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