The Secret in the Attic (7 Sister Mysteries) by Ellen Miles

Booktalk version: Ophelia and her sisters, all named for Shakespeare characters, live in a small town in Vermont, with all the characteristics of a small town: a Main Street, safe streets, and a haunted house. When Ophelia babysits for the new family who moved into the "haunted house" she discovers a real-life mystery that may have to do with the town's long history.

Full-length version: On the hunt for a good easier reading level mystery, I found The Secret in the Attic by Ellen Miles (author of the Puppy Place and Kitty Corner series that are very popular with my 2nd and 3rd grade girls), part of the 7 Sister Mysteries series. I found four titles in the series, with The Secret in the Attic being the first of the four.

Seven sisters, all named for characters in Shakespeare plays, are part of the Parker clan, living in a small town in Vermont. Ophelia is the narrator of the story, and through her babysitting job for a new family in town, she becomes wrapped up in a mystery in the town's supposed haunted house.

Ophelia and her sisters and the children she is watching, Toby and Gwen Frederick, play detective, finding clues and exploring the old Bascomb house, which the Frederick family has inherited. This mystery follows the standard pattern of finding clues, red herrings, and misconceptions, leaving the reader unsure of the ending until it happens. Suspicions abound, while spooky sounds, people and even the lights going out during a thunderstorm provide a mysterious atmosphere.

This is a good basic mystery for those learning about the elements of a mystery. The main characters are mostly girls, though they have varying personalities and are involved in everything from photography, police work, literary magazines, and sports, the book might not appeal to some boys. Fans of Nancy Drew style classic mysteries will find a similar style in this book, perfect for a 3rd or 4th grader interested in mysteries. I will add this to my recommendations to our 5th grade teachers for literature circles, but might add that at that age it might only catch the attention of the girls.