Get A Clue: Mysteries for Middle Graders

The world of middle grade graphic novels has expanded exponentially over the last few years! Regardless of what genre your child is interested in, there is certain to be a book they’ll love!
This week, we wanted to highlight our top four favorite middle grade mysteries. As always, titles will be linked to make placing a hold quick and easy! Simply click on the image of the cover photo to be taken directly to STPL’s Catalog.
The Pathfinder’s Society, Book 1
Perfect for fans of The Last Kids on Earth, Lumberjanes, or Tales from the Five Worlds, The Mystery of the Moon Tower is sure to delight and capture readers’ attention!
In this first book of the series, readers will meet five kids who are unlikely to form a team, or become best friends for sure. However, they soon find there is indeed “more beyond” in their pokey town with its weird weather and sudden geysers of smelly air. Deciphering a route of historical markers leads them to Merriweather’s old castle, which is lined with ornate, beautiful tiles in hallways that lead to secret rooms full of odd objects–and where time itself is warped!
This is the path our heroes are meant to follow, on a journey that will take them back and forth through time, through woods, and across waterways revealed by moonlight, right up to the looming Moon Tower itself–which holds Merriweather’s secret . . . and the treasure
The Dam Keeper, Book 1
First in a three book series, readers who are fans of mysteries with a spooky edge will enjoy The Dam Keeper.
Life in Sunrise Valley is tranquil, but beyond its borders lies certain death. A dangerous black fog looms outside the village, but its inhabitants are kept safe by an ingenious machine known as the dam. Pig’s father built the dam and taught him how to maintain it. And then this brilliant inventor did the unthinkable: he walked into the fog and was never seen again.
Now Pig is the dam keeper. Except for his best friend, Fox, and the town bully, Hippo, few are aware of his tireless efforts. But a new threat is on the horizon―a tidal wave of black fog is descending on Sunrise Valley. Now Pig, Fox, and Hippo must face the greatest danger imaginable: the world on the other side of the dam.
Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer
Jamila Waheed is staring down a lonely summer in a new neighborhood–until she meets Shirley Bones. Sure, Shirley’s a little strange, but both girls need a new plan for the summer, and they might as well become friends.
Then this kid Oliver shows up begging for Shirley’s help. His pet gecko has disappeared, and he’s sure it was stolen! The mystery of the missing gecko turns Shirley and Jamila’s summer upside down. And when their partnership hits a rough patch, they have to work together to solve the greatest mystery of all: What it means to be a friend.
The Montague Twins: The Witch’s Hand
Pete and Alastair Montague are just a couple of mystery-solving twins, living an ordinary life. Or so they thought. After a strange storm erupts on a visit to the beach, they discover there is more to their detective skills than they had thought. Their guardian, David Faber, a once prominent professor, has been keeping secrets about their parents and what the boys are truly capable of.
At the same time, three girls go missing after casting a mysterious spell, which sets in motion a chain of events that takes their small town down an unexpected path. With the help of David’s daughter, Charlie, they discover there are forces at work that they never could have imagined, which will impact their lives forever.
Written by Ms. Mara, STPL Children’s Outreach Librarian