Beautiful notes floating on the midnight breeze awaken you from sleep… you’re in your bunk, in your cabin; right where you’re supposed to be. But someone is obviously not where they’re supposed to be. Who’s playing that beautiful music? Like the main character, Becky Lawson, I would have to discover the answer to who was playing the notes in the night.
Welcome to Melody Lane Music Camp! This is the enchanting setting for author Valerie Chamberlain’s first Becky Lawson Mystery. It was impossible to not catch the excitement (and nervousness) that Becky and her best friend, Megan, experienced in signing up for horseback riding through the wooded trails, swimming in the lake, and perfecting their musical numbers for the end-of-camp performance. Add in a mysterious musician who has the ability to “vanish” in a seemingly empty auditorium in the middle of the night, and you might find that a little poison ivy is the least of your concerns.
Morals abound in this pre-teen novel – from the struggle to come clean in telling the truth to forgiving others when they place blame. This is a much-needed book to embolden our girls to grow in faith. Psalm 139 arrives on cue to remind Becky and her friends that God knows everything. He knows everything about their past, present, and future; every thought and every word spoken. While some might feel a mixture of comfort and guilt in this, readers will go forward with the comfort of being loved and forgiven.
This 127-page book is sure to be read in one sitting. A perfect gift for any 8-12 year old girl who enjoys a good mystery, the adventures that come with summer camp, and a love of music – either listening to or playing. I highly recommend for any summer reading, back-to-school prepping, or middle-of-the-night with a flashlight word-devouring. You won’t regret adding this to your home, school, or church library.
Although this book has girls as the main characters, my son loved it. We read it together, and at the end of a chapter, he was asking for more. I look forward to the next book in the series.