Murder on the Ridge
by Ted Stenhouse
Reviewed by Sarah Dowling

It's 1952 in a small prairie town. A thirteen-year-old boy named Will has become great friends with an Indian named Arthur; a thing much frowned upon in his town. Together, the two boys, and their Indian friend Catface, must dig up the past along with some help from friends and family to discover the truth of what actually happened in the battle of Vimy Ridge.

Catface's Grandma, Emma, has had a hard life. She married the Indian she loved, against her father's will. Her father then took revenge upon her by sending her husband, Wilfred Black, or 'Wolfleg', to fight in World War One. Wolfleg is reported as being killed in action at the battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917. And there his story ended. Or so most thought…

Thiry-five years later, Emma receives a letter that looks like it has been through a war. Coincidentally, it had. The letter claims that Wilfred Black was murdered. Catface, Arthur, and Will decide to take up the quest to find out who the murderer was, and must use some old Indian magic to help them on their way

I lay back and looked up at the stars, trying to imagine what could make an Indian hater and an Indian turn away from what they'd been for their whole lives. The answer didn't come. - From Murder on the Ridge

The town that Murder on the Ridge takes place in is full of prejudice. By the end of this book, Will just doesn't know how to judge people. What he has found out though, is that everyone is different, and race doesn't make a difference.

Murder on the Ridge isn't your typical historical fiction, or mystery. It had an interesting mix of both, with good descriptions of characters and personalities. I would recommend this book to people fourteen and under, especially if you are a fan of historical fiction, or mysteries. I would also recommend that you read the previous adventures Will and Arthur had in the two previous books by Ted Stenhouse, (Across the Steel River, and A Dirty Deed) because more background information about the two characters is given.

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