Mina Mistry Investigates: The Case of the Disgusting School Dinners

Angie Lake is a freelance writer with a background in the Spanish music industry. She has worked on a variety of projects, including writing and reviewing for press publication, translation and authoring works of fiction.Born in the UK and raised on the Spanish Costa Blanca, Angie travelled extensively before settling in Spain to study Psychology and began her writing career in the Spanish national music press.Angie joined Sweet Cherry in 2012, having co-authored The Diaries of Robin’s Toys and The Diaries of Robin’s Travels with her father, Ken. She has since penned solo comedy series, Danny Dingle’s Fantastic Finds and Mina Mistry Investigates.Angie currently lives in Spain, covering concerts and other cultural events in the summer months.Ellie, a coffee addict, an avid snowboarder and bad joke-teller. Completed her degree in Illustration in Plymouth and now living in Worcester with her (equally bad joke-telling) boyfriend. They both love lazy Sundays watching cartoons all day, Ellie‘s biggest inspiration for drawing! She has always loved watching cartoons and when was around 8 she decided, “Hey, I want to draw like that!” So she picked up her pencil, and here we are. Ellie loves writing and illustrating children’s books. Starting with scribbles before drawing and colouring up in Illustrator and Photoshop. When she‘s not doodling or drinking coffee, you will usually find her shopping for makeup, binge-watching cartoons or watching pug videos on Youtube.

Children’s literature is most definitely an effective means of communicating a significant message, attracting kids and their suddenly (and similarly) curious parents. The straightforward aim of this story is to encourage youngsters to choose healthy snacks over fatty and sugary ones (or at least maintain a balanced diet). Sometimes that is not possible and this is where all readers should pay attention to a better hidden purpose, slipped in carefully among the pages. Adults may occasionally prove to be contradictory, pointing out one thing and doing the opposite, thus influencing children to head on a wrong direction. Some will detect the mistakes, but will take longer to alert others. A grown-up’s mind is an interesting matter, as it holds plenty of clashing intentions. But a kid’s brain is even more exciting to observe and Mina Mistry is here to prove it.The little girl has a special way with words. She experiments with them, replacing her real family name, Snotbridge, with a secret undercover one, Mistry, alluding to Mystery – eventually I began to see her as a Mistress of Mystery. Her mind is quick to spot the truth and reveal it, but she still chooses her words carefully, avoiding unnecessary discussions and getting straight to the point. What is great about her is that she never scares or gives you the impression she may be misjudging someone. She is aware of both flaws and helpful attributes, and knows when to ask for assistance. Her solitary retreats enlarge her perspective and she will find someone to confide in (you as the reader). Admittedly, she is jotting down her log entries (not to be confused with plain diary entries), with formal references to her current location and status. However, you soon feel as if she often looks away from her notebook and her plush (and best friend), Mr Panda, and gives you frequent side glances. She will either have a “can-you-believe-this-is-happening” moment or slide in an obvious and amusing remark, something which you have been dying to say even in your real-life situations, but have somehow thought it would be irrelevant.I think it is clever how a simple topic like school dinners (or, as the American edition has nicely adapted, school lunches) provides an elaborate plot, a serious investigation surrounding an issue meant to be addressed once and for all. It may be an indirect hint to how taking the first step towards action is often harder than the task itself. Once involved into something, we all go with the flow and link cues and clues. After attending a talk about nutritious eating, Mina does not ignore how the school cafeteria keeps pumping in unhealthy treats. Case files pile up, presumptions are made, clear evidence is discovered. There is not one second where the readers may get bored. And before they realize it, they are motivated to change bits and pieces in their lives.