Notorious
#2 of 3 in Masterminds Series
on Goodreads (1,530)
What’s inside...
Keenan has lived all over the world but nowhere quite as strange as Centerlight Island, which is split between the United States and Canada. The only thing weirder than Centerlight itself is his neighbor Zarabeth, aka ZeeBee. ZeeBee is obsessed with the island’s history as a Prohibition-era smuggling route. She’s also convinced that her beloved dog, Barney, was murdered—something Keenan finds pretty hard to believe. Just about everyone on Centerlight is a suspect, because everyone hated Barney, a huge dog—part mastiff, part rottweiler—notorious for terrorizing the community. Accompanied by a mild-mannered new dog who is practically Barney’s opposite, ZeeBee enlists Keenan’s help to solve the mystery. As Keenan and ZeeBee start to unravel the clues, they uncover a shocking conspiracy that dates back to Centerlight’s gangster past. The good news is that Keenan may have found the best friend he’s ever had. The bad news is that the stakes are sky-high. And now someone is after them.
Character compass
Keenan
Zara
Discussion points
What do you think motivated Keenan to solve the mystery of the ghost dog?
How do the characters in 'Notorious' demonstrate the importance of friendship and collaboration?
In what ways do you think living on an island shaped the adventures in the book?
How does the past influence the present in the story of 'Notorious'?
Why is it important to seek the truth, as shown through Keenan and ZeeBee’s actions?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their opinions about the characters’ decisions and relate them to their own experiences.
Discuss the setting of the book and how different or similar it is to your child's environment, fostering connection to the story.
Highlight the teamwork between Keenan and ZeeBee, and ask your child about times they had to collaborate to solve a problem.
While discussing the story, allow your child to guess what might happen next, enhancing their predictive and analytical thinking skills.
Reiterate the story's moral lessons subtly during your discussion, reinforcing values like integrity, curiosity, and perseverance.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: In 'Notorious', the characters work together to solve a mystery, highlighting how collaboration can lead to success.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or in sports, learning to cooperate and value each other's contributions.
Example Lesson: Understanding and overcoming prejudices
Explanation: The story showcases characters who learn to overcome their initial judgments of others, teaching the value of understanding different perspectives.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to interact with diverse groups, fostering empathy and reducing stereotypes.
Example Lesson: The significance of integrity
Explanation: Characters in the book demonstrate honesty and moral uprightness, even when faced with difficult choices.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be instilled by encouraging children to always tell the truth and stand by their principles, even when it's challenging.
Example Lesson: The power of curiosity and perseverance
Explanation: The young protagonists' determination to uncover the truth shows how persistence and curiosity can lead to uncovering important truths.
Real-World Application: Children can be motivated to explore their interests deeply and persist in their endeavors, whether in academics, hobbies, or relationships.