Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/01/2020 It can be fun to get lost in a long and winding mystery, but sometimes a quicker case is just the ticket. Grabenstein, known for his Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series, has gathered 20 short stories for young readers to puzzle over in this new anthology released in conjunction with Mystery Writers of America. The first entry gets things off to a silly start with a question of who tracked a 20-foot-high “FART” in the snow outside of a school, and others go on to tackle a variety of entertaining subjects, from the usual missing items to a potentially haunted typewriter spitting out encrypted messages. The puzzles range in difficulty and approach, but there are lengthy solutions and satisfying resolutions tucked away in the back of the book, so no reader will be left frustrated. The short-story format makes it easy to dip in and out as the mood strikes, and young mystery afficionados will relish the opportunity to put their sleuthing skills to the test. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2020 Gr 3–6—This collection of 20 short mysteries offers a variety of puzzling capers by a range of authors. The solutions to the stories are found in the back of the book. From stolen fundraising money to kidnapped squirrel monkeys to magical misdirection, each narrative presents a unique opportunity to practice deduction and problem-solving skills before the tale's conclusion. Some stories offer humor, like Grabenstein's own "Snow Devils" and Steve Hockensmith's "Possum-Man and Janet," while others supply clues as varied as crossword puzzles (Lara Cassidy's "The Red Envelope"), ciphers (Gigi Pandian's "The Haunted Typewriter"), and magic squares ("Puzzling it Out" by Eileen Rendahl). Some of the puzzles are trickier than others, but the common theme across all entries is the importance of keeping an open mind and teamwork. Indeed, as Grabenstein suggests in his introduction, each story is short enough to make for a fun classroom read-aloud, presumably followed by a collaborative attempt to solve the mystery. VERDICT An engaging addition to a school library collection, especially one where middle grade mysteries, puzzles, and mind teasers are in high demand.—Dana West, Roosevelt H.S., Seattle, WA - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.