Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Why do people read mysteries and thrillers? What are some of the cognitive benefits of reading these genres?

Teaching Suggestion: The Hawthorne Legacy celebrates the interactive, puzzle-solving nature of mysteries and uses the conventions of the thriller to convey ways that young adults might cope with traumatic events. This prompt is intended to promote student engagement with the book, even among those who are not naturally interested in mysteries or thrillers. After students answer this prompt and consider the resources listed below, they may enjoy sharing examples of mysteries they have read, watched, or played. They might discuss both what is enjoyable about the puzzles these works offer and what the genre can teach audiences about coping with life’s difficulties.

• This article from the British Psychological Society explores research into the mental benefits of reading mysteries. (The photograph referenced in the article’s opening can be seen here.)
• This article by a writer and counselor shares ideas about how reading mysteries and thrillers can improve our response to trauma.