nightswim78's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What a sweet read. I thought that it brought up important topics like gentrification and movement building while also focusing on the main theme: the importance of community.
melbsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Trigger warnings: hospitalisation of a grandparent, parent with cancer, gentrification, child abandonment (in the past), classism, gun violence, murder (in the past)
This is essentially a love letter to Harlem and the sense of community that goes along with it, and the different ways in which community can show itself. The three protagonists are all from very different backgrounds - Jin lives with her grandparents who run a bodega, Alex is rich but determined to use her wealth for good, and Elvin is living with his grandfather while his mother undergoes cancer treatment in California - and the dynamic between them worked well.
The mystery side of things could have been a liiiiittle faster paced for my liking, but I enjoyed that they actually had to go off and do research and learn about their neighbourhood and the threat of gentrification (in this case, through a Harlem themed amusement park) in order to work out what to do next in regards to solving the mystery.
A lovely mix of Harlem's history and its present, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
This is essentially a love letter to Harlem and the sense of community that goes along with it, and the different ways in which community can show itself. The three protagonists are all from very different backgrounds - Jin lives with her grandparents who run a bodega, Alex is rich but determined to use her wealth for good, and Elvin is living with his grandfather while his mother undergoes cancer treatment in California - and the dynamic between them worked well.
The mystery side of things could have been a liiiiittle faster paced for my liking, but I enjoyed that they actually had to go off and do research and learn about their neighbourhood and the threat of gentrification (in this case, through a Harlem themed amusement park) in order to work out what to do next in regards to solving the mystery.
A lovely mix of Harlem's history and its present, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
lazygal's review
3.0
Another book about finding/reclaiming heritage (will this be a trend? hmmm...). Under the guise of the ever-popular class project, Jin teams up with the odd-girl Alex to learn more about Harlem. Turns out, there's a mystery or two around: who attacked Elvin's grandfather? what happened to the paintings that Henrietta created as part of the Invisible 7 collective? While at times there was a little too much info-dumping and a level of implausibility regarding how Jin, Alex, Elvin and Rose are allowed to just roam around, the sense of place and history will perhaps encourage readers to learn more about their neighborhoods and history.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
gabieowleyess's review
3.0
Definitely fun! Not really my cup of tea with the mystery, but I know I'll have students who love it :)
readingthroughtheages's review
4.0
Fun mystery where the reader is constantly picking up new clues and having to figure out how they fit together. Also a story of unlikely friendships.
lostinausten's review
3.0
I definitely appreciated all of the background on Harlem, but the kids solving a mystery aspect was confusing at times.
abigailbat's review
3.0
I am not a huge mystery fan, so this was a little out of my comfort zone but enjoyable enough. The book definitely has a strong sense of place and diverse characters that are enjoyable to read about. It was a little overlong and a lot of the mystery-solving happened very quickly at the end. I think readers who enjoy mystery more would like it more, particularly fans of books like CHASING VERMEER or THE WESTING GAME.
sam_fielder_137's review
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
It was pretty good for a Juvenile book. I know that I'm not the intended audience, so I tried to have that in mind while I was reading. It definitely didn't leave anything as a mystery. I would usually "figure something out" roughly a paragraph before the book outright said what the answer was. Other times, the only way I knew what was going on was because of pure exposition. The main villains' motivations were not understandable, definitely they don't justify the violence that they committed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Violence, and Murder
tcbueti's review
4.0
Although this title suffers from a few plotting issues, it's an interesting mystery and an even more interesting look at an important neighborhood and time. This also speaks to the power and importance of art.
Jin has to do a school project on her neighborhood, and she's stumped. Several ideas appeal to her and then she comes across Alex, a mysterious girl who hands out free Metrocards and collects donations for a food pantry. Maybe they could do something about that? Adding Elvin (who's homeless since his grandfather was attacked in the park where a painting by a Harlem Renaissance artist was found) cements their goal: solving the mystery of the attack and the paintings becomes their project and mission. Along the way, they save the neighborhood form unscrupulous developers. And become friends.
The author has done a good job of introducing the Harlem Renaissance and its main characters, without bogging down the story, and the controversy about the "Harlem on My Mind" exhibit is thought-provoking. The idea of preserving a neighborhood, and that not all change is progress, is an important one for kids to consider. Jin's close adoptive family (protective grandparents) and their bodega are charming; Elvin and his sick mom and newly discovered grandfather, and Alex's desire to distance herself from her wealthy family all add interesting story wrinkles. Although the bad guys are bumbling, there's still real suspense as the kids search for information.
Jin has to do a school project on her neighborhood, and she's stumped. Several ideas appeal to her and then she comes across Alex, a mysterious girl who hands out free Metrocards and collects donations for a food pantry. Maybe they could do something about that? Adding Elvin (who's homeless since his grandfather was attacked in the park where a painting by a Harlem Renaissance artist was found) cements their goal: solving the mystery of the attack and the paintings becomes their project and mission. Along the way, they save the neighborhood form unscrupulous developers. And become friends.
The author has done a good job of introducing the Harlem Renaissance and its main characters, without bogging down the story, and the controversy about the "Harlem on My Mind" exhibit is thought-provoking. The idea of preserving a neighborhood, and that not all change is progress, is an important one for kids to consider. Jin's close adoptive family (protective grandparents) and their bodega are charming; Elvin and his sick mom and newly discovered grandfather, and Alex's desire to distance herself from her wealthy family all add interesting story wrinkles. Although the bad guys are bumbling, there's still real suspense as the kids search for information.