Mary Anne and the Music Box Secret

[magentanation]

So, what's everybody's opinion on this Mystery? I rather like it. It's one of my favorite books in the Mystery series. Not so much for the actual mystery plot, though (I could care less about the owner of the music box the first time I read it). It's more that I love reading about the letters Dawn's grandmother wrote as a kid.

[booboobrewer]

I read this one last summer and the only thing I can really remember about it is the cover. Heh. MA looks really cute on it. It was cool that Dawn's grandparents were featured, though. I think a lot of their vintage record albums were damaged when the basement flooded? I love people's old record collections and thought that was such a shame!

[aln1982]

Just reread for the second time ever and really liked it. A nice change from mysteries with no parental involvement (though none is really needed in this and it is nice to see Sharon and MA bonding) despite the need for police investigation. I thought the mystery was really sweet and enjoyed it how MA read Granny's letters and Granny told her the secret at the end that no one else knew. I liked seeing this closeness developing. Wonder how Dawn would have reacted??? Admit that I would probably be jealous. In fact, I am jealous that my real grandma is a huge jerk to me but really nice to my little cousins. Anyway.... ;D I can also understand why MA kind of wanted to keep the mystery to herself and be the one to solve it and was jealous that she found the old letters. I would love for this to happen but my grandma throws EVERYTHING away.
As for the subplot, I cringed when I saw it was Barrett-Dewitts but actually liked it. It was nice to see them getting along so well and their playhouse sounded awesome ;D
I liked this one quite well. Even though it isn't one of my "favorites", it is a good book.

[fluffycakes]

^ Agreed! I'm almost done re-reading this one, and it's a lot better than I remembered. It's not my favourite, either, but it's pretty enjoyable, especially for a later book. I'm not a crazy Barrett-DeWitt fan, but for once they were tolerable.

Aln, I know how you feel about grandmothers. My grandmother (well, my mother's foster mom, so she's not my real grandmother) so obviously preferred my cousins - her "real" grandchildren - over my sister and me. Granny and Pop-Pop seem awesome, and I love how they - especially Granny - treat Mary Anne like one of their own. I'm kind of jealous of Mary Anne, too!

[aln1982]

This mystery always gives me a "nice" feeling. I like reading about the Barrett-Dewitt kids working together and think their playhouse sounds awesome. I also love MA bonding with Granny at the end and sharing her secret. I never get much into the actual "mystery" part but really like the story.

[starrynight]

This is one of the few BSC books left that I've never even read, and I'm eager to after reading everyone's comments!

[Deleted]

I haven't read it in a long time (due to the fact that I must have lent this one and MA and Silent Witness to a friend, and never got it back cos i don't remember who i lent it to). but i recall really enjoying it. (and therefore upset when i realized i no longer had it)

[aln1982]

^ If you want one to get, this is a good one ;D I really enjoyed it, at least. Of course, I always forget how much I liked it until I actually read it again.

[fluffycakes]

^ Same! I never look forward to re-reading it, but when I do, I always end up enjoying it a lot. I think this is one of the best Mary Anne mysteries.

[magentanation]

^It's my favorite Mary Anne mystery right behind Secret In The Attic

[Deleted]

MY FAVORITE part is at the end where Mary Anne has a dream with the boyfriend appearing to her and she's all "she's happy.." to him and he, like, smiles and fades away... awwww. I love that part.

This is honestly the best written of the mysteries. I remember being shocked how good it was when I read it when it first came out (this was one of the last BSC books in general I read whilst they were still coming out.) as I was starting to read more sophisticated books at the time (this might have been when I started my love affair with YA lit. THAT I have never kicked, lol)

But yeah, it had all the elements I loved in a mystery... history, a love story, and I loved the idea of finding something in the basement like that.

[greer]

i love this one but find it slightly creepy for some reason. not sure why.

ever since i read this book, however, i have wanted an id bracelet with stars engraved on it!

[aln1982]

^ Weird creepy or scary creepy? I can kind of see weird creepy but not sure why. I do like how MA and her step-grandma bond in this one and wonder what Dawn thought of it. I might be jealous.

[greer]

it just gave me an icky feeling... don't know why. i think it was the fact that the sailor was appearing in MA's dreams.

[aln1982]

^ That was a bit strange. I know other books have given me an "icky" feeling and I'm not exactly sure why; so even though I didn't get it from this one, I can relate.