A rollicking adventure with a tenacious amateur gumshoe.
An 11-year-old self-appointed sleuth has made it her mission to solve any mystery her small town has to offer—so what if folks call her nosy?
It’s summer vacation, and Olive Oakes and her cousin Eli are bored out of their minds. Crestwood Hollow, it turns out, is short on mysteries, but when Olive’s parents, who sell historic properties for a living, bring the kids along on a work trip to picturesque Whispering Woods, Olive hopes her luck will change. When the pair are left to their own devices, Olive drags Eli along to investigate the strange carnival that comes to town once a year. Eli points out that imaginative Olive sometimes jumps to conclusions when it comes to mysteries, but this time she’s on the right track: Research at the local library indicates that the carnival may be tied to the disappearance of two children nearly 30 years ago. The mystery plot tips its hat to 1970s cartoons (complete with a line about meddling kids), and the frights are more campy than chilling. Family scenes are suffused with warm humor; the heart of the story is the bond between Olive and Eli, who has joined the Oakes household after the death of his parents. Eli and Olive are cued Black; often unnamed characters in Whispering Woods are identified by hair color.
A rollicking adventure with a tenacious amateur gumshoe. (Mystery. 7-11)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
ISBN: 9781547615926
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: tomorrow
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape.
The fourth installment in Delacre’s early-reader series centers on the rich musical traditions of Puerto Rico, once again featuring sibling tree frogs Rafi and Rosi Coquí.
Readers learn along with Rafi and Rosi as they explore bomba, plena, and salsa in three chapters. A glossary at the beginning sets readers up well to understand the Spanish vocabulary, including accurate phoneticization for non-Spanish speakers. The stories focus on Rafi and Rosi’s relationship within a musical context. For example, in one chapter Rafi finds out that he attracts a larger audience playing his homemade güiro with Rosi’s help even though he initially excluded her: “Big brothers only.” Even when he makes mistakes, as the older brother, Rafi consoles Rosi when she is embarrassed or angry at him. In each instance, their shared joy for music and dance ultimately shines through any upsets—a valuable reflection of unity. Informational backmatter and author’s sources are extensive. Undoubtedly these will help teachers, librarians, and parents to develop Puerto Rican cultural programs, curriculum, or home activities to extend young readers’ learning. The inclusion of instructions to make one’s own homemade güiro is a thoughtful addition. The Spanish translation, also by Delacre and published simultaneously, will require a more advanced reader than the English one to recognize and comprehend contractions (“pa’bajo-pa-pa’rriba”) and relatively sophisticated vocabulary.
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape. (Early reader. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-89239-429-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
Move over Ramona Quimby, Portland has another neighbor you have to meet!
Ryan Hart is navigating the fourth grade and all its challenges with determination.
Her mom named her Ryan because it means “king,” and she wanted Ryan to feel powerful every time she heard her name; Ryan knows it means she is a leader. So when changes occur or disaster strikes, budding chef Ryan does her best to find the positive and “make sunshine.” When her dad is laid off from the post office, the family must make adjustments that include moving into a smaller house, selling their car, and changing how they shop for groceries. But Ryan gets to stay at Vernon Elementary, and her mom still finds a way to get her the ingredients she needs to practice new recipes. Her older brother, Ray, can be bossy, but he finds little ways to support her, especially when she is down—as does the whole family. Each episodic chapter confronts Ryan with a situation; intermittently funny, frustrating, and touching, they should be familiar and accessible to readers, as when Ryan fumbles her Easter speech despite careful practice. Ryan, her family, and friends are Black, and Watson continues to bring visibility to both Portland, Oregon, generally and its Black community specifically, making another wonderful contribution that allows Black readers to see themselves and all readers to find a character they can love.
Move over Ramona Quimby, Portland has another neighbor you have to meet! (Fiction. 8-10)Pub Date: April 28, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0056-4
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2020
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