Here are 100 books that Rockstar Detectives fans have personally recommended if you like
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As a child, I spent a lot of time with my head in a book – mostly Enid Blyton mystery stories. My ambition was to write my own mystery stories one day. Thirty years later, I discovered a love of detective stories, and when my daughter, aged ten, complained that she could not find enough mystery and adventure books in our local library, it was the spur I needed to start writing again. Eventually, Eye Spy, a detective novel for children, was born and became the first in a series. And writing these books – creating quirky characters and intricate mysteries to solve – is just such fun!
I found this book great fun, and guessing whodunnit kept me intrigued to the end.
It is the story of Hazel and Daisy, who set up their own detective agency at their boarding school, before being faced with a real-life murder to solve. I loved the way it is a clever pastiche of both Agatha Christie murder mysteries and Enid Blyton’s boarding school stories.
When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up their very own secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls, they struggle to find any truly exciting mysteries to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia's missing tie. Which they don't.) Then Hazel discovers the Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the Gym. She assumes it was a terrible accident - but when she and Daisy return five minutes later, the body has disappeared. Now Hazel and Daisy not only have a murder to solve: they have to prove one happened in the first place. Determined to get to…
A gay retelling of the classic fairy tale--a scrumptious love story featuring ungrateful stepsiblings, a bake-off, and a fairy godfather.
Cinderelliot is stuck at home taking care of his ungrateful stepsister and stepbrother. When Prince Samuel announces a kingdom-wide competition to join the royal staff as his baker, the stepsiblings…
As a child, I spent a lot of time with my head in a book – mostly Enid Blyton mystery stories. My ambition was to write my own mystery stories one day. Thirty years later, I discovered a love of detective stories, and when my daughter, aged ten, complained that she could not find enough mystery and adventure books in our local library, it was the spur I needed to start writing again. Eventually, Eye Spy, a detective novel for children, was born and became the first in a series. And writing these books – creating quirky characters and intricate mysteries to solve – is just such fun!
I have often wondered what it would have been like to be a child on board the "unsinkable" Titanic.
Lindsey Littleson takes real children who were passengers on the ship, and imagines how they might have entertained themselves before tragedy struck. To pass the time, Bertha, Madge, and Johan set up their own detective agency and look for mysteries to solve.
This fast-paced and engaging story also explores the social divisions on board the ship, and builds tension with unsettling hints of the disaster to come. Of course, I knew what was about to happen, but the ending was all the more poignant because by then, I cared about the three children.
This book cleverly takes a famous historical event and looks at it through a child’s eyes.
Unlock the secrets of the unsinkable ship...Bertha Watt, tree-climber and would-be polar explorer, is excited to be on RMS Titanic's maiden voyage, as she leaves Aberdeen behind for the glamour of a new life in America. But Bertha quickly realises that some passengers are behaving strangely, and she determines to unravel their secrets. With new friend, Madge, Bertha sets up her own detective agency to try and solve the mysteries onboard, but they have no idea that disaster is looming for Titanic.Can they help Johan find the hidden treasure and unmask the identity of the enigmatic Mr Hoffman before time…
As a child, I spent a lot of time with my head in a book – mostly Enid Blyton mystery stories. My ambition was to write my own mystery stories one day. Thirty years later, I discovered a love of detective stories, and when my daughter, aged ten, complained that she could not find enough mystery and adventure books in our local library, it was the spur I needed to start writing again. Eventually, Eye Spy, a detective novel for children, was born and became the first in a series. And writing these books – creating quirky characters and intricate mysteries to solve – is just such fun!
I really enjoyed this fast-paced and cleverly plotted historical novel set in Edwardian times.
The story follows shopgirl Sophie, who works in a big new department store in Oxford Street, but inadvertently becomes a suspect when a valuable clockwork sparrow is stolen from the store.
The race is then on for Sophie to clear her name, with the help of her three resourceful friends. Sophie herself is a likeable and intrepid heroine, and the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways.
A gorgeous anniverary edition of the first title in Katherine Woodfine's bestselling debut series, The Sinclair Mysteries. A fast-paced historical mystery adventure for readers aged 9+, with gorgeous Edwardian period detail. Perfect for readers of Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike series and M.G.Leonard's Adventures on Trains.
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'A wonderful book, with a glorious heroine and a true spirit of adventure' - KATHERINE RUNDELL, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES
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You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair's department store!
Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of…
As a child, I spent a lot of time with my head in a book – mostly Enid Blyton mystery stories. My ambition was to write my own mystery stories one day. Thirty years later, I discovered a love of detective stories, and when my daughter, aged ten, complained that she could not find enough mystery and adventure books in our local library, it was the spur I needed to start writing again. Eventually, Eye Spy, a detective novel for children, was born and became the first in a series. And writing these books – creating quirky characters and intricate mysteries to solve – is just such fun!
This story starts with a search for a missing dog, but it soon becomes clear that the dog has found its way into a different century.
This is a time-travel tale as well as a mystery, and since I love time-travel stories, it's definitely a winner. The two protagonists, Stella and Tom, discover a way to travel back from the quiet London Square where they live into the same square in Edwardian times.
The short chapters, clever plot, and well-drawn characters move the story along fast, and there is an unexpected twist at the end.
A lost dog, a hidden time tunnel and a secret lake take Stella and Tom to their home and the children living there 100 years in the past. A page-turning time travel adventure for children aged 8-11. Now enjoyed by over 250,000 young readers! When Stella and her younger brother, Tom, move to their new London home, they become mystified by the disappearances of Harry, their elderly neighbour's dog. Where does he go? And why does he keep reappearing wet-through? Their quest to solve the riddle over the summer holidays soon leads to a boat buried under a grassy mound…
I teach Jewish studies to Jewish teens and have devoted my life to helping young people find meaningful the legacy that’s been given to us—and building bridges to the future; this is in the classroom as well as on the page. My book is a distillation of everything I love about being Jewish—wrapped in a story that many readers find deeply familiar. At the same time, I believe in planting the universal in the specific—and any reader ready to go on a journey can find themselves in Will Levine’s shoes.
I loved this book, which made me both cry and laugh. It is a touching exploration of grief, friendship, and coming-of-age. The story follows Noah and his best friend, Dash, two b’nai mitzvah boys obsessed with comedy, especially the classic Three Stooges.
When Dash’s father dies by suicide—presented sensitively and honestly—their friendship faces strain as Dash withdraws and Noah struggles to understand his friend’s pain. Perl’s writing captures the desperate need for friendship characteristic of adolescence.
The book thoughtfully addresses mental illness and death—but also loyalty and friendship, making it relatable to adult and middle-grade readers. Humor becomes both a way of pushing away and engaging, highlighting the essential role of laughter in growth and healing.
SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARD HONOREE FOR OLDER READERS! WINNER OF THE NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE!
An unforgettable coming-of-age story about comedy, loss, and friendship for fans of Jennifer L. Holm and Gary D. Schmidt.
Spoiler alert: This book is not about the Three Stooges. It's about Noah and Dash, two seventh graders who are best friends and comedy junkies. That is, they were best friends, until Dash's father died suddenly and Dash shut Noah out. Which Noah deserved, according to Noa, the girl who, annoyingly, shares both his name and his bar mitzvah day.
I’m a children’s book writer from Frisco, Texas. I’ve published two middle grade chapter books, Pippa Park Raises Her Game and Pippa Park Crush at First Sight. I’ve always been captivated by novels that make me hungry; you can blame formative children’s books like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie or Stone Soup for that. That’s why today I’m sharing my top 5 favorite middle grade books that have a foodie twist. Some of them revolve entirely around food; others simply offer a notable scene. Either way, I hope you’ll find them as delectable as I do!
This isn’t a book about food. Instead, it’s about middle grader Yumi Chung, who, in a case of mistaken identity, stumbles upon the opportunity to join a comedy camp taught by her favorite YouTuber.
Even so, I included it on this list because not only does Yumi’s family own a Korean barbeque restaurant, but the other kids at school even call her “Yu-MEAT” because of it. Comedy plus cooking? No wonder I had to include this gem!
One lie snowballs into a full-blown double life in this irresistible story about an aspiring stand-up comedian.
On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her "Yu-MEAT" because she smells like her family's Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she's reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage.
Instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship, which will help in…
For those who enjoy fantasy adventure, the Faerie Tales from the White Forest series offers a new twist on the traditional faerie tales so loved by young readers.
From devastating curses to death-defying quests, Brigitta and her growing collective of misfit friends face greater and greater challenges when destiny calls…
I grew up in the weird world of a nerdy immigrant single mother, surrounded by comics and stories of every kind. I was attracted to writing (and drawing) from a really young age. Like a lot of 80s kids I was a latchkey, so there wasn’t really anyone around to tell me what was age-appropriate. I just grabbed books at random. Most of all what appealed to me were unique voices, when the books surprised me I didn’t care what they were about. When I finally started writing comics I got obsessed with trying not to repeat myself, keeping myself surprised. These books really helped me see the freedom I had in making comics.
For my money, Gipi is the best living comic book storyteller in the world right now and while it’s incredibly hard to pick a single book, I went with Garage Band, which elevates the drama of a very simple situation, teenagers escaping the turmoil of their lives through music who have to figure out what to do when their only amp dies. It reminds me of how every teenaged moment felt like an opera of life or death. In his art, in his stories, in his characters, Gipi gives simple things an impossible depth.
When Giuliano's father loans him the family garage, he and three of his friends form a band. Playing their battered secondhand instruments, the four teenagers find something they love to do, and they find in their friendship and music a refuge from difficult and turbulent home lives. But when their only amp blows a fuse, a desperate search for some new equipment lands them in more trouble than they ever saw coming. Written and painted in stunning watercolors by the renowned Italian artist Gipi, "Garage Band" is an introspective meditation on teenage life.
I have been a schoolteacher for over thirty years, the last ten or so in school leadership positions. In that time, I have learned that all good teaching is storytelling, and that all good storytelling is teaching, and that the most important thing we all need to learn, is to think. We need to think about courage, friendship, value, music, dance, and nature, and what is important to us, and yet thinking is hard. That is why stories, from the most ancient of fairy tales and myths to modern-day fantasy and science-fiction, are so important. They can set us to thinking without us thinking that we are thinking.
Although I read this book as a child, I only began to appreciate it when reading it again as an adult. The sheer beauty of the English prose makes it, I think, the best-written book ever, if only in terms of the mastery of words.
Some of the underlying themes are rewarding to explore, such as friendship, nature, the importance of home, and forgiveness, and the idea of a threat to a peaceful idyll from the encroachment of modernity now touches a chord, as does the message that people (or animals) with wealth and privilege have a choice over how they behave.
Spend a season on the river bank and take a walk on the wild side . . .
Spring is in the air and Mole has found a wonderful new world. There's boating with Ratty, a feast with Badger and high jinx on the open road with that reckless ruffian, Mr Toad of Toad Hall. The four become the firmest of friends, but after Toad's latest escapade, can they join together and beat the wretched weasels?
PLUS A behind-the-scenes journey, including author profile, a guide to who's who, activities and more.
Children were seen and not heard when I was growing up in Flushing, Queens, where I had one tree in front of my house. I moved to Connecticut as an adult and now I look out on woods and bears sneaking into my garage. The result of my silent childhood is I’m an excellent listener and an even better eavesdropper—superb traits for a writer. I owned a Connecticut advertising agency for most of my adult life then realized I could make less money if I became an author. My first book was published when I turned 63—which is amazing because I'm only 40.
My family loves to laugh, and we introduce our children to books that build the funny bone. For this reason, I have a copy of every picture book written by the delightful Mo Willems. Hands down, my favorite is Let’s Go for a Drive! Here’s the story: Elephant and Piggie amass the accessories necessary to spend a day tooling around town. We’re talking sunglasses, a map, an umbrella. They are set to go when they realize they don’t have a car. Somehow, the two friends make the best of it. Good news: There are 25 Elephant and Piggie books to enjoy again and again.
A fresh, fun, inspiring illustrated poetry collection you can put in the hands of any reader.
Curated by the award-winning duo Irene Latham and Charles Waters, this collection contains 30 poems that all begin with the same word: "if." Subject matter moves from the practical "if you have a pencil"…
I’m a full-time author and illustrator, and a recovering second grade teacher. I visit with tens of thousands of kids at schools every year and love sharing funny books with them. I’ve written and illustrated over 30 published books and know that kids appreciate subtle humor as well as in-your-face hilarity. I love writing stories that will make readers laugh and think. But mostly laugh.
Another brilliant gem of a book, Snappsy the Alligator is just trying to go about his day, but the annoying narrator of the book insists that he behave in certain ways. This book cleverly considers what the role of character is in a book and how the characters function in their story. Adults will appreciate the sophistication of the concept while younger readers will laugh hysterically at Snappsy’s attempts to be himself despite what the narrator thinks he should do.
Is he prowling for defenseless birds and soft, fuzzy bunnies? ls Snappsy a big, mean alligator who's obsessed with snack foods that start with the letter P? It's no wonder Snappsy won't invite the narrator to his party! Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) is an irreverent look at storytelling, friendship, and creative differences from a pair of rising stars in the picture book world.
