Is there a young reader in your life who could use a little mystery in their next book? Maybe they’re a curious investigator always looking for a new puzzle to solve. Maybe they’re a reluctant reader in need of that book that will click. Maybe their dress-up bin includes a magnifying glass and a Sherlock Holmes-style hat and cape, and this is just the natural progression of things. No matter their reading journey, mystery chapter books are a great place to turn to if you’re sleuthing for the perfect book to give them.
It’s a subgenre full of iconic classics — Nancy Drew, Nate the Great, Encyclopedia Brown, The Hardy Boys and Cam Jansen, just to name a few. And these books are popular with their target audience for good reason! With interior illustrations, approachable text and a plot that’s sure to grab attention, they’re a great option for showing early readers the fun of longer-format books. So if you’re looking for a mystery a young reader can sink their teeth into, look no further. We’ve selected six choice reads that have that air of the enigmatic, sure to spark imagination and provoke analysis.
The Fenway Foul-up by David A. Kelly, illustrated by Mark Meyers
Each book in the bestselling Ballpark Mysteries series features a real-life American ballpark, and in The Fenway Foul-up, Fenway Park is up to bat (so to speak). Here, we’re introduced to cousins Kate Hopkins and Mike Walsh, who have scored some sweet tickets to the Red Sox game and All Access passes to Fenway Park. Things go south, however, when Red Sox star slugger Big D steps up to the plate, only to realize that his lucky bat has been stolen!
How did an entire stadium not notice a player’s bat being swiped from under their noses? And with Big D now hitting nothing but air, how are Kate and Mike going to turn this game around? Young readers, especially sports fans, will be transfixed by The Fenway Foul-up — and with 20 other books in the series, there are plenty more engaging mysteries to solve.
Race to Cable Town by Edward Penner
Best friends Tom and Andy do everything together, from biking through the neighborhood to hanging out after school and going through the attic of Tom’s house for ancient artifacts. What they find there is a letter to Tom’s great-grandfather from somebody named Clayton Cable — a name that’s carried on within the town thanks to Cable Field, once the property of Cable himself. Tom and Andy set off that way, ready to investigate the century-old connection between Tom’s family and this mysterious figure. But Cable Field is now a racetrack where local kids compete in bike races — and to gain access, Tom and Andy will have to strap on their helmets and participate in the contest themselves! Half-mystery, half-adventure story and 100% entertaining fun, Race to Cable Town will inspire its readers to remain curious about nature and history, and to persevere through tough terrain.
You can read our full review of Race to Cable Town here.
Ada Lace, On the Case by Emily Calandrelli with Tamson Weston and illustrated by Renée Kurilla
The host of Exploration Outer Space, correspondent on Bill Nye Saves the World, and MIT graduate Emily Calandrelli brings kids a story that combines mystery and technology in this STEM-infused whodunit. Eight-year-old science whiz Ada Lace is feeling out of her depth at the prospect of being the new kid — and it doesn’t help that she’s on crutches after a miscalculation with a bungee rope and a tree branch. But being stuck in the house means she’s around to investigate when her new neighbor’s beloved Yorkie goes missing!
With the help of fellow neighbor, a girl her age named Nina, Ada sets off to do some science-informed sleuthing. Ada Lace, on the Case is the kind of read that will sneak education into its pages, piquing an interest in STEM with a compelling mystery and fun, unique characters that young readers are sure to empathize with.
Meet the Crew at the Zoo by Patricia Reilly Giff, illustrated by Abby Carter
As a two-time winner of the Newbery Honor, late author Patricia Reilly Giff knew how to craft a story. Her Mysteries on Zoo Lane series is a testament to that, offering children a set of stories full of fun antics, examples of problem-solving and a diverse and relatable cast of characters. Luke has just moved to a new place. It’s a little exciting — his dad is the zoo doctor, which means Luke gets to live on Zoo Lane with lions, tigers and other exciting animals as neighbors! But change is tough, especially when moving means leaving his abuelo in Florida.
Opportunity for new connections arises, however, when Luke and a fellow kid on Zoo Lane find a mysterious zebra-print box full of strange supplies and a cryptic message. As Luke forms new friendships, he learns to curb his homesickness and embrace this new adventure among the animals he loves and the zoo he now calls home.
You can check out our full review of Meet the Crew at the Zoo here.
The Absent Author by Ron Roy, illustrated by John Steven Gurney
The first of the 26-book A to Z Mysteries series, The Absent Author stars Dink, Josh, and Ruth — three kids who can’t wait for their favorite author’s upcoming event at the local bookstore. But when the day arises, the author is nowhere to be found! While the police suspect Wallace missed his flight, Dink and his friends aren’t so sure. Together, they set off to track the author down themselves, determined to solve the mystery of the mystery author!
First published in 1997, the A to Z Mysteries have over 8 million copies in print — and with a fresh redesign, this beloved series is sure to appeal to a whole new generation of young readers. Author Ron Roy’s similar series, Calendar Mysteries (featuring stories for every month) and Capital Mysteries (featuring all the monuments of Washington D.C.), will offer plenty of accompanying mysteries to dive into.
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller
With accolades like a Newbery Honor and a slot on the New York Times bestseller list, it’s clear this brand-new story has just the right stuff for young readers. Ten-year-old Magnolia Wu spends her days inside her parents’ NYC laundromat, pinning lost socks to a bulletin board in the hopes that their owners will come pick them up. It’s not very exciting work, but Magnolia doesn’t really do exciting, especially since she keeps to herself indoors.
All that changes, however, when she befriends Californian Iris, who’s eager to explore the city while school’s out for the summer. Together, she and Magnolia set off on a journey to solve the mystery of every missing sock, hitting up bodegas, pizzerias and subway stops along the way. This story of friendship, community and stepping out of your comfort zone reminds us that unexpected adventure is just around the corner, and that everything’s more fun with a co-investigator by your side.
English (US) · 