Jigsaw: Mystery in the Mail

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Author(s)

Bob Graham

Publisher

Candlewick

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

July 12, 2022

ISBN

978-1536224993

Buy This Book

Serendipity and positive thinking come into play as a family searches for a missing puzzle piece in Bob Graham’s enchanting story with a sweet surprise ending.

“Oh, let’s do it!” say Kitty and Katy and Mom when a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle mysteriously arrives in the mail. “I have time on my hands,” agrees Dad. Starting in winter with the edges, by autumn they’re almost done, only to discover that one piece is missing. Mom is sure that it must have accidentally gone out with the trash, so the Kellys pile into the car to comb through the local dump (“shouldn’t take long”). There they uncover forgotten letters, train tickets, discarded newspapers, and old photos yellow with age, but finding the missing piece is starting to seem like wishful thinking. “Let’s wish, then,” says Katy. As in all of Bob Graham’s work, the beauty here is in the details, with visual perspectives that offer a bird’s-eye view or take us underfoot, wordless sequences letting us in on a secret. Is it sheer luck—or perhaps the power of hope—that creates an ending to the story?

Editor review

1 review

Family and Puzzles!

January 28, 2023

Overall rating

3.0

Plot

3.0

Characters

3.0

Writing Style

3.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

3.0

When a family gets a random jigsaw in the mail, they aren't sure who sent it but are more than excited to complete it. They take their time to make sure each piece is where it belongs. It isn't until they reach the end that they discover the worst thing possible. A piece is missing! They search high and low, but mom fears it was thrown out, so they take a trip to find for it. When they come up with nothing, it isn't until they return home that they find it in the most unexpected of places.

JIGSAW: MYSTERY IN THE MAIL is a sweet story about a family who comes together to work on the mystery puzzle. It shows children how much fun a jigsaw puzzle can be and how it can lead to random adventures. I love how the family bonds over this puzzle because I enjoy doing them with my daughter. She thought it was funny how they looked everyone for the missing piece because we've had the same thing happen to us, only we didn't find it.

Final Verdict: Overall, this is a story to teach about family bonding and how something as simple as a puzzle can bring everyone together. The illustrations remind me of the style you would find among the comic section of a newspaper.