Is Mo Three Times Lucky?

Miss Mosese LoBeau, better known as Mo, was found during a hurricane by the Colonel. Of course, she was only a baby drifting in a raging river then. She was lucky to be taken in by Miss Lana and the Colonel, but for as long as she can remember she has been trying to find her “Upstream Mother”. No one has any idea how a baby ended up in Tupelo Landing, NC. The details are especially fuzzy for the Colonel who suffers from amnesia. So, Mo’s life has already had its share of intrigue. Whenever one of the residents from her cozy town is traveling, Mo sends a message in a bottle for her Upstream Mother. She is hoping that one day she will get a bottle back or hear from her mom. When a member of Tupelo Landing, Mr. Jesse, is murdered and Detective Starr shows up in town things begin to change. Now Mo is starting to have doubts about the man she has loved all of her life. Why did the Colonel tell Starr a lie? Mo and her best friend, Dale, start a detective agency to find out who killed Mr. Jesse and why. They are hot on the trail of the murder weapon and the killer, and with help from friends here and there they are able to piece together quite a bit of the investigation. Who is behind Mr. Jesse’s death? Will Mo find out who her Upstream Mother is? Is it possible for Dale and Mo to crack the case and is it safe for them to get involved? Wait until you uncover the truth!

I recommend this book to kids ages 10 and up. If you like trying to figure out mysteries than this is a story you will certainly enjoy. I think Mo is a girl with a lot of spirit and voice. I found her town fascinating because everyone cares so much about each other and is involved in each other’s lives. So different from where I live! I like that Mo stands up for herself when her arch enemy tries to put her down. She is also a very creative problem solver and thinks on her feet. I think the idea of sending a message in a bottle is so exciting and I loved reading Mo’s letters. Both Dale and Mo seem like kids I would be friends with because they formed their own detective agency (awesome) and are trying to solve crimes. They are also nice and look out for others. Their strong friendship is inspiring. This is a quirky book with stand out characters that you will hear long after you turn the last page. There is a little violence in the book, but it seemed to be included in a way that wasn’t shocking or worrisome. If anything it made the book seem more realistic. I enjoyed the mystery in this book and was proud of myself for solving part of the mystery before it was revealed! If you are looking for a character who is spunky and different, then curl up with Mo and see if you can solve the case along with her!

Has anyone else read Three Times Lucky? Or another book by Sheila Turnage? We would love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy reading!
~L