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Melanie Jackson
Melanie is the author of such young-adult suspensers with Orca Book Publishers as The Big Dip and Death Drop, as well as the Dinah Galloway Mystery Series. Melanie's suspenser Medusa's Scream was named a Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Book, Middle Readers, of 2018.
Of the Edgar Allan Poe-themed Tick Tock Terror (2019) Booklist said, "Jackson’s gripping, first-person, plot-driven novel ask readers to consider self-confidence vs. over-active ego; right vs. wrong…A suspenseful addition to high-low collections."
And, of The Fifth Beethoven (Crwth Press, 2020), Ginny Ratsoy wrote in The Ormsby Review:
“Scottish-born Vancouverite Melanie Jackson is a veteran writer of mysteries for young people, and it shows: she hits the right notes with this mystery for tweens and early teens. Not only does the mystery thread keep you coming back; the plot also explores all-too-relevant inequities and injustices, while educating young readers about the coolness of classical music and musicians — all at a quick tempo and in a light hearted tone. ...all the hallmarks of a good mystery…with contemporary relevance, a complex web of clues, an array of suspects, and a satisfying solution.”
From the Vancouver Heritage Foundation: “The Fifth Beethoven is delightful and the plot is clever, as is the title. I loved the music theme. …And I really liked the book’s example of the almighty big developer crushing the little people. That is so true in this city and is allowed to happen time and time again. Hopefully a book such as this will help make young people aware of this serious problem.”
The BC Teacher Librarians’ Association's Judy Cottrell: “Exciting. I enjoyed reading it.”
A 2018 TD Canadian Children's Book Week author, Melanie teaches a mystery unit every year at a Vancouver secondary school. She also does stand-alone presentations/readings for schools.
A former journalist, now a business/advertising writer/editor, Melanie lives in Vancouver with her family. In 2016 she received a University of Toronto Alumni Arbor Award.
