Lately, I have been in the mood for a good mystery and I also remember when my kids were growing up how much joy they got out of books like the Nancy Drew series and the Hardy Boys Mystery series. It seems to me that kidlit mystery books these days just keep getting better and better so I want to share past JIAB “air of mystery” bookjumps that will not only keep your little sleuths reading, but offer up activities to compliment those books as well.
Holes by Louis Sachar (And some Holes-inspired Activities)
Holes is my favorite Louis Sachar book. The history of Kate Barlow and Stanley’s great-great grandfather woven into the story brings a new dimension to a children’s chapter book. He gives children the ability to make connections between history and Stanley Yelnat’s story. He pulls you into the harsh conditions of Camp Green Lake and keeps you captivated with the mystery surrounding it. None of the camps I ever went to had buried treasure. I read this with my mom when I was ill. It’s not just a story for kids, but for kids and parents to enjoy together.
Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons and Powerful Palaces! Haunted Histories by Marilyn Scott-Waters and J.H. Everett
A great book that spawned a fun blog post full of mysterious and medivial activities!
How to Make a Popsicle Stick Catapult
Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright, is a delightful, beautifully written story, and one of those books that stirs my desire to explore. The story begin with a brother and sister who arrive via train from the city to visit their country cousin. The children discover an old, mostly abandoned summer colony of houses near a swamp that used to be a lake. There, they meet another brother and sister team with the most peculiar names. The children come across a group of old houses, mysteriously vacant and abandoned on the shore of a swampy lake. Somebody has been there — there’s a warning and an inscription carved into a rock. Can the children keep their find a secret? Who left the houses and where did they go? What’s lurking in the lake?
The Girl from Felony Bay by J.E. Thompson
Abbie Force has a mission: solve the mystery of her father’s accident and alleged theft. Since he has been in a coma for nine months and cannot defend himself, it is Abbie’s job to put the pieces together. Her life has been uprooted—her father’s unavailable; her home has been sold to a new family; she has to leave her beloved school; and now she has to live with her mean aunt and uncle that don’t give one lick about her. Her summer is starting off horribly. That is until she meets the new family that has moved into her old house with the same last name and a daughter near her age—Bee. These two adventurous girls become fast friends and on their many adventures through the plantation, discover a plot afoot right under their very noses.
The Danger Box
“The Danger Box” by Blue Balliett is a wonderfully fun and quirky mystery by the author of “Chasing Vermeer” and ” The Wright 3″. The Danger Box is her fourth novel where she leaves the art scene of her previous three books behind and plants us firmly in the rural town of Three Oaks Michigan. There we find Zoomy, a sweet, legally blind 12 year old boy, living with his grandparents. Zoomy is a boy who notices everything. When his head gets too full of things it makes him nervous and he starts tapping and twitching to relieve his brain. His grandmother after noticing this tendancy, bought him some notebooks and encouraged him to write his thoughts down. Now every time he observes something it gets placed on a list, written with a purple pen inside his notebooks.
Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms BookJump Adventure
Ten year old Stuart stumbles on a note daring him to find his great-uncle’s hidden workshop full of wonderful mechanisms, trickery, and magic.
“I have to go away, and I may not be able to get back. If I don’t return, then my workshop and all it contains is yours if you can find it- then you’re the right sort of boy to have it.
Affectionately,
Your Uncle Tony
P.S. Start in the telephone booth on Main Street.
Would you like to create a afternoon of sleuthing, mysteries and mysterious adventures? Grab a copy of our FREE Secret Codes, Mysteries and Adventure downloadable PDF Activity Guide! This guide is 19 pages of fun including activities like Creating and Deciphering Invisible Messages, baking “I Spy” Cookies and learn more about the US President who was a master decoder! Click the image below to get your free copy!
The post An Air of Mystery: Middle Reader Mystery Books & Activity Round-up appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
With the winter months upon us, I feel this is a great time for readers of all ages to snuggle in with a good book. I have been blessed with tons of amazing books titles for kids over these last few months and I want to get these books into the hands of young readers. SO, for the next three months Jump Into a Book will be hosting a book giveaway every Wednesday! Some giveaways will be a single title, some will be a “Book Bundle,” but all will be books that your readers will love and cherish. I think these books will also make great gifts as well! Here’s what we are giving away this week (NOTE: All of these books are physical books, not Kindle versions).
Kidlit Books with an Air of Mystery INCLUDED IN THE GIVEAWAY:
The Calder Game by Blue Balliett
This new mystery from bestselling author Blue Balliett is now available in After Words paperback!
When Calder Pillay travels with his father to a remote village in England, he finds a mix of mazes and mystery . . . including an unexpected Alexander Calder sculpture in the town square. Calder is strangely drawn to the sculpture, while other people have less-than-friendly feelings towards it. Both the boy and the sculpture seem to be out-of-place . . . and then, on the same night, they disappear! Calder’s friends Petra and Tommy must fly out to help his father find him. But this mystery has more twists and turns than a Calder mobile . . . with more at stake than first meets the eye.
Horten’s Miraculous Mechanism by Lisa Evans
As if being small and having S. Horten as his name isn’t bad enough, now 10-year-old Stuart is forced to move far away from all his friends.But on his very first day in his new home, Stuart’s swept up in an extraordinary adventure: the quest to find his great-uncle Tony–a famous magician who literally disappeared off the face of the earth–and Tony’s marvelous, long-lost workshop. Along the way, Stuart reluctantly accepts help from the annoying triplets next door… and encounters trouble from another magician who’s also desperate to get hold of Tony’s treasures.
The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski
Petra Kronos has a simple, happy life. But it’s never been ordinary. She has a pet tin spider named Astrophil who likes to hide in her snarled hair and give her advice. Her best friend can trap lightning inside a glass sphere. Petra also has a father in faraway Prague who is able to move metal with his mind. He has been commissioned by the prince of Bohemia to build the world’s finest astronomical clock. Petra’s life is forever changed when, one day, her father returns home – blind. The prince has stolen his eyes, enchanted them, and now wears them. But why?
Guys Read: Thriller
A body on the tracks
A teenage terrorist
A mysterious wish-granting machine
The world’s worst private detective
The second volume in the Guys Read Library of Great Reading is chock-full of mystery, intrigue, and nefarious activity.
DETAILS ON GIVEAWAY:
- ONE winner each receive a one copy of all three books. Giveaway begins November 26th and ends December 3rd, 2014
- Prizing & samples courtesy of Audrey Press
- Giveaway open to US addresses only
- ONE lucky winner will win one copy of each book listed above.
- Residents of USA only please.
- Must be 18 years or older to enter.
- One entry per household.
- Staff and family members of Audrey Press are not eligible.
- Grand Prize winner has 48 hours to claim prize.
- Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on November 27th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The post Three Months of Book Giveaways: Kidlit Books with an Air of Mystery appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
Poison Me by Cami CheckettsJake Merrill was raised by his grandmother, Ruby, and her hilarious friends. After a suspicious death at the retirement home where Ruby lives, she enlists Jake and Chanel, the beautiful activities director, to help her find the killer.
But secrets Ruby has kept for decades threaten her family and the man she’s always loved but could never have. Chanel’s unstable ex-boyfriend, a presumably dead relative, and vicious criminals add to the confusion. Time is running out as Jake, Chanel, and Ruby desperately search for clues to solve the murders and fight to save those they love.
Praise for Poisen MePoison Me made me laugh out loud and thoroughly enjoy myself. I wish I had a friend like Ruby! Snappy dialogue, romance, and a strong sense of family made this book well worth reading.
Rachel Ann Nunes, bestselling author of Line of Fire and Before I Say Goodbye
Author Cami Checketts
Cami is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She's never been happier.
A portion of the proceeds from Cami's books will be donated to The Child & Family Support Center. For more information on this worthy cause, please go to www.cachecfsc.org Book BlogFitness BlogFacebookTwitterBlog Tour Giveaway
$50 doTERRA Oil basket and $35 wholesale membership, $50 Kate Ryan Skincare GC, $50 Amazon GC. Ends 3/30/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Purchase "Caller ID":
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599559900/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=racswrispo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1599559900I will give my usual weekly report on Thursday, because today I have a special guest on my blog. She is an award-winning author and savvy marketer. I read her first novel "Wrong Number" and thought it was a wonderful piece of writing and I've put her latest read on my to-read list. Please welcome my friend Rachelle Christensen.
What lessons did youlearn from writing your first novel that you applied to this one?
I learned so much about editing and how to fine-tune asentence. I learned to look at a scene from several different angles to see ifmy writing could evoke suspense from different levels—emotionally,physiologically, etc.
What are some redflags that you look for when you are revising something you’ve written?
Pet words. I always have a long list of words that I use toooften. I go through my book and use the search function in Word to weed themout. It helps because I often find other things that I need to fix as well. Theonly downside is I keep getting new pets with each new novel. J
What sorts of thingshave you found work best to get the word out about your books?
That’s a loaded question, but I think the best idea is toutilize several different forms of spreading the word.
Who are the biggestcheerleaders of your writing? What do they do to encourage you?
My family, especially my husband. They ask about my writing,read early drafts of my books, help make time for me to write, and encourage mein my goals. I’m so thankful to have a supportive family—my husband is mybiggest fan.
What’s something youwould tell to aspiring writers that you wished you’d known from the beginning?
That you never stop learning, so don’t ever think that youcan sit back and say, “I know all there is about writing.” Get yourself to awriters conference and soak up the knowledge!
What are you workingon right now? What are your writing goals?
I just finished writing/editing book one of a new “WeddingPlanner Mystery” series. I had so much fun writing this novel and getting toknow the characters. The title is DiamondRings are Deadly Things and it’s set in Sun Valley, Idaho near where I grewup.
My goals for writing is to just keep plugging away everyday, whether it’s outlining t
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