A New Mystery
The Mighty Muskrats are the child detectives of the next generation. In the third book in the series by Michael Hutchinson, The Case of the Burgled Bundle, Chickadee, Otter, Sam and Atim are on the case to find the Treaty 12 bundle that has mysteriously disappeared from The National Assembly of Cree Peoples.
At the opening of The National Assembly of Cree Peoples, Grandpa makes a blunder setting in motion the newest case for The Mighty Muskrats. Grandpa’s friend, Elder Leon Shining Deer, the Bundle Holder and Knowledge Keeper for the fictional Treaty 12 territory arrives to help but the Treaty 12 bundle is stolen in the night and The Mighty Muskrats take on the case, with the help of Uncle Levi, reservation constable, of course. The Mighty Muskrats make observations, talk with the suspects and eventually help solve the case.
I love that the Mighty Muskrats are very highly regarded in the story. They have the trust of their Elders and the other grownups in the community and although they are warned to be careful, they are given space and latitude to investigate and solve the problem. They go about their detective work with purpose and intention, always mindful about staying neutral and letting the facts speak. Not only do they collect some clues but they also gain some valuable knowledge about how to walk a good path along the way. The Muskrats are far from perfect certainly as we all are but are very open in their interactions with all of the suspects in the case as well as all the members of the Windy Lake community.
This book kept me guessing all along the way. Michael Hutchinson did a masterful job ensuring that the outcome was not obvious. There was a lot of work needed by The Mighty Muskrats and many, many questions to be answered. Every time they talked to another suspect they were just left with more questions and very few answers.
Right from the beginning the reader will feel the love and pride for all Cree Peoples leap off the pages and right into their hearts. The story is all wrapped around ceremony and the significance and importance of ceremony for all Cree Peoples. In each action, The Mighty Muskrats are keenly aware of the reaction, how their actions have an effect and how in order to walk a good path, there needs to be balance. There is a great amount of understanding to be gained in this series and specifically in this instalment. The Case of the Burgled Bundle is a story for not only Cree readers but their classmates, friends and the wider community. Cree readers will feel pride and see their experiences through the words of Michael Hutchinson. We have a whole new set of child detectives to admire and emulate. Readers who are not members of a Cree nation will gain a greater understanding and respect for Indigenous Peoples as a larger group and more specifically Cree Peoples. Educators and parents, we no longer need to look to the books of our childhood for compelling mysteries, we have some brand new ones right at our fingertips.
