The suspense. The questions. The thrill. Mystery stories will give you all three!
One of the most ‘un-put-down-able’ genres, mystery stories are built upon the suspense of not knowing exactly what happened – and the journey to uncover the truth. Great mystery books will keep you guessing, with enough clues to keep you at the edge of your seat, but not an overly obvious solution that you can get right away.
For primary school readers just discovering this genre for themselves or as part of their lessons in school, we have just the right recommendations to get them hooked! Although many mystery novels are centred around crimes, these books for young readers keep the scare factor to a minimum, and instead are generous with the laughs and antics!
So, if your child is in need of a holiday reading list, get cracking and reserved these titles on your e-book or at the library today!
Note: These books are from a selection of recommended readings for Primary 5 GEP students. Depending on your child’s reading level, they will most likely be suitable for children in Primary 4 to 6.
1. Extraordinary Losers: The Lunchbox Thief (Alejandro, Jessica)
The pupils of Brightstar Primary School have a problem at hand: their belongings are going missing! Primary 1 students are losing their watches, wallets, and lunchboxes. Resolving to nab the lunchbox thief, the Exlosers – a group of Primary 6 students – set up a trap to catch the culprit. However, things go horribly wrong, and they need to find a way to get themselves out of the mess they created.
This is a story of friendship, courage, and – of course, food! Written by an English teacher in Singapore, you can be sure the story is especially relatable to pupils here. But hopefully there is no lunchbox thief in your school!
2. Museum Mysteries: The Case of the Stolen Sculpture (Brezenoff, Steve)
A theft has occurred at the Capitol City Art Museum, where Clementine’s mother works at. However, no one seems too concerned about recovering the lost art, as the insurance payout more than covered the cost of the art. Now, it’s up to Clementine and her friends to set out to track down the whereabouts of the sculpture and the museum thief.
Part of a series of mysteries set in museums, this story is suitable for readers who are just getting introduced to the mystery genre. Readers will also grow familiar with the workings of a museum and ‘grown-up’ concepts like insurance.
3. Murder on The Orient Express (Christie, Agatha)
Detective Hercule Poirot is on vacation on the luxurious Orient Express, when it runs through a major snowdrift and stalls just after midnight. By morning, the horrifying news breaks of a man, brutally stabbed and murdered in his locked compartment. Still stranded on the Balkan mountains, the detective must work fast to identify the murderer, and stop him from taking his next victim.
Crafted with a masterful plot that will keep you guessing till the very end, this book will turn any mystery lover into an Agatha Christie fan! Good news is, there are many more books in the Hercule Poirot series you can check out after this one.
4. The Moonstone (Collins, Wilkie)
The Moonstone, a massive diamond believed to be a bringer of bad luck, is found stolen from an Indian shrine. After resurfacing again as a gift presented to Rachel Verinder on her birthday, the stone is stolen yet again. Sergeant Cuff is tasked to investigate and unravel the truth behind the theft, maneuvreing through the web of noise and lies.
Widely regarded as the first-ever detective novel, The Moonstone is a classic bearing an intricately formed storyline that sustains interest at every page. The ensemble of likeable characters are not just entertaining, but nuanced and treated with deft sensitivity.
5. The Adventures of the New Cut Gang (Pullman, Philip)
The New Cut Gang, made up of a band of meddlesome, cheeky pre-teens, is in town! Featuring two comical tales set in 1890s South London, this book follows the bumbling bunch as they solve mysteries with bravado. The first involves counterfeit coins that have been popping up over town, with Thunderbolt’s Dad as the main suspect. The second finds the children investigating a break-in with no other clues but a drop of wax and a Swedish match.
If you like your detective stories with a dose of humour, this madcap adventure will be right up your alley. Scheming traps, disguises, and clumsy situations abound in this unabashedly Dickensian tale.
6. Sherlock Holmes and the Ghosts of Bly: And Other New Adventures of the Great Detective (Thomas, Donald)
You can’t get into detective novels without reading one about Sherlock Holmes, the great detective! One of many Sherlock Holmes pastiches, this volume of three stories is meant to imitate the style and tone of the original Sherlock Holmes series by Conan Doyle.
Follow along the master sleuth as he and his faithful assistant, Dr Watson, pick up leads about the murder of children in an apparently haunted mansion, uncover the truth about a Naval schoolboy’s theft, and investigate the case of an actor who was poisoned in a play.
Conclusion
Detective and mystery stories may not be very realistic or similar to our day to day life at all. But they are probably the most addicting types of stories! If your child is not a keen reader, perhaps these mystery stories will just get them hooked! Fancy other genres? These animal-themed stories may just be your child’s new favourites!
Of course, reading has many benefits to your child, especially for improving their reading and writing skills. Looking for other ways to help your child brush up their English reading and writing skills? Our team of experienced PSLE English Tutors are here to guide students in sharpening and honing their English abilities. Enquire now to find out more about how we do it.