Detective Fiction for Young Readers is an examination of contemporary mystery stories for children and young adults. This volume explores how the conventions, rules, and expectations of adult mystery fiction have filtered down so to speak, especially in the past several decades, to writing for younger readers. The book is organized into three sections that explore the whodunit, the hard-boiled, and the metaphysical. Furthermore, this text analyses how each style has been adapted for a younger audience, acknowledging and exploring representatives novel that is most in keeping with that style. This volume is ideal for both students, academics and readers interested in children’s mystery fiction that adheres to formulas made popular after the golden age of classic detective fiction.
Introduction
Chapter One
A Game You Want to Win: The Westing Game and the Art of the Classic Mystery
Chapter Two
A Game You Are Allowed to Play: The Puzzling World of Winston Breene, Puzzles, and Apprenticing Young Sleuths
Chapter Three
Down These Mean Hallways: The Big Splash and The Enduring Appeal of the hardboiled Story
Chapter Four
Detecting Power: The Parker Inheritance, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, Tangerine, Enola Holmes, and Other Updates on the Kid Sleuth
Chapter Five
Ersatz Solutions: The Metaphysical Tradition from Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events to When You Reach Me, Turtles All the Way Down, The Deathly Hallows, and Other Recent Attempts at Anti-Detection
Conclusion
Counterfeit Mysteries: The London Eye Mystery, Disability, Neurodiversity, Thinking Deeply, and Why It So Hard to Write a Good Mystery
Biography
Chris McGee teaches Children's Literature as well as Film courses at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.
