A Dictionary of Scoundrels

Reach for this book when your child feels restricted by the labels adults or peers have placed on them. If your middle grader is struggling with the pressure to be 'the smart one,' 'the athlete,' or even 'the troublemaker,' this witty mystery offers a profound lesson in self-definition. It follows Shenanigan Swift, a girl born into a family where names dictate destiny, as she rejects her 'mischief-maker' label to solve a family murder. While it is a whodunit with a body count, the tone is arch, clever, and reminiscent of Lemony Snicket, making the macabre elements feel like a grand, vocabulary-rich puzzle. It is an ideal choice for building a love of language and encouraging the independence to choose one's own path.