Lark and the Diamond Caper

"Deen's heroine reflects an underrepresented reader group and is as successful as any other lead character in early chapter books…Diamond theft is a serious crime, but Lark and Connor are organized, perceptive, and thorough, undeterred by adults who dismiss them…Lark's sparkly presence on the chapter-book shelves will be welcomed by many."

"A lively read for young mystery enthusiasts."

"Engaging sequel to Lark Holds the Key…Lark's candid narration features crossed-out words she misspells, as well as other misunderstandings and malapropisms, that reflect her tricky relationship with language (she's dyslexic), and Cutler's digital illustrations bring the children's multicultural community to life."

"Lark's quirkiness is in good form here, and the target audience will find her quite humorous. In particular, Lark, who has dyslexia and explains it quite well, makes amusing vocabulary mistakes, and kids will be learning from them without even realizing it. There are illustrations scattered throughout the chapters that are very appealing, and that perfectly enhance the story with descriptive facial expressions on all of the characters. This offering in the Orca Echoes Series of beginning chapter books is one that most libraries should see gain the interest of younger grades."