This book is a fun read. It has a lot of subjects for further exploration such as French phrases, art & museums and school uniforms, but it's strongest offering, I think, is the voice of its protagonist: strong, mixed race, female. Jada is spunky, yet not rude which is often the case, smart and tenacious. The mystery is complex but ties together well and could be mapped out for clarity. I love the illustrations. ( )

Bravo! I love how these new authors incorporate African-American history in their stories. We have a rich history that a lot of the younger kids aren't being taught these days.

Concerning the story, I thought it had a very slow start until that plot-twist. That was worth the price admission right there haha. I was thinking Jada was dealing with grief and just imagining her mother in random places but SIKE! SHE'S ALIVE, BABY! The bittersweetness of mama-Umi realizing her husband, Ben, has moved on was way sadder to me than it will be to most kids. :/ sigh, the life of a spy. Overall, this will definitely be a fun book for kids, and they might learn something new.

I'm game for another book in this series. :D ( )