Readers who enjoy a mystery where everything comes together at the end neatly will like this book. The tone and narration reminded me of much older middle grades.

Jasmine Warga has a new middle grade book out called A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall. On the whole, I love realistic books, but now and then one with a slice of magical realism touches my fancy. This is just such a book.

Actually, the title understates what happened in Cherry Hall. First, there is the painting stolen from the museum. Then a ghost appears who is seen only by certain people and looks like the girl in the stolen painting. This ghost doesn’t know her own name. Like Rami, the protagonist, she is looking to be seen, understood, and known for who she really is.

Rami and Veda set out to solve the mystery of who stole the painting with plenty of suspects including the director of the museum, a couple of guards, and Rami’s mother who works there. They get help from Rami’s extrovert classmate Veda who appears to be afraid of nothing at all and the turtle Agatha who has seen the robbery. The writing includes many asides that give Warga’s readers a sense of insider knowledge, bring them into the author’s confidence, and provide smiles. The enjoyable mystery with its solution carries a side of the universal longing to be seen and understood.

I recommend this light-hearted read for middle schoolers and others who want to have a bit of fun.

It's a bit coming of age, a bit of a ghost story, and a perfect mystery. Rami is determined to make sure that his mom is not blamed for the theft at the museum. He does his own investigating with the help of a floating girl who must be a ghost! He enlists the help of classmate Veda and also gets a few clues from Agatha the turtle! This story is heart-warming with a great mystery. It also explores friendship and family. I loved it and it is perfect for ages 9-12 in search of a mystery.

I love Jasmine Warga and I love how well she is able to write in so many different styles. A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall was a fun, middle grade mystery perfectly suited towards the younger end of middle grade. Rami is a lonely 6th grader who has been ditched by his friends. His single mom works at an art museum, and when a painting goes missing and a mysterious floating girl appears to Rami, he decides to try to solve the mystery. This mystery isn't too scary and has some great illustrations included as well. A fun read!

A middle grade mystery that it's quite as mysterious as it is an odd little investigation by a boy named Rami at a museum in which art has gone missing and Rami swears that the girl he's talking to in the museum is the girl from the painting. Without much to go on, Rami and a classmate Veda team up (alongside a turtle) to figure out what happened- who stole the painting, who is this mystery girl, and what needs to happen to resolve the whole situation.

It's quirky and not very dark, more thoughtful than anything and uses common practice from history/museums as part of the discovery. It works, but not the strongest of all of Warga's work.

✨Book Review✨
🍒🏛️A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall 🏛️🍒

Synopsis:
A Missing Painting 🖼️ + 2 Friends 👫 + A Ghost 👻 + A Turtle Named Agatha 🐢

My thoughts:
🤔 This one's a mystery with a not-so-scary ghost. It is fun, heartwarming, and whimsical. I loved that this mystery wasn’t too intense. I know a lot of readers whom I will recommend this book to.
🤔 There are lots of great themes throughout this book. This book is like a warm hug, which you wouldn't necessarily expect from a mystery with a ghost. It is truly unique!
🤔 This is a wonderfully charming little story. I appreciate the clean language, and I think it would be perfect for a whole-class, family, or small group read aloud. I’m sure it is going to be loved for a long time!

📢This one released September 10, 2024!

🥰Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books @harpercollinsch and @NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love that Jasmine Warga is tackling the mystery genre with this story about a missing painting. This is so different than other Warga books and it would be a great read aloud for upper elementary or even lower middle grades.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I was eager to dive into a juvenile mystery book, but unfortunately, this just wasn't it. While the plot races along at a quick pace, it may keep younger readers—and perhaps even some struggling ones—engaged. However, it falls short in terms of imaginative construction. Everything feels overly structured and predictable, leaving little room for surprise or excitement. The characters are disappointingly flat; their backstories are presented in a hurried manner, lacking any real depth. Overall, this is a rather mediocre mystery for those who prefer their stories to lay out every step with complete certainty.

"Art is a wish you make with your hands."

Perfect for younger middle grade readers interested in a slightly spooky (but not at all scary) mystery, this book is a bit quirky and moves quickly.

I liked how it was told to the reader, roping them into being invested in each facet of the story, from the ghost, to the turtle, to Rami's perspective.

As an adult, I do always take note of how children are punished for their rebellious actions in books like these. This one does say the characters are punished, but it doesn't say enough about the danger of sneaking out of your house at night and going places your parents do not know about (especially as a middle grader).

Thanks to Harper Kids for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

Middle school is not off to a great start for sixth grader Rami Ahmed. Not only did his best friend ditch him for no apparent reason, but a painting has gone missing at the museum where his mom works - and both Rami and his mom are suspects! When Rami starts seeing a mysterious, floating girl around the museum - the same girl who features in the missing painting - he's sure she's the key to solving this mystery. Can Rami, along with the help of an aspiring-sleuth classmate and an artistically-inclined turtle, clear his and his mother's names?

While the mystery itself is fairly predictable, cozy mystery fans will enjoy this latest story from Jasmine Warga for its characters and heart.

A middle grade mystery with Agatha Christie vibes! A mystery to solve with the aid of a Turtle (conveniently named Agatha) Rami and Veda team up to solve the incredible mystery of the missing painting! This book will keep kids (and adults) hooked from the beginning!

Since his best friends unfriended him, eleven-year-old Rami hangs out at the museum his mom cleans, and spends a lot of energy trying not to be noticed. Which is why it’s so surprising that he’s the only one the floating girl pays attention too. When a painting is stolen and his mom is suspected, finding out who the girl is, and how she’s connected to the missing art, becomes way more important than hiding, Short titled chapters set the tone for a whimsical mystery that centers on the importance of being seen. The fun dynamic between unassuming Rami and Veda, his more assertive partner in detection, adds energy. Expository prose and a subplot involving an artistic turtle, slow the pace but may appeal to readers who want winsome and unthreatening mysteries. Thanks to Balzer + Bray and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy in return for an unbiased review.

A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall packs a punch in under 225 pages, making it a very appealing addition to an elementary library. I have seen other reviewers wishing that this story had a few more twists and turns, but there are plenty of books available for students who want a longer, meatier mystery. Just today, I had a 3rd grade student asking for a mystery longer than Encyclopedia Brown but less intimidating than a Stuart Gibbs novel. This book fits perfectly in that spot.

This would be a great modern update to books like Mixed-Up Files and The Westing Game in the classroom. (Those are two of my all-time favorites, but we could definitely use some more recent, diverse texts!)

This is a must buy for my school library, and I plan to purchase multiple copies, because I know the demand will be high with minimal book talking.

A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga is an easy to read mystery that will appeal to many middle grade readers. There is a small supernatural element that is often popular with students. The story also brings in themes of friendship and belonging which would make this a great read aloud. Definitely on my list to purchase for my library this fall!

Another amazing story by Jasmine Warga! Heartfelt, moving, funny, highly recommend to all MG readers and their parents and a great addition to any classroom or school library.

An art heist mystery with a tortoise and a ghost! Sign me up! At the heart of this story is a friendship, but it's just another winner from Jasmine Warga. I can't wait to share this with my students.

You never know what the story will be with Jasmine Warga, but know it will be fantastic! Her writing is so good, and she truly knows a middle-grade audience. I loved the mystery of Cherry Hall and how it brought people together. This is a must for all elementary libraries and middle-grade classrooms!

I had wildly high expectations for Jasmine Warga's latest release, A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall. After all, it had all the components I usually love in a middle grade text: mystery genre + friendship + a ghost + a quirky animal appearance. What's not to love?

I was not disappointed! Warga's writing style is so enjoyable and easy to consume. She also constructed a mystery that I think will hook young readers.

My only *wish* for this book is that I wish there had been a bigger twist at the end of the book. While the "reveal" was unexpected, I also felt that the groundwork wasn't quite there for this reveal to have as big of an impact as it could have had.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, and I can't wait to introduce it to my 5th & 6th graders!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my advanced copy.

I love everything Jasmine Warga writes, and this book is no different! It is an intriguing art heist mystery with plot twists that kept me guessing. I loved the themes of being true to yourself and the power of letting others see your true self that Warga often explores. Excellent characters and excellent writing make this a must read!

This book had a great premise, but it's not my favorite from Warga.

Each element of this story was excellent from the ghost and the turtle to the single mother and the kooky best friend. Warga dreamed up something truly unique, but I wish the elements interacted a little more. The story was tied up nicely, but I would've liked a few more twists and turns.

I do think that this book is perfect for a spooky mystery lover or someone looking to get in the Fall mood. I would recommend this book to 3rd and 4th grade readers, but probably not 5th grade.

Hopefully Warga will take another stab at a mystery because I love her writing style and I'm excited to see what she comes up with next.