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Hannah Sharpe, Cartoon Detective
From the creators of the bestselling My Life series comes a colorfully illustrated mystery adventure about Hannah Sharpe, an observant young cartoonist on the autism spectrum and her cartoon alter ego in this colorfully illustrated adventure.
Young cartoonist Hannah Sharpe has many she’s curious, creative, has an amazing memory, and most important—she notices things. When Doug Williams moves into her family’s Airbnb, Hannah can’t shake the feeling that he’s got something to hide. But his girlfriend, Remy Furtado, couldn’t be nicer or more helpful. As Hannah investigates, often with her sketchbook in hand, she makes a series of unsettling discoveries involving stolen packages, changed keypad codes, and hidden stacks of cash. Can Hannah crack the case and unfold the mystery on her own?
Including full-color illustrations with panel art featuring Hannah and her cartoon alter ego, Dusty Pickle, here is a thoughtful and propulsive new book starring a neurodiverse protagonist.
Young cartoonist Hannah Sharpe has many she’s curious, creative, has an amazing memory, and most important—she notices things. When Doug Williams moves into her family’s Airbnb, Hannah can’t shake the feeling that he’s got something to hide. But his girlfriend, Remy Furtado, couldn’t be nicer or more helpful. As Hannah investigates, often with her sketchbook in hand, she makes a series of unsettling discoveries involving stolen packages, changed keypad codes, and hidden stacks of cash. Can Hannah crack the case and unfold the mystery on her own?
Including full-color illustrations with panel art featuring Hannah and her cartoon alter ego, Dusty Pickle, here is a thoughtful and propulsive new book starring a neurodiverse protagonist.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 19, 2023
6 people are currently reading
2039 people want to read
About the author
Janet Tashjian
56 books262 followersJanet Tashjian is a middle-grade and young adult novelist who’s been writing books for children for fifteen years. Her first novel Tru Confessions was made into a critically acclaimed Disney TV movie starring Clara Bryant and Shia LaBeouf. The Gospel According to Larry is a cult favorite and Fault Line is taught in many middle and high schools. Her novels My Life As a Book, My Life As a Stuntboy, and My Life As a Cartoonist are all illustrated by her teenage son, Jake. Their collaboration continues with Einstein the Class Hamster coming in August.
Janet lives with her family in Los Angeles, enjoying her respite from the long Boston winters. When she isn’t writing, she’s rewriting.
Janet has been doing school visits for fifteen years; you can email her at spatulaproductions@mac.com for details.
We invite you to follow her on Twitter @JanetTashjian and like her books on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Lif...
https://www.facebook.com/ForWhatItsWo...
Plus, check out her YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/janettash...
Janet lives with her family in Los Angeles, enjoying her respite from the long Boston winters. When she isn’t writing, she’s rewriting.
Janet has been doing school visits for fifteen years; you can email her at spatulaproductions@mac.com for details.
We invite you to follow her on Twitter @JanetTashjian and like her books on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Lif...
https://www.facebook.com/ForWhatItsWo...
Plus, check out her YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/janettash...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 22, 2024
A great MG book for the @txbbaward I loved the autism representation. Hannah was a very likable character and the comic panels were done so well. It didn’t have the ending I thought it would, but that was far from a bad thing. It was a REALISTIC ending and I loved it. Adore this mother/son writing duo!
Read
December 4, 2025DNF
I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, I couldn’t read past the prologue. The first thing that rubbed me the wrong way was how Hannah described herself. Specifically, she says that she’s a “typical, sometimes atypical” 11-year-old girl. The reason why this wording is problematic is that autistic people have always been “othered” in society. Anything that’s not neurotypical is seen as “weird” or “atypical,” which is not a positive message to send to younger readers.
Another thing I wasn’t pleased with was the writing style. It didn’t sound like an authentic 11-year-old voice, but rather an adult trying to sound like a kid. Hannah didn’t even sound like she was articulate or mature for her age; her inner monologue sounded inauthentic and forced.
Additionally, the prologue had a lot of exposition. For example, it kept explaining what Hannah’s autistic traits were, but her personality wasn’t conveyed well enough. Because of this, readers would view her as the autistic girl but not who she is outside of that.
I’m so disappointed that the representation fell short in the first few pages. But because of the problematic wording, inauthentic voice, and extensive exposition, this book wasn’t for me. Hopefully, all my points were challenged later on in the book, but it’s unlikely that they were.
If you want to read a book featuring an autistic protagonist that’s good for younger readers, please read the West Meadows Detective series by Liam O'Donnell instead.
Thank you for reading, and God bless!
I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, I couldn’t read past the prologue. The first thing that rubbed me the wrong way was how Hannah described herself. Specifically, she says that she’s a “typical, sometimes atypical” 11-year-old girl. The reason why this wording is problematic is that autistic people have always been “othered” in society. Anything that’s not neurotypical is seen as “weird” or “atypical,” which is not a positive message to send to younger readers.
Another thing I wasn’t pleased with was the writing style. It didn’t sound like an authentic 11-year-old voice, but rather an adult trying to sound like a kid. Hannah didn’t even sound like she was articulate or mature for her age; her inner monologue sounded inauthentic and forced.
Additionally, the prologue had a lot of exposition. For example, it kept explaining what Hannah’s autistic traits were, but her personality wasn’t conveyed well enough. Because of this, readers would view her as the autistic girl but not who she is outside of that.
I’m so disappointed that the representation fell short in the first few pages. But because of the problematic wording, inauthentic voice, and extensive exposition, this book wasn’t for me. Hopefully, all my points were challenged later on in the book, but it’s unlikely that they were.
If you want to read a book featuring an autistic protagonist that’s good for younger readers, please read the West Meadows Detective series by Liam O'Donnell instead.
Thank you for reading, and God bless!
March 22, 2025
Mother-son duo from the My Life As series come together again with a highly illustrated novel with 5th grader Hannah Sharpe using her unique and neuro-divergent (NG) perspective to puzzle out not only why the crime rate is going up in her neighborhood but how to deal with change and respond appropriately in socially challenging situations.
Hannah has strong and supportive parents who have been an active part in advocating for appropriate accommodations for her at school and their guidance as she works out what comments should stay in “thought bubbles” and which can be expressed with “talk bubbles” and always encourage her to use her drawing skills as a tool to work out confusing scenarios. Her regular drawings are included in every chapter and will not only allow other students on the autism spectrum to make connections to Hannah but will allow the more neuro-typical learner to also make connections to her and possibly apply new understanding to classmates who do not always learn, behave, respond in the usual manner. Not only are Hannah’s drawings included, so is her developing comic book with Sheriff Dusty Pickle and other vegetables from Vinegar Valley dealing with the misbehaving beef jerky Lonnie. Each of those entries reinforce a 3rd time some of the things she is learning about social behaviors.
Extra focus on figurative language is seamlessly worked into the story’s plot with that being the primary skill being covered in Hannah’s ELA class. The use of idiom happens to be her favorite literary tool now that she has begun to understand the way using words that don’t mean exactly what they say can be useful and they are all over each chapter and are italicized and a gold star is place in the margin near them. Surrounded heavily by excellent and rather obvious context clues ensures that readers will understand them and in the chapter’s accompanying graphic panels, several idiom are included but these are not set apart allowing for student identification if “Hannah Sharpe” is being used as a lit circle title or a class read aloud or study.
Janet Tashjian draws on her experiences as she supports her NG son as well as her own experiences “proudly march[ing] to a different drummer” (Tashjian, J. pg. 303) and her choice to use first person and allow Hannah to explain how she thinks and feels lends authenticity to her story.
Representation: Physical traits of Hannah, her friends, classmates are not included in the text, but Jake Tashjian’s artwork and naming conventions strongly imply there are plenty of BIPOC characters in key roles. Hannah mentions in passing that teacher Mr. DeMarco and his husband have tattooed wedding rings and later states that Mr. DeMarco and his husband were working a table at a school event.
Text is free of sexual content, violence, and profanity, although one character is said to “let loose more swears than I’ve ever heard anyone say at one time” (pg. 118) when he discovers he has been robbed. Target audience is likely grades 3-5.
A 2025-2026 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee.
Hannah has strong and supportive parents who have been an active part in advocating for appropriate accommodations for her at school and their guidance as she works out what comments should stay in “thought bubbles” and which can be expressed with “talk bubbles” and always encourage her to use her drawing skills as a tool to work out confusing scenarios. Her regular drawings are included in every chapter and will not only allow other students on the autism spectrum to make connections to Hannah but will allow the more neuro-typical learner to also make connections to her and possibly apply new understanding to classmates who do not always learn, behave, respond in the usual manner. Not only are Hannah’s drawings included, so is her developing comic book with Sheriff Dusty Pickle and other vegetables from Vinegar Valley dealing with the misbehaving beef jerky Lonnie. Each of those entries reinforce a 3rd time some of the things she is learning about social behaviors.
Extra focus on figurative language is seamlessly worked into the story’s plot with that being the primary skill being covered in Hannah’s ELA class. The use of idiom happens to be her favorite literary tool now that she has begun to understand the way using words that don’t mean exactly what they say can be useful and they are all over each chapter and are italicized and a gold star is place in the margin near them. Surrounded heavily by excellent and rather obvious context clues ensures that readers will understand them and in the chapter’s accompanying graphic panels, several idiom are included but these are not set apart allowing for student identification if “Hannah Sharpe” is being used as a lit circle title or a class read aloud or study.
Janet Tashjian draws on her experiences as she supports her NG son as well as her own experiences “proudly march[ing] to a different drummer” (Tashjian, J. pg. 303) and her choice to use first person and allow Hannah to explain how she thinks and feels lends authenticity to her story.
Representation: Physical traits of Hannah, her friends, classmates are not included in the text, but Jake Tashjian’s artwork and naming conventions strongly imply there are plenty of BIPOC characters in key roles. Hannah mentions in passing that teacher Mr. DeMarco and his husband have tattooed wedding rings and later states that Mr. DeMarco and his husband were working a table at a school event.
Text is free of sexual content, violence, and profanity, although one character is said to “let loose more swears than I’ve ever heard anyone say at one time” (pg. 118) when he discovers he has been robbed. Target audience is likely grades 3-5.
A 2025-2026 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee.
Read
October 5, 2023Hannah Sharpe is on the autism spectrum. She is curious about everything and determined to find answers for the many questions she encounters. One thing that helps her make sense of the world is her sketchbook. Drawing what she sees and how she feels helps her understand things and also solve the many mysteries that seem to pop up.
Right now Hannah is trying to solve the mystery of all the crimes suddenly occurring in her neighborhood. When she begins to suspect the new renters in her parents' garage apartment, she has mixed feelings. The couple that just started renting the apartment have exhibited some odd behaviors. Hannah has become friends with the girl, but the guy has Hannah wondering if he could be responsible for the recent crimes.
With the help of her friend Remy and her trusty sketchbook, Hannah attempts to find the answers she needs to convince her parents they should listen to her ideas.
Author Janet Tashjian partners with her son to create this awesome illustrated novel. Tahjian's experience with autism is first-hand since her son is on the spectrum. He partners with her to draw the illustrations and create the cartoon strip Dusty Pickle. This will no doubt be the beginning of a popular new series for middle grade readers.
Right now Hannah is trying to solve the mystery of all the crimes suddenly occurring in her neighborhood. When she begins to suspect the new renters in her parents' garage apartment, she has mixed feelings. The couple that just started renting the apartment have exhibited some odd behaviors. Hannah has become friends with the girl, but the guy has Hannah wondering if he could be responsible for the recent crimes.
With the help of her friend Remy and her trusty sketchbook, Hannah attempts to find the answers she needs to convince her parents they should listen to her ideas.
Author Janet Tashjian partners with her son to create this awesome illustrated novel. Tahjian's experience with autism is first-hand since her son is on the spectrum. He partners with her to draw the illustrations and create the cartoon strip Dusty Pickle. This will no doubt be the beginning of a popular new series for middle grade readers.
August 31, 2023
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
✍🏻 love to draw
📦 have ever had porch pirates
🔍 want to solve a mystery
🗣️ always call people by their first and last name
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Young cartoonist Hannah Sharpe has many strengths: she’s curious, creative, has an amazing memory, and most important—she notices things. When Doug Williams moves into her family’s Airbnb, Hannah can’t shake the feeling that he’s got something to hide. But his girlfriend, Remy Furtado, couldn’t be nicer or more helpful. As Hannah investigates, often with her sketchbook in hand, she makes a series of unsettling discoveries involving stolen packages, changed keypad codes, and hidden stacks of cash. Can Hannah crack the case and unfold the mystery on her own?
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such an adorable read. I really felt like I was able to step into the world of a child with autism for a little bit while reading this story and understand some of her experiences. Hannah is a super kind and smart person who has a penchant for solving mysteries and drawing cartoons that help her figure out real life problems. I loved how intuitive she was and how trusting. I also loved the pickle puns throughout the story and the evil beef jerky! Too funny! I can’t wait to see what happens next time with Hannah and her pickle friend!
✍🏻 love to draw
📦 have ever had porch pirates
🔍 want to solve a mystery
🗣️ always call people by their first and last name
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Young cartoonist Hannah Sharpe has many strengths: she’s curious, creative, has an amazing memory, and most important—she notices things. When Doug Williams moves into her family’s Airbnb, Hannah can’t shake the feeling that he’s got something to hide. But his girlfriend, Remy Furtado, couldn’t be nicer or more helpful. As Hannah investigates, often with her sketchbook in hand, she makes a series of unsettling discoveries involving stolen packages, changed keypad codes, and hidden stacks of cash. Can Hannah crack the case and unfold the mystery on her own?
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such an adorable read. I really felt like I was able to step into the world of a child with autism for a little bit while reading this story and understand some of her experiences. Hannah is a super kind and smart person who has a penchant for solving mysteries and drawing cartoons that help her figure out real life problems. I loved how intuitive she was and how trusting. I also loved the pickle puns throughout the story and the evil beef jerky! Too funny! I can’t wait to see what happens next time with Hannah and her pickle friend!
September 24, 2023
It is so important for every reader to be able to see themselves in the book they are reading and for everyone else to learn and be more understanding.
For me Hannah Sharpe Cartoon Detective does this and more through words and highly coloured drawings which included comic strips of her Dusty Pickle.
I loved Hannah as a Main Character and see how she deals with life was very interesting and I got a little bit more insight into Autism which I found fascinating. I also liked the mysteries Hannah was able to solve and we know why Hannah was so good at this is because he has to make sense of things everyday.
I also cried but this was how expertly Janet introduced Covid as a subject matter.
For all the above reasons Hannah Sharpe Pet Detective receives 5 big fat stars and then some.
For me Hannah Sharpe Cartoon Detective does this and more through words and highly coloured drawings which included comic strips of her Dusty Pickle.
I loved Hannah as a Main Character and see how she deals with life was very interesting and I got a little bit more insight into Autism which I found fascinating. I also liked the mysteries Hannah was able to solve and we know why Hannah was so good at this is because he has to make sense of things everyday.
I also cried but this was how expertly Janet introduced Covid as a subject matter.
For all the above reasons Hannah Sharpe Pet Detective receives 5 big fat stars and then some.
April 4, 2025
Hannah Sharpe is an autistic student giving us a glimpse into her face paced life. She loves drawing comics which are brightly colored breaks in the prose style text. She also loved Idioms and is labeling and drawing them out both literally and figuratively as we go. She gives elementary aged students a simple but easy to understand look at the world of autism and IEPs and being different at school. She navigates going through change (both big and small), the struggles of fitting in at school and understanding the world around her, and working through things not every kid understands in a fun and easy to read way.
September 23, 2023
I absolutely adore this book! Hannah Sharpe is a - you guessed it - cartoonist. She's a curious girl who eye spies everything! She is also autistic which gains a thumbs up in my world. When Doug and Remy move in, she notices stacks of cash and stolen packages. The only problem is Hannah likes to solve mysteries by... drawing cartoons! As an added bonus, Hannah has an imaginary friend and the pickle puns cracked me up. The illustrations with (my current obsession) graphic novel vibes are vivid, funny, and brilliantly done. 5 Stars all the way.
June 18, 2025
Hannah is pretty smart. She pays close attention to things and not much passes by without her noticing. Her parents own an apartment they rent out on Airbnb. And the newest residents are interesting: Remy is a nice friend to Hannah. But Doug is shifty, strange. Hannah is also dealing with change at school that cause her some stress. The story is interwoven with Hannah’s own comic book she draws to help her process different events and thoughts.
September 20, 2025
Eye Opening, brilliant writing!
As a school librarian, I downloaded this book to read solely because it’s on the Bluebonnet award list this year, but as someone who’s worked with many neurodivergent people, this book grabbed my heart immediately. This is so well written with nods to how many neurodivergent people think and learn to handle change… but I think ALL kids will find themselves a little in Hannah Sharpe…and adults too.
As a school librarian, I downloaded this book to read solely because it’s on the Bluebonnet award list this year, but as someone who’s worked with many neurodivergent people, this book grabbed my heart immediately. This is so well written with nods to how many neurodivergent people think and learn to handle change… but I think ALL kids will find themselves a little in Hannah Sharpe…and adults too.
March 17, 2025
Goodreads Giveaway: This story is about 11-year old Hannah who is on the autism spectrum. It was awesome reading about her in first person and helped me learn more about what children on the spectrum may go through or think/feel in everyday situations.
The drawings were so much fun and each chapter ended with a funny little comic strip about Hannah’s sidekick, Dusty Pickle! What’s not to love? 💗
The drawings were so much fun and each chapter ended with a funny little comic strip about Hannah’s sidekick, Dusty Pickle! What’s not to love? 💗
July 13, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
A little young for my collection; more Einstein the Class Hamster than My Life as a Book. Good autism representation, and lots of figurative language explanations.
The Tashjians always write a fun book, and young readers will enjoy the illustrations.
A little young for my collection; more Einstein the Class Hamster than My Life as a Book. Good autism representation, and lots of figurative language explanations.
The Tashjians always write a fun book, and young readers will enjoy the illustrations.
August 23, 2024
4.5 stars. Hannah befriends older Remi who lives in her family’s garage with her boyfriend only to be hurt by what the couple has been doing. Engaging story with delightful illustrations. Semi graphic novel.
May 16, 2024
So cute and fun to read. Sometimes you need a quick kids book as a palate cleanser :)
March 26, 2025
Great book! Kids who like quirky, illustrated chapter books will probably like this one.
May 30, 2025
I love Dusty Pickle and how Hannah uses her drawing skills with her imagination.
October 25, 2025
Something I like about this book is that it has a lot of fun cartoons. Another reason is it gives a lot of details. I have something similar to Hannah which is that we both like drawing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2025
2025-2026 TBA Nominee
Hannah Sharpe is an autistic girl who loves to draw, especially comic books. She has excellent parental support. Her two friends are also a great support system as well as the educators in their school. Due to Covid her parents have turned their garage into an Airbnb.
I loved the amount of support the Sharpe family gives to Hannah and her friends. Hannah has always used drawing as one of her copying mechanisms. She even has created a comic book character called Dusty Pickle.
The class is studying figure of speech. The book is full of idioms. Each paragraph that has an idiom in it is marked by a cartoon bubble with the word “idiom” in it.
Page 5 - tell myself that’s a thought bubble—not a talk bubble—concept.
Page 9 - his grandmother made him a quilt of the periodic table of elements.
page 10 - Her stress bomb.
Page 12 - says that food fuels our brains and the cafeteria fuels the school.
Page 14 - My favorite play therapist, Vicky McCartney, taught me to use drawings to “decode” situations IRL.
Page 14 - They’re called “social stories” and I have sketch pads full of them. I refer to them all the time when I need to get on track.
Page 30 - name is Otto. Maybe her niece is Anna.” My mother claps her hands together, which is a sign that’s part applause and part Wrap it up, Hannah. I don’t know if all kids have secret codes with their parents…
Page 30 - At least I stayed on the Topic Being Discussed—TBD—
Page 135 - “Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming only have one area code too. California has thirty-six!”
Page 157 - tiny baby animals that could fit in a spoon?” “Kangaroos, honey possums, pink fairy armadillos,”
Page 161 - Dad’s been in the neurodivergent world long enough to seize an opportunity for a kid to jump in and show off a superpower.
Page 179 - but if I want to have conversations about pickles and Pokémon and cowgirls, I have to tolerate other people’s obsessions too. That’s how conversations with friends work.
Page 248 - “Of course not!” I answer. “I’m autistic, not stupid!”
Page 256 - But this embrace from Remy Furtado feeds something inside me the same way a hug from my Gaga does.
Page 268 - neurotypical people like to have their passions appreciated too.
Page 270 - Carrying hurt around doesn’t help anyone.”
Page 270 - “Free your heart up for other things.”
Hannah Sharpe is an autistic girl who loves to draw, especially comic books. She has excellent parental support. Her two friends are also a great support system as well as the educators in their school. Due to Covid her parents have turned their garage into an Airbnb.
I loved the amount of support the Sharpe family gives to Hannah and her friends. Hannah has always used drawing as one of her copying mechanisms. She even has created a comic book character called Dusty Pickle.
The class is studying figure of speech. The book is full of idioms. Each paragraph that has an idiom in it is marked by a cartoon bubble with the word “idiom” in it.
Page 5 - tell myself that’s a thought bubble—not a talk bubble—concept.
Page 9 - his grandmother made him a quilt of the periodic table of elements.
page 10 - Her stress bomb.
Page 12 - says that food fuels our brains and the cafeteria fuels the school.
Page 14 - My favorite play therapist, Vicky McCartney, taught me to use drawings to “decode” situations IRL.
Page 14 - They’re called “social stories” and I have sketch pads full of them. I refer to them all the time when I need to get on track.
Page 30 - name is Otto. Maybe her niece is Anna.” My mother claps her hands together, which is a sign that’s part applause and part Wrap it up, Hannah. I don’t know if all kids have secret codes with their parents…
Page 30 - At least I stayed on the Topic Being Discussed—TBD—
Page 135 - “Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming only have one area code too. California has thirty-six!”
Page 157 - tiny baby animals that could fit in a spoon?” “Kangaroos, honey possums, pink fairy armadillos,”
Page 161 - Dad’s been in the neurodivergent world long enough to seize an opportunity for a kid to jump in and show off a superpower.
Page 179 - but if I want to have conversations about pickles and Pokémon and cowgirls, I have to tolerate other people’s obsessions too. That’s how conversations with friends work.
Page 248 - “Of course not!” I answer. “I’m autistic, not stupid!”
Page 256 - But this embrace from Remy Furtado feeds something inside me the same way a hug from my Gaga does.
Page 268 - neurotypical people like to have their passions appreciated too.
Page 270 - Carrying hurt around doesn’t help anyone.”
Page 270 - “Free your heart up for other things.”
October 13, 2023
Thank you @tbrbeyondtours and @janettashjian for having my kids and I on this booktour.
👦🏻 review: This almost graphic novel book is about Hannah and her autism, her journal or sketch pad and dusty the pickle. In our school, we always have special need kids, and I sometimes feel reluctant to understand them because they get worked up all the time. But few years ago in one of our word-study project, I was paired with one kid who has mild autism and his specialty was expressing his words through drawings and that’s how I usually understand him. From then on, I would make efforts to help my teachers by getting paired with any students who need more help. It’s not easy but seeing Hannah, she reminds me of the kid who was paired with me. This book’s illustrations are beautiful and clear, and the story is easy to follow. Her “imaginery friend” Dusty the pickle was a funny character added to help her deal with her anxiety while solving mystery. A really funny book!
👦🏻 review: This almost graphic novel book is about Hannah and her autism, her journal or sketch pad and dusty the pickle. In our school, we always have special need kids, and I sometimes feel reluctant to understand them because they get worked up all the time. But few years ago in one of our word-study project, I was paired with one kid who has mild autism and his specialty was expressing his words through drawings and that’s how I usually understand him. From then on, I would make efforts to help my teachers by getting paired with any students who need more help. It’s not easy but seeing Hannah, she reminds me of the kid who was paired with me. This book’s illustrations are beautiful and clear, and the story is easy to follow. Her “imaginery friend” Dusty the pickle was a funny character added to help her deal with her anxiety while solving mystery. A really funny book!
August 15, 2023
I appreciate the authentic autistic experience portrayed here, though it does take a little too long to get to the mystery. The format is meant to be inviting to reluctant readers as in Tashjian's other books. Kids will like the Dusty Pickle comics sprinkled throughout, but there had to be a better choice than making the criminal a brown-skinned tree bark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews