10 Best Mystery Series for Girls

Smart girls are a force to be reckoned with in these mysteries!

By Amy Mascott

Ages

6-13

10 Best Mystery Series for Girls

Mysteries are a super genre for children, especially if you've got a reluctant reader on your hands. 

Nothing seems to really engage young readers like a mystery because often from the start, readers are hooked.  Pages turn quickly in an attempt to find out the answers or solve the dilemma, and exciting conversations can take place about what might happen and why.

Here are 10 of our favorite mystery series for young female readers, though it must be noted that any book below could be read by any child; these books just happen to have female protagonists. 

Young Cam Jansen Mysteries by David A. Adler and illustrated by Susanna Natti (grades K-2)

Perfect for emerging readers, this series follows the detective work of a young Cam Jansen!

Cam Jansen Mysteries by David A. Adler and illustrated by Susanna Natti, (grades 2-3)

The red-headed detective Cam Jansen uses her photographic memory to solve mysteries in her neighborhood.

A Dog and His Girl Mysteries by Jane B. Mason and illustrated by Sarah Hines Stephens (grades 2-3)

Cassie and her newly adopted police dog, Dodge, work together to solve mysteries. 

The Babysitters Club Super Mysteries series by Ann M. Martin (grades 2-5)

More than 35 books complete this series, and young readers can't seem to get enough!

Trixie Belden series by Julie Campbell Tatham and Kathryn Kenny (grades 3-5)

These books were written about 50 years ago, but this young and savvy detective had quite a few fans in her day and is still a fave of girls today.

The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley and illustrated by Peter Ferguson (grades 3-5)

Sisters Sabrina and Daphne are descendants of the Brothers Grimm, so the two find themselves solving mysteries not only of their mysterious past and complicated responsibilities.

The 39 Clues series by Rick Riordan (grades 3-7)

Amy and Dan Cahill must work together, traveling around the world to solve the mystery of the 39 clues. 

American Girl Mysteries series by various authors (grades 4-6)

Based upon the popular American Girl historical dolls, these mysteries take place in a variety of places and span dozens of years. 

Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene (grades 2-8)

This series has appeared in a number of iterations over the last decade and has over 200 titles combined. Readers in grades 2-5 might enjoy the Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series, or Nancy Drew Notebooks, while older readers may like the Nancy Drew River Heights series.  

Enola Holmes Mysteries series by Nancy Springer (grades 6-8)

Sherlock Holmes' younger sister, Enola, is the star of this exciting series.

Again, these mysteries are for boys and girls alike; however, girls tend to appreciate the females at the lead a bit more than boys. 

What are your favorite mystery series for girls? We'd love to hear them! (Also, check out these top mystery series for boys.)

Share your thoughts on the Scholastic Parents Facebook page, or find Amy on Twitter, @teachmama, and let's continue the conversation!

Read all posts by Amy Mascott.

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