New Mystery Sleuths for Teens

by Melissa Oleen Rowan Public Library

                Nancy Drew, Miss Marple, Perry Mason, Sherlock Holmes.  These were the series sleuths that lined my young adult bookshelf.  If you are a young adult or know one who enjoys reading books by mystery writers like Carolyn Keene, Donald J. Sobol, Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardiner or Arthur Conan Doyle, let me introduce you to a relatively new series sleuth that will have you reading your way through their series faster than author Alan Bradley can write them.

Flavia de Luce (FLAY’-vee-ah duh-LOOSE) has all the traits of a good sleuth – she is smart, determined, observant and curious.  She is also a well-written character that captures your attention and will appeal to both male and female readers.  At eleven years old, Flavia is largely unsupervised and this freedom is a blessing and a curse.  A self-taught chemist with a passion for poisons, she spends most of her free time in the Victorian era chemistry lab in an abandoned wing of Buckshaw, the decaying English Manor house where she lives.  When not experimenting in her lab, she is roaming the English countryside around the village of Bishop’s Lacey on Gladys, her “ancient BSA” bicycle. 

Flavia’s mother died when she was young and she currently lives with her widowed father, two pesky older sisters and a loyal butler.  Flavia regularly matches wits with the local constabulary in solving the strange deaths that so often happen in those small, seemingly unexciting English villages.  As a younger sister, she experiences all the teasing, taunting and ignoring strategies older siblings often use to make life in general miserable for the youngest child.  Bradley does an excellent job of giving us a character that behaves much older than her years and seems to have left the trappings of childhood behind but at days end is still a child learning the lessons of youth.

The series is set in England in the 1950s.  It is not necessary to read the titles in order but readers will get more out of the series if they are able to read them sequentially.   The first book in the series, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, has Flavia investigating a murder that happens on the grounds of Buckshaw.  In Flavia’s words “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t.  Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”   The series continues with 2) The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag, 3) Red Herring without Mustard, 4) Speaking From Among the Bones, 5) I Am Half Sick of Shadows and 6) Dead in Their Vaulted Arches.

The library has all titles available in hard copy within the adult fiction collection (under Bradley).  The North Carolina Digital Library has all titles in the series available as eBooks AND Audio books.   You can access the NC Digital Library through the library’s website and can create a login using your library card.  From the point of sign-on, you will follow directions based on the type of electronic devise you will be using.  If, like Flavia, heaven to you is “a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week” then I encourage you to experience this series in electronic format.

Amelia Earhart: An Inspiration to Young Children

by Dara L. Cain Rowan Public Library

Who could not find themselves captivated by the inspirational story of Amelia Earhart?  Ever since Amelia’s plane disappeared on July 2, 1937, people have wanted to learn about the famous female aviation pioneer who broke many early aviation records.  To this day, legend and mystery still surrounds the final flight and disappearance of Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan.  In honor of Amelia Earhart Day celebrated on July 24th come to the library with your children to check out some wonderful books on this historical icon. 

A friendly picture book biography presented in a fun way for young children is I am Amelia Earhart by Brad Meltzer. Amelia is pictured as a child, even at the height of her adult accomplishments and fame.  The humorous nature and brief, readable text will appeal to young children.  Young readers will be inspired to strive and dream big as this book resonates a “can do” spirit.   

Flying Ace: The Story of Amelia Earhart by Angela Bull is a beginner reader book. The age-appropriate text will capture a child’s attention while helping them develop reading skills and general knowledge.  The book begins with a fictionalized account of Amelia’s childhood interest in flying, but the rest of it is straight narrative examining her life and mysterious disappearance. The illustrations include many photos and maps with captions that expand the main text and give a glimpse at the historical period. 

One of the many books in the "Picture Book Biography" series written by David A. Adler for beginning readers is A Picture Book of Amelia Earhart.  Adler highlights Amelia’s life and focuses on her dedication to be the first woman pilot to cross the Atlantic alone.  Realistic, double-page watercolor illustrations provide an accurate setting for the time period and complement the text.  A brief author's note cites theories about Amelia’s disappearance as well as the lack of evidence to support them.

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator by Shelley Tanaka provides a great introduction into the life of the famous pilot.  It is shaped like a picture book but includes a lot of text.  The in-depth writing is great for obtaining detailed information on Amelia’s flying from her first sight of an airplane at the age of ten to the last radio transmission she made before she vanished.  The narrative discusses how fragile the airplanes of the 1930s were, how difficult the navigation, and how unreliable the instruments were during her time.  The book only spends a little time discussing other aspects of her life.  This book is illustrated with attractive artwork, historical photographs, and quotes that enliven and enrich the page layout. 

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candice Fleming moves readers back and forth between Amelia’s life (from childhood up until her last flight) and the extensive search for her and her missing plane.  Detailed photos, maps, and handwritten notes from Amelia herself are tailor-made for middle graders.  Readers learn about Amelia’s free-spirited early childhood, first inclinations toward flying, and her other pursuits.  An overview of the era's social and political climate as it pertained to women help readers grasp the significance of Amelia’s accomplishments. This honest depiction of Amelia’s professional and personal life forms a complete portrait of a complex woman.

Amelia remains an inspiration for young people as well as a symbol of independence and courage.  Share these great tiles with your children to aspire them to grow up and live out their dreams!

Doors of Possibility

Pam Bloom Rowan Public Library

What constitutes reading? How do you find that perfect book for a child’s interests? With summer reading in full swing, it’s a relevant question. To many children and their parents, reading involves a beautifully illustrated picture book or chapter book. These criteria can easily provide hours of happy reading, yet they can also be a constraint. This summer might be the time to open new doors of possibility in reading material for your child.

Consider asking this question the next time you visit the library with a child, “Do you like stories or do you like facts?”  I’ve often heard children complain that they want to learn something when they read. These aren’t the children that are going to be happy with any good chapter book. It’s either branch into the non-fiction area of their specific interests or, if the requirement is a chapter book for school, consider historical fiction or a biography. Choices are endless. Love knights? Non-fiction selections might include: You Wouldn't Want to be a Medieval Knight!: Armor You'd Rather Not Wear by Fiona MacDonald or Sweaty Suits of Armor: Could You Survive Being a Knight? by Chana Stiefel. Both of these selections provide a touch of humor with facts to satisfy.  From the historical fiction genre, Joust of Honor, a Knight’s Story by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell takes the reader back to medieval days of squires, lords and ladies while Clyde Robert Bulla adds a twist to the days of King Arthur with The Sword in the Tree.  The four books above contain great illustrations to accompany a taste of history. A biography of William the Conqueror might also please a non-fiction lover and Life as a Knight: an Interactive History Adventure by Rachael Hanel, while non-fiction, provides action and adventure equal to any chapter book.

Have a reluctant reader or a child that is determined to read books beyond their current reading level? To avoid placing limits on their interests with cries of “too thick” or “too long,” books on CD provide another avenue to reading. Try playing the beginning of Gary Paulson’s Hatchet in the car and turning it off at an exciting part. Leave the book lying around the house and don’t say a word. You might be surprised. The right book can be a powerful draw. CD books can also avoid an argument with the child that is determined to read books beyond their current reading level and refuses to read with someone looking over their shoulder. Again, grab the CD of the desired book and options open for these single-minded readers. Alternate between reading a chapter and listening to a chapter or simply listen and follow the words. In addition, children who read well above grade level can also benefit from CD books. As children begin reading harder books, writing styles can become more complicated. Listening to a book may help them transition to a novel that isn’t quite as linear as many of the early chapter books they’ve been reading. Try The Beasts of Clawstone Castle by Eva Ibbotson for a literary feast of words.

Technical reading is another genre often ignored. It’s still reading!  Have a budding artist? Junk Drawer Jewelry by Rachel Di Salle and Ellen Warwick or The Duct Tape Book: 25 Projects to Make with Duct Tape by Jolie Dobson will keep them reading and busy for hours. A favorite for your resident engineer might be David Macaulay’s “New Way Things Work.”

For your jokesters and pre-teens try The Encyclopedia of Immaturity by the editors of Klutz or The Big Book of Girl Stuff by Bart King (and his five sisters.) The right prank or learning how to deal with mean girls can demand close attention to detail.

If none of the above rings true for your family and you have a discouraged reader, think twice about how much time you allow for selection of books within the library. Choosing the right book can take some deliberation, particularly when surrounded by thousands.  A large library can be overwhelming to children and the simple gift of time and your friendly librarian might be what your child needs to find that perfect book to launch a lifetime of reading.