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Shirley & Jamila #1
Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer
Meet Jamila and Shirley, two unlikely friends who save each other's summers while solving their neighborhood's biggest mysteries.
Jamila Waheed is staring down a lonely summer in a new neighborhood--until she meets Shirley Bones. Sure, Shirley's a little strange, but both girls need a new plan for the summer, and they might as well become friends.
Then this kid Oliver shows up begging for Shirley's help. His pet gecko has disappeared, and he's sure it was stolen! That's when Jamila discovers Shirley's secret: She's the neighborhood's best kid detective, and she's on the case. When Jamila discovers she's got some detective skills of her own, a crime-solving partnership is born.
The mystery of the missing gecko turns Shirley and Jamila's summer upside down. And when their partnership hits a rough patch, they have to work together to solve the greatest mystery of all: What it means to be a friend.
Jamila Waheed is staring down a lonely summer in a new neighborhood--until she meets Shirley Bones. Sure, Shirley's a little strange, but both girls need a new plan for the summer, and they might as well become friends.
Then this kid Oliver shows up begging for Shirley's help. His pet gecko has disappeared, and he's sure it was stolen! That's when Jamila discovers Shirley's secret: She's the neighborhood's best kid detective, and she's on the case. When Jamila discovers she's got some detective skills of her own, a crime-solving partnership is born.
The mystery of the missing gecko turns Shirley and Jamila's summer upside down. And when their partnership hits a rough patch, they have to work together to solve the greatest mystery of all: What it means to be a friend.
222 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2020
76 people are currently reading
1616 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Goerz
4 books59 followersGillian Goerz (pronounced like Jillian Gertz) is a Canadian cartoonist, writer, and graphic recorder.
Her first book Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer - a middle grade graphic novel - is out now.
Praise for Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer
“Goerz is a master of character development, making no one into a villain and no one into a saint and giving each a fascinating role to play. . . . An action-packed graphic novel about finding—and forgiving—our closest friends.”
—Kirkus, starred review
“This well-executed graphic novel strikes a balance between a focus on meaningful relationships and just plain fun; it’s a great choice for fans of both the ‘Cam Jansen’ books and Raina Telgemeier.”
—School Library Journal
Her first book Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer - a middle grade graphic novel - is out now.
Praise for Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer
“Goerz is a master of character development, making no one into a villain and no one into a saint and giving each a fascinating role to play. . . . An action-packed graphic novel about finding—and forgiving—our closest friends.”
—Kirkus, starred review
“This well-executed graphic novel strikes a balance between a focus on meaningful relationships and just plain fun; it’s a great choice for fans of both the ‘Cam Jansen’ books and Raina Telgemeier.”
—School Library Journal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews
April 14, 2020
Have you ever tried to write a mystery? You’ll never respect your favorite mystery writers as greatly as when you try to pen one of those puppies yourself. Kids love mysteries too. I remember when I was in sixth grade or so, I discovered my very first Agatha Christie at a Scholastic Book Fair (I believe it was Murder on the Orient Express). From there on in I was hooked. But younger kids these days can get their kicks with book series like “Cam Jansen” or “A to Z Mysteries”. One place where mysteries are almost wholly absent is in the graphic novel section of your library or bookstore. Certainly you might find a couple supernatural mysteries, and the occasional Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys adaptation but original mysteries are difficult to track down. Now that we’re seeing such an uptick in the sheer number of comics published in a given year by trade publishers, it’s strange to me that realistic mysteries aren’t abundant. But maybe it all goes back to my first sentence here. Good mysteries are shockingly difficult to write. That’s why I’m so thrilled to encounter Gillian Goertz’s new “Shirley and Jamila” series. Firmly rooted in reality, the book tips its hat low to Sherlock Holmes but maintains an originality entirely of its own. More of the same, please!!
Two girls, one problem. Jamila Waheed is facing a possible summer of dreaded science camp. Shirley Bones, a girl she met once at a garage sale, is also facing the prospect of unwanted camps, so the two strike up a deal. Convincing their mothers, they will spend the summer together instead. But being friends with Shirley means contending with the fact that she’s not your average 10-year-old girl. Shirley's a child detective, and right now she’s working on a very serious case. Two kids have had their gecko stolen from the public pool. There are no witnesses, and it’s not the first time someone has stolen from them. Will Shirley and Jamila solve the case? Or are they truly too different to be friends at all?
Since Goerz has taken some of the trappings of a Sherlock Holmes story and worked them into her tale, once I’d actually figured out the Sherlock connection I pretty much expected to find myself reading a middle grade equivalent of The Study in Scarlet. Instead, Goerz has fashioned for herself an entirely original mystery. Yet while she hasn’t replicated Doyle’s plots, she’s put a firm finger on the pulse of what makes everyone love Sherlock Holmes books. Shirley’s ability to deduce via details is exceedingly fun. There’s this marvelous part at the beginning where she and Jamila are sitting on a stoop and she’s telling Jamila impossible facts about the people walking by. Speaking of Jamila, as I was reading the book there was something that was kind of bugging me about it. Jamila’s one of those super rare Arab-American contemporary kid protagonists we don’t see a lot of in books these days. But if Shirley is Sherlock then that would make Jamila Watson, and nobody wants to be a Watson, right? Public perception of Watson is that he’s a nice but sort of doddering buffoon. And trust me, you don’t want your strong Arab-American female protagonist just tagging along after some white genius girl. So what Goerz does instead is head this problem off at the pass. The book is almost entirely Jamila’s p.o.v. She’s sporty and fun and genuinely interested in Shirley as a person. Shirley’s smart, sure, but she’s also entirely socially inept and has a lot to learn about being a good friend. What that means is that Jamila has as much to offer her as she has to offer to Jamila. It doesn’t hurt any when Jamila says straight to Shirley’s face “I won’t be some silent sidekick.”
I’ve taken to reading a lot of comics to my kids lately. As I write this we’re in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that means having to constantly find reading material. Thanks to the rise of e-books, that’s not as difficult as it could once have been, but there’s no guarantee of quality when you’re reading so many comics in a given year. More frequently than not, my kids and I will find that while the creators of a graphic novel might have a beautiful style and a fun premise, inevitably the story will get confusing or the layouts all tangled. If I can’t follow what’s happening from panel to panel, what chance does a kid have? The nice thing is that when something works, you feel it deep in your soul. A good comic is one where all the disparate elements (the storytelling, art, character development, action, etc.) come together in this perfect little dance. The more complicated the plot and art, the more difficult it is to keep the dance going. And Shirley & Jamila is a magnificent example of this. Nothing about this book is simple, and yet nothing about it comes off as too confusing for a kid reader. I never had a moment where I couldn't figure out where to rest my eye or a sequence where I didn't know what happened because of poorly laid out visual elements.
Great credit should be given to Goerz’s art. But before I get into that, can I just say how dynamic her panels are? Some comic book creators bypass the problem of being incomprehensible by dumbing down their books’ designs. Goerz, in contrast, reminded me of a less frenetic Eleanor Davis (particularly The Secret Science Alliance). If you just pick up this book and flip through it, pay attention to how Goerz lays out each page. The design is nothing short of stunning. I swear, this is the kind of thing they should be teaching to up-and-coming middle grade comic artists. In my experience kids don’t necessarily appreciate this kind of thing when they’re young on a conscious level. They do, however, notice when it’s done poorly. I read this book in black and white in an early pre-publication form and while I appreciate that it’s going to be full-color, I kind of feel bad about it. When a book’s just black and white you get this really clear appreciation for its strong black lines. Just gorgeous.
When I was a kid I loved Encyclopedia Brown. He was ten-years-old. Shirley Bones is also ten-years-old. I like to think that isn’t a coincidence. And if there were any way to convince Gillian Goerz to crank these books out at the same rate that Donald Sobol did, the world would be a better place. Is the final reveal to the mystery in this story strictly fair? Maybe not entirely. I mean, it’s satisfying, but Goerz didn’t hand you all the pieces and ask you to solve it for yourself. She pretty much has Shirley do a little side detection work and then practically throws in a new character near the end. Even so, I can’t really mind. Some kids might feel a tad cheated, but the bulk of them will leave wanting more Shirley, more Jamila, and more of these books. Better give the people want they want. Surely they’ll need more.
Of course they will. And don't call me Shirley.
For ages 9-12.
Two girls, one problem. Jamila Waheed is facing a possible summer of dreaded science camp. Shirley Bones, a girl she met once at a garage sale, is also facing the prospect of unwanted camps, so the two strike up a deal. Convincing their mothers, they will spend the summer together instead. But being friends with Shirley means contending with the fact that she’s not your average 10-year-old girl. Shirley's a child detective, and right now she’s working on a very serious case. Two kids have had their gecko stolen from the public pool. There are no witnesses, and it’s not the first time someone has stolen from them. Will Shirley and Jamila solve the case? Or are they truly too different to be friends at all?
Since Goerz has taken some of the trappings of a Sherlock Holmes story and worked them into her tale, once I’d actually figured out the Sherlock connection I pretty much expected to find myself reading a middle grade equivalent of The Study in Scarlet. Instead, Goerz has fashioned for herself an entirely original mystery. Yet while she hasn’t replicated Doyle’s plots, she’s put a firm finger on the pulse of what makes everyone love Sherlock Holmes books. Shirley’s ability to deduce via details is exceedingly fun. There’s this marvelous part at the beginning where she and Jamila are sitting on a stoop and she’s telling Jamila impossible facts about the people walking by. Speaking of Jamila, as I was reading the book there was something that was kind of bugging me about it. Jamila’s one of those super rare Arab-American contemporary kid protagonists we don’t see a lot of in books these days. But if Shirley is Sherlock then that would make Jamila Watson, and nobody wants to be a Watson, right? Public perception of Watson is that he’s a nice but sort of doddering buffoon. And trust me, you don’t want your strong Arab-American female protagonist just tagging along after some white genius girl. So what Goerz does instead is head this problem off at the pass. The book is almost entirely Jamila’s p.o.v. She’s sporty and fun and genuinely interested in Shirley as a person. Shirley’s smart, sure, but she’s also entirely socially inept and has a lot to learn about being a good friend. What that means is that Jamila has as much to offer her as she has to offer to Jamila. It doesn’t hurt any when Jamila says straight to Shirley’s face “I won’t be some silent sidekick.”
I’ve taken to reading a lot of comics to my kids lately. As I write this we’re in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that means having to constantly find reading material. Thanks to the rise of e-books, that’s not as difficult as it could once have been, but there’s no guarantee of quality when you’re reading so many comics in a given year. More frequently than not, my kids and I will find that while the creators of a graphic novel might have a beautiful style and a fun premise, inevitably the story will get confusing or the layouts all tangled. If I can’t follow what’s happening from panel to panel, what chance does a kid have? The nice thing is that when something works, you feel it deep in your soul. A good comic is one where all the disparate elements (the storytelling, art, character development, action, etc.) come together in this perfect little dance. The more complicated the plot and art, the more difficult it is to keep the dance going. And Shirley & Jamila is a magnificent example of this. Nothing about this book is simple, and yet nothing about it comes off as too confusing for a kid reader. I never had a moment where I couldn't figure out where to rest my eye or a sequence where I didn't know what happened because of poorly laid out visual elements.
Great credit should be given to Goerz’s art. But before I get into that, can I just say how dynamic her panels are? Some comic book creators bypass the problem of being incomprehensible by dumbing down their books’ designs. Goerz, in contrast, reminded me of a less frenetic Eleanor Davis (particularly The Secret Science Alliance). If you just pick up this book and flip through it, pay attention to how Goerz lays out each page. The design is nothing short of stunning. I swear, this is the kind of thing they should be teaching to up-and-coming middle grade comic artists. In my experience kids don’t necessarily appreciate this kind of thing when they’re young on a conscious level. They do, however, notice when it’s done poorly. I read this book in black and white in an early pre-publication form and while I appreciate that it’s going to be full-color, I kind of feel bad about it. When a book’s just black and white you get this really clear appreciation for its strong black lines. Just gorgeous.
When I was a kid I loved Encyclopedia Brown. He was ten-years-old. Shirley Bones is also ten-years-old. I like to think that isn’t a coincidence. And if there were any way to convince Gillian Goerz to crank these books out at the same rate that Donald Sobol did, the world would be a better place. Is the final reveal to the mystery in this story strictly fair? Maybe not entirely. I mean, it’s satisfying, but Goerz didn’t hand you all the pieces and ask you to solve it for yourself. She pretty much has Shirley do a little side detection work and then practically throws in a new character near the end. Even so, I can’t really mind. Some kids might feel a tad cheated, but the bulk of them will leave wanting more Shirley, more Jamila, and more of these books. Better give the people want they want. Surely they’ll need more.
Of course they will. And don't call me Shirley.
For ages 9-12.
July 12, 2021
Well done . Good diversity of characters and story lines ..
Highly Recommend to read.
Highly Recommend to read.
May 18, 2024
YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM
Una novela gráfica middle-grade ideal para los lectores más jóvenes. Reconozco que el toque Sherlock de la historia me ha conquistado (Sara es nuestro Sherlock, con toda su increíble habilidad deductiva, pero también con su molesta falta de habilidades sociales) y Jamila es nuestra Watson, a la que la habilidad de su nueva amiga pero a la que también molesta su hermetismo respecto a sus deducciones y su necesidad de presumir de ellas. Además, al igual que en las historias de Conan Doyle, que estaban narradas por Watson, la aventura de estas dos niñas la vemos también siempre desde la perspectiva de Jamila. Pero no es un retelling ni una reimaginación de ninguna de las historias originales de Sherlock, sino que la autora nos presenta un misterio de su propia cosecha, totalmente nuevo.
Al margen de esa relación con Sherlok Holmes, también me ha gustado mucho toda la representación incluida en esta historia. Ya no solo es Jamila la que, evidentemente, no es un personaje blanco, sino que tenemos personajes de diferentes razas que van interviniendo a lo largo de la historia.
Y además me parece muy interesante la cantidad de temas que consigue tratar (amistad, familia, enfermedad) y la forma de tratarlos, que me parece muy buena de cara a un público infantil.
Una novela gráfica middle-grade ideal para los lectores más jóvenes. Reconozco que el toque Sherlock de la historia me ha conquistado (Sara es nuestro Sherlock, con toda su increíble habilidad deductiva, pero también con su molesta falta de habilidades sociales) y Jamila es nuestra Watson, a la que la habilidad de su nueva amiga pero a la que también molesta su hermetismo respecto a sus deducciones y su necesidad de presumir de ellas. Además, al igual que en las historias de Conan Doyle, que estaban narradas por Watson, la aventura de estas dos niñas la vemos también siempre desde la perspectiva de Jamila. Pero no es un retelling ni una reimaginación de ninguna de las historias originales de Sherlock, sino que la autora nos presenta un misterio de su propia cosecha, totalmente nuevo.
Al margen de esa relación con Sherlok Holmes, también me ha gustado mucho toda la representación incluida en esta historia. Ya no solo es Jamila la que, evidentemente, no es un personaje blanco, sino que tenemos personajes de diferentes razas que van interviniendo a lo largo de la historia.
Y además me parece muy interesante la cantidad de temas que consigue tratar (amistad, familia, enfermedad) y la forma de tratarlos, que me parece muy buena de cara a un público infantil.
November 30, 2021
It’s Watson and Sherlock! Actually, it’s Jamila and Shirley, who become friends while spending time together when summer vacation starts. Neither wants to go to summer camp, and after getting permission to spend time together while abiding by their parents’ restrictions, Jamila discovers Shirley has her own reasons for spending time unmonitored.
Shirley is highly observant, and helps kids out with odd or interesting requests. When a missing lizard prompts a pair of siblings to solicit Shirley’s help, Jamila meets new kids in her new neighbourhood, and becomes Shirley’s partner in her detection efforts.
This is definitely a riff on the Sherlock and Watson relationship, and Jamila is an interesting viewpoint character on her new neighbourhood and the people in it, and on the unusual Shirley.
Shirley is highly observant, and helps kids out with odd or interesting requests. When a missing lizard prompts a pair of siblings to solicit Shirley’s help, Jamila meets new kids in her new neighbourhood, and becomes Shirley’s partner in her detection efforts.
This is definitely a riff on the Sherlock and Watson relationship, and Jamila is an interesting viewpoint character on her new neighbourhood and the people in it, and on the unusual Shirley.
January 16, 2022
Two little girls decide to be friends and spend time together so their mothers will not send them to camps they don’t like. Lots of words on each page. Ending was good, but the rest was hard to get through. I didn’t like the artwork either.
January 9, 2021
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The characters were fun and in an odd way—believable. The diversity that is needed in kid lit is there and not taken for granted, but the spotlight was on the story and the characters. It was great.
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July 14, 2020
Definitely looking forward to more in this series.
February 6, 2021
This book was so well-illustrated and I loved the story. It was fun to read after my daughter read it, because she loved asking "What part are you at?". And there's a great detective story in there.
October 12, 2021
Shirley and Jamila are both trying to escape summer camps their respective families want to send them to. They manage to talk their moms into a solution: the girls will be allowed to hang out at the local basketball court as long as they stay together, which makes them both happy. Jamila can practice shooting hoops, and Shirley can use a court bench as her office, as she is a kid detective who solves many small mysterious and petty crimes brought by other neighborhood children. The majority of this story involves the mystery of a missing gecko, stolen from a pair of kids who brought it to the local pool. Shirley Bones is a miniature Sherlock Holmes, down to her keen observations and bad social skills. Jamila acts as her Watson, jumping to conclusions and puzzled by the evidence. The end is a charming and lighthearted resolution (no geckos are harmed in the story). This book is a good mystery for a young reader; as an adult I wanted a little deeper character development, but I think there's likely to be a sequel so I will look forward to that!
October 23, 2020
Jamila's strict mother wants her to spend her summer at science cap, when all she wants to do is play basketball all day. Shirley Bones's mother wants her to go to dance camp, but she doesn't want to go. Then a chance meeting at a garage sale changes both of their summers! Shirley comes up with a plan for the girls to spend their summer together. Jamila can play basketball and Shirley doesn't have to go to dance camp. Surprisingly both mom's agree.
Shirley is a quirky, strange girl. Jamila soon learns that she is an amateur detective. Shortly after they begin their arrangement, Shirley starts getting cases. At first Jamila is hesitant to join her, but realizing that they must stay together, she realizes she has no choice but to join Shirley on her quest to solve some mysteries.
This is a cute middle grade graphic mystery about an unlikely friendship between two very different girls. The mystery was interesting. The art was attractive and portrayed a diverse group of characters. It was fun seeing how Shirley pieced everything together. To me the book had a very Cam Jansen feel to it. I think kids who like mysteries will really enjoy this one!
Shirley is a quirky, strange girl. Jamila soon learns that she is an amateur detective. Shortly after they begin their arrangement, Shirley starts getting cases. At first Jamila is hesitant to join her, but realizing that they must stay together, she realizes she has no choice but to join Shirley on her quest to solve some mysteries.
This is a cute middle grade graphic mystery about an unlikely friendship between two very different girls. The mystery was interesting. The art was attractive and portrayed a diverse group of characters. It was fun seeing how Shirley pieced everything together. To me the book had a very Cam Jansen feel to it. I think kids who like mysteries will really enjoy this one!
Read
November 24, 2020This fun graphic novel is a good blend of a mystery story (with a Sherlock-Holmes-ian girl detective) and a contemporary friendship story. I'd hand it to both mystery fans (Enola Holmes, in particular) or readers of realistic graphic novels like Real Friends.
June 18, 2023
super carino 🥰
July 6, 2023
This was super cute!
July 20, 2023
Nice short read. Conflict resolution, building friendships and having fun.
May 20, 2023
3,5
Really cute
Really cute
April 19, 2022
"But it's not fair to ruin someone else's summer because of that! If you're gonna sneak around, at least try to help other people while you're at it."
I had never heard of this graphic novel series until my friend Carly posted about it on Instagram. We have pretty similar tastes when it comes to graphic novels, middle grade graphic novels in particular. I decided to check this out from the library and see what the series was like. I was not disappointed in the cuteness of this middle grade graphic novel.
We first meet Jamila when she goes to a garage sale with her mom one summer day. While there, she encounters Shirley. Jamila isn't sure what to think of Shirley but it's clear Shirley is a bit awkward socially. Jamila is signed up for a science camp she absolutely does not want to go to. But when Shirley stops by with her mom the next day claiming her mom can get Jamila out of science camp, Jamila doesn't know what to think. After a conversation between the two moms, Jamila is free to go to the basketball court down the road if she goes with Shirley. Shirley isn't athletic at all and as Jamila starts to take notice, she realizes that all sorts of kids come by the basketball court. Jamila isn't really sure what to think of this until one day this kid named Oliver shows up. Oliver and his older sister have had their things stolen from the pool all summer but today is the worst: Oliver took his pet gecko to the pool and the whole backpack was stolen! Jamila finds out Shirley is the neighborhood detective, solving all of the neighborhood mysteries. Jamila and Shirley want to solve the mystery of Oliver's missing gecko, but they'll have to leave the basketball court and break the agreement they signed with their moms.
This graphic novel was a lot of fun and I truly enjoyed following along with Jamila and Shirley as they worked to solve the mystery of what happened to Oliver's gecko. I also enjoyed learning more about the arrangement Jamila's mother made with her and Shirley and why that agreement is so important for both girls this summer. I appreciated seeing two unlikely girls become friends and for both girls to have interests outside of those we typically see with young females: Jamila is interested in only basketball and Shirley loves solving mysteries. This was a fun graphic novel to curl up with and I am looking forward to reading the next installment in this series: Shirley and Jamila's Big Fall!
Elementary and middle grade readers are sure to enjoy the mystery of this summer graphic novel.
TW: cancer (remission)
I had never heard of this graphic novel series until my friend Carly posted about it on Instagram. We have pretty similar tastes when it comes to graphic novels, middle grade graphic novels in particular. I decided to check this out from the library and see what the series was like. I was not disappointed in the cuteness of this middle grade graphic novel.
We first meet Jamila when she goes to a garage sale with her mom one summer day. While there, she encounters Shirley. Jamila isn't sure what to think of Shirley but it's clear Shirley is a bit awkward socially. Jamila is signed up for a science camp she absolutely does not want to go to. But when Shirley stops by with her mom the next day claiming her mom can get Jamila out of science camp, Jamila doesn't know what to think. After a conversation between the two moms, Jamila is free to go to the basketball court down the road if she goes with Shirley. Shirley isn't athletic at all and as Jamila starts to take notice, she realizes that all sorts of kids come by the basketball court. Jamila isn't really sure what to think of this until one day this kid named Oliver shows up. Oliver and his older sister have had their things stolen from the pool all summer but today is the worst: Oliver took his pet gecko to the pool and the whole backpack was stolen! Jamila finds out Shirley is the neighborhood detective, solving all of the neighborhood mysteries. Jamila and Shirley want to solve the mystery of Oliver's missing gecko, but they'll have to leave the basketball court and break the agreement they signed with their moms.
This graphic novel was a lot of fun and I truly enjoyed following along with Jamila and Shirley as they worked to solve the mystery of what happened to Oliver's gecko. I also enjoyed learning more about the arrangement Jamila's mother made with her and Shirley and why that agreement is so important for both girls this summer. I appreciated seeing two unlikely girls become friends and for both girls to have interests outside of those we typically see with young females: Jamila is interested in only basketball and Shirley loves solving mysteries. This was a fun graphic novel to curl up with and I am looking forward to reading the next installment in this series: Shirley and Jamila's Big Fall!
Elementary and middle grade readers are sure to enjoy the mystery of this summer graphic novel.
TW: cancer (remission)
April 16, 2021
4/2021:
Reread for book club. Enjoyed it more the second time round, especially how well they talk out their issues.
10/2020:
Cute illustrations but the story wasn’t quite a slice-of-life or a detective mystery and didn’t quite succeed at hitting the right note of either. I did like Shirley Bones and the cases she took, but it seemed like the plot needed more of a focus. Themes of friendship (and whether things really are friendships or just relationships of convenience), being forced to do “normal” things by adults.
The time period and characters also did not feel modern to me, other than their large silver smartphones, but I can’t quite pinpoint why it felt like an 80s graphic novel instead. Maybe because of Shirley?
Reread for book club. Enjoyed it more the second time round, especially how well they talk out their issues.
10/2020:
Cute illustrations but the story wasn’t quite a slice-of-life or a detective mystery and didn’t quite succeed at hitting the right note of either. I did like Shirley Bones and the cases she took, but it seemed like the plot needed more of a focus. Themes of friendship (and whether things really are friendships or just relationships of convenience), being forced to do “normal” things by adults.
The time period and characters also did not feel modern to me, other than their large silver smartphones, but I can’t quite pinpoint why it felt like an 80s graphic novel instead. Maybe because of Shirley?
April 16, 2021
Loved! The characters, their families, Shirley’s gumshoe ways, Jamila’s self-awareness. The art is rich and adorable, the story is kind and funny.
July 31, 2020
Cute graphic novel with a fun mystery and lots of diverse characters!
May 6, 2021
Oh hooray, a really great graphic novel, sure to fly off the shelves.
There are some tried and true tropes- two characters, entirely different from one another, come together to solve a common problem. One of them, Shirley Bones, has Sherlock Holmes level skills. Jamila, just wants to be able to play basketball on the full sized court and relax for the summer before she starts a new school in her new neighborhood. What distinguishes the story is both the depth and charm of the characterization and the nuance of the moral universe it inhabits. There are characters we have seen before - but none of them are caricatures: they all have myriad details, drawn and expressed, that distinguish them and bring them to life, offering the exhilarating possibility that the story could go in any direction and the ground level knowledge that there is always more to find out.
An illustrative moment is one that might seem entirely extraneous, but is in fact revelatory: Shirley and Jamila have just met at a tag sale - Shirley is delighted to discover three old lamps have cords with copper wire - something she needs for an experiment. She cuts the cords. We see Jamila’s disapproval radiate - she’s just learned something she really doesn’t like about her new acquaintance. Shirley notices and we see that she too has just learned something that she appreciates- Jamila has a strong moral center. Shirley wants to repair the rift and in three quick panels explains the back story of each lamp (one of which is a fascinating story of its own) but notes that the fact they were all essentially repurposed junk, and the cord loss is repairable, doesn’t mitigate her taking.. and so she owns up and has her mom pay for the lamps. This is a story about close observation, details mattering and the truth that there is always a lot going on under the surface, so it is beyond awesome that those principles are imbedded in every scene and gesture. Bravo, I can not wait for the next installment!
There are some tried and true tropes- two characters, entirely different from one another, come together to solve a common problem. One of them, Shirley Bones, has Sherlock Holmes level skills. Jamila, just wants to be able to play basketball on the full sized court and relax for the summer before she starts a new school in her new neighborhood. What distinguishes the story is both the depth and charm of the characterization and the nuance of the moral universe it inhabits. There are characters we have seen before - but none of them are caricatures: they all have myriad details, drawn and expressed, that distinguish them and bring them to life, offering the exhilarating possibility that the story could go in any direction and the ground level knowledge that there is always more to find out.
An illustrative moment is one that might seem entirely extraneous, but is in fact revelatory: Shirley and Jamila have just met at a tag sale - Shirley is delighted to discover three old lamps have cords with copper wire - something she needs for an experiment. She cuts the cords. We see Jamila’s disapproval radiate - she’s just learned something she really doesn’t like about her new acquaintance. Shirley notices and we see that she too has just learned something that she appreciates- Jamila has a strong moral center. Shirley wants to repair the rift and in three quick panels explains the back story of each lamp (one of which is a fascinating story of its own) but notes that the fact they were all essentially repurposed junk, and the cord loss is repairable, doesn’t mitigate her taking.. and so she owns up and has her mom pay for the lamps. This is a story about close observation, details mattering and the truth that there is always a lot going on under the surface, so it is beyond awesome that those principles are imbedded in every scene and gesture. Bravo, I can not wait for the next installment!
November 27, 2023
pure awesome 🤩
I loved 🥰 it!!!!!
Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer is about two girls 👯♀️ named Shirley and Jamila. ( bet you would have never 👎🏻 guessed that ) Jamila meets Shirley at a garage sale of some sort and Shirley is quite strange, despite very smart and knowing everything. Like we’re talking knowing what someone does for a living just by them walking down the street. Unfortunately, Jamila’s mom wants to send Jamila to science 🧬 camp for the summer and Jamila absolutely hates summer camp. Sadly 😢 for Jamila, she doesn’t have a choice. That’s when that all changes when Shirley’s mom pops by to talk with Jamila’s mom to talk about their plans for the summer. Eventually, Jamila’s mom makes a deal with Jamila, saying that if Jamila is willing to go to the basketball court everyday with Shirley to hang out, she can do that or else she will be sent to science camp. But the thing is she can’t do anything else but BE AT THE BASKETBALL COURT. Obviously 🙄 that doesn’t last long and Shirley and Jamila get themselves twisted up in a mystery when a kid pops by the basketball court reporting to have stolen items. It’s Jamila and Shirley’s job to make sure the kids items are found a received before the culprit strikes 🪧 again…….
Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer is prefect for mystery lovers, people who are just getting into reading, or live graphic novels.
I loved 🥰 it!!!!!
Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer is about two girls 👯♀️ named Shirley and Jamila. ( bet you would have never 👎🏻 guessed that ) Jamila meets Shirley at a garage sale of some sort and Shirley is quite strange, despite very smart and knowing everything. Like we’re talking knowing what someone does for a living just by them walking down the street. Unfortunately, Jamila’s mom wants to send Jamila to science 🧬 camp for the summer and Jamila absolutely hates summer camp. Sadly 😢 for Jamila, she doesn’t have a choice. That’s when that all changes when Shirley’s mom pops by to talk with Jamila’s mom to talk about their plans for the summer. Eventually, Jamila’s mom makes a deal with Jamila, saying that if Jamila is willing to go to the basketball court everyday with Shirley to hang out, she can do that or else she will be sent to science camp. But the thing is she can’t do anything else but BE AT THE BASKETBALL COURT. Obviously 🙄 that doesn’t last long and Shirley and Jamila get themselves twisted up in a mystery when a kid pops by the basketball court reporting to have stolen items. It’s Jamila and Shirley’s job to make sure the kids items are found a received before the culprit strikes 🪧 again…….
Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer is prefect for mystery lovers, people who are just getting into reading, or live graphic novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2022
Yeah for diverse girls mystery graphic novels! Shirley & Jamila are not quick & easy friends, do not expect flowers and ponies and braiding each other's hair. Shirley is called "weirdo" (repeatedly) by other children. Jamila is seen as "other" because of her Pakistani heritage and because of her parent's goals. It doesn't help that she is new to the neighborhood.
Two strong girls with two strong mothers and everyone has strong needs to accomplish their goals. Who will win? Jamila wants to play ball. Shirley has a unique set of skills that she is ready to use. The neighborhood basketball court could give both of them the opportunity to accomplish what they want...if only their mothers could be persuaded. And if they don't end up sinking their chances to even become friends in the first place. What does it mean to be friends when you don't know how to talk to someone or aren't sure you even want to talk to them?
When someone in the neighborhood is targeted as a thief, and bullying at the local pool becomes a problem, Shirley and Jamila have to find a way to fix not only their own problems but also things for all the kids. Summer needs to be saved!
Two strong girls with two strong mothers and everyone has strong needs to accomplish their goals. Who will win? Jamila wants to play ball. Shirley has a unique set of skills that she is ready to use. The neighborhood basketball court could give both of them the opportunity to accomplish what they want...if only their mothers could be persuaded. And if they don't end up sinking their chances to even become friends in the first place. What does it mean to be friends when you don't know how to talk to someone or aren't sure you even want to talk to them?
When someone in the neighborhood is targeted as a thief, and bullying at the local pool becomes a problem, Shirley and Jamila have to find a way to fix not only their own problems but also things for all the kids. Summer needs to be saved!
October 12, 2020
Jamila, the youngest in a boisterous family, wants to be allowed to go to the full sized basketball court in her new neighborhood all summer, but her mom signed her up for science camp instead. She meets Shirley, another 10 year old, at a garage sale. Shirley has reluctantly been signed up for dance camp. Shirley and Jamila convince their moms that they will stay at the basketball court together, and neither will have to go to camp. Then it turns into a mystery, with Shirley's keen observational skills involving a stolen backpack, complete with a pet gecko, from the beighborhood pool. Diverse characters, kids with widely different personalities, sneaking behind parents' backs. All with the long, lazy summer day vibe. This book is not just a realistic graphic novel, but also a mystery. I think the kids in my library will really go for this one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2021
A surprisingly fun detective story--Shirley and Jamila are unlikely friends. But the summer brings them together, thanks to Shirley's manuevering of their moms. Jamila is happy to play basketball all day, every day, but kids keep showing up to talk to Shirley. What's going on? It's a mystery until the day Oliver shows up crying. Someone's stolen his backpack at the pool and his gecko, Enoch was inside. Shirley, a wiz at deduction but careful not to jump to conclusions, and Jamila work together to track down Oliver's gecko and figure out exactly what's been happening at the pool. Great writing. Great illustrations. The perfect combination for a winning graphic novel series. Book number two coming to a library near you. But read this one first. I loved it.
September 23, 2020
This was a cute mystery that really gave off those childhood summer vibes. The cast of characters was pretty diverse, plus they were all well-written in why they did what they did. The story makes sure to emphasize that even if someone has a motive for doing something, that doesn't excuse the action or make up for it.
January 18, 2021
A story about two different girls, that need to change the fate of there summer. Shirley, as people call her, " A weirdo " She's a 10 year old detective, with eyes like nobody else. Jamila, a Pakistani girl, with a love for basketball, the two girls stumble upon each other, and decide what to do about the fate of their summer.
October 11, 2021
I’ve always loved graphic novels (and mysteries!) and was curious about what was out there for elementary kiddos. This did not disappoint! I loved the diversity of the characters (even just in the folks walking in the background of the illustrations.) I also loved the message throughout that people are not always what we may assume, we need to get to know them!
December 25, 2022
Very fun and very satisfying graphic novel tale of friendship between two kids who don't seem like they have anything in common except a mutually beneficial arrangement to get their mothers off their backs - until, well there's a mystery. Several mysteries, in fact, including the inscrutable alchemy that is friendship. I loved all the Canadian-ness of this story, the jock vs brain dynamic, the family stuff, and the kindness that pervaded the whole story. I was definitely read to run out and read the next book (which I did!) and I hope the series continues for a long time.
May 4, 2021
Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz is a perfect middle grade summer read.
Jamila Waheed is the new kid in town. She just wants to play at the basketball court all summer and not be forced to go to science camp. She meets Shirley at a yard sale. Sure, Shirley's a little weird, but both girls need a new plan for the summer, and they might as well become friends.
Shirley concocts a plan, and they walk to the courts together everyday. Until Oliver asks for help. Jamila can’t help but want to be included on solving the mystery of the missing gecko. And they have to stick together, right? Many secrets unravel from there.
This is such a cute story about an unlikely friendship, and how people aren’t always what you assume. I really hope this is a series, because I can’t wait to see what other cases they can solve together!
Jamila Waheed is the new kid in town. She just wants to play at the basketball court all summer and not be forced to go to science camp. She meets Shirley at a yard sale. Sure, Shirley's a little weird, but both girls need a new plan for the summer, and they might as well become friends.
Shirley concocts a plan, and they walk to the courts together everyday. Until Oliver asks for help. Jamila can’t help but want to be included on solving the mystery of the missing gecko. And they have to stick together, right? Many secrets unravel from there.
This is such a cute story about an unlikely friendship, and how people aren’t always what you assume. I really hope this is a series, because I can’t wait to see what other cases they can solve together!
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