Finding Mighty

March 1, 2017
Myla and Peter step into the path of a gang when they unite forces to find Peter's runaway brother, Randall. As they follow the graffiti tags that Randall has been painting in honor of the boys' deceased father, they uncover a sinister history involving stolen diamonds, disappearances, and deaths. It started long ago when the boys' grandmother, a diamond-cutter, partnered with the head of the gang. She was rumored to have hidden his diamonds before her suspicious death, leaving clues to their whereabouts. Now everyone is searching, including Randall. The duo's collaboration is initially an unwilling one fraught with misunderstandings. Even after Peter and Myla bond over being the only people of color in an otherwise white school (Myla is Indian-American; mixed-race Peter is Indian, African-American, and white), Peter can't believe the gang is after Myla. But Myla possesses a necklace that holds a clue. Alternating first-person chapters allow peeks into how Myla, Peter, and Randall unravel the story and decipher clues. Savvy readers will put the pieces together, too, although false leads and red herrings are cleverly interwoven. The action stumbles at times, but it takes place against the rich backdrops of gritty New York City and history-laden Dobbs Ferry and is made all the more colorful by references to graffiti art and parkour. A quick, agreeable caper, this may spark some discussion even as it entertains. (Mystery. 10-12)

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April 1, 2017
Gr 4-7-Told in alternating chapters by the three main characters, this novel contains all the right elements for an intriguing adventure: a long-ago theft, a suspicious death, a lost cache of uncut diamonds, menacing gang members, and a shrouded family history. Twelve-year-olds Myla and Peter, through a set of coincidences (or are they?), end up working together to solve a mystery. Peter and his mother have recently moved to Dobbs Ferry, NY, from Yonkers, NY, and are next-door neighbors to Myla Rajan and her family. Just before the move, Peter's 16-year-old brother Randall disappeared, leaving a note saying -Don't find me.- Nevertheless, Peter is determined to do just that. Randall, following in their deceased father's footsteps, is a graffiti artist as well as a practitioner of parkour. The pace of the book picks up significantly midway when Randall, on a personal and dangerous mission, is given voice in his own chapters. The relationships, especially the sibling ones, are believable, and it is refreshing to see parents depicted as attentive and intelligent. When all paths converge, it is a heart-pounding race to see who will untangle the mystery first. And at what cost. VERDICT The plot is solid and the familial bonds strong. Exploring urban graffiti as a legitimate art form is a great discussion topic. Recommended for mystery fans and for most medium to large collections.-Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2017
Grades 4-7 Twelve-year-old Myla finds herself in the middle of a decades-old crime conspiracy after she purchases a mysterious street-fair necklace engraved with the Indian symbol Om and the word, keeper. Chari's (Vanished, 2011) latest thriller is wholly original, celebrating diversity within and between families, presenting graffiti as an art form, and acquainting audiences with the practice and practicality of parkour. When Om symbols start appearing on train stations around New York City, Peter knows his recently missing brother, Randall ( Mighty ), must be responsible. Peter teams up with Myla to find Randall before local gang the Fencers does. Fast-paced and intricately plotted, Chari's mystery is a rare achievement that pays off at every turn, featuring characters of color interested in their families' histories and cultures. Spot art further draws readers into the sleuthing atmosphere as they get a look at entries in Myla and Peters' notebooks. Myla and Peter's race to find Randall turns into a race to discover a family secret that comes to a gripping and satisfying conclusion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)