Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest
COMING OCTOBER 14th!
Random House Children’s Books, 2025
ISBN: 9780593707982
Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest
COMING OCTOBER 14th!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Unlike jigsaw puzzle pieces, brothers Benji and Ethan Broderick just don’t fit very well together.
Twelve-year-old Benji loves retro arcade games and brain teasers. His big brother, eighteen-year-old Ethan, would rather play sports and hang out with friends. About the only thing they have in common is how much they resent their parents forcing them to go on a cross-country summer road trip together.
But, at the quirky Pancake Palace where the brothers make their first stop, they discover a clue inviting them to join a giant puzzle race from Chicagoland to Los Angeles. If the boys can solve a series of challenges created by Ms. Pennypickle, an eccentric master puzzler, they could win one million dollars! (It’s like “The Amazing Race” but with more puzzles and less bungee jumping.)
The catch? The Broderick boys aren’t the only family competing for the top prize. As they race along Route 66 unraveling clues, solving puzzles, and dodging opponents, the brothers find a lot more than answers to a few riddles. With so much at stake, can Benji and Ethan get along long enough to win Ms. Pennypickle’s ultimate prize?
REVIEWS
—Publishers Weekly
“Willy Wonka meets The Amazing Race on a road trip filled with hijinks, heart, and humor. If you like Luigi Lemoncello, you’ll love Penelope Pennypickle!”
—James Ponti, New York Times bestselling author of the City Spies series
“Packed with puzzles, humor, adventure—and a whole lot of heart. It’s everything you could want from a book.”
—Stuart Gibbs, New York Times bestselling author
“[A] hilarious and fast-paced scavenger hunt where the ultimate prize is family. I LOVED this book!”
—Lindsay Currie, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Buckle up for this brotherly road trip brimming with heart and puzzles!”
—Jen Calonita, New York Times bestselling author
“Ms. Pennypickle is a fantastically fun, puzzle-packed adventure. You won’t want this road trip to end!”
—Max Brallier, New York Times bestselling author
“Fast-paced, funny, and clever—this book is a winner!”
—Lisa Yee, New York Times bestselling author
“Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest is exactly what one hopes for in a Chris Grabenstein middle grade novel: fast-paced, funny, amazing characters, twists and turns, and so much more…. Not going to lie, I thought I had this one figured about. Boy was I wrong. The ending rocked my world and blew my mind…. So much fun. Soooooo good!.”
—Colby Sharp, Educator/Creator
“If you enjoyed the Mr. Lemoncello books, you are sure to love this one as well.”
—Five Star Net Galley Review
“As a big fan of Mr. Lemoncello’s puzzles and stories, I was so excited to see a new puzzle quest from Chris Grabenstein! As in Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, Ms. Pennypickle has plenty of puzzles and problems to solve. The reader can try to solve these as they read, or wait for the characters to solve them. But even more lovable than the puzzles are the characters. Ethan and Benji are typical brothers—the little brother is no longer “cool” enough for the big brother, though he desperately wants to be. They find themselves on Ms. Pennypickle’s quest, and have to lean on each other to make it through each challenge. Other lovable characters are also along for the ride, along with a couple dimwits too. This was a book that was hard to put down, and I think the combination of the puzzles and the fun characters will keep kids reading as well!”
—Five Star Net Galley Review
EXTRAS