The Field of Suspects Narrows!

The mystery just gets better and better - what a great way to get the New Year off to an exciting start! Sixth grade and Seth have done a terrific job of building on the clues from previous chapters so that Phil thinks he’s found the thief, only to be very surprised when he announces his supposed solution to the mystery. I really enjoyed seeing the new pictures for the earlier chapters, too.

You got the chapter off to a strong start with Mr. Callantine’s reaction to the keys falling out of Phil’s pocket, and Mr. Troth’s telling the boys that they keep making themselves look suspicious, and punishing them by not allowing them to go to Old Faithful with the other kids. It definitely bothers me that he and Mr. Callantine are so easily convinced of Phil’s guilt - and punish Dexter just by association!

I haven’t forgotten when Phil followed Mr. Troth - what if that green notebook was more than just a couple of science teachers sharing class projects or lesson plans? Phil didn’t hang around to find out. And what about that receipt? Usually someone who’s as quick to condemn another person as Mr. Troth is has something to hide himself. Not all the adults believe Phil is guilty - Mr. Nash has kept an open mind. Is that just because Molli has told him Phil couldn’t have done it, or is he wondering, also, why the school authorities have decided Phil’s the thief on so little evidence?

I was pleased to see the way you’ve developed the other kids’ hostility, with Randy sneering and Missy not wanting Phil’s help when she falls. You’ve done a good job of clarifying the way the lines are being drawn among the kids, with Dexter and Molli sticking up for Phil, and the others getting downright nasty. I also found it interesting that Randy is the one calling Phil names at the beginning, and also the next student to have his Palm Pilot stolen.

I particularly liked Molli’s staying behind to help Phil and Dexter figure out the mystery. Your dialogue between the three of them does a good job of showing their personalities and cementing their friendship, as well as examining the evidence so far. And you did a great job of blending in that dialogue with action as they examined the footprints in the bushes. I only wondered why Molli didn’t come out to support them when Phil tried to confront Missy and prove her guilt.

You did a great job setting up Missy and then explaining away all the clues that seemed to condemn her. That narrows the list of suspects. So who could the real thief be? And what is that loud grating noise? Poor Phil! I wonder what he saw moving by the bushes before he ran into the tree? He’s still collecting clues, but I’m afraid he’s going to hate camping worse than ever when he finally gets home from this ordeal. What is he going to do next?

How will the mystery thicken still further? Randy must have taken his Palm Pilot to Old Faithful. If Phil wasn’t on the trip, and then he was with Missy and Mr. Troth (with Mr. Callantine and half the class following them) when Randy’s Palm Pilot went missing, does he have an alibi at last? Or did Randy forget his Palm Pilot, so it was in the tent the whole time the kids were gone, which would make Phil look even more guilty than ever? Only Chapter 6 can answer those questions!