The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane

The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane
by Julia Nobel

With her mother traveling for work, Emmy is sent to a boarding school in England.   Before she leaves home, she discovers mysterious medallions that belonged to her father, who disappeared many years earlier.   After arriving at her new school, Emmy discovers there may be a connection between her father's medallions and a secret society.    Will Emmy be able to solve the mystery of the medallions and her father's disappearance?

This suspenseful mystery is a great choice for readers who like a good mystery full of danger and excitement!   I was very excited to learn there is a sequel to this book and look forward to reading the next book!

Author's website: http://julianobel.com/

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Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective

Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective
by A.B. Greenfield
illustrated by Sarah Horne

Ra, a Pharaoh's pampered cat, prefers to spend his days lounging by the pool.   His spoiled, uneventful routine is disrupted by the kitchen cat Miu, who requests his help in solving the mystery of a missing amulet.   Reluctant at first, Ra, along with his dung beetle buddy Khepri, agree to investigate the crime and help Miu prove that a young servant was not the culprit.   Will this team of detectives be able to solve the case?

With entertaining characters and many humorous moments, this fun mystery will be a great choice for many readers!

Author's website: https://www.amybutlergreenfield.com/

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The Great Hibernation

The Great Hibernation
by Tara Dairman

It's an annual tradition: all residents of St. Polonius who are twelve and older participate in the eating of the sacred liver.  Unfortunately, twelve-year-old Jean is unable to eat hers and hopes that no one will find out.  Shortly after the annual celebration everyone who ate the liver suddenly, and mysteriously, fall into a deep sleep, leaving the children of St. Polonius to care for themselves.  What caused this deep sleep?  Was it related to the liver?   Jean and her friends must find answers before their town falls apart!

This was a very fun story!  I found that it had a lot of humorous parts, especially as the young children of St. Polonius eagerly took over their parents' jobs while the adults were in a deep sleep.  This is a great choice for readers looking for a humorous mystery!

Author's website: https://taradairman.com/

The Van Gogh Deception

The Van Gogh Deception
by Deron Hicks

A boy with amnesia has been discovered in a Washington, D.C. art museum.  Without any knowledge of who he is or how he got to the museum, police place him temporarily in the home of Mary Sullivan and her daughter Camille.  Camille is determined to help the boy, who she names Art,  remember his past.  Unfortunately, while they follow clues to help Art regain his memory, a sinister group of criminals are pursuing Art!  Will Art and Camille uncover the mystery of Art’s past before their pursuers catch them?

This is a fantastic, action-packed, art-themed mystery!   Readers will also learn a bit about art history while reading this exciting tale.   Fans of art-themed mysteries such as Framed! and Eddie Red Undercover should give this book a try!

Author's website: http://deronhicks.com/

The Real McCoys

The Real McCoys
by Matthew Swanson
illustrated by Robbi Behr

Eddie the Owl has gone missing!   When the mascot of Moxie McCoy's school is stolen, the mystery-loving 4th grader is on the case of the missing stuffed animal.  Using detective tips from her favorite book character, Annabelle Adams,  Moxie investigates the theft, determined to catch the culprit and locate the beloved mascot!

The first in a new series, The Real McCoys is a fun mystery full of engaging illustrations and humorous moments!  Moxie and her younger brother Milton make an entertaining detective team as they work together to solve the mystery of the missing owl!   I'm looking forward to the future adventures of Moxie and Milton!

Book website: http://realmccoysbook.com/

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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
by Dusti Bowling

Born without arms, Aven Green has learned to face challenges with optimism and humor.   However, when her family moves to Arizona, Aven must adjust to a new home and school.   At her new school, while trying to avoid the stares and questions of her classmates, she meets Conner, who is dealing with challenges of his own.  Together, the new friends help each other face their challenges as well as solve a mystery at the theme park Aven's parents run.

This is a fantastic book!  It is an inspirational tale about overcoming challenges, but also has many quirky characters and humorous moments, as well as an intriguing mystery! 

Author's website: https://www.dustibowling.com/

Beetle Boy

Beetle Boy
by M.G. Leonard

How does someone vanish from a locked room?  That's what Darkus Cutting is trying to figure out. When his father disappears without a trace from a locked room at the science museum, no one has any clue about what could have happened to him.  Many have given up hope on finding him, but Darkus is convinced his father is still alive.

Shortly after moving in with his Uncle Max, Darkus encounters an unusual creature: a very friendly rhinoceros beetle!  He soon suspects that his new pet, as well as the outbreak of rare beetles at a neighboring home, may be connected to his father's disappearance.   With the help of two new friends from school, Darkus takes on the dangerous task of investigating the connection between the extraordinary beetles and his missing father.

Beetle Boy is a great combination of mystery and adventure with an exciting science fiction twist!   It also has many quirky characters and some humorous moments.  I knew little about beetles before starting the book and, as I read it, I wanted to learn more about the unusual beetles mentioned.  This is the first book in a trilogy (the second book is already available) and I can't wait to read more of the adventures of Darkus and his friends.

Author's website: http://www.mgleonard.com/

Video of author M.G. Leonard talking about Beetle Boy:

Isabel Feeney: Star Reporter

Isabel Feeney: Star Reporter
by Beth Fantaskey

Isabel Feeney wants to be a reporter, bur for now she has to settle for selling newspapers. When she becomes a witness in a murder investigation, she decides to conduct her own investigation.   Even though the evidence is pointing at Miss Giddings as the culprit, Isabel knows that she is innocent. Can the outspoken, aspiring reporter prove it?

Set in 1920’s Chicago, this is an exciting mystery!  Isabel is a fun, determined character.    This book is a good choice for fans of mysteries.  I hope that author Beth Fantaskey writes more stories about this young, aspiring reporter soon!

Author's website: https://bethfantaskeyauthor.com/

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake
by Robin Newman
illustrated by Deborah Zemke


MFI (Missing Food Investigators) Detective Wilcox and Captain Griswold have picked up a tasty case: a missing carrot cake! Suspects include the carnivorous Fowler the Owl, the constantly hungry Porcini, and the sweet-toothed Hot Dog. Will they be able to solve the mystery of Miss Rabbit’s missing cake before her party?

This book is part of the Wilcox and Griswold Mystery series, a fun series that follows the case files of the two mice in charge of investigating missing food cases! This cute mystery is full of idioms and puns that add to the humor of the engaging tale. With subtle clues, diligent detectives, and comical suspects, this series is a great introduction to the mystery genre for growing readers.

Author's website: http://www.robinnewmanbooks.com/

Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery

Framed! A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery
by James Ponti

Florian Bates has an after-school job: working for the FBI! His use of T.O.A.S.T. (Theory of All Small Things) has caught the attention of the FBI after he discovers clues about a museum burglary that others have overlooked. Now the twelve-year-old is on the case of the art thefts. Will he, with a little help from his new friend Margaret, help the FBI solve the mystery?

What a fun book! As I read this entertaining mystery,  I thought of other art-related mysteries, including Chasing Vermeer and Eddie Red Undercover. This book will be a hit with fans of mystery fiction. This was one of those books that, when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down until I was done. The conclusion of this action-filled mystery hints at future adventures for Florian and Margaret.

Author's website: https://www.jamesponti.com/

Masterminds

Masterminds
by Gordon Korman

Can a town really be perfect?  With a population of only 185 people, no crime, and beautiful homes, Serenity seems to be a perfect small town.  However, Eli Frieden begins to suspect that Serenity may not be as perfect as it seems after he receives a mysterious letter from a friend.    Suddenly, Eli begins to question everything in his beautiful, calm, New Mexico town.   Is his world real?   What secrets are the grownups hiding from them?  Eli and his friends investigate and find a shocking answer!

After finishing this book (the first in the Masterminds series)  I needed to know what happened next and immediately went online to buy the next one!  Masterminds is full of action, suspense, and many unexpected twists.   I loved how Gordon Korman alternated between narrators, allowing the reader to  get to know the different characters and experience the life of Serenity from various perspectives.   I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series when it gets published in March!

Author's website: http://gordonkorman.com/

Under Their Skin

Under Their Skin 
by Margaret Peterson Haddix

When Eryn and Nick's mother announces she is getting remarried, they are shocked to learn that their new stepfather has two children, Jackson and Ava, that they were never told about.   To make matters more confusing, their mother and stepfather inform them that they will never meet Jackson and Ava and are ordered not to even ask questions about them.  

With the new marriage comes a new home, one that includes bedrooms for Jackson and Ava.   When Eryn and Nick discover their new stepbrother and stepsister's bedrooms are kept locked, their curiosity grows. Finally, they take a chance one day and decide to do some investigating about the mysterious Jackson and Ava.  What they discover shocks them and changes the way they see the world. 

Under their Skin was a book that, as soon as I started reading, I could not put down!   As with her other books, author Margaret Peterson Haddix's newest book is a thrilling combination of mystery, science fiction, and surprising twists!  Fans of her other books will want to read this first book in her newest series.  

Author's website: http://haddixbooks.com/

Saving Lucas Biggs

Saving Lucas Biggs
by Marisa de los Santos & David Teague 

When Margaret's father is sentenced for a crime she doesn't believe he committed, she is forced to go against a longtime family promise to try to save her father's life.    Despite her father's warnings, Margaret realizes that she must use her family's ability to time travel to go into the past in order to keep Judge Biggs, who sentenced her father, from becoming the cruel man he grew up to be.  Will Margaret be able to change the past and save not only her father, but also Lucas Biggs?

Alternating between 1938 and 2014, Saving Lucas Biggs is a wonderful story of family, friendship, and justice.   While time travel is an important detail in this story, I find the book more of a historical fiction, asmuch of the story takes place in 1938.    I recently finished this book with a 5th grade reading group and it was a hit with them!    

The Night Gardener

The Night Gardener
by Jonathan Auxier

Everyone they meet caution Molly and Kip not to go to the Windsor house but,  knowing that this may be their only hope for work, the young siblings go anyway despite the warnings.   As they arrive at the home deep in the woods, they find the neglected house has been almost entirely taken over by a large, creepy tree that grows through it.    As she meets the Windsor family, including the unpleasant Mrs. Windsor, Molly becomes concerned about the unhealthy appearance of the family.   Despite the poor condition of the home and the peculiar family, Molly knows she and her brother have no other place to go and must stay and work as servants for the Windsors.

As they settle into the Windsor home, Molly becomes more suspicious that something odd is going on with the family and the home.   When she discovers that a strange, sinister man is going through the house at night, she realizes that there is something evil about the tree that has taken over the home.  

What a creepy story!  Readers who are looking for a suspenseful, scary book will love this one!    As I read this book, I was reminded of other books that involved creepy trees, including The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein and Juniper Berry by M.P. Kozlowsky.    Also worth noting about this book is that there's a good chance that it may be made into a movie, according to the author's website!

Author's website: http://www.thescop.com/

Eddie Red Undercover

Eddie Red Undercover: Mystery on Museum Mile
by Marcia Wells
illustrated by Marcos Calo

Edmund Lonnrot has a unique talent: he has a photographic memory.   Combined with his other talent, drawing, Edmund is the perfect choice for an undercover assignment with the police.   Using the codename "Eddie Red", Edmund stakes out museums to help the NYPD catch a clever art thief.   However, what is supposed to be a safe assignment turns into a dangerous one as Eddie becomes more involved in the case.  

This exciting, fast-paced book is a great choice for fans of mystery and detective stories!   Those who enjoy this book (like I did) will be happy to know that there is a sequel where they can read more about Eddie Red's adventures!

Author's website: http://marciawellsauthor.com/

Under the Egg
by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Shortly before he died,  Theodora's grandfather told her to look underneath the egg to find a treasure.   At a loss for which egg he meant, she discovers a clue when she spills rubbing alcohol over one of his paintings and finds another painting underneath it.   Suspecting the hidden painting to be valuable, Theo and her new friend Bodhi search for information about the mystery painting.  As they try to trace the history of the painting, Theo must also face her worries that her grandfather, a former museum worker, may have stolen the painting.    Is the painting real and, if it is, how did her grandfather end up with it?

Under the Egg is a great choice for readers who enjoyed books like Chasing Vermeer.   It has a good combination of art history, family problems and, of course, mystery!

Author's website: http://www.lauramarxfitzgerald.com/#!books/cnec

Greenglass House

Greenglass House
by Kate Milford
illustrated by Jaime Zollars

Winter is supposed to be the quiet time at the Greenglass House, the inn run by twelve-year-old Milo Pine's parents.   Unfortunately, Miles' plans for a relaxing school vacation are interrupted when an unexpected guest arrives at the inn.   As more and more guests suddenly arrive, Miles realizes that his holiday will be anything but relaxing.  With the unexpected strangers come odd stories and many mysteries that are all connected to the Greenglass House in some way.   With his new friend Meddy, Miles sets out to solve the strange mysteries that have suddenly filled the Greenglass House.

This is a book full of mystery, unusual characters, and some surprise twists!   Greenglass House is a great choice for 4th and 5th graders looking for a unique mystery. 

Author's website: http://clockworkfoundry.com/

The Copernicus Legacy: The Forbidden Stone

The Copernicus Legacy: The Forbidden Stone
by Tony Abbott

When Wade's father, an astrophysicist, receives an unusual, coded email from an old professor, their family suddenly finds themselves thrown into a dangerous international adventure!   Shortly after receiving the strange email, the family soon learns that the professor has recently been killed, leading the family to travel to Germany to attend his funeral.   What is intended to be a brief trip quickly turns into a wild adventure when Wade's family soon learns that the professor had many secrets, including knowledge of the whereabouts of the 12 relics of Copernicus.   Unfortunately, others are seeking the same information and will stop at nothing to uncover the relics.   Wade, along with his father, stepbrother, cousin Lily, and friend Becca, must race around the world to locate the relics before they end up in the wrong hands.

The Forbidden Stone is a fast-paced adventure story full of many dangerous, suspenseful moments!   It is rare for a story to get my heart-racing, but this is one that often kept me on edge.  I'm looking forward to the second book!   Fans of The 39 Clues series and similar books will likely enjoy this series.  

Book website: http://www.thecopernicuslegacy.com/

Book trailer: 

Houseboat Mystery

Houseboat Mystery (Boxcar Children Graphic Novels)
by Gertrude Chandler Warner and Joeming Dunn
illustrated by Ben Dunn.

Taking a drive through the country, the Alden family come across a houseboat for rent.    After Grandfather agrees that the family can rent the houseboat, the Aldens prepare for a journey!    Their journey's start is almost interrupted when they almost get into an accident with a speeding car as they head home to pack for their houseboat adventure, but they are soon able to begin their exciting vacation.   However, it seems that they mysterious car they encountered keeps appearing everywhere they go, causing the family to be suspicious.  When a valuable vase gets stolen from an auction the family attends, they find themselves involved in the mystery and wonder if the suspicious car is somehow connected to the theft.   Will the Aldens be able to solve the mystery?

The Boxcar Children series was one of my favorites when I was in elementary school, so I was thrilled to see that a graphic novel version of this series is available!   Joeming Dunn's retelling of Gertrude Chandler Warner's story paired with great illustrations by Ben Dunn make this graphic novel a fun read.  I hope that those who find enjoy this book want to then read the original story, which I do have in the library!

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing
by Sheila Turnage

When Mo's guardian, Miss Lana, accidentally purchases a rundown inn at an auction, she learns she just hasn't bought an inn, but also the ghost that lives there!   Mo, and her best friend Dale, impulsively decide to try to interview the ghost for an extra credit school assignment, and begin to investigate to figure out who the ghost of the Tupelo inn is.   As they work to solve the mystery, many obstacles, including a suspicious new student, stand in their way.  Will they be able to solve the mystery of the Ghost of the Tupelo Inn? 

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing is the sequel to Newbery Honor Book, Three Times Lucky.   The small town setting with its quirky characters adds a lot of humor to this ghostly mystery.    This is a great choice for readers looking for a mystery full of action, suspense, and funny moments!

Author's website: http://www.sheilaturnage.com/SheilaTurnage/Desktop.html

Book Trailer: