Get a Clue! Mysteries

From Standard Publishing

Puzzles To Boggle The Mind

Review by Jeannie Crawford Lee

Here is a fantastic series that successfully solves the mystery of how to keep the interest of kids 10 and up when it comes to teaching Christian values. Devotions, Sunday school, Bible reading are up against tough competition in their hyperactive, entertainment-centered world. Get a Clue! Mysteries puts together components that will grab the attention of this age group.

First, a mystery story -- the initial four titles promise the kind of spooky, like-to-be-scared subject matter kids go for these days: The Abominable Snowbeast, The Phantom Custodian, The Mysterious Mansion, and Aliens Among Us. The titles alone call for a good "Ooooo!" In fast-paced, kid-friendly style, the stories unfold with lots of dialogue as the kids involved try to solve each mystery.

When you're expecting the solution -- nope! The reader has to find the answer. Go to the next component -- a jigsaw puzzle. Each book comes with a 250-piece jigsaw puzzle (and it's not going to match the picture on the front of the box!). Put it together, think about the clues you got from the story, and see if you can figure out the solution to the mystery. If you're really stumped, the secret is printed in a camouflaged panel that can be read with the red plastic overlay provided. But don't peek until you've tried!

Christian beliefs and right behavior are reflected throughout the Get a Clue! Mysteries. The fact that they are put in the context of a clever story populated by "regular" kids brings them to life in a new way, a way that is sure to captivate the readers' and puzzle solvers' imagination.

Interactive is a key to successful children's resources these days, and these puzzle stories fit the bill. The potential for whole-family involvement is a big bonus. Read the story aloud; have everyone work on the puzzle; then, take time to talk about the lessons, the message that each one brings. A different Bible verse closes out the solution to each mystery. There you'll find plenty of food for thought and talk with pre-teens.

Jeannie Crawford Lee tested these puzzles with her two sons.

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