Benny on the Case

Born with mosaic Down syndrome, white-cued 11-year-old Benny Brooks, who lives in a retirement home owned by his mother, yearns to find a friend his own age. He bonds with Salma Price, freshly settled in Newfoundland from Seattle, as they both contend with bullies who taunt Benny for being “special ed” and label Salma, who is of Tunisian descent, a “foreign girl” because of her Arabic name. At the retirement home, valuable items have begun vanishing from people’s rooms, establishing a disturbing trend just as a new inspector for senior services visits. With the police convinced that an addled resident is losing items and with the inspector threatening to close the home, Benny teams up with true-crime-podcast-loving Salma to uncover the culprit. Palpable tension makes for a suspenseful, emotional read by King (Butt Sandwich & Tree) as Benny strives to save not only his family’s home and livelihood but also an essential refuge for elders in need, all while grieving the death of his father four years earlier. Utilizing a POV seldom seen in children’s fiction, King crafts a uniquely savvy mystery crackling with the chill and charm of rural Newfoundland. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Brianne Johnson, HG Literary. (Apr.)