MODULE 9: MYSTERY
October 26-November 1
The London Eye Mystery
By: Siobhan Dowd
Ages 10-14
October 26-November 1
The London Eye Mystery
By: Siobhan Dowd
Ages 10-14
Summary:
What begins as a friendly, everyday gathering of family and friends turns into disaster when a relative turns up missing. Salim is cousin to brother and sister duo Ted and Kat. After Salim's mother accepts a prestigious position which would cause them to move from London to New York city, they stop to spend a few days of vacation before relocating to the United States. Salim requests a visit to the London Eye tourist attraction in London. He steps into a pod which will take a thirty minute revolution around the giant ferris wheel type contraption. When the ride is over Salim disappears into thin air. At first everyone hopes that he just got lost in the city or decided to take a trip to see his father, but as the days go by his mother and relatives begin to become seriously worried. Ted appears to have Asperger's Syndrome, and has a mind like a computer, and his sister Kat feels responsible for Salim's disappearance. With her determination and Salim's incredible brain, they manage to solve the mystery and find him in the nick of time.
My Impressions:
I found this book to be completely mesmerizing. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, and I was on the edge of my seat. It is full of suspense and excitement. But it is more than just a great mystery. There was a great deal of sentiment and moments that touched the heart, mind, and soul. This book is full of humor, and proves that a person with challenges can still overcome them and make a tremendous difference in the lives of the people around them. Ted is a remarkable character and the reader can't help but fall in love with him. I was particularly touched by his frustrations in getting others to just listen to what he had to say. He desperately tried to communicate his ideas and thoughts to the police, his parents, and even his sister Kat. They all assumed that because of his disability he wasn't able to contribute or help. In the end it was his amazing sleuthing skills and computer like brain that helped saved Salim's life.
Reviews:
"The author keeps the tension building, both in the dreaded possibilities that may have befallen Salim and in the efforts of Ted to interact with a world that he finds difficult to interpret. The story is told by Ted, putting the reader into his literal and logical mind and allowing readers to understand his struggles and join his progress in deciphering the world. Sharing Ted’s journey toward a better understanding of human interaction is as satisfying as saving Salim. Some of the British terms may need explanation (fags are cigarettes, the tube is the subway, and a lilo is an air mattress) although the context will help most readers figure them out. This is a great mystery story with characters that readers can empathize with and care about. It is highly recommended for elementary, middle school, and public libraries. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades 5-8."-Ellen Simmons, The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 21, No. 2)
Lesson Plans:
This book would pair well with a geography lesson or unit. There are many British references and terminology that students could investigate in order to learn more about Great Britain, its customs, its cultures, and its people. As a mystery, this book could also pair well with lessons about deductive reasoning skills, analytical skills, and logic skills and help reinforce key concepts students need to understand.
Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. New York: Fickling Books, 2008.
What begins as a friendly, everyday gathering of family and friends turns into disaster when a relative turns up missing. Salim is cousin to brother and sister duo Ted and Kat. After Salim's mother accepts a prestigious position which would cause them to move from London to New York city, they stop to spend a few days of vacation before relocating to the United States. Salim requests a visit to the London Eye tourist attraction in London. He steps into a pod which will take a thirty minute revolution around the giant ferris wheel type contraption. When the ride is over Salim disappears into thin air. At first everyone hopes that he just got lost in the city or decided to take a trip to see his father, but as the days go by his mother and relatives begin to become seriously worried. Ted appears to have Asperger's Syndrome, and has a mind like a computer, and his sister Kat feels responsible for Salim's disappearance. With her determination and Salim's incredible brain, they manage to solve the mystery and find him in the nick of time.
My Impressions:
I found this book to be completely mesmerizing. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, and I was on the edge of my seat. It is full of suspense and excitement. But it is more than just a great mystery. There was a great deal of sentiment and moments that touched the heart, mind, and soul. This book is full of humor, and proves that a person with challenges can still overcome them and make a tremendous difference in the lives of the people around them. Ted is a remarkable character and the reader can't help but fall in love with him. I was particularly touched by his frustrations in getting others to just listen to what he had to say. He desperately tried to communicate his ideas and thoughts to the police, his parents, and even his sister Kat. They all assumed that because of his disability he wasn't able to contribute or help. In the end it was his amazing sleuthing skills and computer like brain that helped saved Salim's life.
Reviews:
"The author keeps the tension building, both in the dreaded possibilities that may have befallen Salim and in the efforts of Ted to interact with a world that he finds difficult to interpret. The story is told by Ted, putting the reader into his literal and logical mind and allowing readers to understand his struggles and join his progress in deciphering the world. Sharing Ted’s journey toward a better understanding of human interaction is as satisfying as saving Salim. Some of the British terms may need explanation (fags are cigarettes, the tube is the subway, and a lilo is an air mattress) although the context will help most readers figure them out. This is a great mystery story with characters that readers can empathize with and care about. It is highly recommended for elementary, middle school, and public libraries. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades 5-8."-Ellen Simmons, The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 21, No. 2)
Lesson Plans:
This book would pair well with a geography lesson or unit. There are many British references and terminology that students could investigate in order to learn more about Great Britain, its customs, its cultures, and its people. As a mystery, this book could also pair well with lessons about deductive reasoning skills, analytical skills, and logic skills and help reinforce key concepts students need to understand.
Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. New York: Fickling Books, 2008.
Simmons, Ellen. "Children's Literature Reviews: The London Eye Mystery." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. November 24, 2009.
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