The Harlem Charade

By Natasha Tarpley

Three kids race to find missing art that could save their Harlem neighborhood from a theme park fate.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 1,228 ratings

320 pages

$6.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In Harlem, Jin, Alex, and Elvin, three unlikely allies, unite to solve the mystery of Elvin's grandfather's attack. Their quest uncovers a hidden world of lost art, with masterpieces that could prevent their neighborhood from becoming a theme park. As they delve deeper, they must navigate secrets and danger, racing against time to preserve their community's future. Will they uncover the truth before it's too late?

From the publisher

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 historic 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.

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