Casey’s Cases: The ­Mysterious New Girl

Gr 2-5–Casey, 11, wants to be a detective, and she seizes every opportunity, no matter how small, to investigate cases in this charming and comedic debut. Inked art, digitally colored in a muted palette, creates focus on the characters, who are highlighted in portraits before the story begins. The scene opens with Casey waking up to her birthday and excitement sets in. A full-page panel fills with Casey’s triangular head, pigtails up, and hands in the air. She exclaims, “It’s the case of the wrapped presents,” and proceeds to evaluate, by shape, what each one is. A magnifying glass and binoculars accompany her throughout more cases, such as the missing hair band, AJ’s love note, and the lost cat. The story arc revolves around Casey’s biggest case, the mysterious new girl, who starts school on Casey’s birthday. Jan, the new girl, wants to be a scientist and helps Casey with her detective work; their friendship is sweet and their rapport in ridiculous situations is riotous. Clean panels establish a smooth transition and space for playful language and emotional growth to feel natural. Lean, beautifully drawn art, paired with dialogue that is easy to follow, makes this an excellent option for young readers building literacy skills. The letters are hand drawn by the author and easy to read, adding to the notion that this is Casey’s notebook of detective musings. The art stretches to almost fantastical, and most individuals have triangular shaped heads and dainty feet, with skin tones from light to dark.