Bookworm  
Bookworm for Kids

   
Mysteries

SeerThe Seer of Shadows
by Avi
Ages 9–12
This scary ghost story, set in 19th century New York City, is narrated by 14-year-old Horace Carpentine, apprentice to a photographer intent on duping a wealthy client.

VermeerChasing Vermeer
by Blue Balliett
Ages 9–12
Petra and Calder, two bright sixth-graders, join together to find a missing Vermeer painting. This mystery sends them on a quest full of patterns, puzzles, as they investigate the meaning of art. (1st in series)

WrightThe Wright 3
by Blue Balliett
Ages 9–12
Sixth-graders Petra and Calder are joined by Tommy in this architectural mystery as they try to prevent the destruction that threatens Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House. (2nd in series)

CalderThe Calder Game
by Blue Balliett
Ages 9–12
Now in 7th grade, series heroes Petra, Tommy, and Calder participate in the Calder Game, trying to join five ideas or things that move in relationship to each other. This provocative mix of mystery, art concepts, and philosophy will appeal to motivated readers. (3rd in series)

The Mostly True Story of JackThe Mostly True Story of Jack
by Kelly Barnhill
Ages 9–12
Jack’s parents are too caught up in the emotions of their divorce to pay attention to their son, so Jack is sent to spend the summer with his eccentric aunt and uncle in Hazelwood, Ohio. Used to feeling invisible and playing with imaginary friends, Jack is amazed to suddenly be the center of attention. He makes some real friends, is beaten up by the town bully, and fears the town’s richest man wants to see him dead. On top of all that, his aunt and uncle’s house seems to be possessed. This suspenseful mystery explores themes of the struggle between good and evil, and the power of love and sacrifice.

EnigmaEnigma
by Graeme Base
Ages 5–10
Bertie Badger arrives at his grandfather’s house expecting a magic show, but the magic props have all disappeared. Readers are encouraged to crack codes and find hidden pictures to solve the mystery, told in rhyming quatrains. A set of bonus challenges will keep kids, and their relatives, glued to the pages for weeks.

RoyalsRaucous Royals:
Test your Royal Wits: Crack Codes, Solve Mysteries, and Deduce Which Royal Rumors are True
by Carlyn Beccia
Ages 9–12
This fascinating mix of costumed caricatures, interactive text, and quizzes encourages the reader to participate in history rather than just read about it. The combination picture book/graphic novel is sure to appeal to middle grade kids.

WhatWhat I Saw And How I Lied
by Judy Blundell
Ages 12–up
This noir mystery is set in 1947. Evie (15) and her mother set off for Florida with her stepfather Joe. Evie falls in love with Peter, an army buddy of Joe’s. A suspicious boating accident forces Evie to re-examine her relationships with Peter, her mother, and her stepfather. This stylish novel has the atmosphere of a glamorous old movie.

MasterpieceMasterpiece
by Elise Broach, Kelly Murphy
Ages 8–12
Two very different families share a Manhattan apartment. Marvin the beetle follows his family’s rules about staying hidden from the humans, though he worries that the human family does not appreciate their 11-year-old son James. Tempted by the pen and ink set James receives for his birthday, Martin draws an intricate picture for James and then reveals himself as the artist. Before James can hide the drawing, his parents have discovered it and proclaim him a talented artist. Soon a museum curator is asking James to forge a Dürer miniature to catch a thief. The fast moving story and wonderfully detailed drawings will captivate young readers.

Missing on Superstition MountainMissing on Superstition Mountain
by Elise Broach, Antonio Javier Caparo
Ages 8–12
Simon, Henry, and Jack Barker have just moved from Illinois to Arizona, and their parents have warned them that Superstition Mountain is totally off limits. But when their cat goes missing, the three brothers chase after her and discover three human skulls. Joining up with their neighbor Delilah, the children research local history and folklore, preparing for a secret return to Superstition Mountain to solve the mystery of the skulls. This exciting novel is the first in a new series.

The Trouble with ChickensThe Trouble with Chickens: A J.J. Tully Mystery
by Doreen Cronin, Kevin Cornell
Ages 8–12
After seven years working as a search-and-rescue dog, J.J. Tully and retired to the country. Despite his considerable ego, J.J. agrees to help a mother hen find her missing chicks, in exchange for a cheeseburger. Working against J.J. is Vince the Funnel, who looks like a cross between a dachshund and a lamp because of the collar he is forced to wear. Fast-paced and funny, this illustrated book is perfect for readers making the transition between picture and chapter books.

London EyeThe London Eye Mystery
by Siobhan Dowd
Ages 8–12
Ted and Kat take their cousin Salim to ride on the London Eye. While waiting in a long line, a stranger gives them a free ticket and Salim boards the ride. When his pod arrives back in half an hour, Salim is missing. Ted and Kat overcome their usual sibling friction to work together to solve the mystery. Ted, the endearing narrator, has an unnamed Asberger’s-like syndrome which adds an intriguing dimension to this clever puzzle.

Big SplashThe Big Splash
by Jack D. Ferraiolo
Ages 10–14
Seventh grader Matt Stevens walks the mean hallways of Franklin Middle School in this clever and funny middle school noir. Tough guy Vinny Biggio and his gang of trigger girls and boys armed with squirt guns rule the campus until Matt decides to figure out who took down Nikki Fingers in this exciting mystery.

MorgueThe Morgue and Me
by John C. Ford
Ages 12–up
Christopher Newell takes a summer job in the morgue before heading off to college and stumbles across $15,000 in cash and a dead body that the medical examiner has ruled a suicide despite multiple bullet wounds in the torso. Tina, a young reporter for the local paper, joins Christopher’s investigation and the two uncover blackmail and corruption going back for years. This dark teen novel holds its own as a mainstream mystery.

Dead End in NorveltDead End in Norvelt
by Jack Gantos
Newbery Medal 2012
Ages 10–up
Jack Gantos’s summer 1962 vacation plans take an unexpected turn when he is grounded “for life” by his bickering parents. But then his mother loans him out to a neighbor, and Jack finds himself typing obituaries of the strange and wonderful people who founded his small town. This funny and mysterious semi-autobiographic mix of fact and fiction is fast-paced and immensely entertaining.

DiamondThe Diamond of Drury Lane
by Julia Golding
Ages 10–14
Cat has lived in the Drury Lane Theater Royal ever since she was abandoned as a baby and taken in by Mr. Sheridan, the owner of the theater. After Cat sees Mr. Sheridan hiding a valuable diamond, she and her friends decide to help safeguard the treasure. Set in 1790s London, England, this thrilling mystery will keep readers glued to the pages. (first in a projected quartet)

Museum of Mary ChildThe Museum of Mary Child
by Cassandra Golds
Ages 11–up
Heloise is kept secluded by her stern god mother. When the lonely girl discovers a beautiful doll, Maria, hidden under the floorboards, she hides the doll from her godmother who prohibits play, beautiful things, and talk of love. When Maria is discovered, Heloise learns the dreadful truth about the museum adjoining her godmother’s cottage. This mysterious and creepy novel is enthralling.

Picture the DeadPicture the Dead
by Adele Griffin, Lisa Brown
Ages 12–up
When Jennie’s twin brother dies in the Civil War in 1864, Jennie feels his loss like a wound. A year later, her cousin Quinn arrives home to Massachusetts with the news that his brother Will, Jennie’s fiancé, is also dead. Quinn, who is much changed by the war, begins to court Jennie, who responds though she senses that something mysterious surrounds Will’s death. Jennie is haunted by both her dead brother and Will, and suffers a recurring sensation of being choked. Newspaper clippings, scrapbook entries, and black-and-white drawings illustrate Jennie’s first person narration in this effective gothic ghost story portraying a country recovering from the horrors and loss of war.

ClarityClarity
by Kim Harrington
Ages 14–up
Clarity “Clare” Fern (16) works for the family business doing psychic readings for summer tourists in Cape Cod. Clare can retrieve memories and emotions by touching objects, her mother can read minds, and her brother is a medium. When a tourist is found murdered, Clare is eager to help the police. When two more people are murdered, and her brother becomes a suspect, Clare realizes she needs to find the truth quickly before she becomes the next victim. (1st in a planned series)

Blank ConfessionBlank Confession
by Pete Hautman
Ages 12–up
Shayne Blank, a 16-year-old stranger, appears at the police station to confess to a murder. Detective Rawls, a veteran cop, listens to Shayne’s story about Mickey Martin, the smallest junior at Wellstone High, who discards a bag of drugs given to him for safekeeping by his sister’s drug-dealing boyfriend. This gripping story is told from both the viewpoints of Mickey, narrating the back story, and Detective Rawls, listening to the confession. Snappy dialog, skillful pacing, and great characters make this exciting mystery hard to put down.

Black Book of SecretsThe Black Book of Secrets
by F.E. Higgins
Ages 10–14
Young Ludlow Fitch, fleeing a terrible past, arrives in a peaceful village. Ludlow becomes the assistant to the mysterious pawnbroker who trades cash for people’s deepest, darkest secrets. It’s Ludlow’s job to record the secrets in the leather bound Black Book of Secrets. The vaguely Dickensian late 1800s atmosphere is the perfect backdrop for this historical fantasy.

Bone MagicianThe Bone Magician
by F.E. Higgins
Ages 10–14
Young Pin Carpue is left to survive on his own in the crime-ridden city of Urbs Umida when his father, a suspected murderer, disappears. Pin gets a job as a corpse watcher, standing guard in the morgue for three days to ensure that the deceased really are dead and not just sleeping. There he meets the Bone Magician who claims to be able to reanimate the dead to answer last questions from the living. This dark and funny fantasy is a companion volume to The Black Book of Secrets.

Department 19Department 19
by Will Hill
Ages 14–up
Jamie Carpenter’s father died a traitor when Jamie was 14. Now 16, Jamie is rescued by Frankenstein from vampires and taken to Department 19, the top-secret government organization founded by Dracula’s killers, dedicated to protecting mankind from the supernatural. When Jamie’s mother is kidnapped by vampires, Jamie sets off with Frankenstein and an untrustworthy vampire girl to rescue her. This non-stop adventure is part mystery, part classic horror story, and all thriller.

VampireThe Reformed Vampire Support Group
by Catherine Jinks
Ages 12–up
The members of this group know they must admit their addiction and conquer it before they are staked, so they attend the hated meetings every Tuesday night. When one of the vampires is destroyed by a silver bullet, the group of misfits bands together to find the killer. Plot twists and character development combine to make this murder mystery a winner.

GhostsNothing but Ghosts
by Beth Kephart
Ages 12–up
Katie (16) and her father are grieving the recent death of her mother. Her father, an artist who restores paintings, tries to lose himself in his work while pondering what color would be used to paint regret. Katie takes a summer job gardening for Miss Martine, the town recluse, and stumbles over clues about the mystery of Miss Martine’s abrupt withdrawal from the world. With her fellow teen worker Danny, and the help of the town librarian, Katie researches town history to solve the mystery and distract herself from her own grief.
 
Invisibleinvisible i
by Stella Lennon
Ages 12–up
Callie, our narrator, Nia, and Hal are three unlikely allies who join forces to find 15-year-old Amanda who has vanished. Before disappearing, Amanda told each person a different story about her past and gave each a different animal totem. This intriguing mystery is the first in “The Amanda Project” series, written by different authors under the pen name Stella Lennon.

Night TouristThe Night Tourist
by Katherine Marsh
Ages 10–up
Jack Perdu is a 9th grade classics prodigy. One evening Jack goes to New York City, a place he has not visited since his mother died there eight years ago. In Grand Central Station he meets Euri, a mysterious girl who offers to show him the train station’s secret places. Eight flights below, Jack realizes he is in New York’s ghostly underworld and hopes to meet his mother. The ghosts are suspicious of Jack, who becomes increasingly uncertain if he himself is dead or alive. This intricate adventure is a magical combination of modern characters, New York history, and classical mythology.

RuinedRuined
by Paula Morris
Ages 12–up
Rebecca Brown (15) is sent from New York City to live with her aunt in New Orleans while her father travels overseas for a year. Rebecca feels out of place at the snooty prep school. In fact, to the rich girls she is nearly invisible. Rebecca befriends Lisette, a ghost who has haunted the cemetery since her mysterious death 155 years earlier. This atmospheric ghost story captures the rich history of New Orleans, and doesn't shy away from issues of race, ethnicity, class, and culture.

TrashTrash
by Andy Mulligan
Ages 12–up
Raphael is a 14-year-old trash-picker in an unnamed 3rd world Latin American country. One day he finds a leather bag containing a wallet, a map, and a key. Raphael and his two friends are soon involved in exposing political corruption and abuse of the poor as they puzzle out a secret code and follow clues to a hidden cache of money. Realistic details of the lives of desperate children living in the dump provide a sobering background to this gripping adventure tale.

Lost BoyLost Boy
by Linda Newbery
Ages 8–12
Just after moving to Wales, Matt imagines a car crash and finds himself next to the grave of a boy with his initials. Soon he is involved in trying to solve the mystery of three lost boys while trying to fit into a village with well-kept secrets.

CreepyCreepy Crawly Crime
by Aaron Reynolds, Neil Numberman
Ages 8–12
Joey Fly is an experienced private investigator with an eager young apprentice named Sammy Stingtail. The pair are hired by a clueless butterfly to find her missing diamond pencil box. Full of insect humor, puns, and nifty similes, this classic mystery will keep young readers glued to the pages. A graphic novel with a film noir look, this is the first in the Joey Fly, Private Eye series.

39 CluesThe 39 Clues: A Maze of Bones
by Rick Riordan
Ages 9–14
In this first of 10 books, orphans Amy and Dan Cahill take on the challenge of winning a fortune by collecting all 39 clues. They also hope to find their parents along the way. Unfortunately they are competing against the rest of the Cahill clan, many of whom are less than honorable. Riordan created the story arc for the series; authors will write also for the series. This fast-paced book has plenty of suspense, danger, and puzzles. Readers between the age of 6–14 can also create online accounts to play the online game and compete for $100,000 in prizes.

WilsonWilson and Miss Lovely:
A Back-to-School Mystery
by John Stadler
Ages 4–8
After his first week of school, Wilson is enthusiastic about his new teacher. But something is wrong. The school bus never arrives, and the school is empty. Wilson goes through his normal school routine, completing his math and science lessons alone, sending himself to the principal’s office when he misbehaves, but he grows more and more worried. Fold-out flaps reveal a first green foot with claws, and then more details until the surprise conclusion. A bit scary, but funny and sweet.

SpyologySpyology:
The Complete Book of Spycraft
by Dugald A. Steer
Ages 8–12
It's 1958 and Agent K, a British spy, reveals his secret techniques in a manual for new recruits. As he pursues the evil Operation Codex, Agent K sets challenges and reveals clues. Included are a magnifying glass, a code-breaker, and a secret compartment in the spine.

The Romeo and Juliet CodeThe Romeo And Juliet Code
by Phoebe Stone
Ages 8–12
In the middle of WWII, eleven-year-old Felicity’s parents send her from the dangers of England to the safety of her father’s family in Maine. When her Uncle Gideon begins to receive mysterious letters in her father’s handwriting from Portugal, Felicity and her new friend Captain Derek set out to crack the code of the letters and figure out what is being hidden from her. Themes of culture shock, adaptation, and perseverance are explored in this romantic mystery.

Moon over ManifestMoon Over Manifest
by Clare Vanderpool
Newbery Medal 2011
Ages 9–12

In 1936, while her father is away on a railroad job, 12-year-old Abeline Tucker spends the summer in her father’s hometown of Manifest, Kansas. Based on her father’s stories, Abeline expects something magical, and is disappointed to find only a worn out old town. But Abeline is determined to find out what her father was like at her age, and explores the past through stories and newspaper columns. When she finds a hidden cigar box full of old letters, Abeline and her new friends are quickly involved in a spy hunt, eager to unveil the secrets of the past.

The ShadowsThe Shadows
by Jacqueline West
Ages 9–12
Soon after Olive Dunwoody (11) and her mathematician parents move into an old Victorian house, Olive realizes that something isn’t right. She discovers that wearing a pair of spectacles allows her to enter the unsettling paintings into Elsewhere, where she meets Morton (9), who tells her about the secrets the house and the previous owner are hiding. With the help of three talking house cats, Olive begins to patch together a series of clues she hopes will help her save those living inside the paintings from their dark fate. This deliciously creepy novel is the first in a series: The Books of Elsewhere.

Where Things Come BackWhere Things Come Back
by John Corey Whaley
Ages 14–up
Cullen Witter (17) is bored to death living in the small town of Lily, Arkansas until the summer before his senior year. Then the Lazarus woodpecker, long thought to be extinct, allegedly reappears, and his younger brother Gabriel goes missing. Meanwhile, Benton Sage, a young missionary in Africa loses his faith and leaves Ethiopia for the University of Atlanta. Told in alternating chapters, the two stories narrated from two completely different viewpoints gradually converge into the surprising and disturbing finale of this darkly humorous thriller.

The Space Between TreesThe Space between Trees
by Katie Williams
Ages 14–up
Evie (16) is an outsider with a vivid imagination she uses to make her lonely life in a small midwestern town livable. When Zabet McCabe, a childhood friend, is murdered, Evie finds herself involved in a story even she couldn’t imagine. Zabet’s reckless and emotionally unstable best friend Hadley becomes obsessed with finding Zabet’s murderer, and drags Evie into her investigation. Evie’s honesty and unwise decisions make for some difficult reading, but this dark coming-of-age story beautifully portrays the anguish of those who don’t fit in with their peer group.

Incorrigible ChildrenThe Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling
by Maryrose Wood
Ages 8–12
Penelope Lumley, a 15-year-old educated at the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, has just accepted her first post as governess. The three children in her charge were found running wild in the woods, and are now living in a barn on the estate of Lord Frederic Ashton. More animal than human, Alexander keeps his younger siblings in line with gentle nips while Beowulf chases squirrels and Cassiopeia barks. First in a new series, this cleverly funny book will have readers clamoring for the next.

Blink & CautionBlink & Caution
by Tim Wynne-Jones
Ages 14–up
Blink has been living on the streets ever since he ran away from his abusive step-father. While trying to steal leftover food from room service in a hotel, he witnesses a fake kidnapping of an oil executive. Caution is on the run from her abusive drug-dealing boyfriend, and trying to deal with her guilt over the accidental shooting of her brother. The two teens try their hands at blackmail, and are quickly caught up in racial and environmental issues that they can’t fix in this compelling noir crime novel.