Ring Around a Mystery - Elizabeth Bryan Mysteries (Elizabeth Bryan Mysteries, 4)
#4 in Elizabeth Bryan Mysteries Series
on Goodreads (6)
What’s inside...
After Justin is accused of stealing the friendship ring he gave her, Elizabeth attempts to help him by joining a clique of 'party-up girls' who are also shoplifters.
Discussion points
Why do you think Elizabeth Bryan decided to investigate the mystery? What would you do in her situation?
How do the characters in the book show teamwork? Can you think of a time when you had to work with others to solve a problem?
What are some of the clues that Elizabeth finds that help her solve the mystery? How do you think she feels when she uncovers each clue?
How does the setting of the book contribute to the mystery? How would the story change if it happened somewhere else?
What did you learn from Elizabeth’s actions and decisions? How might you use this knowledge in your own life?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in Elizabeth's shoes, enhancing their problem-solving skills and empathy.
Discuss the importance of paying attention to detail and how it helps in solving mysteries, tying it back to real-life situations like finding lost items.
Highlight teamwork by pointing out how characters in the book cooperate, and relate it to family activities or school projects.
Use the book’s setting to spark a conversation about different places and environments, and how they might influence our actions and decisions.
After discussing a question, ask your child to summarize what you both talked about. This reinforces their understanding and memory of the conversation.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: Elizabeth Bryan and her friends work together to solve the mystery, demonstrating how cooperation and pooling diverse talents can lead to success.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by working collaboratively on group projects at school or during team sports, learning that teamwork can lead to achieving goals that might be difficult to accomplish individually.
Example Lesson: Critical thinking and problem-solving
Explanation: Throughout the book, Elizabeth faces various challenges that require her to think critically and make decisions, which helps her solve the mystery.
Real-World Application: Children can use critical thinking to solve everyday problems or disputes and make thoughtful decisions in their interactions with peers and adults.
Example Lesson: Cultivating curiosity
Explanation: Elizabeth's desire to uncover the truth behind the mystery encourages a sense of curiosity and discovery.
Real-World Application: This trait can motivate children to explore new topics in academics or ask insightful questions in their learning environments, fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Example Lesson: Understanding consequences
Explanation: As Elizabeth maneuvers through her investigation, she learns that every action has consequences, helping to instill a sense of responsibility.
Real-World Application: Children can reflect on how their actions affect others, both positively and negatively, and learn to act with consideration and accountability in their daily lives.