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PHILIP RIDLEY was born in the East End of London, where he still lives and works. He studied painting at St Martin's School of Art and by the time he graduated had exhibited widely throughout Europe and written his first novel. As well as books and plays for adults, Philip has written many other books for children including Krindlekrax (1991), winner of the Smarties Prize and the WH Smith, Mind-Boggling Books Award, Kasper in the Glitter (1994), nominated for the Whitbread Prize, and Scribbleboy (1997), shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. His work has been translated into seventeen languages.
In this British import, ten-year-old Dakota Pink and her friend Treacle snoop for Secrets, root out Revelations, and Right several Wrongs - all without leaving the neighborhood of their small apartment complex. When Oscar - a TV-sized, gem-studded turtle belonging to quirky ex-actress Medusa - is stolen, the young sleuths force the thief to confess by threatening him with a jumbo silverfish, then sneak into the mansion of reclusive romance-writer Lassiter Peach. There, Dakota finds not only Oscar but her long-lost father (Caleb) and a huge diamond (Caleb swallows it, but she makes him throw it back up) that isn't rightfully his. European humor for children is often earthy or hard-edged by our standards, but this is a particularly unpleasant example featuring rumbling stomachs; weak, worthless men; and a protagonist who continually browbeats and insults her meek friend. About as much charm, as someone here says, as a toenail in a corned-beef sandwich. (Kirkus Reviews)
