Spotlight: The Mystery of the Missing Jewels by Jessica Leigh Stevens
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Genre: Middle Grade Mystery Adventure
This fun and exciting middle school mystery series sees Ned and his Uncle Jim use their super-sharp detective skills to solve mysteries in Lakeside. Incidentally, both are dyslexic. But that’s not going to stop them! Dyslexia might present some challenges with spelling and reading, but it also makes them great at solving puzzles, cracking codes and thinking outside the box. Armed with these superpowers, they make the perfect team for solving mysteries.
Ned and his uncle Jim, a retired detective, live in Lakeside Village. It’s a quiet place where nothing much seems to happen…or at least, that was the case. Now, there are mysterious events and they all seem to center around a cold case Uncle Jim had been working on before he retired.
On top of that, treasures are disappearing from the Cheap and Cheerful, a second-hand goods store. But who would want to steal from the owner? Uncle Jim and Ned find hidden secrets and uncover even stranger happenings than just the theft. Why are there unusual sets of footprints? What is the significance of the feather they find? And why does the owner of the shop suddenly seem suspicious?
It’s up to Ned and Uncle Jim to use their detective skills and dyslexic advantages to discover the person behind the thefts and maybe even crack the cold case. However, it might be more than the two can handle.
Will Ned’s detective career be over before it really starts?
Join Ned and Uncle Jim on their first adventure!
“A must-read for peers, friends and family members of dyslexic people to help understand how they see the world. Truly eye-opening!”. Pam, Teacher.
Children and tweens will enjoy seeing the action-packed adventure story unfold through the lens of a dyslexic child. Through effective storytelling they learn how the dyslexic brain works differently, and how children with dyslexia can excel using their special strengths.
Presented in a dyslexia-friendly format, this mystery series can be enjoyed by all readers. The large print dyslexia font and cream background make it an accessible option for dyslexic readers, allowing them to enjoy relatable and age-appropriate books.
Excerpt
The street is clear now. It is quiet, and Uncle Jim gives me a nudge to say we must go ahead. He pulls out the footprint kit. It is plaster of Paris. The stuff they use to set broken bones. I frown at Uncle Jim, but he has everything under control. He has the plaster of Paris powder measured in a zip-lock plastic bag and a bottle of water measured to the correct quantity.
“Now, Ned, when I give the signal, we will go out to the doorway next to the Cheap and Cheerful. We will wait there in the shadows until it is clear to go onto the side of the road. The weather has been kind to us. There was just enough rain to soften the ground, and the footprints are there as clear as daylight,” says Uncle Jim in a loud whisper.
I nod; now I know what he is up to. We will pour the mixed plaster into the footprint. It will be easy to mix it in the bag and pour the plaster into the hole—what a clever idea. We will be a bit exposed as we wait for the plaster to dry, but it will give us a model of the footprints and a way to connect the inside prints with the outside ones. If there is a match, we will have another clue closer to making an ID or identification of the criminal. I love police work!
Uncle Jim and I step out of the cruiser and cross the road. Biggles is right behind us. Uncle Jim has told Biggles to 'heel' to keep him close by. Biggles knows this is the time to listen. We reach a perfect footprint on the side of the road made by the man in the coat and hat. Uncle Jim says we have to wait for about twenty minutes before the plaster is set. While we are waiting, we hear the sound of another person coming along the road. There is a pedestrian on the other side heading out of town. Small, quick, and light steps tripped gently along the pavement.
“Get back,” hisses Uncle Jim, and we all shrink back into the doorway out of sight. Even Biggles listens to the command, and I hold in a giggle as he reverses back into hiding. He is so well trained. We desperately want to look round the corner and see who walked over the road. Luckily, Uncle Jim has a clever mirror gadget. He takes it out and pulls the mirror handle to extend, and then the mirror sits on the ground at a 450 angle. Uncle Jim turns it gently, and then lo-and-behold we can see what is happening further down the pavement.
The person on the other side, also dressed in a coat and a hat, walks towards the second-hand book shop. They peer into the window and walk around, but the shop is shut! I am shivering in the doorway. It is partly because it is chilly and partly because I am just a bit afraid. Once the person leaves, Uncle Jim gives the all-clear sign.
The molds of the footprints are ready, and we lift them and put them in a box. I think we are set to go home, but Uncle Jim beckons us to the other set of footprints just made by the new person. We tiptoe towards the bookshop. Uncle Jim does not have any more plaster of Paris, but he can take a picture on his phone. Biggles and I are right behind Uncle Jim. When we get to the bookshop, Uncle Jim is furious. He stamps his feet in a most annoyed manner. I wonder why he is so mad because he never stamps his feet at a crime scene. It is always vitally important to preserve all the evidence.
Then I look down to see why he is so angry.
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About the Author
Jessica is a former teacher, having spent many years working closely with dyslexic children. Through her love for writing she hopes to educate readers about the challenges and triumphs experienced by people with dyslexia.
In her spare time, Jessica enjoys baking and loves to go on long walks with her family.
You can connect with Jessica at jessicaleighstevens.com
Connect:
Website: https://jessicaleighstevens.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.leigh.stevens.author
