I love a good mystery, but I will be first to admit that I'm not the swiftest when trying to figure out "whodunnit". I take a story as it comes at me and rarely try to think ahead. Having said that, I do appreciate mystery novels that allow a reader to try to put the pieces together and figure out the ending along with the characters. What drives me crazy though is when critical pieces of information are withheld from the reader for no good reason just to maintain the "mystery". I find this to be a common problem in mystery novels for children and young adults.
That is why it was refreshing to pick up the new fiction novel for middle-grade readers "The Midnight Tunnel: A Suzanna Snow Mystery" by Angie Frazier (Scholastic 2011). Frazier has constructed a great mystery without ever cheating. The story isn't forced and unfolds naturally with the reader discovering the clues along with the main character.
"The Midnight Tunnel" follows our main character Suzanna "Zanna" Snow in 1904. While having to spend her summer working at the luxury hotel in New Brunswick that her family runs, she really dreams about becoming a detective like her famous uncle in Boston. When the young daughter of one of the wealthy families staying at the hotel goes missing and Zanna is the only possible witness, she is thrown into the middle of a real life mystery.
Whether it's the pompous rich guests, the quirky hotel employees, or our determined hero, all the characters in "The Midnight Tunnel" feel multi-dimensional. The plot and character development moves ahead at a steady pace and is never boring. There are plenty of suspects and lots of "red herrings" to keep the reader guessing, and the resolution to the mystery is satisfying. Suitable for ages 9 and up, the story is easy enough to follow for younger readers, but is also complex enough for older readers. So we recommend that you buy this book for your child to read... then read it yourself.
Tall Tales Books Giveaway!
Scholastic Canada is giving away "The Midnight Tunnel" to two lucky readers! All you have to do is share your favourite mystery novel or author in the comments below.
Yummy Rules and Regs: You must be a Yummy Mummy Club member to win. Click to sign up! It's free and filled with perks. One comment per member. Entries accepted until June 8th, 2011. Contest open to Canadian residents. Winners will be picked using www.random.org.
Now go read a book with your kids...
-Drew
"
Printer-friendly version