Encyclopedia Brown/Cam Jansen, but for abolitionists

June 20, 2020 12:45 PM

Are there kids books (or other media) that have whodunit/light mystery plot lines that don't involve the police? The conclusion to most of the Cam Jansen books seems to be the police arriving to arrest the criminals. I vaguely recall Scooby Doo episodes ending similarly, and I can't remember Inspector Gadget beyond the fact that Penny always had to solve the mysteries and there was some kind of arch-villain, but I imagine they also wrapped up each episode with an arrest? I often read together (over Zoom of course) with an 8-year-old and would love to find books with a "solve the mystery" approach that breaks this cop-centric mold.
posted by spamandkimchi to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

Best answer: What about the Unicorn Rescue Society series by Adam Gidwitz? A little sleuthing, a little globetrotting, a lot of supernatural.
posted by kittydelsol at 12:51 PM on June 20, 2020 [4 favorites]

The Greenglass House series by Kate Milford has three books where the police are actively avoided being called (for the most part).


...I know, I'm like the one person fan club for her books on here, but they fit the bill!
posted by Temeraria at 4:00 PM on June 20, 2020 [3 favorites]

I love Unicorn Rescue society for many reasons, but you could also check out Jigsaw Jones and the A to Z mysteries series.
posted by aetg at 4:09 PM on June 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol is a newer series that was on the Beverly Cleary childrens choice award this year.
posted by aetg at 4:10 PM on June 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

along with Beatrice Zinker Upside Down Thinker
posted by aetg at 4:11 PM on June 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

I haven't read them, but there are #1 Ladies' Detective Agency books about the heroine solving crimes as a kid. I would guess the police are not involved because she rarely needs their help in the adult novels.
posted by chaiminda at 4:43 PM on June 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

Hilde Cracks the Case is a series of books about a kid-reporter solving mysteries that happen in her neighbourhood. They are written by an 11 year old girl and her dad!
posted by rozee at 9:57 PM on June 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol is a newer series that was on the Beverly Cleary childrens choice award this year.

Added bonus for Canadians... if you search for this series you will undoubtably find Desmond Cole's The Skin We're In, a book about police racism and carding in Canada that is currently a bestseller and neat impossible to find! :)

(Sorry couldn't resist!)

Maybe you would like the Wollstoncraft detectice agency series? It features Mary Wollstoncraft and Ada Lovelace meeting as young girls and solving mysteries.
posted by chapps at 12:19 AM on June 21, 2020 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thank you for all the recommendations! I'm going through and reading the ones available as ebooks in the county library system and will be marking the ones I especially love as best answer.

I hadn't known about Unicorn Rescue Society before but I adore this book/series already. Kate Milford I knew about and love, though I suspect that my book partner will need a year or two before really enjoying those.
posted by spamandkimchi at 11:15 AM on July 3, 2020 [1 favorite]