building are coming to the Strathmore Seven for help—from Second Floor Biscuit, a Yorkie with an unfortunate haircut who faces eviction for barking at the intruders, to the loading dock rats, who are feeling intimidated and upset. And even worse, Madison gets blamed for the vandalism! It’s up to Butterbean and the rest of the pets to stop the raccoons and restore their friend’s reputation—before it’s too late.
About The Author
Photograph by Sonya Sones
Emily Ecton is the author of The Great Pet Heist series as well as a number of middle grade books published under the names Emily Ecton and Emily Fairlie. She is also a former writer and producer for Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, the Peabody Award–winning comedy news quiz on NPR. She lives in Virginia, with Howdy, a dog who dreams of someday going to a supermarket. Visit her at EmilyEcton.com.
About The Illustrator
Dave Mottram is an illustrator living in Ohio who worked as a graphic designer for many years, which led him to pursue his passion for illustration. He paints traditionally and digitally with color and layers and line. He loves tacos, animals, tikis, and nerding out over art supplies. Visit him at DaveMottram.com.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (April 11, 2023)
- Length: 240 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665919074
- Ages: 8 - 12
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Raves and Reviews
“A series of break-ins gives the Strathmore apartment building’s animal detectives an exciting new mystery to solve. . . The nonstop action and droll exchanges offer chuckles aplenty on the way to a tidy resolution made all the more satisfactory by a hilarious viral video and a well-deserved comedown for nasty nemesis Mrs. Hates Dogs on Six. Mottram’s rich, if rare, spots and vignettes feature creatures as aglow with character as the racially diverse human cast. Another wild caper for this winning animal ensemble.”
– Kirkus Reviews
“A series of break-ins gives the Strathmore apartment building’s animal detectives an exciting new mystery to solve. . . The nonstop action and droll exchanges offer chuckles aplenty on the way to a tidy resolution made all the more satisfactory by a hilarious viral video and a well-deserved comedown for nasty nemesis Mrs. Hates Dogs on Six. Mottram’s rich, if rare, spots and vignettes feature creatures as aglow with character as the racially diverse human cast. Another wild caper for this winning animal ensemble.”
– Kirkus Reviews
Awards and Honors
- Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Intermediate Title
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Great Vandal Scandal eBook 9781665919074
- Author Photo (jpg): Emily Ecton Photograph by Sonya Sones(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
