Harry Potter's story may have concluded in last summer's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, but that's no reason to stop reading. We recommended alternatives to the popular wizard-boy epic in our July/August 2003 issue. Here, we've selected some compelling mysteries, both new and classic.
Picture Books
(Ages 3-8)
BAD DAY AT RIVERBEND
By Chris Van Allsburg (1995)
Why are colored scribbles appearing on the town's black-and-white houses and terrorizing the citizens? Sheriff Ned Hardy aims to find out.
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EGGS MARK THE SPOT
By Mary Jane Auch (1996)
Pauline the hen has a rare gift: she can copy famous paintings on eggs. Can her talent, however, help her catch a thief?
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WHERE 'S THE BIG BAD WOLF?
By Eileen Christelow (2002)
If the Big Bad Wolf is sick with the flu, then who is destroying the little pigs' houses? And who is that strangelooking sheep?
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THE ELEVENTH HOUR
By Graeme Base (1989)
When Horace the Elephant turns 11, somebody steals his birthday feast. The lavish illustrations contain clues to the culprit.
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THE 13TH CLUE
By Ann Jonas (1992)
A young girl is having a terrible day--until she follows 13 clues to a surprise! Young detectives will find hints in the pictures.
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Juvenile
(Ages 9-12)
THE GHOST OF FOSSIL GLEN
By Cynthia DeFelice (1998)
* SCHOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK
When a ghost saves her from falling off a cliff, Allie Nichols realizes she has been chosen to avenge a young girl's murder. Soon her own life is in danger.
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THE CASE OF THE FIRECRACKERS
By Laurence Yep (1999)
In the third Chinatown Mysteries series, Tiger Lil, a movie-star-turneddetective, and her greatniece, Lily, try to solve the mysterious shooting of teen movie star Clarke Tom.
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SAMY KEYES AND THE ART OF DECEPTION
By Wendelin Van Draanen (2003)
In the eighth title in this series, 13-year-old Sammy stops a masked gunman at an art gallery reception--only to discover more crimes and some unlikely romances.
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CHASING VERMEER
By Blue Balliett (2004)
* EDGAR AWARD, BOOK SENSE BOOK OF THE YEAR
When sixth graders Petra and Calder learn of the theft of a Vermeer painting near their hometown of Chicago, they work to solve the crime. Their search leads to an international art scandal. Sequel: The Wright 3 (2006).
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THE THIEF LORD
By Cornelia Funke (2002)
* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL...
