I’m a big horror and true crime reader and my kid is really wanting to read books like mine. I told her that there’s a reason there aren’t true crime books written for kids; 11 year olds don’t necessarily need to know about the worst of humanity. I’m trying to find something that will scratch that itch for her without the gory details and I’d like a happy-ish ending.
I was hoping to find a YA book because I think she’s wanting to feel like she’s reading something a little more “grown up”.
We started reading The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, but it’s got graphic crime scene descriptions and I’m not comfortable continuing it with her right now.
So I’m looking for something that gives grown up reader vibes but is still “safe” for a 6th grader to read. She’s been resistant to most of my suggestions; Neil Gaiman, Mary Downing Hahn, RL Stine, etc… I’ve even offered to read the adapted versions of Radium Girls and Killers of the Flower Moon.
She’s begging to read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, but I just feel like it’s too soon for those.
by Trilly2000
7 Comments
Shady Hollow by Juneau Black? It’s a cozy woodland animal murder mystery. She probably will think it’s too kiddy if she’s rejecting your other suggestions though.
Maybe try Agatha Christie’s Poirot series. You don’t have to go in order at all. They are not very graphic but are written for adults.
I’ll just offer the caution that whenever my parents tried to keep things from me as a kid, I still did them anyway — just in secret.
If she can handle the slightly antiquated language (though it’s pretty readable for the era), then Sherlock Holmes has some solid mysteries
down the rabbit hole by peter abrahams, the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.by mark haddon. sherlock holmes might also work.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin!
I know the answer!! The [Flavia De Luce series](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/FLV/flavia-de-luce/) about a precocious 11 year old who solves murder mysteries. They are adult books, but super whimsical and funny in all the right places.
Not crime but horror genre. Fear Street books by R.L. Stine. It’s his series for young adults.
These are more on the paranormal side:
[Jackaby by William Ritter](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/jackaby-book-1)
[Lockwood and Co by Johnathan Stroud ](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-screaming-staircase-lockwood-co-book-1)
Not really a mystery, but maybe something like [Scythe by Neal Shusterman ](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/scythe-arc-of-a-scythe-book-1)