Read time: 4 minutes
🎧 Listened in audio
📢 Narrated by: Nissae Isen
⏱ Duration: 6 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Tundra Books Group
Book Blurb:
Twelve-year-old Manya is the science-obsessed daughter of two delightfully goofy joke shop owners — and yes, she’s mortified by them daily. When her parents enroll her and best friend Isaac in an elite after-school science program, things finally look up. Until they don’t. A trick cigar burns off a customer’s eyebrows. A Toe Jam Donut puts someone in bed. And then a whoopee cushion kills an innocent bystander — and Manya’s parents are arrested for murder. Now it’s up to Manya to combine her love of science with her insider knowledge of pranks to prove her parents didn’t do it.
Let’s talk … Murder!
I have a soft spot for YA and middle-grade mysteries that sneak in lessons about real life under the cover of fun. Death by Whoopee Cushion does just that. Manya is exactly the right kind of twelve-year-old protagonist. She’s sharp enough to carry the plot, self-aware enough to be funny, and emotionally messy in all the ways that feel true. She’s growing up in her parents’ joke shop, where fart gags and fake poop are serious business, but her real love is science. The cringe-worthy parent dynamic is played beautifully. It’s not just a punchline, it’s the whole emotional engine of the book. You feel the love underneath the embarrassment, and the tension behind”I love you but please stop” is something readers of every age will recognize immediately. The writing never over-explains. It just lives there, quietly doing the heavy-lifting.
What really got me though was the found family thread running through it all. Isaac’s mom stepping up to protect Manya when her world falls apart, hit differently. The science woven into the mystery is clever enough without feeling like homework. It actually made me want to look things up, which is exactly what a good middle grade book should do. The pacing is tight. The mystery earns its resolution, and Nissae Isen’s narration keeps the energy exactly where it’s needed for six hours straight. This is the kind of book you’d hand to a kid and then quietly read it yourself.
Would I recommend it?
This one’s clever, heartfelt, and surprisingly profound for a story about prank gadgets. This book is not just for 12-year-olds but for everyone. It’s a mystery that respects young adults enough to give them real stakes, real science, and real feelings. Vicki Grant knows exactly what she’s doing, and the result is genuinely delightful. Perfect, though, for young readers who love science, humor, and good mysteries with actual heart.
5 Book Recommendations for Similar Vibes:
- The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty — Perfect for readers who loved Manya’s science brain and her struggle to fit into a world that doesn’t quite get her yet.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - Front Desk by Kelly Yang — Same energy of a kid navigating a world that’s too big for them while fiercely protecting family, with warmth and humor throughout.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens – Boarding school + 1930s murder + friendship = delightful.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - Greenglass House by Kate Milford – A wintry, whimsical whodunit with clever twists and strong young sleuths.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson – Rich in puzzles and history, with the same blend of humor and heart.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
Talk to me: What’s your favorite middle-grade sleuth?
If you grew up on Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy, or even The Mysterious Benedict Society, you’ll find something instant-classic about Manya and her brainy adventures. So tell me, who’s your favorite kid detective who deserved more credit?
Book Links:
Want to purchase this or any of your favourite books while supporting a local bookstore? Consider purchasing using the sites below. These sites work with independent local bookstore owners to fulfill your book orders. #SupportLocal
Indiebookstores.ca | Bookshop.org
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
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This sounds perfect for my granddaughter and grandson. I will read it and see if it sounds like one that they will like. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Shawnerly.
So glad you are interested in the book. I hope you like this and hope your grandkids like it too. The scientific information shared in the book was neat enough to be informative but also interesting for kids
I very maturely giggled at the title of this book. I really loved Harriet the Spy growing up! I’ll try and get my kiddo to check this out, but she is on the spectrum and hyperfocused on all things Pokemon and Sonic and, thus, not always open to new things. Thanks for sharing!
There are characters in the book that are on spectrum and so beautifully presented. I would also recommend The Curiosities by W.H. Eaton and Agent Cupcake by Mil Hilario. I really enjoyed these books too