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March 1, 2025
In western Newfoundland, two 11-year-olds must catch a thief before the permanent closure of a retirement community--and Benny's own home. Benny, a white-presenting boy with Down syndrome, lives in Starflower by the Sea, the retirement home his mum runs. Benny's mosaic Down syndrome is entirely asymptomatic except for some physical differences; he's never had any health, speech, or cognitive disabilities. Nonetheless, he's been in special ed classes since he started school--until enough people recognized his above-average grades. Now, both thrilled and terrified, he's about to begin his first day ever in a mainstream classroom. Benny just needs to make some friends...among kids who've ignored or bullied him since he was tiny. Amazingly, the new girl, brown-skinned Salma from Seattle, seems to actually like him. Salma, whose mother is from Newfoundland and implied white and whose father is from Tunisia, is a true-crime aficionado, and she's invaluable when Benny starts investigating the inexplicable thefts plaguing the retirement home. Though the story drags at first, with extensive scene setting, once the pace picks up, the increasingly high-stakes mystery is gripping. As Benny and Salma rush to find a criminal who might leave the much-beloved seniors of Starflower homeless, they still have time to learn myriad moral lessons as they confront bigotry, bullying, and fighting. Young sleuths become best friends as they defeat scoundrels and save seniors in this page-turning mystery. (Newfoundland sayings, author's note)(Mystery. 9-12)
COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
March 1, 2025
Gr 4-7-Benny Brooks, 11, has always been a different sort of b'y (pronounced "BYE," the Newfoundlanders' way of saying "buddy.") Benny has Mosaic Down syndrome, which means that some of his cells have an extra chromosome, and that he looks different than the other kids in his class. After being in special education classes for most of his life, he is part of the mainstream classroom this year. Benny stands out for more than his looks; he also lives at a retirement home that his mom runs called Starflower by the Sea. On the first day, Benny is happy to meet Salma, the Arab American granddaughter of one of the retirement home residents. They instantly bond against the bullies who make fun of them because of their differences. When a string of thefts at Starflower by the Sea causes an official inquiry that may shut down the retirement home, Benny and Salma work together to uncover the thief and save the residents'-and Benny's-home. Readers will find Benny charming and funny. The heart of the story is driven by a diverse cast of secondary characters, including Mr. Tom, an octogenarian resident from whom he learns and grows. Though the mystery is secondary to the characters, it remains engaging enough to add intrigue without overshadowing the story's emotional depth. Included is a helpful glossary of common Newfoundlander sayings that are used throughout. VERDICT A heartfelt character-driven mystery featuring a neurodivergent male protagonist that explores friendship, belonging, and family, this is a story perfect for fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder, Gayle Forman's Not Nothing, and Gordon Korman's Restart.-Rachel Jussel
Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from March 1, 2025
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* Benny Brooks, who has mosaic Down syndrome, joins "regular school" from his special education classroom just as Salma arrives from Seattle. The two outsiders hit it off immediately. Self-assured Salma's Tunisian heritage makes her stand out in their Western Newfoundland community, while Benny, 11, "know[s] what it's like to be different" or, rather, "what it's like to be treated different." Salma's grandmother lives at Starflower by the Sea, the retirement home Benny's mom runs, making hangouts easy for the pair. When a series of resident thefts threatens the home's closure, Benny and Salma embrace her love of true-crime podcasts to investigate the incidents and save the Starflower. Edgar Award winner King (OCDaniel, 2016) crafts an affable friendship caper, though it's the character development here that truly shines. The tender relationship between Benny, whose father died in a fishing accident, and Mr. Tom, an elderly resident estranged from his own family, adds emotional depth to the cozy story. King also packs his prose with humorous regional aphorisms that enhance its rich sense of place. A glossary prepares readers for the b'ys peppering the text (it's a catch-all saying), and the "best kind" locals who "believe in hard work and root vegetables" will win hearts. An immersive, empathetic, and endearing mystery, me duckies.
COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from January 13, 2025
Born with mosaic Down syndrome, white-cued 11-year-old Benny Brooks, who lives in a retirement home owned by his mother, yearns to find a friend his own age. He bonds with Salma Price, freshly settled in Newfoundland from Seattle, as they both contend with bullies who taunt Benny for being “special ed” and label Salma, who is of Tunisian descent, a “foreign girl” because of her Arabic name. At the retirement home, valuable items
have begun vanishing from people’s rooms, establishing a disturbing trend just as a new inspector for senior services visits. With the police convinced that an addled resident is losing items and with the inspector threatening to close the home, Benny teams up with true-crime-podcast-loving Salma to uncover the culprit. Palpable tension makes for a suspenseful, emotional read by King (Butt Sandwich & Tree) as Benny strives to save not only his family’s home and livelihood but also an essential refuge for elders in need, all while grieving the death of his father four years earlier. Utilizing a POV seldom seen in children’s fiction, King crafts a uniquely savvy mystery crackling with the chill and charm of rural Newfoundland. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Brianne Johnson, HG Literary.