Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
May 19, 2021/in Graphic Novel 10-14 Middle/Secondary /by Angie Hill
BfK Rating:
BfK 248 May 2021
Reviewer: Stuart Dyer
ISBN: 1529066050
Price: N/A
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Genre: Graphic Novel
Age Range: 10-14 Middle/Secondary
Length: 208pp
Buy the Book

InvestiGators: Take the Plunge

Author: John Patrick Green

Children will love this graphic novel series, which is crammed with more jokes than it is possible to keep up with! Mango and Brash are the InvestiGators, a crime-fighting partnership who travel the sewers, powered by their VESTs (Very Exciting Spy Technology) hunting for villains.

The InvestiGators arrive in scene one sitting atop a giant missile dressed in waistcoats and carrying a trombone. This sums these heroes up perfectly: they’re brave, ridiculous and explosively chaotic. They are not the only completely crazy characters in this comic strip, either…the baddies are just as bonkers. Crackerdile is an evil genius with a serious grudge against the gators and a seriously unfortunate condition (he has been turned into a saltine, making life in the damp sewers very challenging indeed!).

In this sequel, Mango and Brash have to take on Crackerdile while also trying to locate the ‘combinotron’ (a weapon that can stick any two things together) and solving the mystery of a dripping wet ghost of a robot who keeps hugging people against their will. There’s an awful lot going on…it’s no wonder the third instalment of the series is also about to be published.

The action is described in vibrant, energetic cartoons that will instantly grab the attention of any fans of Dog Man or Diary of a Wimpy Kid. As well as plenty of visual gags, there are countless puns, silly acronyms, and toilet humour that will have readers giggling from start to finish. The pace of the action is furious, with the story leaping around and juggling several narratives before smashing together again like a victim of the ‘combination’, itself.

Fast, fun, frenetic and full of toilet jokes, InvestiGators are bound to be a hit with young readers.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Angie Hill http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Angie Hill2021-05-19 13:21:412021-05-30 15:08:34InvestiGators: Take the Plunge

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 278 May 2026
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Young readers choose graphic novel as overall winner of the Children’s Book Award

June 13, 2026

My Name is Samim wins Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize

June 11, 2026

New National Literacy Trust report finds rise in some children’s reading for pleasure

June 10, 2026

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2026 - Books For Keeps | Proudly built by Lemongrass Media Website Design
Worst. Holiday. Ever. Tremendous Things
Scroll to top