The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

 

I did it! I finished the series before we go see the movie (later today... probably just in time to catch it in the theaters honestly. I'm a little late to the party with the books and the movie)!

In book one, Roz builds a life on the island as a wild robot, communicating and befriending animals. In book two, she's taken from that life and sent to work on a farm among humans. I felt like that covered two possible worlds really well, and was unsure what book three would be about.

In this book, Roz wants to protect her island from the poison tide before realizing it impacts all ocean wildlife and much of the rest of the natural world as well. I thought that was a really good premise, and important considering everything changing in our natural world and all the impact those somewhat gradual changes are happening.

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

Well, it took me several tries over several years to read the first book, but I finished the second in about two days!

I think part of it was already knowing the characters... and maybe having the ticking clock of seeing the movie in theaters over my head. I've found different things online - it's just the first book, the ending is the same as book two, it covers all three, etc. I didn't know what to believe but also just got incredibly invested in the book and wanted to finish it!

Seeing Roz interact with humans was really interesting, especially as she grew closer to the children. And I liked seeing her in charge of other robots. I always love how she wins over the animals, too, so I felt like there was more action in this book, and more at stake.

I liked it more than the first, but it didn't really end on a cliffhanger like the first one did, so I'm really curious to read the third. Think I can finish it before Friday?

Case Closed Series by Lauren Magaziner

A bookseller recommended the Case Closed series by Lauren Magaziner when I mentioned loving both mysteries and middle grade/young adult books. I'm also a huge Choose Your Own Adventure fan, so this series was a dream come true! I'd recently been wanting to re-read Encyclopedia Brown books anyway, because I think my kid would like them, so these books were a great new treat.

Mystery in the Mansion

I actually bought the second book when I was visiting a bookstore out of town, without realizing it was the second! However, like many mystery series, you don't necessarily have to read them in order. I'm going to put my reviews in order, though.

I dove into the first book (after starting with the second) and really liked it! It’s such a fun way to kick off the series.

On the morning of a huge investigation that could save his mom's struggling detective agency, she ends up getting hit with a nasty flu. And with everything on the line, she can’t afford to drop the case.

With his best friend Eliza and her little brother Frank, Carlos takes on the investigation, which involves a quirky millionaire who’s been getting death threats. Someone’s after a buried fortune, but things get tricky with riddles, shady suspects, and a ton of secrets.

Since it's structured like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, you get to pick which suspects to interview, what questions to ask, and which clues to chase down.

Stolen from the Studio

The second book in the series has a touch of Hollywood glam when Carlos’s mom gets a big assignment to find a famous teen actress who’s gone missing. It's a serious case, so she doesn't want Carlos around, even though he solved the last mystery for her.

However, with Eliza and Frank by his side again, Carlos sneaks onto the set of the show to gather clues and interview suspects. He has to keep his detective work under wraps from his mom, who has a knack for spotting trouble.

Just like the first book, you get to choose which suspects to interview, what questions to ask, and which clues to follow.

Haunting at the Hotel

I love ghost stories, so this book had such a great premise! I was all in with the choose-your-own-adventure vibe mixed with puzzles and codes. It made the whole experience super fun.

In the third book of this interactive middle-grade series, we’re back with Carlos and his friends, but something is different... Carlos is now officially an apprentice detective at Las Pistas Detective Agency—he finally earned his mom’s trust!

Guests at a creepy mountain hotel are freaking out over strange disturbances, scary messages, and some seriously spooky howls. Carlos, Eliza, and Frank dig into what’s really going on: is it a ghost? What secrets is this haunted hotel hiding?

Danger on the Dig

This book seemed really different from the other three—maybe because they were all mostly set indoors, and this is outside on an archaeological dig? But it was still good and had some really great puzzles!

Carlos and his friends go international on an archaeological dig in Greece. But Carlos and Eliza are fighting, so they split up to tackle their own parts of the case. Still, their main goal is the same (and so is yours!): keep the booby traps from taking down their detective agency!

Celebrating Historical Mystery Day with Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike Series

September 29th is Historical Mystery Day! 

Launched in 2021 by author Sara Rosett, this day celebrates a blend of history and detective work, allowing readers to visit the past while solving mysteries. I typically read contemporary cozies, but lately, I've been reading a series that fits perfectly into today's celebration: Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike series.

Set in the 1930s, Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike series offers period detail, sharp wit, and gripping mystery. The series follows Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, two students at Deepdean School for Girls, as they navigate their daily school lives while solving murders on the side. The duo's detective skills, combined with their unique personalities, draw readers in - both middle-grade and young adult readers as well as adults (clearly!).

In Murder Most Unladylike (Murder is Bad Manners in the USA), the first book in the series, Hazel discovers the body of her science teacher—but when the body mysteriously disappears, Hazel and Daisy have to investigate on their own. This premise sets the tone for the rest of the series, where Stevens expertly weaves mystery elements with historical authenticity. The setting—an English boarding school in the 1930s—adds an extra layer of intrigue, as it's the golden age of detective fiction.

The second book, Arsenic for Tea (UK)/Poison is Not Polite (USA), takes place at Daisy's estate during a spring school break, bringing the murder and the suspects much closer to home, which is uncomfortable for everyone involved. The third book, First Class Murder (both UK and USA it seems), is set on the Orient Express when Hazel's father treats her and Daisy on a trip around Europe during the summer school break. I love that the setting is different in each book, though many of the same characters appear.

(Sadly, my library only has these three, so until I invest in the whole series, I can only talk about these.)

Robin Stevens's work is a fantastic example of how historical mysteries can appeal to younger audiences while still maintaining the genre's core elements. Much like the adult classics of Agatha Christie, Stevens' series mixes clever sleuthing, red herrings, and intricate plots, all set within a well-researched historical backdrop. Each book in the series immerses readers in 1930s England, where social class, gender roles, and the limits imposed on young girls are all explored realistically.

Along with a cup of tea and my favorite cozy reading spot, finishing the third book in the Murder Most Unladylike series is how I'm honoring the spirit of the day. If you've never read the series, Historical Mystery Day is the perfect excuse to start! Please recommend some other historical mystery novels in the comments - I'd love to read more!

Drew Leclair Middle Grade Mysteries

 

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been on a huge mystery kick lately. After reading a couple YA mysteries and mystery series, I found Drew Leclair Gets a Clue by Katryn Bury as an ebook at the library and added it to my TBR list. There are currently two books in the series, and before I even started the first, I got an offer from Wunderkind PR to read the second! I love nothing more than reading sequels and series back to back, so I jumped at the chance.

In Drew Leclair Gets a Clue, true crime fanatic Drew (named for Nancy Drew) tackles a cyberbully that is embarrassing kids at her middle school. On top of wanting to solve the mystery, Drew also deals with her mother leaving the family for a new boyfriend---who just happens to have been the counselor at Drew's school! So she's dealing with that humiliation in her social life and also the devastation of her home life. Beyond that, Shrey, her best friend, is now romantically interested in her, and Drew just doesn't feel that way, for him or anyone. It's a lot to tackle, but Drew is 12, and that's the age when this type of problem seems to pile up.

In Drew Leclaire Crushes the Case, Drew now knows her two best friends will help her solve mysteries at school, so she has a good support system. However, her mom is swooping back into her life and messing it all up in the process, and her dad is starting to date, but hides it from Drew. Shrey has a girlfriend and Drew can't process her feelings about that development, especially because she realizes she also has feelings for someone in her friend group.

These middle-grade books seem ideal for all ages. While Drew and her friends are 12, in seventh grades, the parents are just active enough in the story to keep me interested, but not to the extent that they bog down the action for younger readers. Drew has unique relationships with both parents - her dad loves true crime and totally gets her, while her mom wants her to be something else and makes her feel abandoned. I think these are great dynamics to address in a middle-grade series.

Drew's friend group is incredibly diverse, with people of all skin tones and cultural backgrounds. Drew herself has chronic illnesses, and other characters in the books have differing abilities yet are completely accepted at school and in their social circles, which is refreshing. Above it all, Drew is bisexual and has gay and lesbian friends. There's no issue of LGBTQIA+ being acceptable in school or by parents, so I think this series is one that will empower younger children to embrace who they are, as well as those around them.

All of these elements work together to make a compelling cast of characters, but still - mysteries are the highlight of these books. Drew walks the readers through her detective process, including making notes about the case, eliminating suspects, and designing her famous crime boards. Author Katryn Bury is a true crime fanatic herself, which shows in the plotlines. I can't wait to read more in this series and see what mysteries Drew will solve next!