Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer

by Gillian Goerz

Overview

This middle-grade graphic novel for fans of Roller Girl and Smile introduces Jamila and Shirley, two unlikely friends who save each other's summers while solving their neighborhood's biggest mysteries.

Jamila Waheed is staring down a lonely summer in a new neighborhood—until she meets Shirley Bones. Sure, Shirley's a little strange, but both girls need a new plan for the summer, and they might as well become friends.

Then this kid Oliver shows up begging for Shirley's help. His pet gecko has disappeared, and he's sure it was stolen! That's when Jamila discovers Shirley's secret: She's the neighborhood's best kid detective, and she's on the case. When Jamila discovers she's got some detective skills of her own, a crime-solving partnership is born.

The mystery of the missing gecko turns Shirley and Jamila's summer upside down. And when their partnership hits a rough patch, they have to work together to solve the greatest mystery of all: What it means to be a friend.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525552864
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	07/14/2020
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	115,153
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Gillian Goerz is a Canadian illustrator, writer, and cartoonist. Her illustrations can be found in books such as Ryan North's choosable path adventures To Be or Not to Be and Romeo and/or Juliet. Her comics have been seen in The Walrus, Descant Magazine, and the Humber Literary Review with frequent collaborator and award-winning author Mariko Tamaki. CBC Books named Gillian's autobiographical comic "a highlight" of the anthology The Secret Loves of Geek Girls. She lives in Toronto, Canada.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer

"Goerz's easy, comic style, reminiscent of the art in Raina Telgemeier's books, brings her characters to life. . . . The novel deepens as the girls discovers another surprising truth: Everyone deserves a chance to have his or her story heard, even the guilty. With a sly nod to the original Holmes and Watson, Shirley and Jamila use their wits to connect, with each other and their community." —New York Times Book Review

★ “Goerz is a master of character development, making no one into a villain and no one into a saint and giving each a fascinating role to play. . . . An action-packed graphic novel about finding—and forgiving—our closest friends.” —Kirkus, starred review

★ "Goerz’s simple, expressive style lends itself well to a heartwarming whodunit that is, at its core, a story of friendship with a wonderfully inclusive cast." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This well-executed graphic novel strikes a balance between a focus on meaningful relationships and just plain fun; it’s a great choice for fans of both the ‘Cam ­Jansen’ books and Raina Telgemeier.” —School Library Journal

“What unfolds [in Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer] is not just a mystery about a missing gecko, but a well-observed story about the need for friendship and the many ways it can unfold.” ­—The Virginian-Pilot
 
“Good mysteries are shockingly difficult to write. That’s why I’m so thrilled to encounter Gillian Goerz’s new ‘Shirley and Jamila’ series. Firmly rooted in reality, the book tips its hat low to Sherlock Holmes but maintains an originality entirely of its own.” —Betsy Bird, SLJ’s A Fuse 8 Production

From the Publisher

06/01/2020

Gr 3–6—When Jamila Waheed is dragged by her mother to a garage sale in her new neighborhood, she encounters Shirley Bones, and they bond over their mutual disgust for the summer camps that threaten to ruin their school vacation. Shirley manages to convince their moms to let them spend their summers on their preferred activities; soon, Jamila is playing basketball while Shirley carts around unusual objects and holds meetings on the side of the basketball court. As the two fifth graders spend more time together, Jamila becomes curious about Shirley's activities and learns that she is an amateur detective. Intrigued, Jamila becomes part of Shirley's investigation into a missing gecko, and the case takes the girls on a trek around their neighborhood and gives them a new understanding of friendship. Although Shirley takes top billing in the title, the story is told mostly from Jamila's point of view. This engaging tale features well-developed characters and a clever mystery. The cast of characters is diverse: Jamila is brown-skinned, and her mother wears a head scarf outside the house; Shirley is white; and the supporting characters come from a variety of backgrounds. Goerz's bright line drawings are attractive, expressive, and easy to follow. VERDICT This well-executed graphic novel strikes a balance between a focus on meaningful relationships and just plain fun; it's a great choice for fans of both the "Cam Jansen" books and Raina Telgemeier.—Sarah Reid, Four County Lib. Syst., NY

School Library Journal

★ 2020-03-25
When Jamila Waheed meets fellow 10-year-old Shirley Bones at a garage sale, she’s hopeful she’s made her first neighborhood friend.

Shirley’s mother is sending her to camp for the summer, against her will. When Jamila confesses that she’s in the same situation, Shirley, who’s a bit of an oddball, says that she’ll convince her mother to convince Jamila’s mother to let them skip camp and spend time together instead. Jamila is skeptical, but Shirley comes through, and before long, the two girls are spending their days together on the nearby basketball court. But instead of practicing, like Jamila, Shirley makes it her home base for doing detective work. When Jamila joins Shirley, the two begin to forge a true friendship—one that their latest case puts to the test. This fast-paced graphic novel set in Canada features a diverse cast of characters featured in drawings teeming with movement, detail, and life. Jamila is a brown-skinned Muslim girl, and Shirley is white. Goerz is a master of character development, making no one into a villain and no one into a saint and giving each a fascinating role to play. While Jamila and Shirley’s friendship is the highlight, it’s only one of many deeply satisfactory layers of storytelling.

An action-packed graphic novel about finding—and forgiving—our closest friends. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

★ 05/25/2020

Goerz’s debut, a Sherlock Holmes–tinged mystery set in Canada, follows 10-year-olds Jamila Waheed and Shirley Bones. Upon crossing paths at a yard sale, they realize they face a similar predicament: a boring summer spent at camps chosen by their mothers (science camp for Jamila, dance camp for Shirley). From there, a plan forms: as long as they’re together at the nearby basketball court, basketball enthusiast Jamila can shoot hoops unsupervised while Shirley does her thing—engaging in strange undertakings and receiving visits from neighborhood kids. When a frantic boy asks Shirley to find a missing gecko, it turns out that Shirley’s a well-known kid detective, one who solves “problems that adults can’t or won’t.” Jamila can’t stand by when someone needs help, and Shirley’s crime-solving acumen proves interesting, so they leave the court, and the game’s afoot. Their odd couple dynamic shines from the start, along with strong characterization and a vividly rendered neighborhood. Goerz’s simple, expressive style lends itself well to a heartwarming whodunit that is, at its core, a story of friendship with a wonderfully inclusive cast. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Anjali Singh, Ayesha Pande Literary. (July)

Publishers Weekly