Reviews: Booklist Starred, Publisher's Weekly Starred, School Library Journal, Wilson’s
It’s the start of summer and 7 year old Alicia Bartlett’s body has been found in the woods behind her neighborhood. Twelve year old Jason Dorrant is the last one besides her killer to have seen Alicia alive. Due to Alicia’s age and the fact that the Senator’s granddaughter was one of her classmates the case is a high profile one. Pressure is on the police to solve this murder and solve it fast.
Jason is questioned by the police and becomes the prime suspect for the murder. The police need evidence, but with the mounting pressure, time is of the essence. What they really need is a confession. Enter Trent. Trent is a small town detective, but more than that, he’s an Interrogator. He’s the best at what he does and if there is a confession to be had, Trent will get it. As Trent interrogates Jason the reader begins to realize that Trent is not entirely convinced of Jason's guilt. Is he after the truth or is he after a confession?
The stunning conclusion to this book will leave readers thinking about it for a long time to come.
Byars, B. (1994). The dark stairs: A Herculeah Jones mystery. New York: Viking.
Genres: Murder, Mystery
Summary: Thirteen-year-old Herculeah Jones is as strong and bold as her name. Endlessly curious, she recruits her hesitant and bumbling neighbor (a kid named Meat) to investigate the old Dead Oaks mansion where an unsolved murder took place long ago. How could she resist being involved? Her father is a police officer, and her mother works as a private eye; solving crimes is in her blood.
Herculeah’s fast-paced adventures include a monstrous man, hidden staircases, narrow escapes, and chilling discoveries. The author entertains her young readers with just the right balance of humor and suspense. For example, Herculeah has a sixth sense: whenever she’s in danger, her hair frizzes out of control. Young readers will enjoy quirky characters and juvenile antics, but also face complex dilemmas like rights vs. responsibility.
Notes:
First of seven books in the Herculeah Jones Mystery Series.
Betsy Byars has won numerous awards for other novels ( not Herculeah Jones), including ALA Notable Books, Booklist Editor’s Choice, a National Book Award, and the 1971 Newbery Medal.
Snicket, L., Helquist, B., & Kupperman, M. (1999). The bad beginning: Book the first, A series of unfortunate events. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
Genres: Dark Comedy, Neo-Gothic, Mystery
Summary: Lemony Snicket, whose own story is shrouded in mystery, relates the tragic events of three orphaned siblings. The Bad Beginning is the first of thirteen woeful novels, introducing the Baudelaire children sitting in the rubble and ashes of their once beautiful home, facing the brutal reality that they will never see their parents again.
While the themes of this book are dark and distressing, the Baudelaire children are resilient, resourceful, and talented. Violet, the oldest, is a brilliant inventor. Klaus, the middle child, has read so many books, he is like a living encyclopedia. And Sunny, the baby who cannot yet walk or talk, has very sharp teeth for cutting or chopping things into bits.
The Baudelaire siblings are sent to live with their distant uncle, the arrogant Count Olaf, who proves to be cruel and selfish and will stop at nothing to seize the Baudelaire fortune. Can the children uncover Count Olaf’s scheme before it’s too late? Can they discover the truth of their parents’ death?
Notes:
Book One of thirteen: A Series of Unfortunate Events.
The Bad Beginning has won multiple literary awards, including the Colorado Children's Book Award, and the Nevada Young Readers Award. Other titles in this series have also been honored with multiple awards and nominations.