The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

By Robin Newman

Captain Griswold and Detective Wilcox are two hard-boiled, no-nonsense MFIs—Missing Food Investigators. They also happen to be mice in trench coats. But don’t let the fur fool you: these mice are fearless detectives who won’t rest until they catch the crook. With plenty of clues tucked into quick, readable text, your reader will race to solve the case until they reach the ending twist they’ll never see coming. Readers from preschool to second grade will devour this hilarious first installment in the Wilcox and Griswold easy reader series and still be hungry for more.

Surfboard to Peril: A Miss Mallard Mystery

By Robert Quackenbush

Robert Quackenbush is a master of the easy-to-read chapter book category, so it’s no surprise that the Miss Mallard Mystery stories are among the best mystery books for kids. This installment finds world-famous duck-tective Miss Mallard solving a tricky case involving ancient artifacts, sacred Hawaiian land, and a greedy condominium developer. You’ll appreciate Quackenbush’s clever use of elevated language while your young reader trails the twisty plot and clue-embedded illustrations.

The Secret Zoo

By Bryan Chick

For animal-loving readers who have graduated from early chapter books and are ready for a more challenging mystery, The Secret Zoo is a winner. Book 1 in the series introduces siblings Noah and Megan and their best friends, Richie and Ella. The fearless four live next door to the local zoo, and when the animals start acting a little strange, the kids are hot on the trail—that is, until Megan disappears. Readers will roar with delight as they practice following dialogue and help Noah, Richie, Ella, and a few four-legged helpers find their missing friend.

Legend of the Star Runner

By J.I. Wagner

Dust off your magnifying glass for this one. If you’ve got a reader who loves visual puzzles, Legend of the Star Runner is their perfect match. Like a contemporary Encyclopedia Brown, every chapter of this book ends with a puzzle for readers to solve. Each mystery can be solved by discovering the hidden clues in the detailed, full-color illustrations peppering each page. To add another layer of interactive learning , each puzzle has a rating to tell young scouts how Timmi and his friends fared at the challenge, on a scale from easy-peasy to the ultimate challenge.

The Great Ghost Hoax

By Emily Ecton

Fans of James Howe’s classic Bunnicula, rejoice—there’s a new mystery-solving pack of pets on the scene. In this hilarious and just-a-bit-spooky chapter book , an adventure-loving Dachshund named Butterbean and her furry friends investigate the mysterious happenings in their apartment building. Objects move on their own, pets are going missing, and things are going bump in the night. Is it a ghost… or a hoax? The bouncy storyline and snappy banter between the animals help introduce higher-level vocabulary words and advanced dialogue. Third to sixth graders will chase this tale as Butterbean chases her tail.

The Animal Rescue Agency #1: Case File: Little Claws

By Eliot Schrefer

The Animal Rescue Agency is different than your typical animal rescue. If you think humans are doing the rescuing, think again! The agency is run by the daring (and well-dressed) Esquire Fox and her rooster business partner, Mr. Pepper. Animal lovers will be captivated by Esquire’s adventures as she tracks down a missing baby polar bear. The back of the book is equipped with a “field notes” section with conservation facts, offering a perfect opportunity to get kids digging deeper into the real-life science behind this wild story.

The Clues All Lead to Mystery Books from Literati Book Clubs

The best mystery books for kids provide a unique experience with every read: the first time through, readers are left awestruck. The second, they’re flipping through clues they missed before. It’s twice the reading fun—and a sneaky way to get them dialed in to details and dialogue as they’ve never been before. 
Don’t let your junior detective run out of intriguing cases in their to-read pile. When you join the Literati Kids Book Club, your reader will always have a selection of books customized to their tastes and reading level, so you can be sure each title is both engaging and developmentally beneficial. How do you get started? It’s no mystery—just fill out our quick personalization quiz and the game’s afoot!

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To reveal the hidden gems of the mystery genre, we put these stories under the magnifying glass. Here are six mystery books that your fourth- or fifth-grade Sherlock-in-training is gonna wanna get to the bottom of—and stat!

Case Closed #1: Mystery in the Mansion

By Lauren Magaziner

Mystery in the Mansion is the first of the Case Closed, choose-your-own-adventure mystery series. Readers can pick their own paths and discover clues and cliffhangers along the way, but stay alert! The stakes are high for Carlos and his friends—he can’t save his mom’s detective agency without our help! By making different decisions and finding out where each path leads, mystery buffs can fortify their understanding of cause and effect.

Framed!

By James Ponti

Framed! centers on a young sleuth who is so good he’s “on the FBI Director’s speed dial.” Think Sherlock Holmes in grade school with a sharp sense of humor—and it’s just the first of the series! We love an independent problem-solver, but the strong friendship at the center of the story makes it a must-read. Plus, the main character’s framework for solving life’s daily mysteries is one that your young reader can keep in their toolbelt, too.

If your special agent is less of a Sherlock and more of a James Bond… Check out Spy School. In this story, Ben Ripley is a case-cracking middle-schooler appointed to a secret arm of the CIA … or so he thinks. (Psst—it’s also the first of a New York Times bestselling series).

Super Puzzletastic Mysteries

by Chris Grabenstein

In this riddling collection, regarded mystery novelists bring their puzzle-producing chops to kids lit. Ready to test your detective skills for real? Brave investigators can try to solve the mystery themselves, then flip to the back of the book to uncover the truth.

With well-known writers at the helm, fourth-graders (and up!) will learn a thing or two about the elements of a great story—who knows, they might even try their hand at writing one!

Secret of the Staircase (Virginia Mysteries #4)

by Steven K. Smith

Mystery with a side of history? Yes, please! Brothers Sam and Derek must get to the bottom of a mysterious wedding mishap at the historic Jefferson Hotel. Despite some thrills and chills, these two brothers have each other’s backs, through thick, thin, and alligators … allegedly.

If historical fiction has them intrigued about real-life mysteries…

We suspect they’ll love Strange but True: 10 of the World’s Greatest Mysteries Explained. It’s got a slew of sneaky, slimy, supernatural stories—but be careful, it’s up to your little detective to stay sharp, and separate fact from fiction.

The Entirely True Story of the Unbelievable FIB

by Adam Shaughnessy

Classic mythology, meet contemporary mystery-solving. This delightful, race-to-the-finish read is everything we want from a young-reader mystery novel: clever, satisfying, and intriguing to the last page.

Packed with Norse and Russian mythology, this fantasy is a major departure from your average middle-school whodunnit—a little bit of genre-blending can go a long way for a budding bookworm!

Literati Book Clubs Solve the Mystery of What Middle-Graders Want to Read

Case closed. These stories are more than clues and cliffhangers—they’re full of pro-level problem solvers who can deduce with the best of ‘em.

We’ve got a hunch that your curious reader won’t want to put these down, but when all the mysteries are solved, there’s plenty more to discover! With a Literati Kids book club subscription, your reader can uncover stories in every genre, with a book box that’s personalized to fit their interests. As their sleuthing (and reading) skills grow stronger, we’ll send books that keep them challenged, learning, and always excited for the next adventure. Take the quiz to get started!

The post The Best Mystery Books for Kids Grades 4-5 appeared first on Literati.

We’ve selected the most captivating mystery books for sixth graders. From magical tales of lost treasure to the humorous reports of a clumsy spy, your 11-year-old won’t stop reading until they crack the case!

#1 August Isle

by Ali Standish

Tucked in Florida waters, August Isle is a seemingly-perfect beach town. But the more Miranda explores its sandy shores, the more she uncovers its dark secrets—including ones about her own family.

A Junior Library Guild selection, August Isle is a deeply reflective tale with lessons and self-discovery that are bound to resonate with sixth grade. Its unique characters and captivating twists make it one of the best chapter books for young readers.

#2 Case Closed #1: Mystery in the Mansion

by Lauren Magaziner

To save his sick mother and her detective agency, young Carlos teams up with best friend Eliza and her little brother, Frank. Little do they know, they’ll encounter spooky letters, buried treasures, riddles, and wacky foes along the way. Case Closed empowers your middle-grader to make their own decisions and chase down the clues of their choosing. This format helps develop abstract and critical thinking skills as they attempt to think a few steps ahead in order to crack the case!

#3 The Lost Property Office

By James R. Hannibal

Jack’s got a knack for discovering all things lost and found. From scarves to books, Jack Buckles has a special gift for locating all of London’s abandoned treasures. But there’s one thing he can’t find—his long-lost father and sister. That is, until a few family secrets emerge. James R. Hannibal’s clever thriller is a top pick for readers who enjoy a bit of magic in their mystery. The whimsical London setting helps make this a fully immersive read, while challenging readers to link past and present.

#4 Spy School

by Stuart Gibbs

Meet Ben Ripley, our resident spy-to-be, who’s determined to join the CIA (despite being a bit accident-prone). Readers are in for one of many plot twists when Ben finds out his new school isn’t exactly what it claims to be.

This spy tale is one of the best books for sixth graders because it’s laugh-out-loud funny—a feature you don’t always find in mystery. Detective thrillers meet gut-busting humor in Spy School, where there’s no shortage of sharp jokes that are just-right for the sixth grade sensibility.

#5 The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

By Leslie Connor

With his learning disability and sweaty appearance, Mason Buttle is not exactly a popular kid. Even worse, his reputation is haunted by the mysterious death of his best friend, Benny. To escape his bullies, Mason and his new friend Calvin escape to play in an underground grotto—until Calvin disappears, too.

With over a dozen children’s book awards, The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle is a mature and deeply captivating story. Leslie Connor’s intelligent writing and complex characters show the evil of stigmas, as well as the power of friendship.

Break Out the Magnifying Glass to Read These Mystery Books

From belly-laughs to scary spooks, there’s a mystery book for every reader out there. And with Literati’s help, you don’t have to play detective to find the best ones for your child. Our personalized book clubs for kids can help your preteen find books they’re bound to love, with individualized curation that adapts as they grow. Take the quiz to find your child’s starting level—and uncover all the brain-boosting secrets of one-of-a-kind personalization!

The post Get Curious with Our Top 5 Mystery Books for 6th Graders appeared first on Literati.