The Case of the Pilfered Pin

Synopsis:

The Windy Lake First Nation’s lands have been shared with cottagers for fifty years, but no one can agree on where the reserve land ends. The only thing that can prove the boundary is a steel surveyor’s pin with the borders of the Windy Lake reserve etched into its head.

When the Mighty Muskrats hear that the pin was stolen years ago—and that it is connected to their grandpa’s mysterious past—they make it their mission to find the missing pin and prove that the land belongs to their people. But the mystery gets tense when Grandpa becomes a suspect. Cousins Sam, Otter, Atim, and Chickadee must find that pilfered pin!

Reviews
"This chapter book is book five of A Mighty Muskrats Mystery series. The Muskrats are a group of four cousins (Atim, Chickadee, Otter, and Sam) who solve mysteries, and this time, they are looking for an important piece of evidence to support their Nation’s land claim. The central theme is the importance of looking after one’s people, but not at the expense of others. The history of government policy around First Nations people is explored in a child-friendly way throughout the story (treaties, land claims, reserve systems, etc.), which sets the stage for a conversation around the importance of cultural heritage. The connection between Nations and the land is demonstrated through the way the Windy Lake Nation members uphold and practice Traditional care of the land. Cautions / Content Warnings: Bias, prejudice, and racism are discussed but in a sensitive, child-friendly way." - Alethea S., Elementary School Teacher, Indigenous Books for Schools

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 9-12.

This book is part of the fun and adventurous A Mighty Muskrat Mystery Series. This series puts an Indigenous spin on the classic Hardy Boys and Three Investigators books. 

This book is included in the Indigenous Books for Schools database from the Association of Book Publishers of BC. It is recommended for Grades 4 to 6 for English Language Arts and Social Studies.

Additional Information
184 pages | 5.25" x 7.50" | Paperback