A Game Most Foul

Gr 9 Up–As one of just six anointed participants for a renowned writing program, almost 19-year-old Jules from Monterey, CA, arrives in London to stay with her great-aunt Adele for the summer. She’s initially unsure how others might react to her hearing aids, but she makes fast friends with enthusiastic Suruthi and reserved Percy. A class trip to Oxford turns tragic when classmate Ashley disappears in front of the “Narnia door,” and Jules is the last to see her. The police disappoint, so the trio commence their own investigation, including breaking into Professor Watson’s office, where they find—Sherlock Holmes. Let the sleuthing begin. Narrative lumps and bumps are prominent—little mention of London details; casual corpses; abandoned threads—but Hvam admirably commands attention to the inane ending with impressively distinct characterizations. Easily shifting between American and British accents, her energy remains infectious.