Great graphic novel, loved the comics that were present to tell the story. Follows the story line of a two introverted and extroverted girls who become friends and go to solve a mystery. Worth having as an option in the classroom for intermediate students who are interested in graphic novels.

children's middlegrade graphic novel (4th grade and up) - two 5th graders meet by chance at a garage sale and one of them quickly hatches a plan to allow each to carry out the activities they want to do (basketball and supersleuthing) instead of dance and science summer camps.

This is a super sweet story featuring a 10-y.o. girl version of Sherlock Holmes, her new acquaintance (incidentally brown-skinned and Muslim) Jamila, and a diverse group of kids going through their own issues and who also could use some friends. The illustrations are perfectly appealing, the text is just right; very highly recommended. ( )

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

Shirley and Jamila are two girls with the same problem. They are destined for summer camps they don’t want to go to. Jamila is the youngest of three children: a 20 year old brother, a 16 year old brother, and her. She loves to play basketball, but she can only play it on hoop in her driveway. Shirley is unusual. Sam called her weird and Shirley does not like that. What Shirley is, is observant. She notices things that others don’t. This is a gender bent Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Jamila is fun-loving and she wants to get to know people, and have friends. Shirley loves to read, finding things out, and solving mysteries. Shirley, being super smart hatches a plan to keep them out of summer camp. Instead she has found a way for Jamila to spend the summer on the basketball court and Shirley helping the neighbors solve mysteries and find lost things. This book was an absolute joy to read. The illustrations are appropriate, they’re funny, and I think people will see themselves. I think kids will find this a lot of fun and while Shirley may not be a bumbling detective she’s bumbling through life trying to make friends and not be seen as the weird child ( )

Oh my goodness, what an absolute delight! Pint-sized Shirley Bones taking advantage of the age-old kid superpower -- the grapevine, and her perfect foil: Jamila -- smart, athletic and adventurous. Love the family dynamics, the way the kids argue for more independence, the way they help each other out and the interesting things that draw friends together. Some of the illustrations are just absolutely breathtaking -- there's something about the light that feels like looking through a window. Characters are also wonderfully drawn. ( )