MYSTERY FORCE: Volume One by Ted Neill, illustrated by Suzi Spooner – Middle Grad Mystery, Fantasy Creatures, Picture Books

Set in a world where magical talking creatures are a normal part of society, the Mystery Force series by Ted Neill is a must-read for any animal-loving kid.

Book One, Mystery Force, Assemble!, begins with warehouses of previously unheard-of magical creatures being discovered and freed. Out of fear, these new creatures continue to hide, and a group of curious kids – Rasheed, Jonathan, and Jojo – decide to get to the bottom of the mystery!

In book two, The Case of the Stolen Horn, Rasheed, Jonathan, and Jojo are on the case after their unicorn drama teacher, Mr. Twinkles, is attacked, with their pegasus geometry teacher Ms. Weymont being arrested for the crime. The Mystery Force kids are determined to clear Ms. Weymont’s name by finding the real culprit.

Book three, Blazing Blizzards, confronts the Mystery Force gang with an unusual May blizzard. They waste no time in investigating the cause, trying to save their town and a newly discovered magical creature from the forces behind the terrible weather.

All three adventures contain exciting twists and turns, but also important lessons to learn.

In the Mystery Force world, well-known magical creatures have come out of hiding and live among people. When lesser-known creatures are discovered, the more popular creatures think themselves better. Rasheed, Jonathan, and Jojo think otherwise and do all they can to help the more obscure magical creatures; even though they haven’t heard of them before, these new creatures deserve love and acceptance.

Many characters have a disability of some kind, and the wonderful representation of the Mystery Force series goes a step beyond to include less visible disabilities. This inclusivity will resonate with those who deal with similar struggles, and reflects the need for more stories like this one.

Overall, Mystery Force: Volume One, is a fun and fast-paced collection of stories about helping others in danger.

In each tale, there are great examples of deductive reasoning for children that will strengthen their own critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, Rasheed, Jonathan, and Jojo’s determination will encourage readers to look out for others and stand up for what they think is right.

This is just the beginning of Rasheed, Jonathan, and Jojo’s adventures! A series not to miss, and much more to come!

Mystery Force: Volume One by Ted Neill, illustrated by Suzi Spooner, won Grand Prize in the 2022 CIBA Gertrude Warner Awards for Middle Grade Fiction.