Mysteries

Mysteries seem to have become an extremely popular genre among the tween set. They have always held appeal, because mysteries are almost universally enjoyed, regardless of race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic status because everyone likes to be their own detective. In the case of tweens, this literary experience can be empowering since it allows them to solve the mystery as they read. Many of the books have tween or teen detectives to make it even easier for the reader to imagine themselves in the role and one-upping a bunch of clueless adults. What an awesome fantasy! This brand of escapism is especially important for self-esteem. The ability to picture themselves as a real detective, solving mysteries is a great way for them to start thinking about their real futures where they will ALL be solving problems of one kind or another. Life is a series of problems to be solved and especially in the workplace. Mysteries are great practice for the problems that may arise in school, a job or even personally. The methods used to slove them: gathering evidence, analyzing evidence and making connections are priceless skills that can be universally applied and fun to read about. This makes mystery reading educationally valuable and an easy sell to a reluctant reader.