The most fabulous half-French girl detective around is called Claire Voyante, and don't you dare blame her for it. She had no say in the matter--she was named after her great aunt Claire, who died in a Parisian heatwave the year she was born.
When Claire was little she started getting random visions in her head, pictures of things like froggy umbrellas and pink hats. She couldn't resist fantasizing that they were clues and chasing them down when she saw them on the street. But nothing much ever came of it, just strangers who got annoyed when they realized a little blonde kid was lurking in the shadows.
When she turns 15 and her crabby-fabulous grandmother Kiki gives her a black and white cameo necklace, her visions take on a different shape--and a whole new meaning. Claire's off to a rocking adventure that involves private jets, a ketchup fortune, and a cute boy. Make that a very cute boy. About time!
The best way to get to know Claire is to read Dream Girl. For those of you who can't wait, here are a few of Claire's favorite things:
Tintin
Being half-French, Claire was raised on the Tintin comic books. And her lovable, if slightly weird, 8-year-old brother Henry still reads them obsessively, so she's playing for Tintin's team, like it or lump it.
Agatha Christie
Claire's academic parents are way into unreadably highfalutin books on things like "semiotics" and "linguistic theory." Claire loves the grand dame of mystery--she'll take Murder on the Orient Express over some boring "position paper" any day.
Old Etiquette Books
Kiki's library of etiquette books comes in handy more than you'd think.
Yves Saint Laurent dresses
Claire can barely afford a new pair of socks on her own, but Kiki is a former socialite who can no longer fit into most of her clothes. Welcome to the wonderful world of hand-me-downs.
Vintage Red Schwinn
Who needs the subway when you have this beauty to get around on?
Jacques Torres
chocolate shop
Name one better place to ride the Schwinn out to. And the calories even out. Sort of.