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Party: A Mystery
A beautifully illustrated story of three girls caught up in the most curious of mysteries.
Three girls—Pam, Beth, and Sue—attend a party to celebrate the publication of the first of the Nancy Drew mystery books. There are many distractions at the fancy affair: flower arrangements, partygoers, refreshments, and lots and lots of marble. Suddenly, the oldest girl, Pam, sees what can only be described as something truly . . . bilious . . . not good! Beth sees it too. The youngest, Sue, does not, and as usual she has a hard time getting anyone to tell her anything. Party: A Mystery is a beautifully drawn adventure story that promises questions that will grab children, but does not guarantee an answer.
Three girls—Pam, Beth, and Sue—attend a party to celebrate the publication of the first of the Nancy Drew mystery books. There are many distractions at the fancy affair: flower arrangements, partygoers, refreshments, and lots and lots of marble. Suddenly, the oldest girl, Pam, sees what can only be described as something truly . . . bilious . . . not good! Beth sees it too. The youngest, Sue, does not, and as usual she has a hard time getting anyone to tell her anything. Party: A Mystery is a beautifully drawn adventure story that promises questions that will grab children, but does not guarantee an answer.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published June 4, 2019
3 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Jamaica Kincaid
85 books1,873 followersJamaica Kincaid is an Antiguan-American novelist, essayist, gardener, and gardening writer. She was born in St. John's, Antigua (part of the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda). She lives in North Bennington, Vermont (in the United States), during the summers, and is Professor of African and African American Studies in Residence at Harvard University during the academic year.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
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February 12, 2020This is a mystery, as the subtitle tells us. But unlike all other books in this genre, there is no reveal at the end. We, as readers, as close observers of the illustrations (which are remarkable for both their perspective and the perfect expressiveness of the characters), are expected to figure it out on our own.
Or are we?
What if there is no mystery for us to figure out? What if that isn't the point at all? By calling this a mystery, Kincaid sets up our expectations, but then she pulls the rug out from under us by refusing to spell out what the girls saw that disgusted them so. In any other mystery, we expect this thing to be shown, to be revealed. If, however, we will never learn (neither from the text nor the images) what they saw, then we need to revise our expectations of what this book is. As we're told again and again in many different settings, it's not the destination, it's the journey. If we give up the idea of learning the mystery, we are left exploring the experience these young girls have at an adult party.
My favorite review, which helped give me a new perspective on this book, is here:
https://lithub.com/on-the-darkness-at...
Or are we?
What if there is no mystery for us to figure out? What if that isn't the point at all? By calling this a mystery, Kincaid sets up our expectations, but then she pulls the rug out from under us by refusing to spell out what the girls saw that disgusted them so. In any other mystery, we expect this thing to be shown, to be revealed. If, however, we will never learn (neither from the text nor the images) what they saw, then we need to revise our expectations of what this book is. As we're told again and again in many different settings, it's not the destination, it's the journey. If we give up the idea of learning the mystery, we are left exploring the experience these young girls have at an adult party.
My favorite review, which helped give me a new perspective on this book, is here:
https://lithub.com/on-the-darkness-at...
June 12, 2019
I loved the illustrations, but the mystery is too much. I could not determine what the two girls initially saw that then went missing. This is even after a very careful second read. I think this would frustrate more than delight young readers.
February 7, 2023
Lovely illustrations and I adore the fact that there are black children as the lead characters because there are not enough picture books as such.The story line I could relate to as an adult was the two older girls (one an older sister) refuse to tell the young what is going on. They use language that is way over most people’s heads, certainly the little sisters. Almost anyone that was the little sister or brother can relate to the frustration the little one feels. For me it was my older cousin and brother always creating mysteries that did not include me. I think it’s frustrating as a story that we never find out what the mystery was or have a resolution, but the beautiful artwork makes up for the lack. The little girl has cake on the book cover so st least there’s that. Because it seems one mystery might just be that everyone ate all of one of the cakes. At least she got a slice of the remaining one!
June 30, 2019
Why we chose this book:
T is entranced at present by mystery-solvers. He has not abandoned his love of monster-lore, but expanded it to include monster-mysteries, which, in turn, led us to mysteries. On top of it, we return again and again to Cortés's Sea Creatures from the Sky, so seeing his work again held great appeal. A review copy was provided by Akashic Books in exchange for an honest review.
Mom's Review (V)
Three girls are at a grown-up party, watching from the periphery and trying to figure out how to access the refreshments; two are friends and one is a younger sister. As older siblings are wont to do, the two exclude young Sue from their tete-a-tete. Sue's frustration, powerlessness, and disappointment are palpable as the girls witness but won't explain an unnamed something. Whatever it is, it is bilious. If you don't have a precise definition of bilious, prepare to look it up as we had to!
What I love best about Party is how seamlessly the illustrations and text meld. Cortés perfectly complements Kincaid's words. And together they convey the experience of a younger sibling so realistically that one must question whether this is fiction or non-fiction. The older girls not only have the self-satisfied look of those who relish having charge of a younger sibling (in a healthy, non-bullying way), but they sound like children who are trying on big words for size. And when the two older girls express disgust at how "bilious" what they observe is, I could feel my own stomach turn in reaction to their reaction. The expressions on the girls' faces are priceless!
Without spoiling the ending, I will say that it was the perfect capstone to Sue's party experience.
The illustrations and realism make Party a satisfying read that will resonate with younger siblings (or anyone who has experienced the frustration of ignorance). Two other aspects of Party enhance what is already a thoroughly satisfying book: the ending and the fact that the party is in celebration of Nancy Drew.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: 4 years old)
Son: Let's start reading!
Mom: Are you excited? Why do you like mysteries?
Son: I am! 'Cuz they're spooky!
_________________________________________
While reading:
Mom: Where does it look like they are? That kinda reminds me of stairs in the museum.
Son: Probably they are at the museum.
Son: What does "querulous" mean?
(My first guess was wrong; my vocabulary is expanding with this book.)
Mom: Would you go up those stairs by yourself?
Son: No, 'cuz that would be too spooky.
Mom: Does this look like a grown-up party or a kid party?
Son: A grown-up party.
Mom: How do you feel? How does she look?
Son: Excited! Concerned!
Mom: What would you do if you didn't know what they were talking about?
Son: I would ask them.
Mom: That's a good plan. How does she [Sue] feel? What would you do if you were there?
Son: Sad. I would comfort her. I would hug Sue.
_____________________________________________
After reading:
Son: What do you think they saw, Mom?
Mom: I don't know. They used two words to describe it: vile and bilious. What do you think they saw? A real thing or were they tricking Sue?
Son: Tricking her. To make her feel sad.
Mom: If the story kept going, what do you think the other girls will do? Do you think they will be nice to her?
Son: No, because they aren't nice. Maybe they'll write another story about those guys to tell us what happened.
Mom: This is a Nancy Drew book party. Would you want to go to a book party?
(We looked at my Nancy Drew books afterward.)
Son: Of course. Can you read me these?
Mom: When you are older.
T is entranced at present by mystery-solvers. He has not abandoned his love of monster-lore, but expanded it to include monster-mysteries, which, in turn, led us to mysteries. On top of it, we return again and again to Cortés's Sea Creatures from the Sky, so seeing his work again held great appeal. A review copy was provided by Akashic Books in exchange for an honest review.
Mom's Review (V)
Three girls are at a grown-up party, watching from the periphery and trying to figure out how to access the refreshments; two are friends and one is a younger sister. As older siblings are wont to do, the two exclude young Sue from their tete-a-tete. Sue's frustration, powerlessness, and disappointment are palpable as the girls witness but won't explain an unnamed something. Whatever it is, it is bilious. If you don't have a precise definition of bilious, prepare to look it up as we had to!
What I love best about Party is how seamlessly the illustrations and text meld. Cortés perfectly complements Kincaid's words. And together they convey the experience of a younger sibling so realistically that one must question whether this is fiction or non-fiction. The older girls not only have the self-satisfied look of those who relish having charge of a younger sibling (in a healthy, non-bullying way), but they sound like children who are trying on big words for size. And when the two older girls express disgust at how "bilious" what they observe is, I could feel my own stomach turn in reaction to their reaction. The expressions on the girls' faces are priceless!
Without spoiling the ending, I will say that it was the perfect capstone to Sue's party experience.
The illustrations and realism make Party a satisfying read that will resonate with younger siblings (or anyone who has experienced the frustration of ignorance). Two other aspects of Party enhance what is already a thoroughly satisfying book: the ending and the fact that the party is in celebration of Nancy Drew.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: 4 years old)
Son: Let's start reading!
Mom: Are you excited? Why do you like mysteries?
Son: I am! 'Cuz they're spooky!
_________________________________________
While reading:
Mom: Where does it look like they are? That kinda reminds me of stairs in the museum.
Son: Probably they are at the museum.
Son: What does "querulous" mean?
(My first guess was wrong; my vocabulary is expanding with this book.)
Mom: Would you go up those stairs by yourself?
Son: No, 'cuz that would be too spooky.
Mom: Does this look like a grown-up party or a kid party?
Son: A grown-up party.
Mom: How do you feel? How does she look?
Son: Excited! Concerned!
Mom: What would you do if you didn't know what they were talking about?
Son: I would ask them.
Mom: That's a good plan. How does she [Sue] feel? What would you do if you were there?
Son: Sad. I would comfort her. I would hug Sue.
_____________________________________________
After reading:
Son: What do you think they saw, Mom?
Mom: I don't know. They used two words to describe it: vile and bilious. What do you think they saw? A real thing or were they tricking Sue?
Son: Tricking her. To make her feel sad.
Mom: If the story kept going, what do you think the other girls will do? Do you think they will be nice to her?
Son: No, because they aren't nice. Maybe they'll write another story about those guys to tell us what happened.
Mom: This is a Nancy Drew book party. Would you want to go to a book party?
(We looked at my Nancy Drew books afterward.)
Son: Of course. Can you read me these?
Mom: When you are older.
May 31, 2019
This book doesn't lie. It sure is a mystery!
I came into work and someone said, "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS." We've all proceeded to pass it around and force more readers on it just to see reactions.
Some people really, really don't like it. This mystery is confusing or, rather, unlike a great deal of kid lit, it is not spelled right out for you. And since it harvests some vocab from Nancy Drew, a little out there for the age it'll likely be read to.
But, ultimately, even those who didn't like the book would turn to the next person who walked into the room and exclaim "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS." And that certainly makes a great book...shared and read by many -- even if some read it in antipathy.
The illustrations are truly beautiful and I still suspect there's another layer to they mystery that I haven't quite grasped. Until I do, I'll keep passing it on to people saying, "Hey...have you read this? You HAVE to read this."
I came into work and someone said, "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS." We've all proceeded to pass it around and force more readers on it just to see reactions.
Some people really, really don't like it. This mystery is confusing or, rather, unlike a great deal of kid lit, it is not spelled right out for you. And since it harvests some vocab from Nancy Drew, a little out there for the age it'll likely be read to.
But, ultimately, even those who didn't like the book would turn to the next person who walked into the room and exclaim "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS." And that certainly makes a great book...shared and read by many -- even if some read it in antipathy.
The illustrations are truly beautiful and I still suspect there's another layer to they mystery that I haven't quite grasped. Until I do, I'll keep passing it on to people saying, "Hey...have you read this? You HAVE to read this."
June 2, 2019
Stunningly illustrated, but with an odd storyline and interesting vocabulary. The illustrations are intricately detailed and very realistic. I loved the various expressions on the girls' faces. I also appreciated that the protagonists were all Black girls - girls doing girl things at an adult party.
The story truly was a mystery - the girls saw something, but what they saw was never made clear. Teachers might consider using this book as a writing prompt. What exactly did the girls see and what happened next?
Some of the vocabulary, while interesting pulled me out of the story. It seemed as if the author was using unusual words for sake of introducing them to readers.
The story truly was a mystery - the girls saw something, but what they saw was never made clear. Teachers might consider using this book as a writing prompt. What exactly did the girls see and what happened next?
Some of the vocabulary, while interesting pulled me out of the story. It seemed as if the author was using unusual words for sake of introducing them to readers.
May 6, 2021
Challenge: Book-A-Day in May (3/31). The mystery in this book is not revealed. Like the youngest character, Sue, we are left out of what Pam and Bess saw that was then gone. I think this book reveals the mysterious dynamics of young girls; the leader Pam directs the action of the three; Bess is the follower; Sue is not included in the mutual experience of Pam and Bess. Sue is excluded because she is the youngest and not yet privy to the dynamics of the older girls; we because we are external voyeurs to these dynamics. A very interesting approach for Kincaid. The art of Cortes fits the story as the figures of the girls stand out as very real, like photographs, against a background that seems stilted and game-like. The celebration of the the first publication of the Nancy Drew syndicated books seems to be peopled with adults; how did Pam, Bess, and Sue happen to be there? It's a mystery.
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June 3, 2020Not what I expected!
Gorgeous artwork and an unusual story with lots of room for interpretation. (Don't go into this expecting a standard mystery.)
Based on some reviews and articles, there are layers of potential meaning here related to experiences specific to Black people (especially related to childhood), which I am obviously not qualified to speak on, so I don't feel right giving this a star rating.
Definitely an interesting experience and a book I could see providing some wonderful discussion opportunities.
Gorgeous artwork and an unusual story with lots of room for interpretation. (Don't go into this expecting a standard mystery.)
Based on some reviews and articles, there are layers of potential meaning here related to experiences specific to Black people (especially related to childhood), which I am obviously not qualified to speak on, so I don't feel right giving this a star rating.
Definitely an interesting experience and a book I could see providing some wonderful discussion opportunities.
April 11, 2019
Unfortunately, the story is very confusing and just doesn't make sense. There is no resolution, the ending is truly a mystery. The language the children use is odd and not child-like; apparently, it references early Nancy Drew but if you haven't read those you won't get it. The illustrations are colorful and nice, but the black children's skin color is just odd.
July 17, 2019
This is a book that is simply too vague for children. I found my adult self scouring the book several times to see if there was something in a previous illustration that I missed that would explain the book and the ending.
February 14, 2020
I disliked this book so strongly. I don’t see what the girls are referring to that makes it a “mystery” and my kids and I went back scouring it to try to figure it out. The stilted language is absolutely absurd both coming from children and being written for children. Seriously awful and pompous.
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October 14, 2020"'But what?' said Sue. 'And now it's gone. And now I don't suppose you will ever tell me. You never tell me anything.'" If you are looking for a strange, tongue-in-cheek mystery with a rich vocabulary - you've found it.
November 8, 2020
Love the vivid illustrations, elaborate vocabulary, simple story line that sparks the imagination. I love that it features Black girls as the main characters. I can’t wait to use this in my classroom as a mentor text for narratives and inferences!
June 10, 2019
The illustrations are lovely and a joy to look at. However...the story didn't make sense to me at all. I kept thinking: "Did my ebook drop a few pages?" "Am I just missing something?"
June 19, 2019
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
July 20, 2019
I'm not sure why this was made into a picture book - it's lovely and anyone who loves Kincaid will enjoy it immensely - but kids?
September 6, 2019
Delicious.
November 20, 2019
Stunning illustrations.
November 22, 2019
Definitely a book to discuss.
December 22, 2019
Weird!
January 4, 2020
Very open to interpretation. I love this mystery because it is unique and will likely provoke much discussion .
January 6, 2020
I really wanted to like this book, but...(Maybe if some of the short story has been re-written, it would have worked, but it just missed its mark.)
January 19, 2020
I don’t get it. I thought the text was odd, and I’m not quite sure what the mystery was.
February 1, 2020
I wanted to like this book, but it was not to my liking. I get the open ended ness, but it was too much, especially for a children’s book.
September 29, 2020
Not sure what to think about this one.
November 20, 2020
Ten cent vocabulary, quirky plot, engaging illustrations with novel perspectives.
Terrific ending ~ Weirdly satisfying. Memorable kiddie lit!
Terrific ending ~ Weirdly satisfying. Memorable kiddie lit!
May 17, 2022
Huh?
Not only did this book not make sense, but one of the characters' names keeps changing from Beth to Bess. This book is a mess. I'm sorry that rhymed. I'm just so confused...this was not good.
Not only did this book not make sense, but one of the characters' names keeps changing from Beth to Bess. This book is a mess. I'm sorry that rhymed. I'm just so confused...this was not good.
March 25, 2021
This book is about three girls—Pam, Beth, and Sue—who attend a party to celebrate the Nancy Drew mystery books. It’s a wonderful book for anyone. I loved the story and the mystery, mainly because it’s about a favorite mystery series.
The illustrations by Ricardo Cortes are simply beautiful and so evocative of a particular time and place. I especially loved the architectural details of the library (which looks similar to the NYPL!) The art gives extra details and almost a photo-like portrayal of the girls and partygoers.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/jam...
The illustrations by Ricardo Cortes are simply beautiful and so evocative of a particular time and place. I especially loved the architectural details of the library (which looks similar to the NYPL!) The art gives extra details and almost a photo-like portrayal of the girls and partygoers.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/jam...
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews