young readers THE CHICKENTOWN MYSTERY
The mysterious disappearance of hens threatens Chickentown’s annual Golden Feather competition. Hens are treated like “beloved members of every family” in Chickentown, where each year one hen is honored with the coveted Best Hen of the Year award. Several days before the competition, Mrs. Sillyfeather’s hen, Scarlett, vanishes, mysterious footprints in her bedroom the only clue. Then the Fairbeak hen, Gwendolyn, disappears, her wing chair raked by claws. Next Rufina Cluckaday goes missing, clumps of reddish fur left behind, followed the next night by Clarabelle Spatchcock after a strange shadow appears in her bedroom. Chickentown’s “resident witch,” Miss Henrietta, devises a plan to trap the culprit. After Miss Henrietta feeds her own hen, Lucinda, a luminous magic star, the bird shines “with the glow of a thousand lights.” Waiting until a fox shockingly appears and absconds with brave Lucinda, Miss Henrietta follows the trail of light her hen emits. Miss Henrietta finds the four missing hens unharmed—but no fox in sight. While the text neglects to explain what has really happened, a close study of the clue-laden illustrations reveals the strange, unexpected answer to the Chickentown mystery. Rendered in precise outlines, fascinating patterns, and explosive color washes, the detailed, eccentric illustrations definitely are worth discerning examination. Not only do they offer clues to the cunning culprit’s identity and motive, but they also delight with sly humor, memorable hens, and a fabulous witch (who presents White and has a head of bushy red hair). From Spain via Québec, an amusing, intriguing, enticing visual whodunit. (Picture book. 3-7)
FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER
Boulley, Angeline Henry Holt (496 pp.) $18.99 | Mar. 16, 2021 978-1-250-76656-4
young readers
Arrayás, Albert Illus. by the author Trans. by Laforest, Carine CrackBoom! Books (48 pp.) $17.95 | May 4, 2021 978-2-89802-274-6
Testing the strength of family bonds is never easy—and lies make it even harder. Daunis is trying to balance her two communities: The Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, teen is constantly adapting, whether she is with her Anishinaabe father’s side of the family, the Firekeepers, or the Fontaines, her White mother’s wealthy relatives. She has grand plans for her future, as she wants to become a doctor, but has decided to defer her plans to go away for college because her maternal grandmother is recovering from a stroke. Daunis spends her free time playing hockey with her Firekeeper half brother, Levi, but tragedy strikes, and she discovers someone is selling a dangerous new form of meth— and the bodies are piling up. While trying to figure out who is behind this, Daunis pulls away from her family, covering up where she has been and what she has been doing. While dealing with tough topics like rape, drugs, racism, and death, this book balances the darkness with Ojibwe cultural texture and well-crafted characters. Daunis is a three-dimensional, realistically imperfect girl trying her best to handle everything happening around her. The first-person narration reveals her internal monologue, allowing readers to learn what’s going on in her head as she encounters anti-Indian bias and deals with grief. A suspenseful tale filled with Ojibwe knowledge, hockey, and the politics of status. (Thriller. 14-18)
MR. BEAGLE AND THE GEORGESTOWN MYSTERY
Doody, Lori Illus. by the author Running the Goat (40 pp.) $9.95 paper | Aug. 10, 2021 978-1-927917-42-8 Series: Mr. Beagle, 2
In this sequel to Mr. Beagle Goes to Rabbittown (2021), Mr. Beagle tackles a mystery in a nearby neighborhood. Visiting his cousin Georgie in Georgestown, Mr. Beagle learns a cat burglar has been breaking into houses all over the neighborhood, stealing storybooks and causing everyone to feel |
kirkus.com
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young readers
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crime supplement
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