THE HOCUS-POCUS HOAX

Goldie thought the most exciting part of her day off from the Crossed Palms Resort, where she lives and works as a car valet and aspiring house detective, would be her date with longtime crush Diane—until props start going missing from various workshops at the League of Magical Arts Convention. To top it off, Derek, the extremely annoying, mansplaining son of the headlining magician, Dr. Von Thurston, is trying to horn in on the case. Now, Goldie must help her mentor, Walter Tooey, solve the Case of the Missing Props before the uber-famous Dr. Von Thurston refuses to take the stage, leaving the Florida resort with a tarnished reputation. Through each twist and turn, Goldie has to stay one step ahead of Derek and the troublemaker behind the thefts while also trying to make it the best date Diane has ever had. This neat, straightforward, first-person mystery includes a sweet portrayal of a queer romance and will appeal to genre fans of many ages. The language manages to feel modern while evoking vintage classics. Inspired by the Goldie Vance comic book series, this entry includes several pages of full-color illustrations. Goldie is brown skinned.

A wholesome tale featuring a beloved teen sleuth.