Charlie Tickler knows that his parents care more for animals than they do for him, but it's still a sore spot. He feels even worse when they take a trip to South Africa (moles need their help!) and leave him with his disinterested grandparents in Castle-on-the-Hudson, an isolated town with a large Deaf community. Yet, Charlie's lonely summer transforms into one of excitement and belonging after Aggie, an old lady he meets at the library, goes missing. His investigation leads him to Frog spirited deaf girl who dreams of becoming a detective d the two team up to crack the mystery of Aggie's disappearance and unravel its connection to a local mystery writer. The mystery here is entertaining, but what makes the book unique is its positive and thorough incorporation of Deafness. Kane is a graduate of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and she seamlessly integrates American Sign Language and deaf characters into the story, subtly reminding readers that these are capable, complete individuals. A worthy addition to mystery collections.

After Charlie's parents dump him with his grandparents for the summer, the ten-year-old teams up with peppery deaf girl "Frog" (Francine) to learn American Sign Language and possibly solve a mystery. The story's capital-Q Quirkiness devolves from cute to irritating, but Kane's textual depiction of ASL is novel (if laborious for readers), and her portrayal of Deaf culture is highly detailed.

A hearing boy and his deaf friend use ASL, gondolas, and the Dewey decimal system to solve a mystery in Kane's debut middle-grade novel.Charlie struggles to be heard. His parents traipse around the globe saving rare animals, leaving him in the care of his grandparents, who would rather watch TV than engage. That changes when he boards a rickety gondola to the Flying Hands Cafe, part of the Castle School for the Deaf. There he meets Frog, an energetic deaf girl intrigued by a mystery swirling around her favorite author. The solid narrative includes a zany cast of characters (none of whom are explicitly racialized), a fast-moving plot, and a low-stakes but suspenseful mystery. What makes this story stand out is the depiction of Deaf culture and community, likely drawn from the author's education and work as an interpreter. Uninformed readers will learn some signs and letters of the alphabet, both from the writing and the finely detailed illustrations heading each chapter, as well as absorbing information about ASL and Deaf etiquette. (For example, Charlie's grandmother asks if he and Frog are sweethearts; when Frog asks what Grandma said, the embarrassed Charlie "almost wrote ‘never mind' before he realized how rude that would be. Frog had a right to know.") Deaf readers, as well as hearing children with deaf family members and others enmeshed in Deaf community, will see familiar cultural markers, such as the "Deaf can" motto and the school's importance in the local community. An enjoyable read that artfully mixes adventure, heart, and cultural competence. (Mystery. 7-12)

Ten-year-old Charlie is used to being abandoned by his parents, who spend more time on trips saving animals than with Charlie. This time Charlie is being left with his equally neglectful grandparents, who prefer watching TV to grandparenting, in Castle-on-Hudson, a quirky town in New York. But next could be boarding school, so Charlie begins a campaign to persuade his grandparents to let him stay for good. At the town library, Charlie meets Aggie, an elderly Deaf woman who is being pursued by two mysterious men. Aggie attempts to convey an important message to Charlie in sign language before she escapes her pursuers; concerned, Charlie sets out on a mission to find her. On his quest, he meets Frog, a Deaf girl whose family owns the Castle School for the Deaf. Exuberant, fearless Frog, who wants to be a detective, is a worthy foil for cautious Charlie as they begin following clues to uncover the mystery of Aggie and the book she had been searching for. Kane-s debut, a light and engaging mystery, takes on added depth through its focus on the Deaf community. Charlie longs for kinship with others; intriguingly, it-s through learning sign language that he finds friendship and connection. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)