CASEY'S CASES

Casey can’t catch a break.

Between running for class president, figuring out how to ask AJ to the dance, finding homes for her cat Ms. Muffin’s kittens, and uncovering her parents’ secret, Casey is one busy fifth grade detective! When classmate and bully Dina tries to blackmail Casey with an embarrassing baby photo, she’s distraught. Worse, she learns that Dina got the photo from Casey’s friend Jan. It’s one awful thing after another for Casey, and figuring out why everything is so terrible might just be her toughest case yet. Once again, pigtailed, pale-skinned Casey is a delight. Her mini cases are more often than not solved by someone else or require little to no effort, but her enthusiasm is constant and the story is satisfying, driven by humor and character dynamics. Her crush on AJ and her friendship with Jan ring true; knowledgeable Jan often serves as a gentle voice of reason, while Casey’s gaps in knowledge (like not being entirely sure what a vacuum looks like) make her a refreshingly down-to-earth hero. Simple art that depicts racially diverse, geometrically shaped characters who always wear the same clothes makes the tale approachable, while their exaggerated expressions add to the hilarity.

This kid detective may be having a dreadful time, but readers will have a ball experiencing it with her.