Mystery Books for Boys

Getting boys engaged in books and reading can sometimes be a difficult task. But these mystery book series are perfect for elementary-aged boys learning to read. The characters are inquisitive boys who use their reasoning skills to solve problems and mysteries around them. Boys will find the plots relatable, interesting and fun, and these mystery books for boys will hold their interest and keep them turning pages until the end. Each of these series has many books, so you can continue to encourage your boy to read by getting him the next book in the series every time he completes one. My boys love these mystery books and ask to read them every night as they try to solve the mysteries in each one. These mystery books for kids have made reading engaging and fun in our house, and they can do the same in yours.

Jigsaw Jones
by: James Preller

Jigsaw Jones is an average second grader who solves the mysteries of his classmates and neighbors with his friend, Mila Yeh. For just a dollar a day, Jigsaw makes kids' problems go away. These mysteries range from finding a stuffed dinosaur at a magic show to figuring out what's causing the strange noises at a sleepover. As a mom, it's refreshing to find a series that doesn't revolve around dark themes or potty humor, yet still engages my boys. Both my 7 and 5 year olds enjoy sitting down each night and reading a chapter or two. Not only are they being exposed to reading at a higher level than picture books, they love talking about each mystery as it unfolds and trying to guess the ending. There are now about 40 books in the series, so you have plenty of plots to choose from. Scholastic Book orders regularly sell these books in some of their flyers, which is where we started getting them, and we have gotten great deals on this series that way.

James Preller's Blog
Make Your Own Mystery Project
This can be used with Jigsaw Jones or any of the other series listed below.

Nate the Great
by: Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Nate the Great has been engaging readers for over 30 years, and he's recently gotten a makeover. The stories are the same, but the covers have been redone and each book includes extra trivia and activities in the back. Nate is a detective who solves cases around the neighborhood with his faithful dog, Sludge. He's always on the lookout for clues and pancakes, and boys will love the sense of adventure portrayed in these books as Nate patrols the streets of his town, in a world before playdates and supervised activities 24/7. Each story builds as Nate interviews witnesses and suspects and puts together clues to solve the case. The only downside to these books is that they're not broken up into chapters, so you either need to read them with a boy who has a bit of an attention span, or be proactive about finding a stopping point. Overall, my 7 year old thinks Nate is "really cool" and enjoys going along on his mysteries.

Nate the Great Printables
Nate the Great Teacher's Guide

The Hardy Boys: Secret Files
by: Franklin W. Dixon

In this newest Hardy Boys series, 8 and 9 year old Frank and Joe Hardy solve mysteries perfect for younger readers. This series debuted in April 2010 and features more modern stories and settings for boys today. There are already 4 in the series with more coming soon, and they're a hit at my house. Frank and Joe have a detective for a father and have learned to pay attention to clues to solve mysteries that affect them and their friends. From taking place in a video game arcade to a little league baseball game, these mysteries are simple, fun and engaging for elementary-aged readers. The chapters have illustrations to hold the attention of younger readers, and the books even include a mini comic strip in the back for extra fun. If you loved the classic Hardy Boys series, the new Secret Files are a great way to introduce them to a whole new generation of boys.

Encyclopedia Brown
by: Donald J. Sobol

This fantastic series was started in 1963, but the books are just as fun to read today. Each book is broken up into 10 or so chapters, which are actually each a mini-mystery. As you read the mystery story, your job is to look for clues, largely inconsistencies in the witnesses' stories or events that have taken place. At the end of each story, the reader has the opportunity to review the clues and figure out the mystery himself. The answers are printed in the back of the book to check your guesses. These books are perfect for older elementary-aged boys who are honing their critical thinking skills; instead of being spoon-fed the answers, the fun comes from placing yourself in the story and figuring it out for yourself. One of the best features of these books is that each chapter is separate and each book is separate, so you don't have to read them in order. You can pick and choose your mysteries however you want, giving boys a plethora of choices to suit their moods. If you want to encourage your boy's reading and thinking skills, then the Encyclopedia Brown series is perfect for you.

Encyclopedia Brown Lesson Plans & Teacher Guides