The worlds of three Harlem kids collide in an intriguing historical mystery. Jin spends most afternoons minding Halmoni and Harabeoji's bodega until a mysterious black girl from her class sticks a free MetroCard to a jar of pickles. Cautious but intrigued, the Korean-American girl confronts Alexandra at school to try and join in on the secret acts of charity. Although Alex has enjoyed her independent, low-key philanthropy, meeting Jin helps her expand her good deeds around the neighborhood. On their way to drop food off at the homeless shelter, a small black boy in an oversized coat attempts to steal a loaf of bread. Elvin's failed bread-heist introduces him to two new, generous friends. When he shares that his grandfather fell into a coma after an attack in the community garden where a rare painting was found, the trio sets out to unearth the truth. Tarpley welds the past and present perceptions of Harlem in her latest book. Jin, Elvin, and Alex cherish their community while respecting their different approaches to justice for its residents. The history, urban planning, and out-of-touch politics wrapped around the neighborhood can be applied to any inner city. 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. (author's notes) (Mystery. 8-12)

The many worlds of Harlem come together in this exciting, mysterious story of art and adventure. Korean American Jin spends her time staring out the window of the bodega belonging to her halmoni (grandmother) and haraboji (grandfather). Alexandra is determined to use her family's wealth to help improve the lives of everyone in her neighborhood. And Elvin, new to New York City, finds himself barely scraping by on the streets, utterly alone and locked out of his apartment after his grandfather is mysteriously attacked. When these three friends come together to solve the mystery of Elvin's grandfather, they instead find themselves thrust into the story of an enigmatic artist whose recently unearthed painting may be the key to saving their entire community. The novel's inner-city setting is masterful, and readers will quickly connect the glory and the struggles of the Harlem Renaissance to the Harlem of the present. With a diverse cast of characters, Tarpley's story is a warm and endearing portrayal of the ways a community brings people together, and the power of art to endure and inspire.

Fans of Laura Ruby's York: The Shadow Cipher will enjoy this realistic mystery featuring three tweens of color who stumble into a mystery involving a valuable work of art and fight back when their neighborhood is threatened by an amusement-park development. An emphasis on the history of Harlem artists fighting for inclusion also highlights art as a means to innovate and preserve culture.

The worlds of three Harlem kids collide in an intriguing historical mystery. Jin spends most afternoons minding Halmoni and Harabeoji's bodega until a mysterious black girl from her class sticks a free MetroCard to a jar of pickles. Cautious but intrigued, the Korean-American girl confronts Alexandra at school to try and join in on the secret acts of charity. Although Alex has enjoyed her independent, low-key philanthropy, meeting Jin helps her expand her good deeds around the neighborhood. On their way to drop food off at the homeless shelter, a small black boy in an oversized coat attempts to steal a loaf of bread. Elvin's failed bread-heist introduces him to two new, generous friends. When he shares that his grandfather fell into a coma after an attack in the community garden where a rare painting was found, the trio sets out to unearth the truth. Tarpley welds the past and present perceptions of Harlem in her latest book. Jin, Elvin, and Alex cherish their community while respecting their different approaches to justice for its residents. The history, urban planning, and out-of-touch politics wrapped around the neighborhood can be applied to any inner city. 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. (author's notes) (Mystery. 8-12)

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.)

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