Character Mystery Series for Ages 9 to 11
Character books are the very best way to teach moral values to anyone, young or old. We all learn from the characters in stories even when we have no intention of learning. Readers will, in fact, learn in spite of defenses built to avoid learning.
Character Mystery Books break down any defenses upper elementary age students may have built against the study of moral values. Stirring up curiosity with suspense and thrilling adventure, these stories challenge young people to solve each mystery before the twins do.
Written by a best-selling author, these whodunit books blend large portions of character training with equally large scoops of obscure clues to mysteries encountered by Charlie and Hailey Riddler. They offer something for every reader or listener and bring forth cries of “Just one more chapter!”
Not only do books in the Character Mystery Series teach high moral values, they also teach history and geography. Each plot is set in a different U.S. location, the geography of which is accurately presented. Readers also learn carefully-researched history as the 13-year-old twin sleuths use it to solve the mysteries.
In Book #1 Mystery at Lake Cachuma, the Riddler twins make it clear right from the start, in both words and actions, that this thing called CHARACTER definitely does not matter to them! Your young readers’ interest is piqued. Chances are, they have had similar thoughts. They follow the twins through the desert dust of their new home, inwardly agreeing that it isn’t fair when parents uproot you and make you leave all of your friends.
To make matters worse, the twins’ long-anticipated, first teen birthday has to be spent in a far different place and way than they had planned. Their well-honed ability to gripe about it changes nothing, and readers ride along with them to the stormy camp ground – at a lake with the strange-sounding name, Cachuma. Mom’s pet Irish rats, Aunt Rachel, and Cleaver all figure highly in the mysterious happenings at the lake. Character does, too, and readers come away with a clear understanding of basic character.
To see a sample page of this book, click here. $14.95 »
Hailey and Charlie travel to Hawaii in Surprise at Pearl Harbor, second book in the Character Mystery Series. Ecstatic at the opportunity to escape California’s desert, the twins never dream that their COURAGE will be sorely tested in the Aloha State. It isn’t at first, of course. At first, their Hawaiian vacation is a series of mischievous antics – one of which makes their mother cry.
The need for courage comes in when the twins, as well as imaginative readers, sneak along a Pearl Harbor footpath, through tangled vines to the ghostly old house, and find themselves trapped.
What they do next could help Dad out of a life-and-death situation, but only if they understand how to exercise the courage of their convictions. Readers learn in the midst of intense action what is meant by the character trait of courage. They won’t be able to put this book down until they reach the end of the last chapter, “Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!”
To see a sample page of this book, click here. $14.95 »
Lost on Superstition Mountain, Book #3 of the Character Mystery Series, focuses on RESPONSIBILITY. In fact, the Riddler twins surprise readers by begging to attend Responsibility Camp during the last two weeks of summer vacation. Why would they do that? That’s what Hailey wants to know when Charlie comes up with the idea. She leaps on board quickly when he tells her, “Lost gold mine.”
You won’t have to worry about readers tossing this book aside because of the camp’s name. Charlie has a ready explanation before the first page ends. Readers will go along eagerly with the twins, intent to see if they can find the lost gold mine. They soon learn that there’s more involved, however, than simply following the historical map to its location. They must go on horseback, so they have to learn to ride. They must avoid a very unsavory, mysterious rider, too. And if they can’t elude Jose and Carlos, not to mention two local police officers…. They learn responsibility in the end, but not from the camp counselors!
To see a sample page of this book, click here. $14.95 »
