The Harlem Charade

The young detectives' curiosity, passion, and belief in one another carry the plot smoothly from start to finish.... A story that motivates justice and inspires kindness, this will have readers hoping for another outing with these appealing protagonists.

Gr 4-6—What makes a community? What role does the past play in our present and future? These are the overarching questions posed in this Harlem-set mystery with its cast of three disparate seventh graders. Jin, who lives with her grandparents and helps run their bodega, is a keen observer of human nature and records all in her ever-present notebook. Alex, an extremely wealthy girl, spends her free time trying to help the disadvantaged, while being rude and abrasive to her fellow classmates. Elvin, who becomes the linchpin of the trio, has just arrived in Harlem to live with his estranged grandfather. When disaster strikes and his grandfather is brutally attacked, Elvin becomes homeless and the girls swoop in as caretakers. As the three begin to investigate the assault, they learn of a fascinating chapter in the Harlem art scene that has far-reaching ramifications for the present. The author's note will be helpful in classroom discussions and may prompt further reading. VERDICT Exploring themes such as art, social justice, and the corporatization of historic settings, this selection will have strong regional appeal and will interest those who enjoyed Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI

Tarpley (Destiny's Gift) introduces a diverse trio of 12-year-olds trekking through the streets of Harlem to solve an increasingly complicated mystery. Jin, whose Korean grandparents run a bodega, is intrigued by the stealthy good deeds of an African-American girl, Alex, who is ashamed of her family's wealth and keeps it secret. Jin contrives to work with Alex on a school project; circumstances quickly throw the girls together with tiny brown-skinned, dreadlocked Elvin, newly arrived from Berkeley, whose grandfather was assaulted and is in a coma. As the threesome focuses on figuring out who attacked him, their relationship evolves from an uneasy alliance to a warm fellowship as clues lead them to uncover layers of local corruption. The fast-paced story takes readers to landmarks such as the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and St. Nicholas Park, as the amateur detectives learn about the neighborhood's history in the tumultuous 1960s. While the history lessons are occasionally a bit heavy-handed, Tarpley creates a strong sense of Harlem's rich past and present, conveys the importance of art, and raises thoughtful questions about service and justice. Ages 8-12. (Jan.)