Middle School Mystery Books That Will Keep Tweens Guessing
Middle school mystery books are exciting because the authors take kids on a journey full of twists and turns, that they rarely see coming. I’m always looking for the best books for middle school, and these age-appropriate page-turners will keep tweens speculating until the end. Most likely, they’ll have trouble putting them down.
See how many of these whodunnits your older kids can solve before the last page.
This post contains affiliate links.
Mystery Books Tweens & Teens will Love
When you choose to fill your tween’s reading list with some great middle grade books, you’re adding titles that are written with the interests and issues of middle schoolers in mind, which helps to draw them into stories.
Mysteries are perfect for older kids who fancy themselves super sleuths and these six titles are sure to keep them guessing.
Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Emily is a twelve-year-old who has just moved to San Francisco. She’s not thrilled about the move, but she is happy to be in the city where her favorite author, Griswold, lives.
He is the creator of Book Scavenger, an online game where books are hidden all over the country and readers must solve puzzles to find them. He was about to launch a brand new game when he was attacked and is now in a coma.
Unfortunately, no information is known about the new adventure he was about to announce. Emily and her friend James find a strange book, which they believe belongs to Griswold, and contains the only copy of the game he was about to release.
In no time, the tweens find themselves immersed in a race to solve the clues related to this new game before the people who hurt Griswold find them.
The Feather Chase by Shannon L. Brown
Twelve-year-old cousins, Sophie and Jessica may not have a lot in common, but they’ll have to put their differences aside when they find themselves in the middle of a mystery. Suddenly, their summer is anything but boring.
After they find a briefcase full of feathers in the forest, they try to figure out the mystery, while also trying to stay ahead of the strange men who are trying to stop them. They’ll need to use every available resource, including each other, to stay safe and solve the mystery.
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
What would you do if you watched a loved one get on the London Eye, but never come off? That’s what middle school siblings, Ted and Kat, are facing.
Their cousin, Salim, got into a car on the London Eye, but when it returned, he was nowhere to be found. The police have no clues, so in spite of their differences, these tweens take it upon themselves to run all over London, searching for clues, finding and interviewing witnesses and suspects, all trying to find out what happened to Salim.
Ted has Asperger’s syndrome and they learn that his unique way of thinking might just what they need to solve the mystery and find their cousin.
Madhattan Mystery by John J. Bonk
Lexi and her brother Kevin are heading to New York to spend the summer with their aunt while their dad is on his honeymoon with his new wife. As she comes into the city, Lexi unexpectedly hears people talking about a plot to steal Cleopatra’s jewels from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Then, later, when she learns that some of the jewels set to go on display have disappeared, she puts the two things together and jumps right into the mystery.
Instead of spending going to the city day camp their Aunt Roz signed them up for, Lexi, along with her brother Kevin and their new friend Kim Ling, chase leads all over the city trying to track down the thieves and hopefully collect a handsome reward.
The Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher
Seventh-grade friends, Sophie and Grace, spend a lot of time spying on their neighbors. In fact, they’ve turned it into a game. During one of their stakeouts, Grace wants to spy on Dr. Agford, who happens to be Sophie’s school counselor. While there, they come upon what they think is a bloody scene. But did they really see what they thought they did?
Now they’re convinced she’s hiding something important and when she starts acting strange, they’re determined to find out her secret. So the tweens become detectives and spend their time sneaking around, breaking secret codes, following suspects, and being followed in return.
Will they be able to keep themselves and their friendship intact long enough to solve the mystery?
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
What a unique book! Inside readers will find two independent stories, set fifty years apart. Also, the author also chooses a very different way to tell these complex stories. Ben’s is told in words, but Rose’s story is told through 460 pages of original pictures.
Rose is a deaf girl living in the 1920s whose parents have shut her away from the world. Ben has lost his mother and now must live with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. All he wants is to go back home. One night, he runs back to his old, empty house and finds some forgotten treasures of his mother’s. He finds a mysterious message and as he’s trying to solve it, through a freak accident, he becomes deaf.
Ben’s greatest wish is to know his father who is absent from his life and runs away to find him. Rose fights against her captivity and finds herself following the life of an unknown actress she frequently dreams about.
In the end, their stories come together in a way readers won’t see coming.
Mysteries are exciting to read, no matter how old you are. Seriously, who doesn’t love a good mystery? Hopefully, you are excited to introduce your older kids to some of these captivating stories.
Additional Books for Middle School
Looking for even more books your middle schooler will enjoy? Check out these fantastic fantasy books, stories that were made into Disney movies, animal books for kids, and business books that will challenge your older kids.
Using Technology to Support Reading
Whether you have a child who loves to read or struggles to finish a book, you should add some technology to your reading. Add some audiobooks to your lesson plans. They’re a lifesaver for some families, especially those with auditory learners. Kids can listen to them on their devices or you can play the books in the car while you run errands. You can even get 2 free books for free.
If your tween isn’t using a Kindle, I encourage you to consider it, especially if you have older kids who are constantly reading. Some classic stories can be download for free and tweens can borrow books from your public library onto their device.
Ultimately, when you embrace the format that fits your child best, it will help them get caught up in great stories, like the ones on this list.
Which one of these middle school mystery books is your tween going to read first?
Latest posts by Megan Zechman (see all)
- Easy Pumpkin Crafts - August 21, 2023
- Middle School Geography Curriculum - August 11, 2023
- Outdoor Geography Activities - August 4, 2023