Meet Me on Mercer Street

by Booki Vivat

Overview

Harriet the Spy meets Front Desk in this funny, surprising graphic novel by Booki Vivat, author-illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Frazzled series.

Aspiring artist Kacie spends most of her time on Mercer Street with her best friend, Nisha, people-watching and doodling whatever is happening in their neighborhood. But when she comes back from a summer away, the local corner store is boarded up, the adults in town are all on edge, and Nisha is nowhere to be found! Everything is changing, and Kacie’s not sure what to do about it. Especially without Nisha to help her.

But Kacie has a knack for noticing things, and with her sketchbooks and observational skills, she just might have what it takes to figure out what’s really happening on Mercer Street.

Filled with both cartoons and graphic comic panels, Booki Vivat draws a hilarious-yet-deeply-perceptive portrait of a changing neighborhood, a mysterious disappearance, and the girl who’s determined to understand how she fits in to the picture.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338788686
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	135,906
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	800L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Booki Vivat is the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of the Frazzled series. She grew up in Southern California, telling stories and doodling. Before becoming an author, she taught middle school English abroad and worked in publishing in New York. Now she lives in Oakland, California and makes books for kids! Follow her on Instagram at @bookibookibooki and learn more at www.bookivivat.com.

Editorial Reviews

"An absolute delight! These characters will linger in your heart." - Jennifer L. Holm, New York Times bestselling author and co-creator of Sunny Side Up

"Part graphic novel, part text, all heart. Booki Vivat has created something truly special with this illustrated story of friendship and community. I wish that I could live on Mercer Street!" - Christina Soontornvat, three-time Newbery Honor winner

"An uplifting and timely story about friendship, community and change. Kids will love how the fun illustrations bring Kacie’s sleuthing adventures around the neighborhood to life!" - Janae Marks, author of From the Desk of Zoe Washington

"Meet Me on Mercer Street is truly special—funny, heartfelt, and deeply thoughtful. Booki Vivat has a gift, and this book is a joy." - Tae Keller, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Trap a Tiger

"A brilliant book about the strength of community—and the power of art to observe, inspire, and make change. Visually stunning, emotionally tender, and laugh-out-loud funny. Kacie is adorable, and Mercer Street is the place to be!" - Lauren Magaziner, author of the Case Closedseries

From the Publisher

05/01/2024

Gr 3–6—Kacie has lived on Mercer Street most of her life with her best friend Nisha. But when the local family-run corner store suddenly shutters and Nisha is no longer in school, Kacie has to work through her feelings and accept the change all around her. The first fourth of the book unfolds a bit like a mystery, with Kacie trying to investigate what happened since absolutely no one wants to share any details. The answer will be obvious to readers and perhaps drags on for too long, but these observations are often followed up with details from her past—either about her neighborhood or her friendship with Nisha—that show how special they are to Kacie. A subplot about a developer changing the quaint neighborhood feels like an outdated subject that the target audience may not identify with. The illustrations definitely make the piece; the cartoonish images of the various neighbors and buildings are as delightful as they are plentiful. VERDICT A solid addition.—Peter Blenski

School Library Journal