Oakhaven Junior Detectives and the Sweet-Smelling Sabotage

A sweet smell. A melting oven. And a deadly mystery hiding inside Oakhaven Middle School. When a strange, strawberry-scented liquid suddenly begins dripping from the ceiling during Oakhaven Middle School's biggest Bake-Off, everyone assumes it's a harmless kitchen accident. The Oakhaven Junior Detectives know better. Sam, Jake, and Mia quickly discover that the mysterious liquid isn't caramel—or anything meant for baking. It is a powerful industrial solvent capable of dissolving plastic, damaging electrical equipment, and filling the gym with dangerous vapors. And the clock is ticking. With the school's heating system about to switch on, the detectives must follow a trail of scientific clues from the gym to the rooftop HVAC system and deep into the robotics lab. But identifying the chemical is only the beginning. Can three young detectives uncover the saboteur before one spark turns the entire gym into a disaster? Inside this fast-paced STEM mystery, young readers will: Solve a real chemistry mystery using evidence, observation, and scientific reasoning. Discover how refractive index and FTIR spectroscopy can reveal a substance's molecular identity. Explore esters, solvents, evaporation, diffusion, and freezing-point behavior through an exciting investigation. See science become action as the detectives race against time to prevent a catastrophic fire. Build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills while following clues alongside Sam, Jake, and Mia. Created for curious readers ages 13+, this adventure blends detective suspense, STEM discovery, humor, teamwork, and a powerful lesson: the right evidence can turn a mystery into an answer. And just when Case #22 is solved, a mysterious signal from Oakhaven Lake opens an even bigger mystery… The next case is already calling. If you love clever clues, dangerous mysteries, science, and young detectives who refuse to give up—buy now and enter Oakhaven.