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Charlie & Frog #1
Charlie and Frog
All Charlie Tickler wants is for his parents to listen. Charlie's parents have left him (again). This time they are off to South Africa to help giant golden moles. And Charlie? He's been dumped with his TV-obsessed grandparents. Lonely and curious, Charlie heads into the village of Castle-on-the-Hudson, where a frightened old woman gives him a desperate message—in sign language. When she suddenly disappears, Charlie is determined to find answers. All Francine (aka Frog) Castle wants is to be the world's greatest detective. Frog, who is Deaf, would rather be solving crimes than working at the Flying Hands Café. When Charlie TIckler walks into the café looking for help, Frog jumps at the chance to tackle a real-life case. Together, Charlie and Frog set out to decipher a series of clues and uncover the truth behind the missing woman's mysterious message. Charlie needs to learn American Sign Language ( fast) to keep up with quick-witted Frog. And Frog needs to gather her detective know-how (now) to break the case before it's too late. Discover the surprising ways people listen in debut author Karen Kane's page-turning mystery filled with humor, intrigue, and heartwarming friendships.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2018
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April 27, 2022I loved this book! And . . . I loved writing it as well :-).
February 7, 2019
Here's a book for kids who like quirky towns, useless adults, and spunky girls and who aren't fans of figuring out puzzles.
Charlie is sent to live with his grandparents for the summer while his own parents go help animals. His grandparents aren't too keen on this idea since all they do is watch TV and go to the doctor. Their housekeeper, Yvette, watches from afar and doesn't get involved. Charlie is left to his own devices. While exploring town, he runs into an elderly deaf woman on the library steps who seems agitated. Once the library opens and the dimwitted librarian offers little to no help, the agitated woman goes missing. In trying to find her, Charlie instead finds friendship and American Sign Language.
As an adult reader, I didn't care much for this book. It was tedious, overplaying the incapable adults and Charlie's need to be loved. Francine, known as Frog, is the confident, inquisitive, headstrong girl who lives in a castle and gets Charlie involved in solving a mystery she sort of creates once she finds out about the missing deaf woman.
I don't know how well descriptions of ASL will be received by intended readers, even given the chapter illustrations showing signs. The manual alphabet on the endpapers is a nice addition, though.
All in all, this is a good addition to any library, I think a certain group of young readers will enjoy it immensely but, overall, it's lacking whatever it is that makes some children's books so powerfully enjoyable to kids and adults alike.
Charlie is sent to live with his grandparents for the summer while his own parents go help animals. His grandparents aren't too keen on this idea since all they do is watch TV and go to the doctor. Their housekeeper, Yvette, watches from afar and doesn't get involved. Charlie is left to his own devices. While exploring town, he runs into an elderly deaf woman on the library steps who seems agitated. Once the library opens and the dimwitted librarian offers little to no help, the agitated woman goes missing. In trying to find her, Charlie instead finds friendship and American Sign Language.
As an adult reader, I didn't care much for this book. It was tedious, overplaying the incapable adults and Charlie's need to be loved. Francine, known as Frog, is the confident, inquisitive, headstrong girl who lives in a castle and gets Charlie involved in solving a mystery she sort of creates once she finds out about the missing deaf woman.
I don't know how well descriptions of ASL will be received by intended readers, even given the chapter illustrations showing signs. The manual alphabet on the endpapers is a nice addition, though.
All in all, this is a good addition to any library, I think a certain group of young readers will enjoy it immensely but, overall, it's lacking whatever it is that makes some children's books so powerfully enjoyable to kids and adults alike.
June 29, 2018
Charlie and Frog is an entertaining book that features a great friendship between two plucky kids who try to solve a mystery. There are some good twists, nefarious baddies and quirky humour throughout but it's the unique characters and setting, as well as the inclusion of ASL (American Sign Language) and Deaf culture, that makes this book stand out from the rest.
As a former Sign Language Interpreter myself, I was eager to read a book featuring a Deaf main character. The author, who is also an ASL/English Interpreter, impressively incorporates aspects of Deaf culture, language and Deaf pride within the story. For readers who are eager to get their 'hands in the air', the beginning of each chapter features an ASL sign that is prominent in the following chapter, and the chapter titles are written in both English and fingerspelled.
The story follows Charlie, a boy who has had a lonely life with oddball parents and extremely sedentary grandparents, all of whom are inept at raising kids and don't pay him enough attention. When Charlie sees Aggie, a Deaf woman who appears to be in trouble, she signs something to him and then promptly disappears. Suddenly, a couple of suspicious men are asking about Aggie's whereabouts, so Charlie enlists the help of Francine (aka 'Frog'), a Deaf girl about his own age, for help deciphering the sign Aggie used.
Charlie and Frog is a fun and entertaining story that features a mystery that will keep readers guessing, an engaging friendship and some Deaf culture and ASL t'boot. The book gives hearing readers a better idea of what it means to be Deaf and also features a heartwarming message: 'good people do good things'. This would be a great pick for Middle School readers.
As a former Sign Language Interpreter myself, I was eager to read a book featuring a Deaf main character. The author, who is also an ASL/English Interpreter, impressively incorporates aspects of Deaf culture, language and Deaf pride within the story. For readers who are eager to get their 'hands in the air', the beginning of each chapter features an ASL sign that is prominent in the following chapter, and the chapter titles are written in both English and fingerspelled.
The story follows Charlie, a boy who has had a lonely life with oddball parents and extremely sedentary grandparents, all of whom are inept at raising kids and don't pay him enough attention. When Charlie sees Aggie, a Deaf woman who appears to be in trouble, she signs something to him and then promptly disappears. Suddenly, a couple of suspicious men are asking about Aggie's whereabouts, so Charlie enlists the help of Francine (aka 'Frog'), a Deaf girl about his own age, for help deciphering the sign Aggie used.
Charlie and Frog is a fun and entertaining story that features a mystery that will keep readers guessing, an engaging friendship and some Deaf culture and ASL t'boot. The book gives hearing readers a better idea of what it means to be Deaf and also features a heartwarming message: 'good people do good things'. This would be a great pick for Middle School readers.
February 13, 2018
I love when kids' books have truly original storylines and characters, and this one well fits the bill! I also think it's very cool to feature a deaf character and the value of ASL. Well done, Disney! Thanks for sending us an ARC of this book--my kids are enjoying and are excited to share with their friends.
January 20, 2018
A Slightly Goofy But Oddly Endearing Mystery/Adventure
This is a loosey-goosey sort of book with a very appealing set of kid heroes. It feels a lot like a Roald Dahl/David Walliams kind of book in which many of the adults are crabby, or distracted, or vaguely menacing, (or just not very good at being adults), and the rest are especially kind and understanding. And all of the kids are bright and spunky. There's a lot of sly humor and just a touch of vinegar.
Of special note, our heroine is deaf, her family runs a school for the deaf, and many of the principle and supporting characters are deaf. American Sign Language plays an important role in the story. There are a lot of scenes that call up deaf power and deaf pride, and not a few subtle messages about the challenges and rewards of being deaf. This is all blended seamlessly into the larger story, and it is an unexpected and quite rewarding special strength of the book's. Now to the story itself.
Our hero, Charlie , has been dropped off my his parents for a few weeks stay with his grandparents. The parents have better things to do than pay any attention to Charlie and are happy to be rid of him. The grandparents just sit in their La-Z-y Boys and ignore Charlie. So, he basically goes off on walk-abouts in the colorful and kooky town of Castle-on-the-Hudson. That's O.K., though, because Charlie is also a Dahl/Walliams style hero. He is a little timid, but smart, sensitive, observant, independent, and resourceful. He's used to making do on his own and just bucks up and carries on. He is resigned to being a kid in a world of inconsiderate, incomprehensible, or just plain nuts adults, and is immediately likeable and easy to root for.
Quickly enough, Charlie meets an old lady, Aggie, at the Library who is distraught and frightened. She is deaf and signs a few phrases and then disappears when two goons show up. Charlie worries about her and what may have happened to her and so seeks out Francine, (Frog), a girl his age who is deaf and adept at signing. When Charlie describes Aggie's signs Frog tells him that Aggie's last sign was for the word "dead". Frog is super keen to be a detective like her favorite author, and ropes Charlie into investigating what Frog believes is clearly a murder mystery. Is it? Well, you'll have to read the book to find that out.
The real fun here is watching Charlie and Frog develop into a slightly mismatched but amusing and appealing team as the story veers between mystery/action and an oddball buddy comedy. Frog is bossy and a bit temperamental; she communicates through the sign language she teaches Charlie as the story progresses, and as noted above there is a great deal of emphasis in the book on ASL and finger spelling.
Charlie is often exasperated or confused by Frog, but he admires her singlemindedness. Frog is a good friend in a prickly and confusing sort of way and following the two of them really is a treat. The mystery plot sort of ebbs and flows, and it's really following the two of them around town as they investigate that gives the book its energy and great appeal.
There is a wide and entertaining range of humor here. Some of the dialogue is pretty snappy. There are a lot of funny throwaway lines and observations. The cast of supporting characters is varied and amusing. Some of the best lines are deadpan and subtle, but there are also a number of set scenes that are played for laughs. Middle grade droll is tough stuff to write, but this author has the knack.
So, across the board I got a kick out of this book. Just as a good friendship adventure tale it works, and then everything else was bonus time. A nice family find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This is a loosey-goosey sort of book with a very appealing set of kid heroes. It feels a lot like a Roald Dahl/David Walliams kind of book in which many of the adults are crabby, or distracted, or vaguely menacing, (or just not very good at being adults), and the rest are especially kind and understanding. And all of the kids are bright and spunky. There's a lot of sly humor and just a touch of vinegar.
Of special note, our heroine is deaf, her family runs a school for the deaf, and many of the principle and supporting characters are deaf. American Sign Language plays an important role in the story. There are a lot of scenes that call up deaf power and deaf pride, and not a few subtle messages about the challenges and rewards of being deaf. This is all blended seamlessly into the larger story, and it is an unexpected and quite rewarding special strength of the book's. Now to the story itself.
Our hero, Charlie , has been dropped off my his parents for a few weeks stay with his grandparents. The parents have better things to do than pay any attention to Charlie and are happy to be rid of him. The grandparents just sit in their La-Z-y Boys and ignore Charlie. So, he basically goes off on walk-abouts in the colorful and kooky town of Castle-on-the-Hudson. That's O.K., though, because Charlie is also a Dahl/Walliams style hero. He is a little timid, but smart, sensitive, observant, independent, and resourceful. He's used to making do on his own and just bucks up and carries on. He is resigned to being a kid in a world of inconsiderate, incomprehensible, or just plain nuts adults, and is immediately likeable and easy to root for.
Quickly enough, Charlie meets an old lady, Aggie, at the Library who is distraught and frightened. She is deaf and signs a few phrases and then disappears when two goons show up. Charlie worries about her and what may have happened to her and so seeks out Francine, (Frog), a girl his age who is deaf and adept at signing. When Charlie describes Aggie's signs Frog tells him that Aggie's last sign was for the word "dead". Frog is super keen to be a detective like her favorite author, and ropes Charlie into investigating what Frog believes is clearly a murder mystery. Is it? Well, you'll have to read the book to find that out.
The real fun here is watching Charlie and Frog develop into a slightly mismatched but amusing and appealing team as the story veers between mystery/action and an oddball buddy comedy. Frog is bossy and a bit temperamental; she communicates through the sign language she teaches Charlie as the story progresses, and as noted above there is a great deal of emphasis in the book on ASL and finger spelling.
Charlie is often exasperated or confused by Frog, but he admires her singlemindedness. Frog is a good friend in a prickly and confusing sort of way and following the two of them really is a treat. The mystery plot sort of ebbs and flows, and it's really following the two of them around town as they investigate that gives the book its energy and great appeal.
There is a wide and entertaining range of humor here. Some of the dialogue is pretty snappy. There are a lot of funny throwaway lines and observations. The cast of supporting characters is varied and amusing. Some of the best lines are deadpan and subtle, but there are also a number of set scenes that are played for laughs. Middle grade droll is tough stuff to write, but this author has the knack.
So, across the board I got a kick out of this book. Just as a good friendship adventure tale it works, and then everything else was bonus time. A nice family find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
July 14, 2018
4☆ | ages 8+ | April 2018
Being hard of hearing myself, using sign language has been just a part of life. Intrigued by a new children's mystery I picked it up. Charlie, who is hearing, learns #ASL from Frog, who is deaf, as they form a friendship while solving a mystery together. The author did a great job weaving signs into the narrative and this debut author will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers.
Being hard of hearing myself, using sign language has been just a part of life. Intrigued by a new children's mystery I picked it up. Charlie, who is hearing, learns #ASL from Frog, who is deaf, as they form a friendship while solving a mystery together. The author did a great job weaving signs into the narrative and this debut author will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers.
March 11, 2023
I will forever read this to my fifth and sixth grade students!! Charlie is shy and learning his way in the world. Frog (Francine) is a spunky girl. Each character comes to life in this beautiful story about friendship, family, and of course, a murder mystery. My students are soaking up the ASL sprinkled throughout and want to learn more.
January 12, 2022
Cute little story for children.
As well as a good introduction to ASL, the Deaf Community, and how the hearing can enter into that world correctly.
It's not a book for adults really, unless simple basic mysteries are your thing.
Think something like Encyclopedia Brown meets the Deaf culture.
Mysteries are not deep nor too involved.
Perfect for ages 8-10.
As well as a good introduction to ASL, the Deaf Community, and how the hearing can enter into that world correctly.
It's not a book for adults really, unless simple basic mysteries are your thing.
Think something like Encyclopedia Brown meets the Deaf culture.
Mysteries are not deep nor too involved.
Perfect for ages 8-10.
June 7, 2018
One of the best, if not the best, Deaf character books I’ve ever read.
May 27, 2020
Charlie is a lonely kid who lives with his grandparents, who barely acknowledge him, while his parents are out of town for work. Charlie, runs into a deaf woman, Aggie, who frantically uses sign language to give him a message before disappearing. Then a couple of random, suspicious guys start asking him where Aggie is. He teams up with Francine (Frog), who works at the Flying Hands Cafe, to figure out what Aggie signed to him.
This novel is a diverse read because it showcases the Deaf culture. Deaf students typically don’t have a story that is all about the life of a Deaf person. Not only is it important read for Deaf people, it is important for its hearing readers because it shows them that Deaf people are just as capable as the rest of the world.
This novel is a diverse read because it showcases the Deaf culture. Deaf students typically don’t have a story that is all about the life of a Deaf person. Not only is it important read for Deaf people, it is important for its hearing readers because it shows them that Deaf people are just as capable as the rest of the world.
March 18, 2023
4.5 stars. Excellent Deaf cultural references (from my limited knowledge as a hearing person who’s been learning ASL from Deaf signers for only three years). Fantastic book for elementary age kids. Heartwarming moments about friendship and families (especially the kind of families we are a part of who aren’t blood relatives). Fun and kooky characters.
December 13, 2022
Cutest "murder" mystery I have ever read and not to mention deaf rep!
November 24, 2025
I think the book overall is really good it’s a mystery story and you learn a little bit of sign language on the way so I highly recommend it
April 8, 2023
Read aloud to and rated by my 7 and 8 year old daughter and son.
August 19, 2023
Sweet story that really peaked my kiddo’s interest in ASL.
September 23, 2018
I really thought this story was well written and told from a perspective that really valued American Sign Language and Deaf culture. Well done 👍🏻 🤟🏻
July 14, 2021
A book that drew our attention because of the use of sign language and ASL -- disappointed as a Christian mother when my daughter brought to my attention Charlie's going to a palm reader. In reading the section the fortune teller reads his palm, then brings out a black magic ball to answer more questions about his future and friendship with Frog. The fortune teller gives no helpful information for his future with just plain vague answers -- it doesn't put fortune telling into good light but it does inject the idea that it only works if you "believe in it."
This is a Disney Hyperion published book so it shouldn't be surprising they are including this type of content in what would have been a better read without it. They are always including dark spiritual content just to get kids to think about it.
The book also disappointed when it did not include more ASL pictures and teaching throughout.
This is a Disney Hyperion published book so it shouldn't be surprising they are including this type of content in what would have been a better read without it. They are always including dark spiritual content just to get kids to think about it.
The book also disappointed when it did not include more ASL pictures and teaching throughout.
November 19, 2018
A pretty simple mystery that takes a while to unfold. I think kids will like it. I enjoyed the element of sign language the book has.
August 19, 2023
I enjoyed reading this puzzling mystery. I also enjoyed learning sign language while reading. I think this is a great book and I enjoyed reading it.
April 24, 2020
Ten-year-old Charlie Tickler has one simple goal for the summer: find a way to avoid going to boarding school. Meanwhile, Francine “Frog” Castle wishes more than anything to be a detective but there is one thing standing in her way: she is deaf. Together they must solve a possible murder mystery.
Charlie is left in his grandparents’ care for three weeks while his parents take off to South Africa on yet another mission to help some rare animal. His parents think it is easier to leave Charlie behind than take him along but they never asked him what he thought and now his grandparents are too consumed with their schedule of television shows to really notice he is there. He finds some comfort in practicing the sign language finger spelling he picked up from watching his parents who used sign language to communicate in the field. As he explores Castle-on-the-Hudson, the quaint village in New York he is calling home for the moment, Charlie finds that the village has the most coffee shops per square block and a fairly high population of people fluent in American Sign Language (ASL).
At the library, Charlie meets Aggie, a nervous old lady with a large mole on her cheek. Aggie does not speak but keeps gesturing to Charlie until he realizes she is trying to tell him something in ASL. She has a secret and she fears something dreadful will happen if she doesn’t fix her mistake fast. Aggie begins searching the library shelves before coming to Charlie frantically signing. Charlie’s limited knowledge of ASL leave him unsure of what she is saying and as she goes to write it down for him, two men enter the building and Aggie disappears. Are these men after her and what do they want? The key is in the last thing she signed. Ms. Tweedy recommends Charlie pay a visit to Frog at the Flying Hands Café.
Located inside the Castle School for the Deaf, the Flying Hands Café is certainly the perfect place to find an ASL expert. All of the servers are deaf and it is their policy that customers communicating with their voice pay higher prices. Frog comes to take Charlie’s order and he tells her all about Aggie and the mystery sign. It’s no mystery to Frog, Aggie was saying “dead,” but why? Excited that a maybe murder mystery has fallen into her lap, Frog determines that she and Charlie must crack the case.
Their investigation takes them all over Castle-on-the-Hudson, requiring them to explore a haunted graveyard and even consult a fortune-teller extraordinaire. At every turn, Charlie learns something new about the village and its famous school for the deaf – all while adding to his ASL vocabulary. Charlie finds that this small community has many ways of listening but he struggles to get his parents and grandparents to listen to him when he decides he wants to stay in Castle-on-the-Hudson and keep learning ASL. Frog has a very loving family and she is tremendously forceful when she needs people to hear what she has to say. With her help, maybe Charlie can MAKE his family listen and they can solve a mystery at the same time.
In her debut novel, Karen Kane has crafted a unique twist on the classic murder mystery. Drawing on her own knowledge as a sign language interpreter, Kane emphasizes Deaf culture and experience while weaving ASL into every chapter. It can be difficult at times to truly communicate a visual language in writing but Carlisle Robinson has provided an illustration at the top of every chapter to show the motion of the chapter’s key term. Readers can’t help but follow the steps for each term outlined by Kane. The adult characters in the book are fairly one-dimensional and further accentuate Charlie’s perceived isolation when they do not listen to him. Charlie and Frog’s bond is a lovely reminder that friendship is a universal language. Their shared curiosity takes the reader along for an enjoyable ride.
IL: MG BL: 4.1 AR Pts: 6.0 AR Quiz: RP
Charlie is left in his grandparents’ care for three weeks while his parents take off to South Africa on yet another mission to help some rare animal. His parents think it is easier to leave Charlie behind than take him along but they never asked him what he thought and now his grandparents are too consumed with their schedule of television shows to really notice he is there. He finds some comfort in practicing the sign language finger spelling he picked up from watching his parents who used sign language to communicate in the field. As he explores Castle-on-the-Hudson, the quaint village in New York he is calling home for the moment, Charlie finds that the village has the most coffee shops per square block and a fairly high population of people fluent in American Sign Language (ASL).
At the library, Charlie meets Aggie, a nervous old lady with a large mole on her cheek. Aggie does not speak but keeps gesturing to Charlie until he realizes she is trying to tell him something in ASL. She has a secret and she fears something dreadful will happen if she doesn’t fix her mistake fast. Aggie begins searching the library shelves before coming to Charlie frantically signing. Charlie’s limited knowledge of ASL leave him unsure of what she is saying and as she goes to write it down for him, two men enter the building and Aggie disappears. Are these men after her and what do they want? The key is in the last thing she signed. Ms. Tweedy recommends Charlie pay a visit to Frog at the Flying Hands Café.
Located inside the Castle School for the Deaf, the Flying Hands Café is certainly the perfect place to find an ASL expert. All of the servers are deaf and it is their policy that customers communicating with their voice pay higher prices. Frog comes to take Charlie’s order and he tells her all about Aggie and the mystery sign. It’s no mystery to Frog, Aggie was saying “dead,” but why? Excited that a maybe murder mystery has fallen into her lap, Frog determines that she and Charlie must crack the case.
Their investigation takes them all over Castle-on-the-Hudson, requiring them to explore a haunted graveyard and even consult a fortune-teller extraordinaire. At every turn, Charlie learns something new about the village and its famous school for the deaf – all while adding to his ASL vocabulary. Charlie finds that this small community has many ways of listening but he struggles to get his parents and grandparents to listen to him when he decides he wants to stay in Castle-on-the-Hudson and keep learning ASL. Frog has a very loving family and she is tremendously forceful when she needs people to hear what she has to say. With her help, maybe Charlie can MAKE his family listen and they can solve a mystery at the same time.
In her debut novel, Karen Kane has crafted a unique twist on the classic murder mystery. Drawing on her own knowledge as a sign language interpreter, Kane emphasizes Deaf culture and experience while weaving ASL into every chapter. It can be difficult at times to truly communicate a visual language in writing but Carlisle Robinson has provided an illustration at the top of every chapter to show the motion of the chapter’s key term. Readers can’t help but follow the steps for each term outlined by Kane. The adult characters in the book are fairly one-dimensional and further accentuate Charlie’s perceived isolation when they do not listen to him. Charlie and Frog’s bond is a lovely reminder that friendship is a universal language. Their shared curiosity takes the reader along for an enjoyable ride.
IL: MG BL: 4.1 AR Pts: 6.0 AR Quiz: RP
March 11, 2020
Charlie's parents are always off working with some endangered species and leaving him with some caretaker or other. This time they've dumped him at his grandparents in the little town of Castle-on-the-Hudson where the cell phone signal is spotty and just about everyone in town speaks American Sign Language thanks to the Castle School for the Deaf which has been in the town for ages. During his trip to the library, Charlie meets Aggie, a little old lady who is Deaf and very distressed over something. All he can get out is something about her messing up a secret that could result in destruction and she also signed the word for dead. Then two big, gruff men came in looking for her and she disappeared through a basement window leaving her knitting bag behind. The librarian is only so helpful with ASL, but she sends him to Frog who lives up at the Castle School for the Deaf. Frog is a budding detective on top of being fluent in ASL (she is Deaf, and her family runs the school). She quickly agrees to not only teach Charlie ASL but help him solve the mystery of Aggie. And as Charlie becomes more and more attached to the people in the town he starts brainstorming ways to bond with his grandparents so he can live with them full time instead of going to some strange boarding school while his parents do their animal rescue thing. Can he and Frog help Aggie? And can Charlie convince his family that he should stay in Castle-on-the-Hudson?
I really love that this book didn't just talk about characters learning and using ASL, but it showed readers how to do many of the signs that Charlie learns. The end pages also include a full ASL alphabet guide and numbers 1-10. And each chapter begins with a drawing of how to do another sign. The Deaf and hard of hearing representation was fantastic. Frog is a bit hard-headed at times, she jumps to conclusions but then shoots down Charlie's ideas when she sees holes in his ideas. However, I think she does learn a little through the course of the book. She definitely has enough pluck and bravery to overcome any of Charlie's more reserved tendencies. The rest of her family was fun to get to know too. Your heart really goes out to Charlie. He feels abandoned and unloved by his parents for good reason. They seem to care more about obscure animals than their own son. (My one little qualm with the book came from their trip...it is summer in the States and they head to South Africa where they talk about doing lots of swimming...but if it is summer in the States it is winter in South Africa and highs should only be 60F.) His campaign to bond with his grandparents was by turns touching and humorous. And I was really surprised by the development of the character of their household helper, Yvette. At the beginning I didn't really like her, and by the end she had won me over. The mystery was well done. All the guesses I developed turned out to be wrong. And I like a mystery that can keep me guessing. I'm glad that Charlie and Frog have further mysteries together. They are a fun sleuthing duo and I assume their further adventures include more ASL learning. Recommended to readers who want to learn some ASL, learn more about the Deaf and hard of hearing community, or are looking for a sleuthing duo that is just a little bit different in a good way.
No content issues.
I really love that this book didn't just talk about characters learning and using ASL, but it showed readers how to do many of the signs that Charlie learns. The end pages also include a full ASL alphabet guide and numbers 1-10. And each chapter begins with a drawing of how to do another sign. The Deaf and hard of hearing representation was fantastic. Frog is a bit hard-headed at times, she jumps to conclusions but then shoots down Charlie's ideas when she sees holes in his ideas. However, I think she does learn a little through the course of the book. She definitely has enough pluck and bravery to overcome any of Charlie's more reserved tendencies. The rest of her family was fun to get to know too. Your heart really goes out to Charlie. He feels abandoned and unloved by his parents for good reason. They seem to care more about obscure animals than their own son. (My one little qualm with the book came from their trip...it is summer in the States and they head to South Africa where they talk about doing lots of swimming...but if it is summer in the States it is winter in South Africa and highs should only be 60F.) His campaign to bond with his grandparents was by turns touching and humorous. And I was really surprised by the development of the character of their household helper, Yvette. At the beginning I didn't really like her, and by the end she had won me over. The mystery was well done. All the guesses I developed turned out to be wrong. And I like a mystery that can keep me guessing. I'm glad that Charlie and Frog have further mysteries together. They are a fun sleuthing duo and I assume their further adventures include more ASL learning. Recommended to readers who want to learn some ASL, learn more about the Deaf and hard of hearing community, or are looking for a sleuthing duo that is just a little bit different in a good way.
No content issues.
October 5, 2021
This mystery set in a community with a boarding school for Deaf children would be great for younger children reading above grade level: those younger-but-clever readers will most appreciate the fast & firm friendships, over-the-top characters with silly names, the idyllic setting (small town with family-owned businesses), the quirky adult characters who practice nonsense on the regular, the non-threatening villains (they seem menacing, but their "calling card" is a trail of sugar-free cinnamon gum wrappers), and the unbelievably dismaying behavior of Charlie's parents & grandparents.
Older readers may groan at some of the naive choices made by Charlie & his new friend Frog, and unamused by the silly wordplay and ridiculous characters. They may guess too quickly at what the clues mean.
Likewise, this could work as a Family Read Aloud, if the parents are feeling patient & the kids range in age from about 6 to 9 years. (Listeners younger than that may not follow/understand the mystery.) However, several bits of wordplay humor seem like they would come off better when read aloud - which is ironic for a book set in a Deaf community!
The cover illustrations and the ones at the head of each chapter will appeal to readers in the same range as the content - about grades 3 to 5. In my opinion, the illustrations and the written instructions of the handsigns do not adequately describe them so a reader could do them. However, I'm very glad the author included them, so readers can get the feeling of the accessibility of beginning to learn ASL - while also feeling that there is a lot more to learn.
It is valuable to have the mystery be the focus, but to also have the book include a wide variety of characters in the Deaf community & the neighborhood around them; some people made up signs (or signed so badly nobody could understand), some were lazy & refused to try, some tried but failed or were just not that great at it, some were fluent in ASL, and some were fluent in both ASL & spoken English. Young readers can easily find a book or go online to find more examples, demonstrations, & variations to ASL.
I am not part of a Deaf family myself, and I haven't found any criticism of this story from the Deaf Community so far; I would like to know the opinions of Deaf readers. The author seems to be a hearing person who has worked for many years as an ASL interpreter.
If someone is doing a book report - or just likes to ruminate on the theme of the story - there are threads to consider about being seen & being heard & mattering to others; all the different ways people can do this and what it looks & feels like when you are or aren't.
Older readers may groan at some of the naive choices made by Charlie & his new friend Frog, and unamused by the silly wordplay and ridiculous characters. They may guess too quickly at what the clues mean.
Likewise, this could work as a Family Read Aloud, if the parents are feeling patient & the kids range in age from about 6 to 9 years. (Listeners younger than that may not follow/understand the mystery.) However, several bits of wordplay humor seem like they would come off better when read aloud - which is ironic for a book set in a Deaf community!
The cover illustrations and the ones at the head of each chapter will appeal to readers in the same range as the content - about grades 3 to 5. In my opinion, the illustrations and the written instructions of the handsigns do not adequately describe them so a reader could do them. However, I'm very glad the author included them, so readers can get the feeling of the accessibility of beginning to learn ASL - while also feeling that there is a lot more to learn.
It is valuable to have the mystery be the focus, but to also have the book include a wide variety of characters in the Deaf community & the neighborhood around them; some people made up signs (or signed so badly nobody could understand), some were lazy & refused to try, some tried but failed or were just not that great at it, some were fluent in ASL, and some were fluent in both ASL & spoken English. Young readers can easily find a book or go online to find more examples, demonstrations, & variations to ASL.
I am not part of a Deaf family myself, and I haven't found any criticism of this story from the Deaf Community so far; I would like to know the opinions of Deaf readers. The author seems to be a hearing person who has worked for many years as an ASL interpreter.
If someone is doing a book report - or just likes to ruminate on the theme of the story - there are threads to consider about being seen & being heard & mattering to others; all the different ways people can do this and what it looks & feels like when you are or aren't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2023
Most kids would be happy when their parents don’t make them eat their broccoli. But ten-year-old Charlie wants his parents to care for him. As is, they care more than the endangered animals they travel the world to help. It’s only when his parents leave him with his TV-obsessed grandparents and Charlie solves a small-town mystery that Charlie learns what it means to be there for someone and for someone to care about him. In Charlie and Frog by Karen Kane (Disney Hyperion 2018), Charlie needs to learn sign language (ASL) from Frog, who prides herself on being an amateur detective, in order to help the worried woman he met. Frog’s larger-than-life personality makes her the perfect contrast to passive Charlie, showing him how to stand up for himself as they solve the mystery in their town.
Charlie and Frog is a funny book when you look at the exaggeration involved. Charlie’s parents aren’t just neglectful; they practically ignore their son as they travel the world doing service for endangered animals. Charlie’s grandparents aren’t just obsessed with TV; they don’t know how to have a conversation with their grandson and have nothing to do without the TV on. These exaggerations make Charlie’s lonely plight feel more funny than tragic. (It seems clear that people are not generally quite so bad as this.) The humor throughout gives the book a friendly tone, and the mystery is not dangerous or violent in anyway, although a graveyard is involved. It’s a perfect mystery for tweens!
The setting is also a key part of Charlie’s story. Castle-on-the-Hudson is a small New York town with a unique boarding school for the deaf just a gondola ride away, over the river. As the daughter of the school owners, Francine “Frog” Castle knows everyone in town and desperately wants to solve the mystery as practice for her future career as a detective. Frog is deaf, and since the mysterious woman (Aggie) Charlie met was signing to him, he needs to learn sign language from Frog in order to know how to help Aggie.
I love that ASL was such a key part of the little town! I studied sign language for a year in college and have friends that use ASL as primary communication. As the story summary explains, ASL is essential for Charlie and Frog to communicate and to solve the mystery. The book sprinkled ASL throughout with a chapter illustration of an ASL word, a word that Charlie himself learns at that point in the story. Charlie’s growing knowledge of sign language mirrored his growing friendship with Frog and her family, as well as his own growing confidence in standing up for himself, showing his grandparents that he is important.
My daughter and I read Charlie and Frog last year for her fourth grade homeschool; she loved the sign language aspect and we learned some ASL together. I love that the author used this culture as a key part of this middle grade novel; what a fun way to expand the world for young readers!
On the blog: https://reviews.rebeccareid.com/charl...
Charlie and Frog is a funny book when you look at the exaggeration involved. Charlie’s parents aren’t just neglectful; they practically ignore their son as they travel the world doing service for endangered animals. Charlie’s grandparents aren’t just obsessed with TV; they don’t know how to have a conversation with their grandson and have nothing to do without the TV on. These exaggerations make Charlie’s lonely plight feel more funny than tragic. (It seems clear that people are not generally quite so bad as this.) The humor throughout gives the book a friendly tone, and the mystery is not dangerous or violent in anyway, although a graveyard is involved. It’s a perfect mystery for tweens!
The setting is also a key part of Charlie’s story. Castle-on-the-Hudson is a small New York town with a unique boarding school for the deaf just a gondola ride away, over the river. As the daughter of the school owners, Francine “Frog” Castle knows everyone in town and desperately wants to solve the mystery as practice for her future career as a detective. Frog is deaf, and since the mysterious woman (Aggie) Charlie met was signing to him, he needs to learn sign language from Frog in order to know how to help Aggie.
I love that ASL was such a key part of the little town! I studied sign language for a year in college and have friends that use ASL as primary communication. As the story summary explains, ASL is essential for Charlie and Frog to communicate and to solve the mystery. The book sprinkled ASL throughout with a chapter illustration of an ASL word, a word that Charlie himself learns at that point in the story. Charlie’s growing knowledge of sign language mirrored his growing friendship with Frog and her family, as well as his own growing confidence in standing up for himself, showing his grandparents that he is important.
My daughter and I read Charlie and Frog last year for her fourth grade homeschool; she loved the sign language aspect and we learned some ASL together. I love that the author used this culture as a key part of this middle grade novel; what a fun way to expand the world for young readers!
On the blog: https://reviews.rebeccareid.com/charl...
January 25, 2025
Deaf reader reviewing books with deaf characters. This book is listed on my ranked list of books with deaf characters.
Written by an ASL interpreter who had several Deaf and signing readers/consultants, this book features a hearing boy who is sent to live with his hard of hearing grandparents in a town with a large Deaf community. There is a school for the deaf and a vibrant signing community around it. Realistically, tourists arrive having no idea about that. Hearing people who live nearby often know minimal to no signs, which is also realistic.
The main deaf character is girl Francine, who goes by Frog. Her mother is also deaf and runs the Flying Hands Cafe, and dad is hard of hearing. Her grandfather and oldest brother are deaf, and another brother and sister are hearing. (Generational deaf family.) We also meet various other deaf characters, such as an old woman named Aggie who uses ASL, and writes on pen and paper with non-signers.
I love how Kane handles communication in general. Charlie arrives already knowing the ASL manual alphabet, since his parents use it to communicate silently in the wilderness for their work. Frog can’t understand Nate when he sim-coms (signs and speaks at the same time), but can when her father does due to familiarity. Love that! There is also a deafblind man named Obie who uses tactile ASL and fingerspelling.
This is overall a nice, lighthearted story with a cast of comedic characters.
My review of the sequel can be found here.
Written by an ASL interpreter who had several Deaf and signing readers/consultants, this book features a hearing boy who is sent to live with his hard of hearing grandparents in a town with a large Deaf community. There is a school for the deaf and a vibrant signing community around it. Realistically, tourists arrive having no idea about that. Hearing people who live nearby often know minimal to no signs, which is also realistic.
The main deaf character is girl Francine, who goes by Frog. Her mother is also deaf and runs the Flying Hands Cafe, and dad is hard of hearing. Her grandfather and oldest brother are deaf, and another brother and sister are hearing. (Generational deaf family.) We also meet various other deaf characters, such as an old woman named Aggie who uses ASL, and writes on pen and paper with non-signers.
I love how Kane handles communication in general. Charlie arrives already knowing the ASL manual alphabet, since his parents use it to communicate silently in the wilderness for their work. Frog can’t understand Nate when he sim-coms (signs and speaks at the same time), but can when her father does due to familiarity. Love that! There is also a deafblind man named Obie who uses tactile ASL and fingerspelling.
This is overall a nice, lighthearted story with a cast of comedic characters.
My review of the sequel can be found here.
February 7, 2023
Charlie is spending the summer in the village of Castle-on-Hudson. His distracted parents have left him in the care of his neglectful grandparents . . . which leaves him free to explore, make friends, and solve a mystery. Francine Castle goes by "Frog." Wouldn't you? Frog, like most of her family, is deaf. Their family runs the Castle School for the Deaf in their castle-turned-boarding-school. When one of the school alumni signs "dead" to Charlie and two shady characters turn up searching for the alum, it's obvious that there is a mystery that needs solving. Also . . . can Charlie get his family to care about him as much as Frog's cares about her?
In the tradition of Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, Three Investigators, Nancy Drew, and a host of other child detectives, this book presents a worthy puzzle for its protagonists. Additionally, it introduces a (presumably) hearing audience to the deaf sub-culture of the United States. Kane seamlessly weaves ASL instruction and deaf-positive language throughout the book, giving a welcome, different sort of flavor twist to a familiar sort of tale.
This delightful mystery dropped into my lap through a combination of World Read Aloud Day (Feb. 1st) and a long term substitute teaching job. The class I covered was lucky enough to score a virtual visit with author Karen Kane--a delightful 30 minutes! We started reading this book in class ahead of that visit, and of course I had to finish it on my own after the sub job finished. I'll definitely read the sequel.
In the tradition of Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, Three Investigators, Nancy Drew, and a host of other child detectives, this book presents a worthy puzzle for its protagonists. Additionally, it introduces a (presumably) hearing audience to the deaf sub-culture of the United States. Kane seamlessly weaves ASL instruction and deaf-positive language throughout the book, giving a welcome, different sort of flavor twist to a familiar sort of tale.
This delightful mystery dropped into my lap through a combination of World Read Aloud Day (Feb. 1st) and a long term substitute teaching job. The class I covered was lucky enough to score a virtual visit with author Karen Kane--a delightful 30 minutes! We started reading this book in class ahead of that visit, and of course I had to finish it on my own after the sub job finished. I'll definitely read the sequel.
March 4, 2023
I thought this book was a pretty good read, the plot of this book was intriguing. I like how there's added humor in this book as well. The plot of finding Aggie and solving the mystery was interesting to read. I loved the journey before they solved the mystery. I also loved how this book is about the American Sign Language community. This is my first book reading about ASL and I liked the cover where it teaches you the ABCs in ASL, I thought that was a really nice touch. I liked how the author really described how the characters communicated in ASL. I could really visualize it.
The characters in this book were pretty good too. Especially the children in this book they act mature for their age and are so open-minded. However, the adults were quite the opposite. The grandparents were often a bit irritable and not very enthusiastic because all they did was watch television and the grandpa always responds with "Ayup". Charlie's grandparents and parents are quite neglectful so Charlie was always on his own. He is an independent, smart, and bright kid. Which I admire about Charlie. Aggie is a deaf older woman who is being chased by 2 guys who want something. Charlie wants to help her and so does Frog. Frog is a deaf young girl that Charlie met. She is fearless, energetic, and open-minded. I like the friendship that Charlie and Frog build throughout this story, they learned a lot together. This book has a really important message to show kindness to others and help people who seem to need it.
The characters in this book were pretty good too. Especially the children in this book they act mature for their age and are so open-minded. However, the adults were quite the opposite. The grandparents were often a bit irritable and not very enthusiastic because all they did was watch television and the grandpa always responds with "Ayup". Charlie's grandparents and parents are quite neglectful so Charlie was always on his own. He is an independent, smart, and bright kid. Which I admire about Charlie. Aggie is a deaf older woman who is being chased by 2 guys who want something. Charlie wants to help her and so does Frog. Frog is a deaf young girl that Charlie met. She is fearless, energetic, and open-minded. I like the friendship that Charlie and Frog build throughout this story, they learned a lot together. This book has a really important message to show kindness to others and help people who seem to need it.
March 31, 2018
Middle grade and young adult novels have a habit of making adults (especially parents) inept. Poor Charlie's story is no different. His parents and grandparents are self-interested, and between one thing and another, Charlie always comes in last. Throughout the book, Charlie's attempts inspired pity. My frustration grew when the next few adults were just as useless - until we learn there are a few not only capable adults but capable of recognizing and caring for Charlie.
Frog finds herself in rather different circumstances. With a strong family and intelligent parents, Frog suffers more from the knowledge that she lives in a bubble community. Castle-on-the-Hudson has a school for the deaf, and as a result, a high population of American Sign Language speakers. In a world which favors the hearing, Castle-on-the-Hudson had a similar feel to areas in my home city of Rochester which has the Rochester School for the Deaf and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (part of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)).
Sign language lessons, budding friendships, and a murder mystery make Charlie & Frog a pleasant ride. Some of the turns might be predictable, but the story is achingly heart-warming. I predict a number of little boys and girls will read this and beg their parents for ASL lessons.
Frog finds herself in rather different circumstances. With a strong family and intelligent parents, Frog suffers more from the knowledge that she lives in a bubble community. Castle-on-the-Hudson has a school for the deaf, and as a result, a high population of American Sign Language speakers. In a world which favors the hearing, Castle-on-the-Hudson had a similar feel to areas in my home city of Rochester which has the Rochester School for the Deaf and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (part of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)).
Sign language lessons, budding friendships, and a murder mystery make Charlie & Frog a pleasant ride. Some of the turns might be predictable, but the story is achingly heart-warming. I predict a number of little boys and girls will read this and beg their parents for ASL lessons.
April 7, 2018
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
I was interested in this book because it's a novel for middle grades and I have two boys who fit into this category. It also seemed like something that would appeal to boys (sadly, I find it hard to find books for them sometimes). After telling my boys a little bit about it, my 9 year old is currently reading (and enjoying!) it.
Charlie's parents are pretty awful. They do good work helping animals but they seem to forget about their son, which is how he ends up staying with his grandparents (who are also a little self-absorbed and more into tv than their grandson). But that's how Charlie ends up wandering around town, where he meets Aggie, who seems to be in distress. She signs something to him that he doesn't understand and shortly after, disappears.
Charlie enlists the help of Frog to understand what Aggie was trying to tell him. Frog wants to help him solve the mystery.
Frog is deaf and lives with her family at the school for the deaf that they run. Charlie learning sign language is interwoven into the story, as he tries to communicate with his new friend.
Charlie and Frog takes place in a quirky village, full of interesting characters, and the mystery will keep kids guessing. No room to say "I'm bored" during this one. Highly recommend for middle grade readers.
I was interested in this book because it's a novel for middle grades and I have two boys who fit into this category. It also seemed like something that would appeal to boys (sadly, I find it hard to find books for them sometimes). After telling my boys a little bit about it, my 9 year old is currently reading (and enjoying!) it.
Charlie's parents are pretty awful. They do good work helping animals but they seem to forget about their son, which is how he ends up staying with his grandparents (who are also a little self-absorbed and more into tv than their grandson). But that's how Charlie ends up wandering around town, where he meets Aggie, who seems to be in distress. She signs something to him that he doesn't understand and shortly after, disappears.
Charlie enlists the help of Frog to understand what Aggie was trying to tell him. Frog wants to help him solve the mystery.
Frog is deaf and lives with her family at the school for the deaf that they run. Charlie learning sign language is interwoven into the story, as he tries to communicate with his new friend.
Charlie and Frog takes place in a quirky village, full of interesting characters, and the mystery will keep kids guessing. No room to say "I'm bored" during this one. Highly recommend for middle grade readers.
January 3, 2026
I hovered between 3 and 4 stars, but ultimately decided on 4. I don't like when children's books try to strong-arm kids into certain values or beliefs, and the name drop of prominent books and authors and just the way the book was written generally felt a bit performative.
The main problem with the book is it feels like Charlie's induction to the ASL community takes front and center stage, and everything else -- the mystery, Charlie's relationship with his family, his developing friendship with Frog -- all of that is explored only to the extent that it is able to raise awareness about the complexities of deafness in a world where most people are hearing.
It also seemed like there were too many characters, many of which weren't even present for most of the story. I guess it's fine that they don't all have great character development as it's a children's novel, but it would've been nice to learn a bit more about the villains, or Frog's grandpa, or even why Charlie's parents are the way they are. The way these secondary characters are written, they're basically caricatures, and you have to kind of just take the author's word for it as far as what they're like; it's more "telling" than "showing" as far as writing techniques go.
The sentiment was nice and the Charlie and Frog duo is convincing enough to read the second book, though!
The main problem with the book is it feels like Charlie's induction to the ASL community takes front and center stage, and everything else -- the mystery, Charlie's relationship with his family, his developing friendship with Frog -- all of that is explored only to the extent that it is able to raise awareness about the complexities of deafness in a world where most people are hearing.
It also seemed like there were too many characters, many of which weren't even present for most of the story. I guess it's fine that they don't all have great character development as it's a children's novel, but it would've been nice to learn a bit more about the villains, or Frog's grandpa, or even why Charlie's parents are the way they are. The way these secondary characters are written, they're basically caricatures, and you have to kind of just take the author's word for it as far as what they're like; it's more "telling" than "showing" as far as writing techniques go.
The sentiment was nice and the Charlie and Frog duo is convincing enough to read the second book, though!
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