Publishers Weekly Review
| Goerz's debut, a Sherlock Holmes--tinged mystery set in Canada, follows 10-year-olds Jamila Waheed and Shirley Bones. Upon crossing paths at a yard sale, they realize they face a similar predicament: a boring summer spent at camps chosen by their mothers (science camp for Jamila, dance camp for Shirley). From there, a plan forms: as long as they're together at the nearby basketball court, basketball enthusiast Jamila can shoot hoops unsupervised while Shirley does her thing--engaging in strange undertakings and receiving visits from neighborhood kids. When a frantic boy asks Shirley to find a missing gecko, it turns out that Shirley's a well-known kid detective, one who solves "problems that adults can't or won't." Jamila can't stand by when someone needs help, and Shirley's crime-solving acumen proves interesting, so they leave the court, and the game's afoot. Their odd couple dynamic shines from the start, along with strong characterization and a vividly rendered neighborhood. Goerz's simple, expressive style lends itself well to a heartwarming whodunit that is, at its core, a story of friendship with a wonderfully inclusive cast. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8--12. Agent: Anjali Singh, Ayesha Pande Literary. (July) |
School Library Journal Review
| Gr 3--6--When Jamila Waheed is dragged by her mother to a garage sale in her new neighborhood, she encounters Shirley Bones, and they bond over their mutual disgust for the summer camps that threaten to ruin their school vacation. Shirley manages to convince their moms to let them spend their summers on their preferred activities; soon, Jamila is playing basketball while Shirley carts around unusual objects and holds meetings on the side of the basketball court. As the two fifth graders spend more time together, Jamila becomes curious about Shirley's activities and learns that she is an amateur detective. Intrigued, Jamila becomes part of Shirley's investigation into a missing gecko, and the case takes the girls on a trek around their neighborhood and gives them a new understanding of friendship. Although Shirley takes top billing in the title, the story is told mostly from Jamila's point of view. This engaging tale features well-developed characters and a clever mystery. The cast of characters is diverse: Jamila is brown-skinned, and her mother wears a head scarf outside the house; Shirley is white; and the supporting characters come from a variety of backgrounds. Goerz's bright line drawings are attractive, expressive, and easy to follow. VERDICT This well-executed graphic novel strikes a balance between a focus on meaningful relationships and just plain fun; it's a great choice for fans of both the "Cam Jansen" books and Raina Telgemeier.--Sarah Reid, Four County Lib. Syst., NY |
Booklist Review
| Ten-year-old Jamila Waheed is dreading summer in her new town; between boring science camp and no friends, it's bound to be awful. When she meets oddball Shirley Bones at a garage sale, Jamila isn't so sure she wants to be friends, but reluctance turns to excitement as she realizes Shirley has some very special skills when it comes to solving mysteries. When some neighborhood kids turn to Shirley for help to find their stolen gecko, Jamila is drawn into some serious neighborhood drama. Debut author Goerz has created a charming summertime romp with a cast of highly likable characters reflecting a range of voices. Jamila and Shirley experience realistic ups and downs of a new friendship but model thoughtful problem solving and communication. The artwork is fresh and appealing, with expressive cartoonish figures and full-color panels. This friendship story with a bit of mystery strikes a perfect balance of carefree fun and real-world issues and will appeal to readers looking for a realistic reflection of the tween experience. |
Kirkus Review
| When Jamila Waheed meets fellow 10-year-old Shirley Bones at a garage sale, she's hopeful she's made her first neighborhood friend. Shirley's mother is sending her to camp for the summer, against her will. When Jamila confesses that she's in the same situation, Shirley, who's a bit of an oddball, says that she'll convince her mother to convince Jamila's mother to let them skip camp and spend time together instead. Jamila is skeptical, but Shirley comes through, and before long, the two girls are spending their days together on the nearby basketball court. But instead of practicing, like Jamila, Shirley makes it her home base for doing detective work. When Jamila joins Shirley, the two begin to forge a true friendship--one that their latest case puts to the test. This fast-paced graphic novel set in Canada features a diverse cast of characters featured in drawings teeming with movement, detail, and life. Jamila is a brown-skinned Muslim girl, and Shirley is white. Goerz is a master of character development, making no one into a villain and no one into a saint and giving each a fascinating role to play. While Jamila and Shirley's friendship is the highlight, it's only one of many deeply satisfactory layers of storytelling. An action-packed graphic novel about finding--and forgiving--our closest friends. (Graphic fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
