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rjsreadingnook's review
5.0
4.5 stars
Updated review: posted 1/7/21
Goldie Vance: The Hocus-Pocus Hoax by award-winning author Lilliam Rivera is the second book in the middle-grade series based on the BOOM! Studios comic series. This is a mixed media novel featuring a magical mystery and a gorgeously colorful eight page comic at the end of the book.
I really enjoyed the diverse cast of characters, especially Goldie. She is such a vibrant, optimistic, and positive-thinking character. I loved following her upbeat POV throughout the story.
There was so much to love about this book. I really appreciated how the LGBTQ themes were handled in this book. Goldie Vance is a queer character of color, but being queer is not what defines her. It’s just part of who she is, which I love to see. Most of the story centers on her friendships with Rob and Cheryl and the mystery she must solve at her father’s hotel. We get glimpses of her budding relationship with love interest Diane, which is a sweet aspect of the series.
I also loved that this wasn’t a coming out story. Her parents are supportive of her relationship with Diane, and this can be comforting and even hopeful for young LGBTQ+ readers.
The mystery itself was a cozy one with low stakes, plenty of fun moments, and a few twists and turns. This is the kind of mystery novel I would have loved to read growing up featuring a queer heroine who is smart, confident, and kind. This is a series I’ll save for my children to read when they’re both old enough for chapter books.
I am so glad to see the character of Goldie Vance continue in this middle grade novel series. I definitely consider myself a fan now, and I eagerly await reading more of this series. I also look forward to the film adaptation which will be directed by Rashida Jones and produced by Kerry Washington.
Thank you to Pride Book Tours and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Posted 12/29/20
This was so much fun!
Full RTC.
Will be posted on January 7 here on Goodreads, on my blog, and on Instagram for the book tour.
Thank you Pride Book Tours and the publisher for the ARC.
Updated review: posted 1/7/21
Goldie Vance: The Hocus-Pocus Hoax by award-winning author Lilliam Rivera is the second book in the middle-grade series based on the BOOM! Studios comic series. This is a mixed media novel featuring a magical mystery and a gorgeously colorful eight page comic at the end of the book.
I really enjoyed the diverse cast of characters, especially Goldie. She is such a vibrant, optimistic, and positive-thinking character. I loved following her upbeat POV throughout the story.
There was so much to love about this book. I really appreciated how the LGBTQ themes were handled in this book. Goldie Vance is a queer character of color, but being queer is not what defines her. It’s just part of who she is, which I love to see. Most of the story centers on her friendships with Rob and Cheryl and the mystery she must solve at her father’s hotel. We get glimpses of her budding relationship with love interest Diane, which is a sweet aspect of the series.
I also loved that this wasn’t a coming out story. Her parents are supportive of her relationship with Diane, and this can be comforting and even hopeful for young LGBTQ+ readers.
The mystery itself was a cozy one with low stakes, plenty of fun moments, and a few twists and turns. This is the kind of mystery novel I would have loved to read growing up featuring a queer heroine who is smart, confident, and kind. This is a series I’ll save for my children to read when they’re both old enough for chapter books.
I am so glad to see the character of Goldie Vance continue in this middle grade novel series. I definitely consider myself a fan now, and I eagerly await reading more of this series. I also look forward to the film adaptation which will be directed by Rashida Jones and produced by Kerry Washington.
Thank you to Pride Book Tours and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Posted 12/29/20
This was so much fun!
Full RTC.
Will be posted on January 7 here on Goodreads, on my blog, and on Instagram for the book tour.
Thank you Pride Book Tours and the publisher for the ARC.
lesbrary's review against another edition
3.0
I already know and love the Goldie Vance comics, but now it is also a middle grade novel series! The premise is that Goldie Vance is a sixteen year old girl who works as a part-time valet, part-time detective at a resort her father manages. She is the assistant to the hotel’s detective--which is apparently a thing?--and aspires to be a full-time detective when she’s older.
It has a 1950s feel, and Goldie is the plucky heroine we expect from a girl detective, except this one is a queer girl of colour! I love the comics, so I had to see how the novel versions compare. Although the main character is 16, she appears to be a little younger, which I think matches the 1950s aesthetic and definitely makes this work as a middle grade novel. When I worked in the children’s department of my local bookstore, I often wished there were more middle grade and YA mysteries--they are very popular for around 6-8 year olds and then inexplicably disappear--so I’m glad to see this will help fill that niche.
I was a bit worried about whether the queer relationship would be included in this middle grade version of the story--the comics are all-ages, but could easily be read by teens as well. Happily, it’s actually a big part of the plot in this volume.
This finishes with a short comic at the end, which was a fun surprise. We see Goldie and Diane finally get to have their date together, and it's adorable. I do think this translates well in the novel format, and I hope the series is long-running. This is technically the second book in the series, not counting the comics, but you don’t need to have read any of the other Goldie Vance books before this one: it’s a self-contained story.
It has a 1950s feel, and Goldie is the plucky heroine we expect from a girl detective, except this one is a queer girl of colour! I love the comics, so I had to see how the novel versions compare. Although the main character is 16, she appears to be a little younger, which I think matches the 1950s aesthetic and definitely makes this work as a middle grade novel. When I worked in the children’s department of my local bookstore, I often wished there were more middle grade and YA mysteries--they are very popular for around 6-8 year olds and then inexplicably disappear--so I’m glad to see this will help fill that niche.
I was a bit worried about whether the queer relationship would be included in this middle grade version of the story--the comics are all-ages, but could easily be read by teens as well. Happily, it’s actually a big part of the plot in this volume.
This finishes with a short comic at the end, which was a fun surprise. We see Goldie and Diane finally get to have their date together, and it's adorable. I do think this translates well in the novel format, and I hope the series is long-running. This is technically the second book in the series, not counting the comics, but you don’t need to have read any of the other Goldie Vance books before this one: it’s a self-contained story.
nora_mcgowan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
novelswithnora's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a cute and fun read!
Same as with the first book in the series I guessed who the culprit was pretty early on but that didn't detract from my reading experience. The atmosphere of this book was positively magical! I loved the introduction of new characters and the way Goldie interacts with them.
Goldie seems like such a real person, she has traits that you would see in almost every kid out there. The only minimal issue I have with this book is that Goldie is supposed to be 16? She tends to act more on the younger side but can drive and is going out on dates. It is definitely a little odd but in no way detracts from the story.
Overall this is a really light quick read that left me feeling happy and hopeful!
Thank you Pride Book Tours for the ARC
Same as with the first book in the series I guessed who the culprit was pretty early on but that didn't detract from my reading experience. The atmosphere of this book was positively magical! I loved the introduction of new characters and the way Goldie interacts with them.
Goldie seems like such a real person, she has traits that you would see in almost every kid out there. The only minimal issue I have with this book is that Goldie is supposed to be 16? She tends to act more on the younger side but can drive and is going out on dates. It is definitely a little odd but in no way detracts from the story.
Overall this is a really light quick read that left me feeling happy and hopeful!
Thank you Pride Book Tours for the ARC
lebron_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
sailormoon19's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A fast-paced, fun, wholesome mystery!
I really enjoyed Goldie's spunky personality and her earnest drive to solve the Case of the Missing Props.
Her relationship with her friends feels genuine and the addition of Derek as the annoying side-kick was well develped.
Great saphic representation in Goldie's relationship with Diane!
I really enjoyed Goldie's spunky personality and her earnest drive to solve the Case of the Missing Props.
Her relationship with her friends feels genuine and the addition of Derek as the annoying side-kick was well develped.
Great saphic representation in Goldie's relationship with Diane!
bookishrealm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
What a fun middle grade mystery! I'm familiar with the Goldie Vance comics so I was so happy to work with Little Brown Young Readers and Pride Book Tours in reading and reviewing this book. All thoughts are my own.
It's been a while since I've picked up a Goldie Vance comic, but I was excited when I found out that it was becoming novelized into a middle grade mystery series. While I haven't read the first book, I was more than happy to pick up Goldie Vance: The Hocus-Pocus Hoax. These books can be read as standalone, individual mysteries; however, I would recommend reading them in order so you have a better understanding of the character relationships. They are amazing relationships that are focused on friendship. There is a sapphic relationship that has made an appearance in the last book; however, we get the opportunity to see these two characters go out on their first date and it was so cute and charming.
One of the greatest things about this book is that it is fast paced. It is a classic "who dun it" plot that grabs the attention of the reader. When a magician conference is held at the hotel Goldie Vance and some of her other friends get excited to meet magicians and learn some things from their classes. Unfortunately, during the conference objects belonging to magicians begin to go missing. Goldie takes on the case and is followed (much to her dismay) by Derek, the son of a famous magician. I enjoyed following their thought patterns of who could be responsible for taking the objects. Goldie and Derek have a very strained relationship. Goldie finds him annoying and overbearing, but it is in this annoyance that she finds great character development. She has to take Derek's life and his experiences into consideration when evaluating his behavior and it honestly makes her into a much more empathetic person. While following the mystery, I didn't have a clue who could be responsible and I was genuinely surprised when the big reveal came.
This book has such a wide cast of characters in terms of diversity. It was great picking up a middle grade novel where the main cast was filled with BIPOC characters who weren't having to deal with racism or oppression. It literally was about having fun and enjoying the mystery. There is even a mini-comic at the end up the book that follows up the story. I will say that I think that the way in which this is written makes it a little hard to gauge the target audience. I had to do a little research to find out that the publisher markets it as middle grade, but it read a little more like younger YA and I believe that Goldie is supposed to be around 15/16 in the books. I'm hoping we get a little more clarity in future books, but so far I'm enjoying them!
It's been a while since I've picked up a Goldie Vance comic, but I was excited when I found out that it was becoming novelized into a middle grade mystery series. While I haven't read the first book, I was more than happy to pick up Goldie Vance: The Hocus-Pocus Hoax. These books can be read as standalone, individual mysteries; however, I would recommend reading them in order so you have a better understanding of the character relationships. They are amazing relationships that are focused on friendship. There is a sapphic relationship that has made an appearance in the last book; however, we get the opportunity to see these two characters go out on their first date and it was so cute and charming.
One of the greatest things about this book is that it is fast paced. It is a classic "who dun it" plot that grabs the attention of the reader. When a magician conference is held at the hotel Goldie Vance and some of her other friends get excited to meet magicians and learn some things from their classes. Unfortunately, during the conference objects belonging to magicians begin to go missing. Goldie takes on the case and is followed (much to her dismay) by Derek, the son of a famous magician. I enjoyed following their thought patterns of who could be responsible for taking the objects. Goldie and Derek have a very strained relationship. Goldie finds him annoying and overbearing, but it is in this annoyance that she finds great character development. She has to take Derek's life and his experiences into consideration when evaluating his behavior and it honestly makes her into a much more empathetic person. While following the mystery, I didn't have a clue who could be responsible and I was genuinely surprised when the big reveal came.
This book has such a wide cast of characters in terms of diversity. It was great picking up a middle grade novel where the main cast was filled with BIPOC characters who weren't having to deal with racism or oppression. It literally was about having fun and enjoying the mystery. There is even a mini-comic at the end up the book that follows up the story. I will say that I think that the way in which this is written makes it a little hard to gauge the target audience. I had to do a little research to find out that the publisher markets it as middle grade, but it read a little more like younger YA and I believe that Goldie is supposed to be around 15/16 in the books. I'm hoping we get a little more clarity in future books, but so far I'm enjoying them!
halfwaytoaugust's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0