This session at Thornhill we’re exploring the elements of a good mystery. The kids have been crafting mystery stories and learning all about creative writing techniques, from character and plot development to using concrete details and the five senses to tell a story. We’ve been having a great time. Here are some teasers...
From: Write a letter to or from one of your characters.
Dear Police Officer,
You wanted to know my story so...here it is! This is my story! I am Violet V. 12 years old with short brown hair and blue eyes. I used to have parents and they disappeared during a hurricane. I was left alone with only my strict grandfather to look after me. He lived in a big, shining new house with a backyard and swimming pool in Cuba. He was a rich, greedy and mean old man. He made me be his servant! If I refused he would threaten or punish me.
-Michela
From: How to organize a mystery around Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? using the prompt “It was missing.”
Have You Lost Your Mind?
“So, who am I again?” I asked and then he vanished. Was gone. Disappeared. Left. Was Away. And I was all alone. No idea what had just happened.
“You shall go on a quest to find your memory,” said a strange man.
-Sophie
From: Describe a setting and mood with the five senses.
Small Town in the Future
The survivors wouldn’t say, so no one knew what had happened. Everyone who survived knew, but vowed to never give up. The treacherous story had brought them here, accidentally, without food, water, or any recognition of what was happening and what already had. After spending what they used to call a week, they knew what people have spent a millenia wondering, still arguing on an answer. What happens after the sun has died? The survivors are the strongest out of the strong. They are the last humans.
-Sidney
From: How to organize a mystery around Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? using the prompt “It was missing.”
I said, “Good morning, Kikii!” No answer. “Kikii, I got your favorite breakfast kitty chow!” Still no answer. I went to check her room. “Kikii, I called you a million times where were yo--” I stopped in the middle of my sentence, She wasn’t there! I looked everywhere for her. The bathroom, the kitchen, even her favorite litter box! P.U. “Reemi. Focus!”
-Reemi
From: Rewrite a twist ending for a common fairytale.
The beginning of The Boy Who Cried Wolf
In a town, lived a boy shepherd by the name of Claude. He was very tall and was very demanding with his voice. He wasn’t watchful as sheep were disappearing. One day he was bored and he cried “Wolf!” The men came running but there was no wolf. He did that every day for a week and the town was getting annoyed. They decided that they wouldn’t come anymore. The next morning Claude was missing and so were his sheep. There was blood everywhere. They looked for him for days.
-Elise (collaborated with Mitch)
From: Rewrite a twist ending for a common fairytale.
The ending of The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Finally one night they saw something moving. It was a wolf! It was talking to someone and they noticed it was a full moon. The voice was Claudes! The next morning they found bloody paw prints leading to dead sheep’s wool. I hope that creature doesn’t come to our town again, said one of the men. We spotted Claude! his feet look like claws. Funny coincidence. Claude came back. He said he was sick and he was back. But that night it was a full moon. Suddenly Claude turned into a wolf! Everyone screamed! Claude ran off and as far as I know he never came back. I’m sure everyone’s glad about that.
-Mitch (collaborated with Elise)
From: How to organize a mystery around Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? using the prompt “It was missing.”
Kila scored the winning goal!! The Shooting Stars had won the game. At the end of the game the Coach gave Kila a ball signed by everyone on her soccer team, but Jessica just gave her an evil glare. Bella was so happy she just started hugging Kila so tight. Since it was a soccer game at Disney World, Kila decided to put her ball down and go play with her friends.
-Jamie
From: Write a letter to or from one of your characters.
2/11/1943
Dear runaway parent,
There were buckets of rain leaking through my abandoned truck. Spent the morning underneath the Grove in the park. Listening to the chirping birds as if they were crying my name, “Dustpin, Dustpin.” The winter is near, 11th Tale of my Life, leaking one tear of Hope, that you’ll be coming. Spent the afternoon seemed to leave a shadow of hunger. Found “the bike” + rode off to Charity Red Fund for supper. Now watching my life go by.
-Dustpin
(P.S. Please come for me.)
-Maxwell
From: How to organize a mystery around Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? using the prompt “It was missing.”
One day Jordan was reading his book at home when all of a sudden there was a knock on the door. Jordan went to the door to open it. At the door his friend Mike was there. “Hi, Jordan!” said Mike. “Do you want to go to the park to play basketball?” Sure!’ said Jordan. “First let me ask my mom.” Jordan’s mom said yes then he went to put on his basketball shorts. When Jordan and Mike got to the park, Jordan said, “Sooo, where is the basketball?” “Basketball? I thought you were bringing it.” So they both went back to Jordan’s house where Jordan asked his dad where his basketball was. Jordan’s dad said, “I don’t know, but maybe it’s in the garage. Let’s go check.” They searched for half an hour but couldn’t find his ball. When they got back into the house Jordan whispered to Mike, “My dad is acting suspicious, don’t you think?”
-Parsa
