Anisha: Accidental Detective - School's Cancelled

Published on 16 February 2026 at 16:22

Anisha Accidental Detective: School's Cancelled

🕵️🌋💥🐀

by Serena Patel

★★★★★

Things I loved:

🕵️ Likeable young detective lead
😂 Light, funny mystery tone
🎨 Beautiful illustrations/fonts
👨‍👩‍👧 Warm family dynamics
🇮🇳 Cultural insights woven in
🔬 Science competition storyline

At a glance

✍🏼 Author: Serena Patel

🎨 Cover artist: Emma McCann

📅 Release Date: 3rd September 2020

📚 Book type: Illustrated chapter, 224 pages

🌟 Reader level: Growing, 7+

Dive Deeper

Review

I’ve had Anisha, Accidental Detective: School’s Closed sitting on my shelf for a while, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. I seem to be on a bit of an LKS2 reading mission lately (which is always exciting!), and this one was an absolute joy — I ended up reading it in a single sitting and can’t wait to recommend it to my Year 3 and 4 classes.

It’s a super fun, light-hearted read packed with lively characters, humour and plenty of action. I really enjoy the ongoing idea of Anisha’s detective “career” and how supportive — if slightly chaotic — her family are. That strong family dynamic adds warmth alongside the mystery.

The book is also beautifully illustrated, and it’s clear how seamlessly Serena Patel and illustrator Senna McCann have worked together to create something really engaging. The playful font changes and visual elements add another layer of fun, which I think younger readers will particularly enjoy.

One of my favourite aspects was the insight into Anisha’s Indian heritage and culture. From family traditions to favourite (and not-so-favourite!) foods, it’s woven naturally into the story and offers lovely opportunities for discussion about culture and identity.

This would make a great independent read for children in Years 3–4, a shared family bedtime story, or a lovely class read. It combines humour, friendship, mystery and family life in a way that feels both fun and reassuring.

Blurb

"I've been working sooo hard with Milo and Govi to make our super-erupting volcano for the school science fair. I really thought we might win first prize - a trip to the National Space Centre. But now we're in BIG trouble.

One minute we were in the lab practising our science demo, and the next thing we knew, our volcano exploded and flooded the corridors. School had to be cancelled!

But did we really get our project so wrong - or is someone else trying to win first prize? Looks like a case for Anisha, Accidental Detective!"