Pantomime

Gr 7 Up–When financial troubles threaten her newfound family, Haley, who is deaf, and her fellow deaf friends at their boarding school moonlight as high-profile burglars, using their disability as an alibi. What starts off as small crimes quickly escalates, and soon, the group finds themselves in too deep and over their heads. A time jump starts the second half of the book, with the crew now in college, dealing with the consequences of their actions as children. Despite a bizarre ending that may feel too clean for a crime drama, Sebela’s story will have a tense and gripping hold on readers from start to finish. Stoll’s illustrations are stellar throughout, demonstrating a standout portrayal of sign language. Tails of speech bubbles originate from the characters’ hands, while motion blurs capture the speed and force of the gestures.