This week, 10 Little Insects receives this positive review in Booklist.

Is this a parody of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (1939) or an homage? It’s probably a little bit of both. Ten insects, all with something to hide, receive invitations to a weekend getaway on a mysterious island. The boat delivering them to the island has gone, the phones are dead, and none of the guests have any idea who their host is. As, one by one, the insects are found dead, the guests begin to turn on each other. Is there a killer among them? Or is this all just one big misunderstanding? The comic timing in this farce is perfect. The causes of death move from silly to sublime, pushing the envelope when it comes to suspension of disbelief. The artwork is simple but expressive. The insects flail their arms in anger and excitement, the colors are obvious and effective, and the ridiculous twist at the end is paced beautifully. Tweens and teens who have outgrown Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew will be tickled by this send-up of the genre. — Eva Volin

Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages.

Eva Volin is the Supervising Children’s Services Librarian, at City of Alameda Library in California.