The Queen of Ocean Parkway

As the only child of the superintendent, Roya Alborzi doubts that anyone knows more about the residents and history of their Brooklyn apartment complex on Ocean Parkway than she does. The intrepid 11-year-old, an aspiring investigative journalist, helps her mother maintain the building and hones her observational acumen by reporting the daily goings-on for the 47 (mostly Danish) subscribers of her secret podcast, The Queen of Ocean Parkway, while avoiding the subject of her science teacher father's colon cancer. After overhearing tenants Stefanie Turner and her wife Katya Petrov discussing Katya's family curse and the fortune tied to it, Roya is intrigued--and then alarmed when Katya vanishes 24 hours later. Stefanie explains that Katya's great-grandfather built a Coney Island fortune-telling attraction called Grandmother's Predictions that is linked to decades of mysterious Petrov disappearances. With the help of shy and studious new tenant Amin Lahiri, Roya vows to find Katya and uncover the truth behind the Petrov family curse. Dusted with speculative elements, this cozy and surprising mystery by Tash (A Whole Song and Dance) features appealing and perceptively drawn characters coping with genuinely wrought emotions in a vivid setting. The cast is intersectionally diverse. Ages 8-12. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency. (Sept.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 4-6--An engaging time travel story disguised as a mystery. Eleven-year-old Roya Alborzi dreams of being a news reporter one day. Until then, she spends her time helping her mom, who is the superintendent of their historic Brooklyn apartment building, and hosting her own podcast about the tenants. Roya has to put her investigative skills to the test when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, disappears after visiting a legendary fortune-telling machine at Coney Island. Together with her new neighbor, Amin, and Katya's wife, Stephanie, Roya must break the Petrov family curse before Katya is gone forever. Roya is a bright and charismatic protagonist. Her relationships with the story's diverse secondary characters are multifaceted and add a level of complexity to an otherwise straightforward mystery. Roya's budding friendship with Amin is a delight to read; her relationship with her father, who is undergoing chemotherapy, is beautifully written. Roya's interactions with her father and fears about his health may resonate with readers who have immunocompromised family or friends. The characters' physical descriptions are simple and mostly describe hair and eye color. The author relies on language and cultural markers to denote ethnicity. VERDICT An intrepid mystery with unexpected sci-fi elements, this story packs an emotional punch similar to Kelly Yang's Front Desk.--Maria Martin

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Hand to fans of Ellen Raskin and Rebecca Stead. . . . this book provides the right level of mystery, daring characters who learn to stand up for their friends, and a big-hearted ending that'll wrap you in a hug.

Entirely original, and the characters are distinct individuals whose worries, quirks, and foibles will engage readers' sympathies".

"A charming, warm-hearted tale that reads like a classic. This book is for the kids who curl up in corners of the library, reading for hours at a time and daydreaming of mystery and adventure. Themes of family, friendship, and courage abound, and Roya and Amin make for a truly delightful and dynamic duo." —Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Some Kind of Happiness

"A clever feat of physics and fun. Sarvenaz Tash is an expert at writing bold concepts with masterful nuance and tenderness. I love this mystery!" —Lauren Magaziner, author of the Case Closed series