When ten-year-olds Shirley and (new girl) Jamila meet accidentally at a local tag sale, their summer takes an interesting turn, one that neither expected it to take. They not only find a way to not go to the summer camps their mothers have signed them up for and find a bit of freedom, they also solve a case of stolen property and a missing gecko, not to mention they become friends. All of this and a bit more happens in Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz.
Then, Jamila and Shirely go to school in the fall. Jamila is nervous as it is a new school, but having Shirley helps makes things easier. That is until their different personalities and interests take them in different directions, leaving little time for their friendship and Jamila learning what it means to be friends with the “weirdo” of the school from her other friends, in Shirley and Jamila’s Big Fall.
This is where I left our heroines Shirley and Jamila. I finished the first book and immediately picked up book two. And not just because I just happen to have both graphic novels on hand, but because I actually enjoyed reading about our gals summer adventures. And this is despite not being sure I would. You see, it looks young. It looks as if there will be a certain format that will make it too modern for my personal tastes. However, they mix classical coming-of-age, friendship and mystery with a modern twist or two.
The two characters are the pre-teen Odd Couple meets the Big Bang Theory with Shirely being the super smart, child-adult, and Jamila the tomboy, new kid who is dealing with her own growing pains. They bring out the best in each other and allow for the story to flow. Book two has started to work on the fact that Jamila is of Pakistani descent, finding friends that are more similar to her and how that might work out.
However, the second book does have a theme which I am curious how it will work out. I am hoping for “Solution One,” but something tells me it won’t go that way. Therefore, Stay Tuned… we’ll see how things ends. Recommend for a good reader 10 and up and if you do go younger, know your reader and how they might be sensitive to more mature themes.