A group of best friends must turn detective to clear a cousin’s name in the tropical heat of North Queensland.
Charlie Archbold introduces us to a world of mangroves and mystery in this first installment of the Sugarcane Kids series. Andy and his friends live in a small coastal town where everyone knows everyone, which makes it even worse when his cousin Eli is accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Someone stole a valuable collection from a neighbor, and all signs point to Eli—unless the kids can find the mysterious red-bottomed boat seen near the scene of the crime. There are two books currently available in the series, giving students a clear path to follow once they finish this first adventure.
This series is a win for students who avoid thick novels. The chapters are short and the language is snappy, which helps keep things moving for kids who struggle to stay focused. Diane Ewen provides illustrations throughout that break up the text and give visual cues to help English language learners understand the action. Because the same group of friends appears in the next book, students don’t have to learn a whole new cast of characters or a new setting every time they start a new story. This familiarity makes picking up the next book feel much less like a chore. In a classroom, you can use the mystery format to practice making predictions or sequencing events without overwhelming readers with complex vocabulary.
**Total Books in Series:** 2
**Best Starting Point:** The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat
