Guest Author - Diana Pederson

Parents let me introduce you to an exciting series of detective stories written for upper elementary and middle school aged youth. I read two of the books and had the 13-year old daughter of a friend read the third book to get her opinion.

The two books I’ve read in this series are:

Sigmund Brouwer. Accidental Detectives: Legend of the Gilded Saber. Bethany House. 2002.

… The Disappearing Jewel of Madagascar. Bethany House. 2002.

I love these stories for several reasons: First, the story plot is nicely developed and keeps your attention. Second, they include both boys and girls as characters. Third, the characters aren’t afraid to talk about their faith with other youth. Fourth, the books are written at an appropriate reading level for approximately 4th-8th grades.

If these books had been available in the early 1980s, I would have had them in my remedial reading classroom for grades 7-12. However, since I view them from an adult’s perspective, I asked the 13-year old daughter of a close friend to read the 3rd book and give me her opinion. Here is what she said.

… The Volcano of Doom. Bethany House. 2002.

“I think this book is great! It seems as if it's really written by the 12 year old character. It has lots of humor and some suspense. The kids in it have very good attitudes and are respectful to adults and they get into one funny scrape after another which kept me laughing all through the book. Overall, I would give the book a 9.75 out of 10.”

I was startled that she picked up on the respect of the youth for adults. I hadn’t even thought about that! She obviously felt the book was funny and wants to read the other two books. In my opinion, that is the highest recommendation any book series can have!


Sigmund Brouwer has written many Christian fiction and nonfiction books. You may enjoy reading move in the Accidental Detective Series or those books intended for adults.