Books with author Bruce Hale

Inventions, spells, and bullies—oh my!It all begins when Chet’s favorite teacher is fired, only to be replaced by the mechanical invention of Dr. Tanya Lightov—a mysterious Russian scientist.Suddenly, the school seems possessed by forces that are upsetting the natural order of things: Kindergartners are beating up sixth graders; teachers’ pets are talking back; and worst of all, Chet’s faithful partner and best friend, Natalie Attired, has abandoned him in his hour of need.Will Chet be able to restore his friendship with Natalie and bring Emerson Hicky back to normal? One thing’s for certain: The crazy, mixed-up mastermind behind this case will be the last creature anyone expects.

In these two wisecracking, sidesplitting mysteries from Chet Gecko's tattered casebook, the fourth-grade detective and his punning mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired, keep the peace at Emerson Hicky Elementary. In the first, the two sleuths blow the lid off a cheating ring in Mr. Ratnose's classroom, and in the second, they track down the winning ticket for the biggest, chocolatiest, most gut-busting dessert ever, the Malted Falcon. Danger has never been so delicious!

When it comes to splitting dessert, Chet Gecko may cheat a little, but who's going to complain if Chet's half is more like two-thirds? He's never been good at math. Still, there's a big difference between sneaking a bigger slice of stinkbug pie and sneaking the answers to Mr. Ratnose's history test. When a cheating ring is suspected at Emerson Hicky Elementary, Chet takes on the case as a matter of honor. Or of stupidity. It's so hard to tell the difference sometimes.

Freddie Nostrils is a prairie dog with a passion . . . for dessert. In fact, his sweet tooth rivals Chet Gecko's own. That's why when the winning ticket in the Malted Falcon contest goes missing, Freddie hires Chet and his mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired. Just what is the Malted Falcon? Only the biggest, most chocolatiest, most gut-busting dessert ever imagined. Duh. But even if Chet finds the stolen ticket . . . will he be able to return it to its rightful owner?

Chet Gecko loves a good mystery. Almost more than he loves his fee--stinkbug pie.So when fellow fourth grader Shirley Chameleon asks him to find her missing brother, Billy, Chet expects the case to be as easy a pie. But Billy's disappearance is part of a larger plot, one that involves the Rat Sisters, a riddling junkyard dog, and a vicious Gila monster named Herman. If Chet doesn't solve the case fast, the entire school could be humiliated. Worst of all, Chet might not get his fee. And Chet's hungry. . . .

Chet Gecko doesn't believe in the supernatural. His idea of voodoo is his mom's cockroach ripple ice cream. But when a teacher reports seeing a monster by the light of a full moon, it falls to Chet and his sleek-winged partner, Natalie Attired, to answer the burning question: Is this the work of a vicious, supernatural werehamster on the loose? Or just another science fair project gone wrong?

Kidnapped! One by one, the members of Emerson Hicky's football team are disappearing. As far as Chet Gecko is concerned, this is a cause for celebration. Only trouble is that Chet's old nemesis, Herman the Gila Monster, is the number one suspect, and he wants Chet to clear his (not quite) good name. Chet and his mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired, must solve the case fast, or Herman will make sure it's their last. But which is more dangerous--Herman . . . or P.E. class?

Is it just Chet, or is everyone acting just a little bit strange? One by one, the students at Emerson Hicky Elementary are becoming mindless goody-goodies. No one talks in class, no one complains about homework--heck, the line to clean the chalkboard erasers is out the door! Everyone is acting like . . . well, a zombie. Chet loves a good nap--but this is one he's got to avoid at all costs. Can he save the school? Or will Chet and Natalie be the next in line at the chalkboard?

In these two wisecracking, sidesplitting mysteries from Chet Gecko's tattered casebook, the fourth-grade detective and his punning mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired, keep the peace at Emerson Hicky Elementary. In the first, the two sleuths blow the lid off a cheating ring in Mr. Ratnose's classroom, and in the second, they track down the winning ticket for the biggest, chocolatiest, most gut-busting dessert ever, the Malted Falcon. Danger has never been so delicious!