Pish Posh

Potter's (the Olivia Kidney books) latest fetchingly outlandish caper introduces the amusingly uppity Clara Frankofile, whose parents own the title Manhattan restaurant, catering to "glittery and fabulous" customers. Alas, not all of them make it through their haute cuisine meals. Each night 11-year-old Clara—wearing a simple black dress and dark glasses—sits at a table, eyeing the diners to determine who qualifies as a "Nobody" and must be banished from the fine eating establishment. When the young snob callously evicts an elderly doctor, a patron since Pish Posh's opening, his parting words distress the girl: "You have failed to notice a most peculiar and mysterious thing that is happening right under your nose." A brooding Clara returns to her penthouse apartment, where rooms have enticing themes (there's a State Fair Room, a Day at the Beach Room, a Haunted House Room, etc.), and retires to the Tree Climbing Room. From her treetop perch she spies a girl on the roof, hiding from police. This is Annabelle, who is an apprentice to her jewel thief father. As strong-willed and sharp-tongued as Clara, she adds an extra jolt of energy and humor to the story. The two team up to solve the mystery mentioned by the doctor. Readers will turn these pages quickly and, at the tale's satisfying end, may well hope that Clara, like Olivia Kidney, will have a follow-up adventure. Ages 9-up. (Apr.)