ALA Booklist (Mon Nov 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

When her teacher, Mrs. Monroe, takes an indefinite leave of absence, white autistic girl Hannah doesn't think any of the coping skills she's learned either in school or from her play therapist will help navigate such a big change. On top of that, there's a mystery of why some of the school's plants aren't doing well, plus a string of porch pirate robberies in her neighborhood. Hannah may not be good with social skills, but her pattern recognition might just be what these cases need. Helping her out are her classmates Noah and Gabriella, as well as her drawings of Dusty Pickle. Included are illustrations explaining how Hannah thinks and reacts, minicomics, and an author's note explaining that her son, the illustrator of this novel, is on the autism spectrum. This is an inclusive, fun addition to the middle-school mystery field, perfect for readers who need a little extra help moving to typical chapter books.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

An autistic 11-year-old who’s considered the class sleuth practices her investigative knack in this illustrated series starter from mother-son duo the Tashjians (the My Life series). The creator of a comic book series featuring Dusty Pickle—a pickle cowgirl in the Wild West—artist Hannah Sharpe also uses drawing to better understand idioms and decode social interactions. Though she’s not a fan of altered routines, Hannah soon navigates a teacher change and befriends the woman renting her family’s converted garage apartment. And when a string of catalytic converter and porch package thefts occurs in her family’s Northern California neighborhood, she employs her observational skills around the inquiry, noticing patterns that add up to a curveball that Hannah cannot handle alone. Though the concept of the young autistic detective is well-trodden, Hannah’s openhearted voice adds myriad details about her neurodivergent experience (drawn, per an author’s note, from Jake Tashjian’s own life), while comics interstitials—both Dusty Pickle episodes and interpersonal experiences—add humor to the straightforward narrative. Hannah and her family read as white; the broader cast is portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)

School Library Journal (Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2024)

Gr 3–5 —Dynamic duo Janet and Jake Tashjian ("My Life as a&30;") return with a new middle grade series. Hannah is a pro at introductions. She is "eleven years old. [Lives] in Livermore, California. [Is] on the autism spectrum and sometimes [has] problems processing information&30;[She] likes cowgirls, Pok&3;mon, Disney, and drawing with [her] Pentel markers." In their signature style, Janet writes and Jake illustrates Hannah's story as she sleuths her way to solving a local crime spree while navigating the mire that is human communication. The prose is light, direct, and engaging. Full-page comic sequences break up the chapters while smaller illustrations pepper the text. Heartfelt creators' notes further emphasize the book's clear message that Hannah's experience is not that of everyone who has ASD, representation is vital, and being autistic is not a bad thing! Hannah and her family have light skin; folks around town have various skin tones. Hannah's teacher is queer. Neighbor Mr. Thompson uses a hearing aid. Hannah is a lovable, relatable protagonist, and readers can expect her to return for future adventures. Her story is a fun one and provides some clever lessons on life's grey areas, which are universally frustrating (even if they manifest differently for all of us). VERDICT Recommended as a general purchase.—Taylor Worley