Dan is a teen who spends a day wearing a mascot costume for his uncle’s hot dog business. He falls for a cute girl, deals with a couple of bullies, and figures out who is framing him for being a pickpocket. This is a hi-lo book, so the plot and grammar are simple. The plot is relatable for young people who are working their first jobs. The story has several humorous parts that will make it more enjoyable.
Though the book has some better parts, it is lacking in its plot. The book is considered a mystery, but this element does not come into play until the last third of the book when Dan hears that there is a pickpocket on the loose. It also seems like the story wraps up much too quickly. Few things really happen until the end of the book, though some elements are teased toward the beginning. Dan gets a happy ending, even if it’s not what he expected, but it came almost out of nowhere. Frankly, some of the events in the finale of the book seem completely unnecessary and raise more questions than answers. ( )