A MIND OF HER OWN: THE STORY OF MYSTERY WRITER AGATHA CHRISTIE, by Robyn McGrath and Liz Wong, Beach Lane Books, May 28, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (Ages 5-10)
Learn about detective novelist Agatha Christie in A Mind of Her Own: The Story of Mystery Writer Agatha Christie, by Robyn McGrath and Liz Wong.
Before Agatha Christie became the greatest mystery writer of all time, she was a girl who loved books, make-believe, and puzzling out problems. She was a keen observer, always noticing the secrets hiding in the shadows and the clues just waiting to be uncovered. More than anything, Agatha loved detective stories. She longed to write her own mysteries, but she struggled when she put pen to paper. The letters came out jumbled, the words twisting and snagging. Writing became a new puzzle for her to solve.
Her family and teachers chided her for being lost in her head, but Agatha wasn’t lost…she had a mind of her own! —Synopsis provided by Beach Lane
When my daughter was in third grade, she asked me if she could read Agatha Christie books. I told she’d have to wait a year, and she now has The Mysterious Affair at Styles on her bookshelf. She’s fascinated by anything Agatha Christie, and has read A Mind of Her Own multiple times. Like so many readers before her, Christie’s work calls to her.
Author Robyn McGrath’s present tense prose adds an immediacy to A Mind of Her Own. It’s a treatment that pairs well with the biography of arguably one of the most famous mystery authors of all time. Though well researched, A Mind of Her Own feels almost conversational, drawing readers in.
Illustrator Liz Wong listened to Christie’s audiobooks while working on the art for A Mind of Her Own. This inspired Wong to include references to her life and novels in the illustrations. It’s a nice touch to her already engaging illustrations.
Backmatter includes more about Christie; author and illustrator notes; mystery vocabulary; and a bibliography.
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