Thirty-five years ago in the early morning hours of 18 March 1990, 13 priceless works of art by famous artists were stolen from a museum in Boston.  The thieves pretended to be police officers responding to a call and then tied up the guards and spent the next hour looting the museum.  The case remains unsolved to this day; no arrests have been made and no evidence has ever been recovered.  The museum is still offering a 10 million dollar reward for anyone who can give information leading to the artwork's recovery.

Ten years ago, in 2015, teacher and children's author Blue Balliett decided to write a middle grade mystery novel based on this real heist, where six detectives, all teenagers, undertook a made up case similar to the real one described above.  This book--Pieces and Players--is what we'll be reading in book club this summer.  But we won't just be reading.  We'll be exercising our puzzle-solving skills, decoding cyphers, and thinking outside the box.  Every week participants will have the chance to hone their skills by solving one piece of an escape room-style mystery.  And who knows?  Maybe if you work hard and consider the facts, YOU will be the one to solve the case.

This program is for ages 10-16 and requires registration.  Participants will need to either have their own WCPL library card or be able to check out the book on a parent or guardian's card.  For more information, ask at the Circulation desk at the Bryan Main Library or contact the Youth Services Manager Libby Daniel at 833-633-7323 ex. 243 or by email libby@mywcpl.org.