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Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a fast-paced, page-turning mystery to get your mind working and your heart racing.
And I love reading mystery novels for kids too!
Today, I’m excited to share about one of my favorite middle grade mysteries, The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle by Taryn Souders (Amazon Affliate Link).
The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle is the story of a boy named Grady who learns that the town oddball left something for him and his dad in her will, only to find out that it is a piece of needlework.
But according to the note, it’s not just an old piece of cloth—it’s a treasure map. Grady and his dad are going through challenging times, and hope has been hard for Grady to find since his mom passed away. And Grady thinks discovering a buried treasure could solve a whole bunch of their problems.
With the help of his friends, Grady is determined to decipher the map and find the treasure. But soon, events in their small town reveal that this search will be much more dangerous than Grady realized.
The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle is a compelling, action-packed mystery with a small-town quirky cast of characters—but it’s more than that.
Taryn Souders combines humor and a treasure hunt with real-life difficulties and loss, making this a perfect read for any kid who needs to see that hope can come even in the most challenging circumstances.
And hope is a theme woven throughout the pages of Grady’s story, reminding us that we, too, can hope. Even when life is looking like it’s just not going to work out in our favor. Even when hard things happen.
I love the words of Psalm 62:5: “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
We can hope because our Creator loves us and cares for us. He is with us, no matter what is going on in our lives or what sort of losses we are experiencing. He is the God of endless hope.
And I love how stories can remind us of that, while also taking us on fun, fast-paced adventures.
Never forget . . . you are wonderfully created.
Love,
Becca
