12 Days of Mysteries: Day 11

Welcome back to 12 Days of Mysteries! Today we're featuring some YA/MG mystery classics your mystery lover may love. Some are classics we've highlighted before on this blog, and some were suggested by our followers on Twitter when we put out a call for suggestions.

Any of these would make great holiday gifts if you're still shopping, or must-reads for 2014!

THE WESTING GAME, by Ellen Raskin
 (Thanks @ViolinKnitter for the suggestion!)

A nice in-between MG/YA read! Some details may feel dated by our standards today, but the story, the rich cast of characters, and the awesome young sleuth will never go out of style!

FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER, by E.L. Konigsburg
The gold standard for MG art mysteries. Sadly, E.L Konigsburg passed away in April of this year. This classic belongs on every young mystery-lover's shelf!

I AM THE CHEESE, by Robert Cormier
A mysterious family. A haunting tale. A must-read for teens and older MG's.

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, by Lois Duncan
Guys, this books, decades old, is STILL CREEPY. It's been repackaged (as have many of Lois Duncan's other books), and some details have been updated to help modern readers connect.

12 Days of Mysteries: Day 1

Here at Sleuths, Spies & Alibis, we're celebrating the holidays under cover! Book cover, that is.

For the next twelve weekdays, counting down to December 24, we'll be sharing some gift-giving recommendations for you. With our numerous book ideas -- and some great charitable organizations we'd like to tell you about -- finding the perfect something for the young mystery/thriller lover in your life shouldn't be a mystery!

Kicking off the season, here is Kristen Kittscher with her picks for your young mystery lover:

HIDE AND SEEK, by Kate Messner

Junior members of a secret society that protects the world's most important artifacts go to the rain forests of Costa Rica to recover an important treasure before it falls into the wrong hands. A fun, fast-paced mystery my students love.

MASTERPIECE, by Elise Broach

A beetle whose a talented artist and an eleven year old boy end up on the tail of a forger at the Met. A quirky, page-turning tale of friendship and mystery.

THE NIGHT TOURIST, by Katherine Marsh

Ninth grader Jack adventures into a Underworld of ghosts in New York City to discover what happened to his mother. Such a beautifully told, smart mystery full of adventure.

GILDA JOYCE, PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR by Jennifer Allison

The first book in a hilarious and poignant series about psychic girl detective Gilda Joyce.

KIKI STRIKE, INSIDE THE SHADOW CITY, by Kirsten Miller

A group of smart, delinquent Girl Scouts and latte-sipping, Vespa riding teen Kiki Strike go undercover (literally) in the tunnels below NYC to solve an international crime. One of my all-time favorite mysteries for kids. Great for 5th - 7th graders.