Naomi and the Secret Message

Martha Lamon is a freelance writer and researcher based in Huntsville,
Ontario.

Naomi lives in the apartment below Mrs. Lumbago, but they both spend a
considerable amount of time together because Naomi’s parents are
usually “up to their eyeballs in work.” A sensitive and caring
relationship exists between them. Naomi has an extremely active
imagination, and Mrs. Lumbago is patient with and supportive of this
trait.

One day Naomi and Mrs. Lumbago find a portion of the treasure that—in
book one, Naomi and Mrs. Lumbago—Mr. Lumbago had said was hidden in
the apartment. In addition to the treasure (thousands of dollars in
coins), Naomi finds a beautiful hand mirror that has a secret message
encoded on it. Even more strange, Naomi’s mirror image makes her look
old, and Mrs. Lumbago’s mirror image makes her look young. Next they
discover a fake grenade with a tiny key inside. They use the key to open
a small security box, in which they find some papers that suggest Naomi
might be Mrs. Lumbago’s granddaughter. Can this be true? By the end of
the book, only some of the mysteries are answered, which paves the way
for book three.

Naomi’s antics in this chapter book will amuse beginning readers. The
story is imaginative, has a quick pace, and is full of suspense. The
book is best read as a part of the set rather than on its own.
Recommended.