I’m so sure I’m writing about a missing brother, when I discover I’m actually writing about empathy and self-acceptance. These three do just that, by inviting you to look and look again, to uncover the stories underneath. She weighs the evidence (Shirley is “weird, but an interesting weird”) and concludes their friendship is indisputably worth it. Here the novel deepens as the girls discover another surprising truth: Everyone deserves a chance to have his or her story heard, even the guilty. With a sly nod to the original Holmes and Watson, Shirley and Jamila use their wits to connect, with each other and their community.

Source: New York Times August 08, 2020 15:45 UTC