InvestiGators: All Tide Up

Description

"When I'm faced with a Pilkey fan looking to branch out, this graphic novel is the first book I reach for... If eight books aren't enough, the spinoff series, Agents of S.U.I.T., continues the fun." ―The New York Times With more than four million copies in print, #1 New York Times -bestselling author John Patrick Green's goofy graphic novel series is a colossal comics hit! Join super spy alligator duo MANGO and BRASH as they surf the sewers and fight the forces of evil. When a cruise captain is found drifting at sea and delirious, the search begins for his missing ship and passengers! Did it sink? Was it boat-napped? Are supernatural forces at play? And can the InvestiGators unravel this maritime mystery before a second cruise befalls a similarly unfathomable fate? Seas the day and find out in this new nautical adventure! Collect all the books in the #1 bestselling InvestiGators series: InvestiGators Take the Plunge Off the Hook Ants in Our P.A.N.T.S. Braver and Boulder Heist and Seek All Tide Up Class Action Case Files Weather or Not Review: The Book Kids Devour and Parents Respect - Every once in a while, you come across a book that kids pick up for fun and accidentally end up finishing. This is one of those books. InvestiGators: All Tide Up continues the adventures of Mango and Brash, two goofy but surprisingly sharp alligator detectives investigating a missing cruise ship mystery. On the surface, it is colorful, fast paced, and packed with jokes. Underneath that, it is a very well structured story that knows exactly how to keep young readers engaged without overwhelming them. From a kid’s perspective, this book is pure momentum. The pages move quickly, the illustrations are expressive, and the humor hits constantly. There are visual gags, silly moments, and just enough mystery to keep them turning pages without feeling like they are doing “reading work.” It is the kind of book they will pick up voluntarily, which already puts it ahead of most options in this category. The characters are easy to latch onto, and the story never slows down long enough for attention to drift. From an adult perspective, what stands out is how intentional everything feels. The pacing is tight, the dialogue is clean, and the structure subtly reinforces reading confidence. It introduces problem solving, sequencing, and deduction in a way that feels natural instead of instructional. There is also a surprising amount of wordplay and layered humor that adults will catch, which makes reading alongside a child far more enjoyable than expected. The cruise ship setting adds a fresh layer to the series. It expands the world without making things complicated, and it gives the mystery a slightly bigger scale. At the same time, it never loses the simplicity that makes it accessible. That balance is not easy to pull off, but this book handles it well. Another underrated strength is how approachable the format is. The graphic novel style lowers the barrier for reluctant readers while still delivering a complete story. It builds confidence without sacrificing entertainment, which is exactly what many parents are looking for. What I appreciate most is that this book respects both audiences. Kids get a fun, energetic story that keeps them hooked, while adults can see the thoughtful design behind it. It is not just noise on a page. There is real intention in how it teaches, entertains, and encourages continued reading. If you are trying to get a child more interested in books, or simply want something they will genuinely enjoy without resistance, this is an easy recommendation. It does what it is supposed to do, and it does it very well. This is one of those rare reads that works on both levels, fun for them, and quietly impressive for you. Review: SUCH a great series!!! - My kids (girl age 8 and boy age 10) absolutely LOVE InvestiGators books!! These books are funny, creative and take kids on an exciting adventure. My children laugh so much while reading these books and enjoy the author's creative writing and great sense of humor. The desertcart description compares these books to DogMan but I think they are much better than the DogMan series because I think the Investigators books have better plot lines, more mature vocabulary, are not full of potty words, and are MUCH more appropriate than DogMan series (in my opinion). I appreciate how the author, John Patrick Green, knows how to keep children interested and engaged in reading with kid-appropriate humor and only a few silly kid-oriented potty/poop/bottom jokes - unlike other authors who fill pages with potty joke after joke. My kids re-read the Investigator books over and over and will read them aloud to the family for all of us to enjoy. They also enjoy reading the books to each other, talking about the plot twists and funny parts of the books. Bottom line - these books are wonderful and I highly recommend.