(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Isabelle Follath. In 1902 Torquay, England, twelve-year-old Aggie befriends a Belgian refugee, Hector Perot, and investigates a murder roiling the town. When Mrs. Eversham, known throughout town for her sharp tongue and bad temper, is found dead on the floor of her sister-in-law's dance studio, Miss Marianne is the prime suspect. Aggie is certain her beloved dance teacher is innocent, so she evades adult oversight to solve the crime (with Hector's help). Plenty of red herrings keep Aggie discovering and discarding clues, and she finds as her investigation intensifies that the adults of Torquay appreciate her assistance less than they should. The young characters have a good deal of autonomy, driving a plot where parents, grandparents, and police officers are merely tolerated presences in the children's world. Aggie, an observant outsider, is an engaging protagonist, with wide-eyed curiosity balanced by acute insights about many of the people in her community. Jocelyn keeps readers guessing throughout the book, but the eventual reveal of the perpetrator is believable, carefully clued, and satisfying. A solid dose of tart wit ("Irma Eversham will be honored by more people as she enters her eternal slumber than she spoke to civilly in all of 1902") makes it an extra-enjoyable read; readers will eagerly anticipate the (hinted-at) further adventures of Aggie and Hector. An author's note explains that the story is inspired by Agatha Christie's childhood, and while Christie fans may pick up on the many subtle references to her books and characters (Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple), the mystery stands on its own.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Isabelle Follath. Jocelyn turns to the "country house party" trope in this entertaining Aggie Morton sequel (The Body Under the Piano, rev. 1/20). Twelve-year-old Aggie (loosely based on Agatha Christie) and her friend Hector Perot are spending Christmas at Owl Park, where Aggie's sister, newly a baroness, is learning to be mistress of a great house. The mystery begins when the other guests arrive. One guest, Lakshay Sivam, is carrying a possibly cursed emerald, which he plans to return to his native Sri Lanka; it disappears just as one of the actors hired to entertain the house party is murdered--and then Lakshay goes missing. Although the police take charge, Aggie, Hector, and their new friend Lucy can't stop themselves from doing some investigating of their own. With a solidly plotted whodunit, Jocelyn keeps readers guessing through a complex cast of suspects, all with something to hide, and enough red herrings to keep any detective on her toes. Despite the high stakes, the book keeps a generally light tone, making for an enjoyable read. Jocelyn touches on deeper issues, including Aggie's concerns about her widowed mother's ongoing depression, but the action always takes center stage.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(2) K-3 "Sam's things are in a heap. Time to tidy up." Sam begins to sort his toys and discovers that they can be grouped according to rhyme; by texture, smell, color; and more. This entertaining higher-order concept book is propelled by omniscient narration ("How many things is that?"; "What else comes in twos?") but soars because of Jocelyn's invitingly detailed hand-cut paper collages.

Reviewer: Nell Beram | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(2) YA This story set at an English boarding school during the Vietnam War is told from alternating viewpoints. Each classmate reveals to the reader what he or she is hiding from the others. Jocelyn makes each character distinctly believable--differently flawed yet sympathetic. There's a satisfying arc of discovery for each individual--some of whom keep their secrets, others who let them go.

Reviewer: Nina Lindsay | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2014

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. A bathroom portal at ComicFest launches two kids, Wylder Wallace and Addy Crowe, into the pages of a comic book. Suspense builds as the kids' presence affects the story, their adventures shown (in interspersed comic panels) in Dávila's clear, humorous illustrations. It's a clever concept that's well executed by Jocelyn and Scrimger.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(3) 4-6 This spiral-bound book contains instructions for easy art projects plus suggestions for hiding them in public as cheerful surprises. Crafts include paper garlands to string in the refrigerator; tissue-paper cupcakes to leave on a teacher's desk; cork boats to set sail in a public fountain; and painted stones to place in a garden.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(2) PS "Where do you look for glasses? On a shelf? Or on a face?" This introduction to homonyms pairs its series of questions with generously patterned collage artwork that has an inviting homespun feel, like a patchwork quilt. The book's warmth and cheerfulness impart the message that it's not just toys that can be played with--words can be played with, too.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013

(2) PS In this concept book, rhyming text describes two friends who meet up at the park. Following a predictable pattern ("One bird, two eggs, / One girl, two legs"), the text counts single items and pairs, each easily found in the art. Cut-paper collages employ a wide range of colorfully patterned and textured paper that will have viewers poring over the details.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2011

(2) YA In 1878, Mary Finn becomes a maid in London. Seven years later, six-year-old James Nelligan reluctantly returns to the home (modeled after London's real-life Foundling Hospital) where his mother placed him as an infant. The parallel tales intersect in the book's final chapter. Mary's spry narration (James's chapters unfold in third-person) combined with the story's texture and fervent emotion will seduce readers.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2010

(1) YA Natalie's older sister Claire is hit by a car and lies in a coma, kept alive by a ventilator. Divided into a series of brief, subtitled scenes, the narrative eloquently conveys how quickly "normal" life can change into something surreal. Readers will acutely feel Natalie's pain in this deeply affecting novel.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2008

(3) PS Illustrated by Tom Slaughter. Each page or double-page spread pairs an animal with a food it eats. The words (e.g., bird and worm, bears and fish) are printed in black or white in an easy-to-read font. The cut-paper illustrations are simple and elegant, using just four bold colors plus white and black. Young readers will savor the concept while poring over the compositions.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(1) 4-6 "Spiritual advisor" Madame Caterina and her daughter Annie move to Peach Hill, where Annie poses as feeble-minded to listen in on conversations. After meeting Sammy Sloane, though, Annie is eager to abandon her life as a grifter. Annie's strong voice creates a character with enough gumption, skepticism, and wry humor to resist, ultimately, her mother's narcissistic influence.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2007

(3) PS Illustrated by Tom Slaughter. This second concept book by Jocelyn and Slaughter works much better than the first (One Some Many). Minimal rhyming text and cut-paper illustrations of animals in six basic colors introduce opposites: e.g., "big" and "small" are represented by a black elephant and mouse on a vibrant red background.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) 4-6 Clearly a kindred spirit to Anne Shirley, Mable Riley joins the roster of spunky rural turn-of-the-century schoolgirls. The book's social issues (women's equality, worker's rights) are given a realistic shades-of-gray treatment, the diary format is handled adroitly, and the diarist herself is engaging and many-faceted.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2004

(3) K-3 When "school is over," three kids and their parents leave the city and spend the summer at their lakeside cabin. Important elements are listed: "outhouse / cork boats / scratches, blisters, sunburns, bruises / tent nights." Then the leaves start turning and it's time to go back to the city...and school. The clean mixed-media collages and simple text evoke the rituals of family vacations.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Abby Carter. In the third book about Billie and her invisibility powder, Billie's archenemy Alyssa steals the powder and inadvertently makes herself disappear. Jocelyn substitutes quick dialogue and slapstick humor for character development, and the fantasy is not tightly woven. However, the friendship dynamics and the high drama that passes for everyday life in sixth grade both ring true. Black-and-white drawings are included.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) PS A day in the life of a contented toddler is depicted in collage illustrations accompanied by simple text. Individual pages are devoted to themes such as selecting an outfit and eating breakfast and to concepts such as counting and color identification. The variety of textures produced by the various illustration materials lends interest and detail to this comforting book.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(4) PS Cloth collage with added materials like buttons, barrettes, and clothespins effectively illustrates this tale of a girl who finds a way to avoid having to choose from among her many collections for show-and-tell--she combines them into a sculpture. While the subject lacks drama, the text subtly includes counting and adding games, and the textured images will keep young collectors interested.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Young Hannah can never decide which of her lovely dresses to wear--until she assigns each a day of the week. On her birthday she wears them all, but soon flings them off, committing herself to pants from then on. Lively Hannah is admirably independent, but the text is flat. The textured collage illustrations made of fabric are far more interesting than the weak story.

Reviewer: Suzy Schmidt

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Abby Carter. Eager for a dog of her own despite her mother's strong disapproval, Billie happily agrees to take babysitter Jody's puppy when scientific guru Jody turns the animal invisible in this sequel to The Invisible Day. Notwithstanding some humor, events with the disappeared dog more than strain credulity. To its credit, the unlikely dog caper does reduce some tension between Billie's quite believable divorced parents who share her custody.

Reviewer: Susan P. Bloom