Donna St. Cry's book for readers ages 8-12 has a zany enough title, The Secrets of the Cheese Syndicate, to hook the reader into looking into the book. Once the reader learns that Robert Montasio lets his sister drink a strange soda that causes her to shrink, he or she is off on a Wizard-of-Oz-type of adventure. Robert's only hope is an organization known as the Secret Cheese Syndicate, but they cannot help unless Robert travels the world to find the Mystic Cheese of Eliki. So Robert and his little sister (and I do mean little) are off on a grand adventure.

Young readers will enjoy all the references to and uses of cheese in solving the mystery of where to find the very special cheese. The mythological beasts they encounter provide enough adventure to keep the reader looking for more.

Young readers will see and appreciate the interaction between the brother and sister. Their actions sum up the relationship between most siblings: We fuss and quarrel, but when it counts the most, we are there for each other.

This is a great little adventure story.