Encylopedia Brown is a mystery series created by Donald Sobol. The series is set up as chapter books, but each chapter is a different mystery to solve. Sobol puts the solutions to the mysteries all at the back of the book so that readers are left with the decision to solve each mystery individually and then check, or read through the entire book before finding out the solutions to each mystery. While the chapters flow and follow a sequence, solving the mystery at the end of the chapter does not necessarily guide you in solving the next mystery. The print is fairly large and spread out so it is easy to get through. There are a few pictures, about one in each chapter that support the text, but only give a glimpse into part of the text, leaving much of the action up to the imagination of the reader.
This book requires readers to pay great attention to detail to catch the tricks the lead to the solution. In each mystery, there is one mistake in the story that enables Encyclopedia to solve the crimes. Encyclopedia’s father is the chief of police for their town, but little does the town know that Encyclopedia really solves all the crimes because he pays close attention to the stories and catches the inconsistencies that his dad and others do not. This is an excellent series for readers who are working on paying attention to detail and comprehension as it encourages both through solving mysteries.
In this book, the Case of the Secret Pitch, Encyclopedia solves several crimes through his close attention to detail. When they pick up what they think is an innocent hitchhiker who gives Encyclopedia chocolate that can be broken into pieces, Encyclopedia realizes that the hitchhikers story about standing outside for an hour in the 90 degree weather cannot be true. It is little details like this that the reader must catch to keep up with Encyclopedia and solve the mysteries. Encyclopedia also builds relationships with friends in this book, but it also shows how he is sometimes singled out because of his unique ability. This book also deals with the issue of gender as his female friend, Sally, is torn about whether to continue being Encyclopedia’s bodyguard, or become more girly. The boys make fun of her when they find out she is the body guard, and this leaves her with a tough decision that you will have to read to find out what happens. While the focus of the novel is on solving mysteries, there are many other issues that are embedded throughout that keep the reader thinking.
This book is definitely an entertaining, page turn that will keep kids interested and keep them reading! They will be forced to pay close attention and read very carefully so they can along with Encyclopedia solve the mysteries for the town of Idaville.
The students in my 3rd grade class just started reading this book and most of them seem to enjoy it. I actually haven't read this book yet, but after reading your review, I got a pretty good idea about what this book is all about. It sounds like a very interesting read.
ReplyDeleteI loved mystery books as a child. This series is interesting because the solutions arent given at the end of every story. Putting them at the end of the book gives the reader the option to make up their own ending instead of looking in the back. That would definetely promote creative thinking.
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