The Mysterious Jamestown Suitcase: A Bailey Fish Adventure

Reviewed by Regan Zaborowski (age 8) for Reader Views (12/07) This book is about a man and his wife, called Elmo and Feather Phigg, who have car trouble and want to stay at the Keswick Inn. But first they meet Bailey Fish and her grandmother, and they help the Phiggs get to the Keswick Inn. They have a green suitcase that is very heavy and no one knows what is in it. Bailey and her friends try to find out what is in the suitcase. They are very curious about it. There is also a girl who comes to the Keswick Inn that Mr. and Mrs. Keswick are going to take care of. She can't speak, and Bailey and her grandmother have a party for her so that she would want to laugh or talk to someone. I was so nervous when I had to wait to see if she would; I really wanted her to. While they are doing this, Mr. and Mrs. Phigg go to Jamestown because they are writing a history book about that place. There is a big surprise at the end when everyone learns about what is in the suitcase. I liked reading "The Mysterious Jamestown Suitcase" with my mom. The main character in the book, Bailey Fish, seemed to be like me - curious and wanting to know about mysteries. I wanted to read more after I was done with each chapter, because the mystery kept getting stranger. We didn't learn what was in the suitcase until the very end, and it was very funny. I also learned about history of Jamestown, which is in Virginia. It made me want to learn more about the first people that came to live there. I am asking my mom for more Bailey Fish books, because they are fun to read.

Fourth in the Bailey Fish Adventure series, The Mysterious Jamestown Suitcase is a chapter book for young readers set in modern-day central Virginia. Written to tie in with the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement, The Mysterious Jamestown Suitcase blends facts about American history into the enjoyable narrative of young Bailey Fish, her grandmother, and her friends as they are puzzled by the contents of a locked green suitcase. Bailey and her grandmother also reach out plan a party to help a young, silent foster child start talking again; and the mystery takes an unexpected turn when another guest arrives! A high-spirited, wholesome adventure story.