A Young Sleuth Arrives on the Scene in a Heartfelt Paranormal Mystery by Mikaela Lucido

Like many authors who write about young sleuths and detectives as they investigate various mysteries, Mikaela Lucido loved the atmosphere and intrigue in those stories, but had her own ideas about how she could frame that kind of story. Growing up in the Phillipines, she always heard about hauntings and other supernatural happenings, and decided that she'd like to tell her own stories with a protagonist that looked like her.

This led to the creation of Danica dela Torre, Certified Sleuth (Annick Press), a new middle grade book written by Lucido with rich and evocative illustrations by Joanna Cacao. The reader follows kid detective Danica and her friends as they investigate the haunted house of a new kid in town, who happens to be a rival sleuth. Reluctant to work with another kid detective, and forbidden from investigating spirits by her Tita, Danica has her doubts about working on the case until a supernatural event draws her into a case that is simply too intriguing to turn down.

It's a compelling story about a unique, outspoken girl who braves the unknown parts of the world and discovers plenty about herself in the process. And, we're thrilled to share this Kid's Club BFYP interview with the author right at the start of Spooky Season:

Open Book:

Tell us about your new book and how it came to be.

Mikaela Lucido:

Danica dela Torre, Certified Sleuth follows Danica, the youngest sleuth in her small town, as she investigates her first potential ghost mystery with her best friend Jack. Allegedly, her new neighbour is being haunted by letters. The problem is, Danica is forbidden from interacting with the supernatural. In the end, she grapples with facing the ghosts of her friendships, family, and, well, maybe literal spirits? 

As a kid, I loved reading Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and the lesser known tales of Gilda Joyce, a psychic investigator. I grew up hearing about hauntings in the Philippines and I often fixate on my vivid dreams. Through the Annick Press’ Mentorship Program, I got to explore what a girl detective might be like if she looked like me. 

OB:

Is there a message you hope kids might take away from reading your book?

ML:

You don’t need a ghost to be haunted. Sometimes it’s people or events which make you feel unseen—like you’re the phantom. Your inner circle, or in this case, a detective club, can anchor you during all the scary parts of life. For young readers, I especially want them to stay curious. At any age, we can be mature or incredibly clever and observant, but there’s always so much more possibility out there. It’s important to keep ourselves open to what could be, because when facts and feelings and friends get mixed up, it can get messy. 

OB:

Did the book look the same in the end as you originally envisioned it when you started working, or did it change through the writing process?

ML:

When I started writing the book, there were many more letters. The investigation was more of a scavenger hunt about a romance. My superhero and editor Claire helped me scale back and bring the focus back on Danica and her friends. She asked, “Why should this matter to Danica?” So, the letters remained but their meaning and who wrote them shifted. 

One of Danica’s classmates, the popular Jennifer Lam, was meant to be a one-off side character. But Jennifer quickly became important to Danica’s lore, if you will, and might be important still… 

OB:

Is there a character in your book that you relate to? If so, in what ways are you similar to your character and in what ways are you different?

ML:

My loved ones say Dani is a lot like me, but when I was writing the story, I connected most with her sister. I wasn’t as outspoken as Danica as a kid, but I loved details. I don’t have a sister like Anna, but I am an ate who didn’t always understand her little brother and wanted to grow up quickly. And like Dani, I often felt I didn’t belong, even in a room full of friends. 

Ultimately, I discovered in order to do the story justice, I had to let go of the fear of being perceived. I was so afraid that people in my life would think of Danica and her friends as a true-to-life historical record. It wasn’t fair to Danica or to the reader. Yes, she can be a lot like my inner child. She reminds me of my brother or my cousin or a girl I met during summer camp. But I hope she’s also infinitely more. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being compared to Renley Crow’s best sleuth.  

OB:

What was the strangest or most memorable moment or experience during the writing process for you?

ML:

Sometimes if I felt stuck and avoided writing for a day, I’d be outside walking my dog and there would be a crow on a nearby rooftop, eyeing me. One time, I came across a murder of crows settled in the trees. They felt like friends nudging me back to the story.

OB:

What defines a great book for young readers, in your opinion? Tell us about one or two books you consider to be truly great kids books, whether you read them as a child or an adult.

ML:

For me, and I’m no expert, a great book for young readers has a character (hopefully more than one) that they can’t help but root for as they grow. Ideally, this character sometimes frustrates them, the way our loved ones do in real life, but the reader feels compelled to know what happens to them next. A great story doesn’t have to be about great or even good people—it just needs to make you feel greatly about them. 

My favourite children’s book is Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. I saw a lot of myself in the protagonist Miri. I remember sitting up in my bed, stressed out of my mind when she would assert herself and face cruelty for it. She wasn’t perfectly kind or perfectly pretty or unfailingly strong. Rather, her yearning to matter and to be seen, not for being shy or unathletic, but for her power, resonated deeply with me. 

Likewise, some other favourites from past and present come to mind: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, Isabel of the Whales by Hester Velmans, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass, The Anybodies by N.E. Bode, Winterhouse by Ben Guterson, From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks, and Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park.

OB:

What are you working on right now? 

ML:

Currently, I’m in the revising stage of Book 2 in The Unofficial Official Renley Crow Detective Club series! Danica and her friends have three new cases to solve and we get to dive into more of her family’s lore. On the side, I’m also writing a YA fantasy novel about a brother and sister who happen to be the youngest gods in their realm. Together, they have to defeat a city of nightmares that have come to life. 

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Mikaela Lucido is a Filipina-Canadian storyteller, fangirl, and amateur birdwatcher. She grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, and is the poetry editor of Savant-Garde literary magazine. Danica dela Torre, Certified Sleuth is her debut novel.

Joanna Cacao is the bestselling illustrator of The Tryout (written by Christina Soontornvat) and the author/illustrator of The Secret of the Ravens. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her two dogs.