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Friday, July 22, 2016

#40 - Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Code - Kathryn Kenny



#40
Title:  Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Code
Author:  Kathryn Kenny
Genre:  Kid Fiction
Category:  Mystery
Rating:  B
Published:  1961
Dates:  7/17/16 – 7/21/16

Number seven in the series follows chronologically and begins in January when the Bob-Whites return from their winter holiday in Arizona.  We find Trixie bemoaning that Principal Stratton of the Sleepyside Junior/Senior High is challenging the BWG's (short for Bob-Whites of the Glen) existence.  Trixie calls an impromptu meeting in the cafeteria to bring the other BWGs up to date on the impending dissolution of their group.  In order to justify their existence to the school board the group feels compelled to demonstrate how worthwhile their club is.  They decide to put on an antique show to earn money for Unicef, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.  The school board agrees and before we know it the BWGs are deep into their mystery as they identify antiques in their neighborhood suitable to sell and display at the show.
We meet some new characters – Old Brom; neighbor, Mrs. Vanderpoel; schoolmate, Tad Webster; the Hakaito brothers and Diana’s rambunctious yet charming twin brothers, Terry and Larry Lynch.  Like the huge snowstorm that blankets the area, the mystery deepens and danger looms as Trixie, Jim and Brian get stranded in the game preserve, trying to rescue Reddy.  The weather brightens as February approaches and Diana hosts a Valentine’s Day party.  I love that Jim seems more romantically interested in Trixie and the other twosomes also coming together.  It is fun to see the characters growing and another episode adding to the depth this series will become.

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