Donna Barba

What makes a stellar mystery triumph where others fail? It happens when adventure, suspense, and logic combine with wit and curiosity. Albert Einstein encouraged people to raise questions because curiosity is fundamental to creativity and critical thinking. Successful detectives are those who reflect, question, and challenge the status quo. Mystery as a genre includes suspects, red herrings, code-breaking, deductive reasoning, and problem-solving as elemental to the story structure.

. (Sports Zone!: Bk. 1). Sept. 2025. 96p. pap. $6.99. ISBN 9781546120056. Gr 3-5 COPY ISBN Gr 3-5–Jasper longs to be a football star, with his exploits broadcast by the announcer voice he imagines in his head. When pals Mo and Ruby join the age nine-and-under community flag football team, Jasper joins too, excited but also worried that he won’t be as good on the field as he is in his imagination. But with support from Mo and Ruby, Jasper makes a big play and helps the team win its first game.

. Nov. 2025. 296p. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9781998341849. Gr 7 Up COPY ISBN Gr 7 Up–Knudsen’s novel adaptation of the graphic novel by LambCat beautifully keeps the original spark but also adds new, fresh details that give breadth to the story. Gwendolyn, Princess of the Pastel Kingdom, has just learned the most nerve-wracking news: her father has found three young princes from the Plaid Kingdom who he believes would make good suitors for her and her two sisters. Gwen is eager but apprehensive.