The Case of the Pilfered Pin

The first few pages of the latest book in the “Mighty Muskrats Mystery” series, The Case of the Pilfered Pin, set the tone of the divisive issue facing the residents of Windy Lake. The Windy Lake First Nations and the cottagers, referred to as ‘Canadian citizens’, are disagreeing about the new lease proposal. In the previous lease agreement made fifty years ago, the Indian Agent, who was in control of the land according to the treaty, “gave the cottagers fifty-year leases for five dollars apiece”. With the new proposal, the cottagers will have to pay hundreds of dollars a year to keep the cottages.

Four inseparable cousins, Sam, Otter, Atim, and Chickadee, realize that this is a serious situation. Nicknamed the Mighty Muskrats for their habit of laughing, fighting, and exploring together, they set out to find the surveyor’s pin that had “the boundary of the reserve etched into its head”. The pin has been missing for years from the display case in the Factory Hall. They have a new mystery: the Case of the Pilfered Pin. But the tension between the First Nations community and the cottagers doesn’t seem to be the only problem. The Muskrats’ grandfather has uncharacteristically not spoken out on the issue. There seems to be more than the lease involved in his strong dislike for the cottagers’ spokesman. And time to find the missing pin is running out.

Michael Hutchinson, Cree author of four other “Mighty Muskrat” mysteries, once again creates a story of mystery, conflict and adventure. With recent awareness of Indigenous issues focusing on Truth and Reconciliation, Hutchinson embeds historical background knowledge into a novel with an engaging plot and realistic characters. The inclusion of different aspects of the Indigenous culture runs smoothly throughout the narration. The audience will enjoy the challenge of exploring the elements of a two-fold mystery while being entertained by the talk and the antics of the four cousins. Humour and intrigue will make even a reluctant reader not want to put the book down.

Although The Case of the Pilfered Pin is the fifth book in the series, readers need not to have encountered the other four in order to enjoy it. There will, however, likely be requests for the other books. It should be noted that storytelling is an effective learning tool, and this mystery novel is an excellent example of how children’s and young adult literature can enhance the learning and understanding of Indigenous issues.