Kids like a little bit of mystery in their lives, so I picked out ten middle grade mysteries I loved. (And four more I’d like to read!) Take a look at these fun options…
TEN I’VE READ
(Click on the links for full reviews, if I’ve posted them.)
The Swifts by Beth Lincoln, illustrated by Claire Powell
This book follows young Shenanigan Swift, who has always known she’s supposed to cause trouble. After all, everyone knows the Swifts always live up to their dictionary names. But when her aunt ends up dead, Shenanigan is sure that she can solve the crime – and maybe prove that she can be whoever she wants to be.
Jennifer Chan In Not Alone by Tae Keller
This book is more of a contemporary with a paranormal twist than a true mystery, but when Mallory’s classmate Jennifer disappears, Mallory feels like she’s the only one who might have an idea of what happened to her. She makes it her mission to find her–and to right the wrongs she herself may have been a part of when it came to Jennifer.
The Area 51 Files by Julie Buxbaum
This is a zany sci-fi mystery! When Sky discovers that Area 51 and aliens(!) are real, she’s shocked, to say the least. But she’s even more shocked when some of the aliens are kidnapped and she and her uncle are accused of the crime. Her journey to prove her innocence is both exciting and hilarious!
Long Distance by Whitney Gardner
A graphic novel mystery! When Vega moves, she finds that holding onto long-distance friendships can be tricky and making new friends even more so. So, her parents send her off to a camp that’s specifically designed to help kids make friends. Once Vega gets there, though, she finds that the camp is just a little … off. She spends the rest of the graphic novel trying to uncover the truth of what’s going on.
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
Milo and his new friend Meddy end up spending Christmas break investigating a series of thefts in Milo’s parents’ inn. This story is full of eccentric characters who make for perfect suspects.
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur T. Bradley
A fun mystery for younger MG readers where everyone involved is a suspect in a murder. The guests at the hotel are expected to figure out whodunit (murder-mystery-party style). I recommend this one to readers all the time because I loved it so much and it had some twists I honestly didn’t see coming!
The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter by Aaron Reynolds
In this hilariously goofy supernatural mystery, Rex is being haunted by a slew of dead animals from the local zoo. He figures the only way to get rid of them is to help them solve the mystery of their untimely deaths, so he starts investigating!
York by Laura Ruby
This alternate history novel is full of puzzles and a massive treasure hunt as the three main characters try to solve an epic mystery that the architects of New York built into the very city itself!
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
This book is mostly a contemporary about fitting in, disability, and self-acceptance, but it definitely has a mystery element to it as well as Aven discovers a strange connection to the theme park her parents moved across the country to work at.
The Ambrose Deception by Emily Ecton
This is another mystery that involves quite a few puzzles as the main characters compete for a scholarship in a contest that sends them across Chicago. The kids soon realize that there’s something deeper going on than just a scholarship contest, though, and they’re determined to figure out what that is!
FOUR I PLAN TO READ
(I won’t give descriptions of these since I haven’t read them yet, but click on the covers to see them on Goodreads and find out more!)
What are your favorite MG mysteries? I wanna know!
I love middle grade and young adult mysteries. The only one I’ve read on your list is Fleur Bradley’s book, which I really enjoyed. I’ll check out some of your other recommendations.
These look great! The only one from your list that I have read is Holes, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. But a graphic novel MG mystery sounds like a bunch of fun! I’ll have to see if I can get my hands on a copy of Long Distance.
I love the Greenglass House books, and Holes is great too. I was a fan of E.L. Konigsberg and Ellen Raskin fan as a kid, though I don’t know how well their books would hold up today. More recently, I enjoyed Rebecca Stead’s books. Her new one, The Lost Library, looks quite appealing.
All of these look like so much fun! Holes is a classic, even though I haven’t read it yet. The movie doesn’t count, right? Thanks for sharing this list!
I adore Dusti Bowling’s books, and Holes is forever a masterpiece. I hope you love it!
I have never really thought about or heard of MG mysteries so thanks for the list. These all look great.
Karen @For What It’s Worth
I’m going to share this with my sister-in-law, these sound perfect for my niece. Thanks for the recommendations!