Didn't quite work for me -- still like the diverse cast of kids and the reading level. Useful as a jumping off point to talk about prejudice. However, the final confrontation with the security guard just didn't read as realistic, and there were no real amends made for previous hurtful statements. Also, as much as the end of the book makes it seem likely that the accused boy was the culprit, he was never caught in the act, admitted anything or had any evidence linking him to the vandalism aside from proximity to damaged pieces. So in many ways, he was accused just like the other kids were, with no opportunity to answer the accusation. Troubling. ( )

I liked the diverse characters who work together to solve a crime the adults do not solve. Many historical facts are sprinkled throughout the text making this a multi-genre book with non-fiction and fiction working together to help bring history alive. They also have to deal with prejudice and hateful statements which offer rich classroom discussion opportunities. How would the reader have handled the situations? Would he or she have been able to resolve it happily as the book characters were able to do?
Recommend for ages 8 and up
very good book for group discussion in schools
This book was given to me for review for Multicultural Children's Book Day 2016 and is being donated to a Minnesota school. ( )