Warga, Jasmine. Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, A. Balzer + Bray, 09/2024. 224pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-0629-5670-5. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL.
Since his best friends unfriended him, eleven-year-old Rami hangs out at the museum his mom cleans, and spends a lot of energy trying not to be noticed. Which is why it’s so surprising that he’s the only one the floating girl pays attention to. When a painting is stolen and his mom is suspected, finding out who the girl is, and how she’s connected to the missing art, becomes more important than hiding. Short-titled chapters set the tone for a whimsical mystery that centers on the importance of being seen. Adding energy is the fun dynamic between unassuming Rami and Veda, his more assertive partner in detection. Expository prose that focuses on feelings, and a subplot involving an artistic turtle slow the pace, but may appeal to young readers who want winsome and unthreatening mysteries. Rami is Lebanese American and Veda is Indian American. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired