Tree Street Kids, book 4
Something fishy is going on in Crooked Creek Woods. Does it have anything to do with the weird lights coming from Ruthie’s neighbor’s yard? Or are the kids’ imaginations running away with them? After all, Jack and Ellison have been hard at work writing a mystery. The Tree Street Kids decide to investigate. Not only do they discover what’s been hidden for centuries in the woods, they also learn about placing their trust in the adults who love and care for them . . . but not before placing themselves in peril.
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“The Tree Street Kids series takes readers on an adventure through a world of mystery, problem-solving, wit, and joy. Expect three-dimensional characters who feel like friends, escapades worthy of any growing imagination, and conversations that strike at heart-depths with a delightful dose of laugh-out-loud humor.”
Amanda Dykes, Christy award-winning author
- Find out more about book 1, Jack vs. the Tornado
- Find out more about book 2, The Hunt for Fang
- ind out more about book 3, Lions to the Rescue!
- Book 4, Mystery in Crooked Creek Woods
- Find out more about book 5, The Beastie of Brambly Bald
- Find out more about book 6, Jack and the Red Giant
What inspired me to write Mystery in Crooked Creek Woods? I love a cozy mystery and watched black and white reruns of Sherlock Holmes with Basil Rathbone when I was a kid in the 1970s. I’ve wanted to try writing a mystery for years, so I wrote two! The “real” mystery and the mystery Jack and Ellison are writing for their school writing competition. What a fun challenge to have the mystery within the mystery mirror some of the same themes and parallel the timing of the main plot.
Part of the setting was inspired by a hidden dolomite canyon we were allowed to visit when my elder daughter was working at a county forest preserve.
But what really sparked the mystery to be solved was the discovery of this monument and Indian burial mound. This led to learning about the many archeological sites throughout Illinois’ forest preserves that are (of course) undisclosed to the public.
Awards
REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS
“Jack and Ellison’s [mystery] story added a silly, but intriguing element to the story. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I really liked how that ended. The story is spliced into the narrative and its also included, in its entirety, as a back-of-book feature.” –Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase | Full Review
Story Jumpers podcast–Talking with host Andrew Jackson is always fun. His enthusiasm inspires me! | Listen here
FAQs
What are the themes in Mystery in Crooked Creek Woods? Discernment, trust, honoring native people, loving our neighbor
What ages are these books for? 8-12
What are some of the science, literature, or history fun facts in this book? The history of local native people and classic mysteries
Do the books include illustrations? All the Tree Street Kids books include illustrations (and cover art) by the incredibly talented Aedan Peterson!
Do you have to read the Tree Street Kids series in order? Each story stands alone, but reading them in order is best. Readers will see the friendships grow as the stories progress from June of 1995 through December.
Are these Christian books? What does that mean? I’m a Christian and write from that perspective. Some of the characters come from that faith tradition, while others don’t. All the stories are told through the point of view of 10-year-old Jack Finch. He processes life as any kid would, thinking about what he believes and how it matters to his small world.
Product Details
- Publisher : Moody Publishers, Chicago IL
- Publication date : July 5, 2022
- Edition : First Edition
- Language : English
- Print length : 192 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0802421059
- ISBN-13 : 978-0802421050
- Item Weight : 5.6 ounces
- Reading age : 8 – 12 years
- Dimensions : 5 x 0.48 x 7 inches
- Book 4 of 5 : Tree Street Kids
- Grade level : 3 – 7
Amanda Cleary Eastep 