The Harlem Charade

By: Natasha Tarpley

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Chasing Vermeer comes to Harlem in this clever mystery about art, artifice, and the power of community.

Watcher. Shadow. Fugitive.

Harlem is home to all kinds of kids. Jin sees life passing her by from the window of her family's bodega. Alex wants to help the needy one shelter at a time but can't tell anyone who she really is. Elvin's living on Harlem's cold, lonely streets, surviving on his own after his grandfather was mysteriously attacked.

When these three strangers join forces to find out what happened to Elvin's grandfather, their digging leads them to an enigmatic artist whose missing masterpieces are worth a fortune - one that might save the neighborhood from development by an ambitious politician who wants to turn it into Harlem World, a ludicrous historical theme park. But if they don't find the paintings soon, nothing in their beloved neighborhood will ever be the same.

In this remarkable tale of daring and danger, debut novelist Natasha Tarpley explores the way a community defines itself, the power of art to show truth, and what it really means to be home.

©2017 Natasha Tarpley (P)2017 Scholastic Inc.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Bahni Turpin provides complex portraits of this audiobook's three heroes.... Turpin excels at accents and emotions and at revealing obscured truths about the main characters. She ensures that listeners comprehend the story's historical figures and quick-paced, suspenseful events. Turpin shows her gifts as she brings together diverse plots, characterizations, and themes." ( AudioFile)

Great Book

I really enjoyed this book. I would like to read many more books of the is author.

very good

litteraly one of the best books i’ve ever had to read.. literally not even joking.

Good Book

The narrator had good exasperation and had a different voice for each character. Also the book was just good in general.

Diverse cast of boy and girl characters

One of my favorite children's mysteries I've read in a long time. The clues are uncomplicated and the book would lend itself to teaching about the Harlem renaissance and black history. Great book for 5th or 6th graders. I also enjoyed how the boys and girls all worked together without having the typical "first crush" that you see often in middle grade novels.

Simply amazing

the book told us about how little people are invisible but when they shine there deeds is as greater than the sun.
The book told us about how life was and how a helping hand could save people and the city.
There need to make another book like this and when Alex,Jin,and Elvin get older and start a art program.