Attack of the Literary Critic Halfway Through a Book

Thought I'd try a Different Font and color. But that really has nothing to do with my post today. My post today is about books i'm halfway through and what i think about them.
I Have Three so far:
Arthur Conan Doyle--A Study in Scarlet
Lyn Gardner--Into the Woods
James Kennedy--The Order of Odd-Fish (I know, ODD title)

I'll Start with the Second on my list. Into the Woods. Into the Woods has an interesting plotline, set in a world that's a mix of fairytale and real life. It's about an adventurous girl named Storm who must protect a mysterious pipe from the wrong hands because it is the wish of her dying mother. The wrong hands soon show up in the form of a creepy exterminator named Dr. Dewilde who loves Wolves and Rats and wants the pipe for his on neferious plans.
I like all the weird situations Storm and her sisters get into trying to thwart Dr. Dewilde, there are more then enough references to popular fairytales that make it interesting as it goes on. But the writing does feel a bit choppy, and forced at times. If you just dismiss those facts it's a nice easy romp. The illustrations, by Mini Grey are really nice too.
Now to James Kennedys' the Order of Odd-Fish. Now at first it sounds like a cookbook but it's not. The Front Cover caught my attention in the teen section on last weeks visit to the library. The inside plot is as follows, Lily Larouche former starlit, finds a baby girl in her washing machine one day with a note that says "This is Jo. Please take care of her. But beware. This is a DANGEROUS baby." Not paying attention to the capitals in Danger Lily raises the baby who proves to be anything but dangerous until her thirteenth year. Then on Lily's annual christmas party weird things begin to happen, Jo meets a Russian Colonel who is shot by a boy dressed up as a Hedgehog and a gaint cockroach is found in the basement tied up and complaining about the tabloids, plus a mysterious package falls from the sky for Jo, from the Order of Odd-fish.
All that sounds like a terrific head-ache but it actually plays out quite nicely and quickly. I find it rather well written, with a good sense of humor. Lily and the Russian Colonel are sufficently crazy, and the cockroach is suprisingly likeble with a great wit. Jo, has not only proved to be undangerous in what I've read but she seems more then unusually wimpy and unquirky for someone who was found in a washing machine. I had hopes for a different kind of heroine but I hope she turns out better as it goes along.
Now For A Study in Scarlet. What can I say but I love it! I find it very interesting even when all Sherlock and Watson are doing is talking about the science of observation. Sherlock is a great detective, and has come across to me as kinda quirky in his own logical way which I liked, and Watson a great bioghrapher. I'm enjoying it immensely and can't wait to finish.
Okay that's all for today!
Adios!