Customer Reviews

Puzzle of the Paper Daughter: A Julie Mystery (American Girl Mysteries)

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Julie finds an old note written in Chinese hidden inside the lining of an old jacket Ivy's grandmother donates to Gladrags. The note unlocks a key to a mystery surrounding Ivy's grandmother's past. It also opens up a discussion about Ivy's family history and her grandmother's experience coming to California in 1915. Julie and Ivy are excited about the idea of trying to reunite Ivy's grandmother with someone from her past, but then Ivy and Julie's Chinese dolls are stolen. Julie and Ivy are determined to get their dolls back and find out who took them and why. Julie begins to suspect that the theft of the dolls and the mystery of Ivy's family's past are connected. Meanwhile, Julie also has to deal with changes to her own household and learn to be welcoming to newcomers.

Julie's subplot moves the story along and introduces her to another change in her family life that she's not happy about. She acts selfish and bratty at first until she learns to put herself in other people's shoes.

I liked this book a lot because I learned something new about Chinese immigration. Angel Island and the west coast immigration experience isn't something I knew much about. I was fascinated by the paper daughter mystery of the title more than who stole the dolls and why. I figured out the WHY pretty quickly and the WHO before Julie did. It was pretty obvious and the ending was kind of fairy tale corny but not terrible. The 70s references weren't just tossed in to make it seem historical like in her core series, but are an integral part of the scene. I especially liked the description of the phone on the wall ringing, because I think that's something that many kids today are not familiar with. I also liked how the book shared more about Ivy's family background and was populated by her friends and family.

This I feel is the best Julie book written. Its a very good mystery but you also learn about history. Its well written and you have to really think to figure out the who done it. My daughter loved and highly recommends it.

I was browsing in the children's section of my local book store and came across a display of American Girl Mysteries. This one caught my eye because it involved shedding light on America's treatment of Chinese immigrants and the mystery involved dolls. While clearly aimed at a younger reading audience, I found it enjoyable as an adult reader. The setting and characters were intriguing and the idea of two people being reunited after 40+ years was heart warming. As a bonus the protagonist grew to empathize with someone other than herself. A sweet read!

A well-written story that includes a wonderful telling of the Chinese immigration experience. Angel Island was the West Coast's Ellis Island, yet many people don't know this. While Julie tries to find the paper daughter, as well as a thief, the reader learns what it must have been like to come--as a child--from China to California and then to be held, like a prisoner, on a island in sight of San Francisco.

I am both an aficionado of the American Girl dolls and books, and fascinated with history. This book is one of the top stories from the historical mysteries. I had no idea of what had happened when people from China emigrated to the United States in the early 19th century. Couldn't put the book down! Recommended HIGHLY for its suspense, historical value and the pleasure of reading more about Julie and Ivy.Puzzle of the Paper Daughter: A Julie Mystery (American Girl Mysteries)