Historical Character Mysteries (or American Girl Mysteries) are mystery stories starring Historical Characters, including those released through BeForever.
Overview[]
Each story is set either after or during the events of the Central Series, at some point after the character's meet book (for example, Shadows on Society Hill happens after Changes for Addy; however, The Runaway Friend happens soon after Meet Kirsten). The books are written by well-known authors from the History Mysteries series; the target audience is the nine-to-twelve age group. Each book has multiple layered mysteries occurring, with the title referencing the main mystery going on through through the book.
The books had no inner illustrations and covered more mature topics than are touched on in the Central Series (such as the effects of war on returning soldiers post World War Two, racism towards blacks, and classism in the Edwardian era) and include Looking Back sections that discuss the topics.
Early editions of books had removable bookmarks or information cards on the back flap that also listed other titles in the series, which were removed with the rebranding. During BeForever, several prior mysteries were been reprinted with new covers and additions, such as The Crystal Ball's reprint including a glossary of Yiddish words.
All historical mystery books were retired with the end of BeForever in 2019; no characters after Nanea have received this style of mystery books. The series showcased all characters at least once but was heavily unbalanced towards character representation; Kit received the most with seven books total but Kirsten, Addy, Nanea, and Melody each only received one and there was a gap of ten or more years between Kaya and Josefina's two mysteries.
Mysteries Across Time[]
The cover of Julie and the Blue Guitar
In 2023, the announcement of the Mysteries Across Time series was made. The series are graphic novels with the framing device of a girl of the modern era reading a diary of the past starring the historical character.. The first book, Julie and the Blue Guitar, was released in 2024. This was followed by the announcement of Isabel and Nicki Versus the Bigfoot Bandit; however, in September 2024 news indicated that the book had been cancelled.
Related Items[]
Two other items were tied into the first release of mysteries: The Zip-Up Sweatsuit for dolls and the American Girl Mystery Puzzles.
List of American Girl Mysteries and Mysteries Through Time[]
Kaya[]
Felicity Merriman[]
- Peril at King's Creek by Elizabeth McDavid Jones
- Traitor in Williamsburg by Elizabeth McDavid Jones
- Lady Margaret's Ghost by Elizabeth McDavid Jones
Caroline Abbott[]
- Traitor in the Shipyard by Kathleen Ernst
- The Traveler's Tricks by Laurie Calkhoven
- The Smuggler's Secrets by Kathleen Ernst
Josefina Montoya[]
Cécile Rey and Marie-Grace Gardner[]
- The Hidden Gold by Sarah Masters Buckey
- The Cameo Necklace by Evelyn Coleman
- The Haunted Opera by Sarah Masters Buckey
Kirsten Larson[]
Addy Walker[]
Samantha Parkington[]
- The Curse of Ravenscourt by Sarah Masters Buckey
- The Stolen Sapphire by Sarah Masters Buckey
- The Cry of the Loon by Barbara Steiner
- Clue in the Castle Tower by Sarah Masters Buckey
- Danger in Paris by Sarah Masters Buckey
Rebecca Rubin[]
- Secrets at Camp Nokomis by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
- A Bundle of Trouble by Kathryn Reiss
- The Crystal Ball by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
- A Growing Suspicion by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
- The Showstopper by Mary Casanova
Kit Kittredge[]
- Danger at the Zoo by Kathleen Ernst
- Midnight in Lonesome Hollow by Kathleen Ernst
- A Thief in the Theater by Sarah Masters Buckey
- Missing Grace by Elizabeth McDavid Jones
- Intruders at Rivermead Manor by Kathryn Reiss
- The Jazzman's Trumpet by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
- Menace at Mammoth Cave by Mary Casanova
Nanea Mitchell[]
Molly McIntire[]
- A Spy on the Home Front by Alison Hart
- The Light in the Cellar by Sarah Masters Buckey
- Clues in the Shadows by Kathleen Ernst
Maryellen Larkin[]
Melody Ellison[]
Julie Albright[]
- The Tangled Web by Kathryn Reiss
- The Puzzle of the Paper Daughter by Kathryn Reiss
- The Silver Guitar by Kathryn Reiss
- Lost in the City by Kathleen O'Dell
- Message in a Bottle by Kathryn Reiss
- Julie and the Blue Guitar by Casey Gilly
Isabel and Nicki Hoffman[]
- Isabel and Nicki Versus the Bigfoot Bandit by TBA (cancelled)
See Also[]
- History Mysteries, a historical mystery series focusing on individual characters in unrepresented (at the time) American history time periods.