Missing Melinda

by Jacqueline Jackson, Irene Burns (Illustrator)

Twins girls discover Melinda, a valuable antique doll that is hidden in a dusty old trunk in their Uncle's house. One day Melinda disappears. Where did she go?

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Novels, Fiction

142 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Jacqueline Jackson is a retired Professor of English from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She also taught children's literature at Kent State University. She has four daughters: Damaris (deceased), Gillian, Elspeth, and Megan.

Ms. Jackson's for young readers are Julie's Secret Sloth, The Paleface Redskins, Chicken Ten Thousand, The Ghost Boat, and The Taste of Spruce Gum, a Notable Children's Book of 1966. In addition, Jacqueline has received the Dorothy Canfield Fisher children's book award. She considers her books Stories from the Round Barn and More Stories from the Round Barn to be her best work.

Reviews

[Karen Witzler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled upon the title again today. Ophelia and Cordelia, twin daughters of a Shakespeare scholar who tends to communicate in famous quotations, solve a mystery. I wish this had been a series - am recalling it as having a sort of Flavia de Luce vibe, but definitely for kids.

[Gatlianne Gatlianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library in 1988 - loved the book...never returned it. I still have it on my bookshelf.

[SuzAnne King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ophelia & Cordelia are twins. Their father is a Shakespeare devotee and following in his literary footsteps the girls decide to write about a mystery that may have happened before they find Melinda, who happens to be a doll.
I first read this book when I was a pre-teen and I loved it for a number of childish reasons: I had friends who were twins, my mother quoted Shakespeare, and I also wanted to write a book. Many, many years later I decided to purchase this out of print book online because it had been on my mind for a number of obscure reasons that I won't go into now. But as I'm a teacher and I write Book Reviews for our local newspaper I decided not to ignore what was one of my all time favourite children's books.
Now I don't like book reviews that give too much away but I will say that the twins write alternating chapters of their book which cleverly allows their personalities to emerge as separate and highly interesting individuals. I also like the way they introduce vocabulary to the reader with childlike but surprisingly accurate definitions. Then there is the mystery itself with its twists, false leads and suspicious characters. I hope this little gem is still around in libraries for future sleuths to enjoy. 5/5

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twins Ophelia and Cordelia find an antique doll in their great uncle's attic, only to have some scurvy rapscallion steal it from beneath their tip-tilted noses. I just love this book...it's extremely clever and funny, with plenty of references to Shakespeare sprinkled throughout. I particularly loved the chapters devoted to the girls' tour through a doll collector's house and their subsequent visit to a doll hospital. Just a really great mystery for kids that should be put back into print.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twin girls Ophelia & Cordelia solve the mystery of a stolen antique doll in a book they write with alternating chapters written by each twin from their perspective. My twin sister Kristin & I met Jacqueline Jackson when were were ~ 12 years old at a Kaldecott book event, and she helped us write a book with alternating chapters like Ophelia's & Cordelia's about our experience with Kristin's brain tumor. A very important processing in our lives.

[Arwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the books that defined my childhood. Read it over and over. A wonderful mystery.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an old favorite. The main characters and the plot stayed with me, so I was happy to be able to find it again. When the Gibbs family inherit an old house from a rich uncle, they are very excited. Trying to stay out of the way, twins Ophelia and Cordelia (their father is a Shakespeare lover), explore the attic, and find an old doll. But when they take her to the nearby park, she disappears, while they are climbing a tree. So the two girls turn detective, and try to find any possible clues. Very enjoyable and imaginative, with excellent characterization. The book is written as if by the two girls, taking turns. Highly recommended.

[Skye Bluewater · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will tickle your catastrophe! Fabulous mystery solved and written by twin sleuths, each in her own unique voice, sparkling with Shakespearean delights. A pure joy to read; with the bonus of intriguing doll making, collecting, and repairing history.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twins Cordelia and Ophelia and a mysterious doll - now missing!

[Melisa Blok · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book my mom introduced me to when I was younger. We read it together several times, and I remember really enjoying it. It was very fun to revisit, and it definitely held up! It has humor, fun narrators, Shakespeare references, and page-turning edge-of-your-seat suspense! What more could a reader ask for?

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book's chapters are alternately written by the two protagonists, twin sisters Ophelia and Cordelia. It's a very cute story about an antique doll the girls find in the attic of their new home and then lose again when the doll is stolen in the park. There are several suspects and the girls follow the clues to flush out the thief. An enjoyable read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twins Cordelia and Ophelia find an antique doll in an attic. It is stolen and the two young detectives set out to solve the mystery.

I read every Jacqueline Jackson book that our library had. I remember that I would become interested in the elements of the books and try to be more like the characters.

[wanderer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dear favorite from my school days. I reread it every term and now own it, out of sentiment. Very cute kids' book with some good detective work.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

B+. children's book, dolls, middle grades, upper elementary, mystery, mom's stash, keep.

[ZEUS]

very good

[Robin Merrow MacCready · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite childhood books! A mystery, twins with cool names, curious people, and a doll. This book was my first mystery and it came in the Weekly Reader Book Club one summer when I was sick. My mother read it to me while I was curled up next to her in her big bed. Nearly 50 years later and I can still recall some details and the urgency of needing to hear the next chapter!