Readers, I am so pleased to introduce Author Fleur Bradley to you today. Children are our greatest resource, and with COVID-19 many are at risk of falling behind. Authors such as Fleur make a difference. Please welcome her to Help From My Friends Friday. ~ Donnell
Author Fleur Bradley
By Fleur Bradley
Most of us have a kid in our lives, whether it’s your own child, or a niece, a grandchild, a neighbor. Reading is a tough thing to foster: the truth is that between fourth and eight grade, reading for pleasure among kids drops to a measly twenty percent (source: DoSomething.org).
So why should you care? If those kids don’t keep reading, their school performance will suffer—some may even drop out of high school as they get older. And if you’re a writer, you want those kids to become your readers as adults, right?
Here’s why mysteries are so important to keep kids reading:
1. Mysteries ask a question
Who killed Mr. Barclay? That’s the question that runs through Midnight at the Barclay Hotel, my latest mystery for kids. That puzzle to solve is exactly what keeps even the most reluctant reader turning the page.
2. Mysteries require critical thinking
To solve the mystery, you have to hunt for clues. You have to pick apart the story, separate the real clues from the false ones—those pesky red herrings. Mysteries require kids to think critically, and to question the information they are given. This kind of critical thinking is a skill they can use throughout their lives.
3. Solving the mystery fosters confidence
Remember that feeling you get when you think you’ve solved the mystery as a reader, and you read on to find out if you are right? That feeling of accomplishment, of solving the puzzle is why we all love mysteries. It makes you feel smart—for kids, it makes them feel confident. Mysteries can be great confidence boosters for that kid in your life.
4. Mysteries are perfect for reluctant readers
Because mysteries don’t waste too much time on introspective story where nothing happens, they’re perfect for reluctant readers. In my books, something happens on every page. Reluctant readers—kids who aren’t too crazy about books yet—love this kind of action. It’s often said that reluctant readers just haven’t found the right book yet. Mysteries are a great way to get kids reading.
5. Mysteries are fun!
Let’s be real: mysteries are fun to read! Reading for pleasure is something we want to foster in kids, and if you love mysteries, why not share that excitement with a kid in your life? And read a few of these mysteries for kids yourself—they really are fun, and give you a glimpse into what’s new in kids’ fiction.
Bottom line: kids will love mysteries for the same reasons 
you do. So, hand a mystery to that kid in your life today!
To find the latest mysteries, check out your local independent bookstore (or their website), or browse the Edgar Awards website for nominees
About Midnight at the Barclay Hotel:
Hunting ghosts and solving the case before checkout? All in a weekend’s work.
When JJ Jacobson convinced his mom to accept a surprise invitation to an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway at the illustrious Barclay Hotel, he never imagined that he’d find himself in the midst of a murder mystery. He thought he was in for a run-of-the-mill weekend ghost hunting at the most haunted spot in town, but when he arrives at the Barclay Hotel and his mother is blamed for the hotel owner’s death, he realizes his weekend is going to be anything but ordinary.
Now, with the help of his new friends, Penny and Emma, JJ has to track down a killer, clear his mother’s name, and maybe even meet a ghost or two along the way.
About the Author: Fleur Bradley is the author of the spooky middle-grade mystery Midnight at the Barclay Hotel (Viking Books for Young Readers, Aug. 2020). She’s passionate about two things: mysteries and getting kids to read. Fleur regularly does (virtual) school visits and speaks at librarian and educator conferences on reaching reluctant readers. Originally from the Netherlands, Fleur now lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and two daughters, and entirely too many cats.
For more information on Fleur and her books, visit www.ftbradley.com, and on Twitter @FTBradleyAuthor.
Good morning! I started reading mysteries at a very young age and they’ve never left.
Loved this post, Fleur, and looking forward to reading your latest book! I’d love to try my hand at a kid’s mystery someday, and your books are fabulous examples.
I totally agree. I started reading mysteries in third grade (Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys) and never stopped. Of course, now I also read romance, adventure, thriller, historical, humor, non-fiction…anything I can get my hands on.
Can’t wait to read, Fleur, and then pass these books off to my grandchildren. Love that it’s interactive and gets them involved. They forget they’re reading, and their minds are on overdrive!
Hi Fleur and Donnell! Great post! I agree about keeping the kiddies reading. When my son was younger, he didn’t like to read. But I was able to get him to “read” by listening to audiobooks. We listened to the whole Harry Potter series, then moved through the rest of the popular middle grade and YA series during those times. Now, as an adult, he fits more reading into his life, and I couldn’t be happier. 🙂
Terrific post! Thank you, Fleur and Donnell.
Congrats on the new book! And I couldn’t agree with you more on all points in this post.
Best, Cindy
I love all these great comments about what you loved to read, and how you keep the kids in your life reading, too. I hope everyone gets a chance to read Midnight at the Barclay Hotel… Thank you, Donnell, for having me!
Thanks. Donnell, for highlighting Fleur Bradley’s mystery and why MG mysteries are important. We have a fun Guppy subgroup called MG/YA for our children’s writers. We all love that genre. Fleur is welcome to join us if she is a member iof SinC and the Guppy chapter. Her mystery is already on my TBR list. Beth
Thanks for this great post! Fleur makes such excellent points about why kids should read mysteries. I certainly loved them as a kid—remember Encyclopedia Brown? Just as Francelia did, I kept my son reading past Captain Underpants and The Magic Treehouse books by introducing him to Harry Potter. I can’t wait to read Midnight at the Barclay Hotel.
Thank you all for the kind words! Beth: I’m not part of the Guppy chapter, alas… I think I might be published too long already?
Barbara: the MWA anthology Super Puzzletastic Mysteries (for kids) is a little like Encyclopedia Brown: there’s a mystery story, and then the solution is in the back. You might like that book. Really fun, I have a story in it 🙂
Love this article. It’s so important to make reading fun for kids. I’put your book on my read list. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Lily! I hope you enjoy the book 🙂
Thank you, Donnell and Fleur! Mysteries and young readers are my thing, and I am grateful for the encouragement to keep on!