In April I attended the Spring Local Author Fair at a library in the Pittsburgh area. I met some interesting authors who write in multiple genres including genres suited for children, middle grades, and young adults.
It was a fun afternoon, and it made me wish there were more opportunities for children to meet with local authors of children’s literature. I’m hoping to feature a writing team of middle grade fiction in an upcoming issue. This month, we are featuring mysteries; this is an exciting genre for kids and Y.A. Enjoy!
The Letters are Lost! By Lisa Campbell Ernst – The letters of the alphabet were always in order, but one day they decided to do their own ways. A letter ended up on a quilt, another showed up in the bathtub, and one even got outside to play in the sandbox! Young kids will have fun finding these naughty letters and reuniting the alphabet. For ages 2-5
Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick – This combination picture book, beginning reader, and graphic novel will entertain pre-readers and beginning readers when Monkey is on the case! For ages 3-6
The Chickentown Mystery by Albert Arrayás – Chickens start disappearing before the Golden Feather competition. Where can they be? You readers follow the clues to find the chickens and save the festival. For ages 4-7
The Shadow and the Golden Room: a Timmi Tobbson Junior Detective Book for Kids by J.I. Wagner – Timmi, Marvin, and Lilli must work together to stop the Shadow, a master thief, and recover one of the world’s most precious artifacts. For ages 5-7
Lily and the Escape Room Challenge by Maya N. – A fun mix of STEM and mystery. What do cinnamon buns, a dusty attic, and a secret map have in common? Lily and her friends must solve the mystery at her grandparent’s house before time runs out. For ages 6-11
Histories Strangest Mysteries by Rex Langley – Sometimes the most exciting mysteries are true events, ancient enigmas, modern mysteries, and legendary tales. Each mystery is presented like a mini case file; readers are the detectives. For age 8 and up
Snoopers & Sneakers by Cristina Rouvalis and Lydia Wayman – This book features an autistic protagonist named Jane. Two sixth grade girls, Ashley and Jane, team up to clear their favorite teacher’s name after she is accused of stealing. Set in Pittsburgh, the story explores themes of friendship, bullying, and acceptance. It’s a fun mystery with a message about teamwork. For ages 9-15.
Shadow Jumper by J.M. Forster – Jack’s allergy to sunlight keeps him in the shadows to avoid painful life-threatening burns. He’s isolated and lonely. “Parkour in the darkness,” jumping from rooftop to rooftop is the only time he feels free. When Jack’s condition worsens, his scientist father goes missing. Can Jack and his new friend, Beth, find Dr. Phillips and unlock the secrets of his allergy before worse becomes fatal? For ages 10-14
Two Truths and a Lie by April Henry – A storm traps a group of teens in a creepy motel with a killer. For ages 12 and up
The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard – The only thing Caitlin, Mackenzie, Parker, Ava, and Julie have in common is their desire to be perfect at everything until they find all hate “love ‘em and leave ‘em Nolan. They joke about killing him for revenge and even devise a fake plan for murder. When Nolan turns up dead, the police don’t believe the plan was fake. Can the girls prove their innocence or is there a killer(s) in the group? For ages 14 and up