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Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite
In The Backyard Detectives: Operation Family Mystery by Christal Majestic, readers are introduced to siblings Rose and Jacob, who wake up in the night because they hear whispering downstairs. Out of curiosity, they quietly eavesdrop on their parents’ conversation, and to their dismay, they hear the word no child ever wants to hear: Divorce. This sets the stage for these two siblings to find out more about how their lives are going to change. They decide to become detectives and launch Operation: Family Mystery. Their first meeting takes place in the backyard under the oak tree, where they felt safe, because this spot didn’t know anything about divorce, according to Rose's reasoning. With a handy notebook, the siblings begin to gather clues about what they had and things they did not know. Where will these clues lead them, and will Rose and Jacob learn to navigate a life with divorce in it?
Christal Majestic presents the topic of divorce in this children’s book in such a gentle way. Through Rose and Jacob, readers feel as though they are gathering clues right along with them. It also allows readers to feel the raw emotions and confusion that these siblings are experiencing as they learn more about their parents’ divorce. For example, when Jacob blames himself and asks, “Do you think we did something wrong?" It emotionally resonates with readers who may have wondered the same thing. The illustrations are beautiful and presented in black and white sketches that match the emotional journey that Rose and Jacob are going through as they get closer to uncovering clues they may not be prepared to know. Operation Family Mystery could sit comfortably alongside other great stories with a similar gentle introduction of divorce, such as The Invisible String by Patrice Karst or Two Homes by Claire Masurel.
