• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Sam, Otter, Atim, and Chickadee are four inseparable cousins growing up on the Windy Lake First Nation. Nicknamed the Mighty Muskrats for their habit of laughing, fighting, and exploring together, the cousins find that each new adventure adds to their reputation. When a visiting archeologist goes missing, the cousins decide to solve the mystery of his disappearance. In the midst of community conflict, family concerns, and environmental protests, the four get busy following every lead. From their base of operations in a fort made out of an old school bus, the Mighty Muskrats won’t let anything stop them from solving their case!

MICHAEL HUTCHINSON is a citizen of the Misipawistik Cree Nation in the Treaty 5 territory, north of Winnipeg. He is the author of the Mighty Muskrats Mysteries series. He has spent much of his career telling the stories of Indigenous peoples and advocating for First Nation families and communities across Canada. Currently he is the Communications Manager for the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre. Michael’s greatest accomplishments are his two lovely daughters.

Michael Hutchinson's profile page

• Short-listed, Manitoba Book Awards - Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book
• Short-listed, Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award (MYRCA) Sundogs Award
• Long-listed, Native Voices in November: A Booklist for Students, Parents & Educators
• Commended, CODE Burt Award for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Young Adult Literature
• Commended, USBBY 2020 Outstanding International Books List
• Winner, Whippoorwill Award
• Winner, Globe Books gift guide: 108 volumes for (almost) every person in your life
• Long-listed, Junior Library Guild Selection, Mystery / Adventure Selection
• Commended, Toronto Star gift guide: Got a kid, a sports fan or a culture lover to buy for? Try these books
• Short-listed, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• The Next Chapter: 8 great book recommendations for young readers
• Joint winner, Second Story Press Indigenous Writing Contest

"This first Mighty Muskrats mystery tackles themes of resource extraction, environmental protection, and indigenous rights in a Hardy Boys-style mystery, written by an author with firsthand experience in environmental protection and First Nation advocacy."

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