HARPER SHARP

An energetic boy takes on both a school fair project and the mystery of who’s trying to shut down the event.

Between his lively family and his schoolwork, fifth grader Harper Sharp has a lot on his plate. Harper is also a detective, one who embraces the challenge of closely observing the world around him. To hone his skills, he notices the tiniest details about kids on the school bus. He also carries a sketchbook for drawing, one of his other passions. In art class, Ms. Mapleleaf informs everyone that they’ll have to create projects for the annual Young Inventor’s Fair. In only two weeks they must design and create something they can sell. When someone posts flyers around school that say “Beware the fair!”, Harper, with the encouragement of Principal Toughcook, springs into action to solve the mystery. His sleuthing leads him through campus, exploring various possibilities. Harper’s conversations with his grandmother and parents energize him, and he comes up with an idea for his project. An escalation in the vandalism attracts everyone’s attention, causing great upset, but Harper’s clever mind and detective skills lead him to the culprit. This jam-packed graphic novel combines beloved elements of school and mystery stories. Exuberant African American Harper is irresistible as he interacts with family members and a diverse group of friends while exploring his creativity. The vibrant panels with their stylized illustrations are full of color and energy and will captivate readers.

A sure-to-please series opener.