When I was in grade school I loved it when they passed out book order forms. I would carefully circle up to three books from the list and then ask my mom if I could order them. Most of the time she said yes. I always loved the books that were collections of mysteries from history or the natural world. From cryptids to strange coincidences, I was always curious about the unexplained or unusual. And I still am!

In the 1990s, Phyllis Raybin Emert published several collections of stories for middle grade age kids. While most of the books are out of print at the moment, used copies aren't hard to come by. I'm hoping at some point the publisher does some updates on facts and re-releases these stories. Great fun to read -- even as an adult!

Mysteries of People and Places collects 26 tales of interesting or unusual people and places. From places with legends like Oak Island and its famous treasure to the Lost Colony of Roanoke to strange tales of famous people like Agatha Christie's disappearance and the Mid-air exploits of D.B. Cooper, the tales are varied and interesting. Illustrations by Jael really make the stories pop.

Most of the stories I was familiar with, although I did learn some new interesting facts. Several were new to me, like the story of the Royal Charter shipwreck, the disappearance of Dorothy Arnold and the loss at sea of Donald Crowhurst.

The stories are short. Most are only 2-3 pages long. Each is engaging and interesting. I could see this book being used in a classroom setting as supplemental reading or to entice reluctant readers. I always enjoy books by Phyllis Raybin Emert. Her tales of the mysterious and unusual always give me a fun afternoon of entertaining reading! I read a lot of adult horror and suspense novels....and children's books are often a great palate cleanser for my brain after reading heavier fiction. These collections of interesting stories are perfect short reads for in-between longer, more adult themed, novels. ( )