An engaging mystery that cleverly celebrates the quirkiness of not being neurotypical.
Autistic detective Myron and his third-grade friends are back to solve their third mystery.
Someone is stealing strawberry plants from the neighborhood that surrounds Warbler Woods. The first victim is Simone, an older student and also autistic, who was growing strawberries in the school garden. Many others also lose plants in the coming days. Once again, very active Hajrah, who is a classmate in Myron’s special needs class, is his partner in the investigation. The pair considers a variety of suspects, but Myron’s methodical thinking helps him eliminate most. The young detectives’ good-natured persistence keeps them on the trail of the thieves. Grand’s simple illustrations depict a multiracial group and also break up the pages of text. (Myron and Simone present white, while Hajrah has brown skin and long, black hair.) Myron and Simone are matter-of-fact about their autism. Although they interact well with their classmates, Myron readily acknowledges his differences, and Simone comments, “People will always stare, Myron. And they will always laugh. Even when you try to be what they want you to be.” But she goes on to cheerfully comment on how much the other kids miss out on and cheerfully continues with her relaxing activity that’s causing the stares—burying her hands in the soil. Even those behind the pilfered plants, eventually revealed, have a sympathetic, pathos-infused motive.
An engaging mystery that cleverly celebrates the quirkiness of not being neurotypical. (Mystery. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-77147-306-4
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Light on substance but an entertaining series debut nonetheless.
Third-grader Emma Perez is obsessed with becoming a famous star, and inspired by a news reporter on TV, Emma decides becoming a reporter is her path to fame; now she just needs to find her first story.
As it turns out, Emma’s father is also a reporter—the boring kind (you know, print)—and he instructs her in the basics of journalism. Emma's big break arrives when a classmate finds a worm in his hamburger. Emma interviews witnesses and tries to uncover the truth of what happened before the health inspector fires one of the cafeteria staff. Her father patiently guides her through the steps, helping her record news segments in videos posted to the school’s online bulletin board. Emma is confident, outgoing and tenacious. Her dual Dominican and American heritage is acknowledged, but culture is not a main plot point. Emma does occasionally speak Spanish, but it’s usually to get something she wants from an adult, and she provides readers with an immediate translation, “ ‘¿Por favor?’ That means ‘please’ in Spanish. Papi likes it when I speak Spanish.” Emma’s lively personality is evident in the cartoonish black-and-white illustrations. The predictable plot wraps up neatly, setting the stage for more in the series.
Light on substance but an entertaining series debut nonetheless. (Fiction. 6-8)Pub Date: April 28, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-68692-1
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
Perhaps the captain’s next outing will find all its elements in better sync.
Part clever Sherlock Holmes, part bumbling Maxwell Smart, the turbaned Capt. Coconut is a new detective on the scene.
He sets out to solve a case involving the three members of an Indian household: Mrs. Y, her sister, and her nephew, Gilli. Mrs. Y bought 14 bananas, but some are missing. She can account for four—they were eaten—but only six can still be found. After using his calculator to perform the simple mathematical task involved, the detective quickly realizes how many are gone, but the determined sleuth must still find the perpetrator. References, visual and verbal, to Bollywood musical interludes and vaudeville slapstick (remember banana peels) spice up the action, but the math is not complex enough for readers who have the sophistication to enjoy the dry wit and the unusual collage panels of this short graphic novel. The foolish detective, with his round belly sticking out of his safari suit and his red knee socks matching his red paisley nose, can’t open his office door or start his scooter, but of course he does finally solve the mystery. Suffice it to say, an unpleasant stomach ailment provides a clue. Creative readers can provide their own tunes for the three original songs, and the digital collages are filled with zany retro details.
Perhaps the captain’s next outing will find all its elements in better sync. (Graphic mystery. 7-9)Pub Date: June 9, 2015
ISBN: 978-93-83145-22-5
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Tara Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2015
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