Mysteries, in my opinion, should not be dark or disturbing mentally. I didn’t want to develop a taste for horror or twisted themed books in our children’s hearts or in my own. I came up with a booklist that follows the biblical command to think on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, commendable, and excellent. (Phil. 4:8). Still, parents may want to check out these books for content for themselves.
Why Mysteries?
Mysteries can give us some of the best opportunities for exploring splendidly written, high quality literature. A student watching for clues makes for careful reading, while looking at the books analytically involves looking for patterns and critical thinking among other skills.
In general mysteries cover such a broad range of settings and subject matter that they can easily be integrated across many areas of the curriculum.
There are mysteries which rely on detecting patterns in the clues or codes, so they are great for focusing on math skills. There are mysteries set in different time periods and locations that bring in history and geography. Many mysteries include police officers or detectives which fit well with units on communities or crime and justice themes. There are great mysteries set in art museums or involving forgery. Finally a mystery allows us to dig into language arts topics such as characters and writing styles. Mystery, in particular, is a good vehicle for noticing and practicing plot writing techniques.
If you as a parent enjoyed books like Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and The Hardy Boys when you were a child, here are more fantastic mysteries for your children in various age categories that will keep them reading all year long.
Some of our criterion for wholesome reading material – no matter the genre:
- beauty through character and integrity
- healthy adult relationships
- promotes strength of family unit
- if there is a later romantic relationship, it grows out of mutual admiration, respect, communication, connectivity
- sexual purity of characters
- evil characters demonstrate cruelty, wrong choices, and selfish behavior, and they are punished/conquered by good characters or through natural consequences
- good triumphs over evil
Mysteries by Grade or Age
Sugar Creek Gang Mystery books 1-6 by Paul Hutchens (The Swamp Robber/The Killer Bear/The Winter Rescue/The Lost Campers/The Chicago Adventure/The Secret Hideout)
The Hardy Boys Mystery series by Franklin W. Dixon (look for dates before 1959 to get the true originals without alterations. Older than that have been re-written.)
The Eleventh Hour: A Curious Mystery by Graeme Base, age 5-8+
The Mad Scientists’ Club (getting hard to find)
Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart – age 9+
Just David by
Piggins series by Jane Yolen, Gr. K-3.
Masterpiece by Elise Broach – Gr 3-6.
Concord Cunningham the Scripture Sleuth Series
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome; all ages!
Famous Five Collection by Enid Blyton – Adventure/mystery for 4-11 year olds
Enid Blyton Adventure Series – Adventure/mystery for 6-14 year olds
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein, Gr 3-7
American Girl Historical mysteries, Gr 2-5
Riley May series by Jill Osborne, Gr 3-6
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol, Gr 4-6.
The Secret Of Copperhead Creek: One of 3 Culverton Kids Mystery Stories
The Mystery of Smugglers Cove (The Mystery Series, Book 1)
Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene (beyond #15 in the series I cannot vouch for content) Ages 8-13
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, Gr 3-7
The Cooper Kids Adventures #1-4 by Frank E. Peretti
Bad Day at Riverbend by Chris Van Allsburg, Gr 2-6.
The Boxcar Children Bookshelf (Mysteries, Books 1-12)
Journeyforth Novels from BJU Press
The Hank the Cowdog series by John Erickson, Gr 2-5.
Riverboat Adventure Series and The Viking Quest Series, by Lois W. Johnson, Gr 4-8
Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsberg, Gr 3-6.
Greenglass House by Kate Milford, Gr 4-6
Nooks and Crannies by Jessica Lawson, Gr 4-7
Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken, Gr 3-7
Nightmare Academy (The Veritas Project) by
Trixie Belden Mysteries by Julie Campbell, Gr 3-7
(FYI: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
“A homeschool cannot function without enthusiasm and curiosity. Enthusiasm enables the child to educate himself. Curiosity makes the child want to learn!” ~Karen Andreola
Joanna
Thank you for these Jacqueline. Some I have not even heard of, and I’ve always loved the genre myself!?
We discovered Hank the Cowdog last year, and were really enjoying them, when I heard some bad language on one of the audiobooks. The next day I heard more on another one. ? We’re usually OK with “farm language”, but this was worse (I don’t remember what the actual words were) so we had to tell our kids “No more Hank.” ?DS was so sad.
Jacqueline
This was on the audios, Joanna? How very sad to hear! 🙁
Karen
Hi Jacqueline,
I just read your post from Sept 2015 “Rethink Medicating” and I am interested in trying some of the suggestions with my daughter. I have a couple of questions.
First of all, the grapefruit seed extract isn’t labeled for kids. Do you know if there is a product that IS for kids, or is it safe for kids to use even though it doesn’t specifically say “for kids” on it? The pills appear to be quite large and I’m pretty sure will be too difficult for my daughter to swallow, not to mention I am unsure on dosage.
Secondly, the probiotic powder the post linked to was for adults, but I found the kid version. When comparing which probiotics are in them the adult version has different ones than the kid version. If you are trying to deal with the same issue, wouldn’t the kids and adults need the same probiotics but in different doses? Or do adults and children need different probiotics? If I use a powdered probiotic instead of one in a capsule, does it get past the stomach acid to do any good?
Thirdly, the post says to do both for 3x/day for 3 months….what happens after 3 months? Do you continue but only once a day? Do you stop altogether?
Traditional medicine has not helped us and I am trying to find alternatives, but I don’t know what to do, who to ask, etc. I am a little concerned about taking such high doses of something I know little about. Can you recommend somewhere reliable where I can do more research on grapefruit seed extract and probiotics? Is it possible to take too much of either probiotics or grapefruit seed extract? What are the side-effects/dangers, if any?
I know I am asking a lot of questions, and I really appreciate any guidance you can give. I realize you are no longer a practicing medical professional, but you have that background, as well as the learning you have done on alternatives, your own journey, being a mom and a Christ-follower, and I am grateful for you sharing what you know.
Blessings,
Karen
Jacqueline
Hi, Karen! I will try to help and am glad to. We have grapefruit seed extract tablets to our children since they were around 5/6 years old. This may help you feel more comfortable: http://www.livestrong.com/article/304951-grapefruit-seed-extract-for-children/
And as to probiotics, they are ALL good bacteria and suppress or crowd out BAD bacteria. I only use safe natural things to heal when I treat my own children and these two products are about as safe as safe can be. I hope that helps!
Blessings! J
Karen
Thanks Jacqueline! I appreciate the link to the article as well as knowing you gave it to your own kiddos when they were 5 or 6….most other information I was finding was for 12+.
I am off to order some!
Blessings to you and thank you for your time!
Karen
Dominic Adams
Thank you for the list! Look forward to reading the ones we haven’t read. Another great one for ages 4 to 8 is A Wilcox and Griswold Mystery: The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake by Robin Newman and the Complete Father Brown Stories by G.K. Chesterton are great for teenagers through adults. Again, really appreciate the wonderful list of mysteries!
Jacqueline
I am glad to provide it, Dominic! I learned a lot myself and found many books I wouldn’t share with my kids!
Blessings,
J
Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle
What a long and helpful list of mystery books for children. I feel like reading them myself. I saved this to Pinterest.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
Create With Joy
Thanks so much for sharing this article at The Book Nook at Create With Joy, Jacqueline – your criteria for selecting thrilling but wholesome mysteries for middle school children is spot on and you’ve shared some wonderful books for young readers!
I loved The Phantom Tollbooth as well as the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators series growing up. Whenever I have a chance to delve into fiction, mysteries/suspense/thrillers remain among my favorite genres to this day!
Have a lovely weekend! 🙂
Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle
Jacqueline, the Blogger’s Pit Stop will feature this most helpful post and book recommendations. Be looking for the feature on Friday.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
Jacqueline
Wow! Thank you so much, Kathleen!
Tina at Mommynificent
This is a wonderful list I will refer to often! Thanks for sharing this with us at Booknificent Thursday at Mommynificent.com!
Tina
Lisa/Syncopated Mama
Yay! I loved mysteries as a kid, so I’ll definitely be using this list with my little gal! Thanks so much for joining us at #FridayFrivolity – and I chose this post as my feature!
DeeDee Allen
Thanks for the list! It is nice to have something comprehensive with age recommendations. I suggest that parents re-read their old favorites before passing them on to their children. For example, the original Hardy Boys series contains racial references that would have been very common for the time period, but is definitely not appropriate for today. At the advice of reading lists my husband hunted down the originals, but we have been very surprised at the racial slurs that are present as well as a few other things in the books. (Mich like rewatching many of my favorite childhood movies and not remembering the bad language that was in them =/ )
Jacqueline
Yes, Dee Dee, It is always wise and appropriate to use these as rich and compassionate teaching moments…for well-rounded children, they need to have a frame of reference. and yes, some of these would provide that! Great point!
Blessings to you, ~J
Melena
There are 8 titles in the Cooper Kid Adventures by Frank Peretti.
My kids LOVED them and so did Mom! I believe my 20 yr old has possession of them now.
https://www.christianbook.com/cooper-kids-adventures-volumes-1-8/frank-peretti/pd/69321#CBD-PD-Description
Jacqueline
Melena, it is interesting you mention that your 20-year old had the books! I love that he does!
Our kids, now all married and starting families, have dibs on certain books and our youngest son actually looked for and bought the whole set of Uncle Arthur bedtime stories so he could have it for his children (14-15 volumes!) The are all starting their own little libraries for their children already! 😀
Melena
The 20 yr old is my daughter and my youngest! They really belong to her brother who is the father of two now! Books are like old friends in our family…it’s in our DNA. Grandma Elizabeth was schooled in England and was a librarian so we have a fabulous legacy and book collection. <3
Jacqueline
Melena, what a rich heritage for them! You are indeed bibliophiles as we are!
Warm hugs to you, friend!