The final bell had just rung when the commotion started in Room 214. This middle school mystery story begins with the sound of chairs scraping, papers shuffling, and backpacks thudding against desks. Everyone was halfway to the door when Jordan’s voice rose above the noise.
“My backpack’s gone!”
The room went still. Jordan’s pack was a beat-up gray one with a bright orange zipper—hard to miss. He’d left it under his desk during math review. Now it was nowhere.
Mr. Ramirez, their teacher, frowned. “Nobody leaves until we figure this out.”
Jordan scanned the room, cheeks red. “I had my Chromebook, my art project, and my basketball shoes in there. Somebody had to take it.”
Kayla, who sat behind Jordan, spoke first. “I saw it under your desk earlier. Maybe you left it in the gym?”
“I didn’t,” Jordan snapped. “I brought it here after lunch.”
From the back corner, Malik piped up. “Why would anyone want your stinky shoes?” A couple of kids laughed, but he quickly looked down when Jordan glared at him.
Across the room, Emily hugged her violin case tight. “It… could have been an accident. Sometimes people grab the wrong bag.”
“That’s not possible,” Jordan said. “It’s orange. Everyone knows mine.”
A tense silence followed. Then Diego raised his hand. “Uh, I saw someone with a gray backpack during break. By the water fountain. But I don’t remember who.”
“Convenient,” Jordan muttered.
Kayla rolled her eyes. “You’re acting like all of us are criminals.”
Then something odd happened. Malik bent down to tie his shoelace, and a flash of orange caught Jordan’s eye. “Wait—what’s that?”
Everyone looked. Sticking out of Malik’s own backpack was a scrap of neon orange fabric. Malik zipped it shut in a hurry. “It’s just a patch. Chill out.”
The class buzzed with whispers.
Mr. Ramirez raised his hand. “Enough. We’re not leaving until this makes sense. Think carefully about where you saw Jordan’s backpack last, what people were doing, and whether their stories line up. Pay attention to the details.”
Jordan folded his arms, eyes darting between Kayla, Malik, Emily, and Diego. Something wasn’t adding up—but what?
Detective Task – Solve the Middle School Mystery Story
Who took Jordan’s backpack?
- Write who you think did it.
- Point out the clues in the story that prove it.
- Explain why the others are innocent, even if they seemed suspicious at first.
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23 Responses
I, in a clever sense, think that the suspect is Malik. Because he had the exact same orange patch as Jordans backpack and I also think it’s suspicious because he clued about the shoes, which no one was even talking about. Coincidence? I think not, and Malik also tried to cover up the fact he had a orange patch in his backpack. I wouldn’t think it was Kayla because she pointed out the fact that it was there before and then after gym it wasn’t there so she figured it was in gym, but Jordan actually brung it back after lunch. So Kayla isn’t a suspect. Emily isn’t a suspect either in this case because she thought someone may have accidently thought it was theirs which doesn’t make sense but not enough proof for her to be guilty. Diego saw someone who probrably was Malik had his backpack at the fountain which I think is key evidence to the case that draws to one person. Malik, he is shown to be guilty of stealing Jordans backpack.
I think that the thief is Emily because,
1. she was scared for no reason.
2. she was holding her violin tight for no reason. So she might have his backpack in the violin case.
3. she was the one that sounded the most scared out of all of them.
I think it was Emily who took Jordan’s backpack. In the text, everybody is acting normal, stating that they probably did not take it. Although, Emily acted suspicious compared to the others. “Emily hugged her violin case tight. “It… could have been an accident. Sometimes people grab the wrong bag.”” These sentences show that she was nervous and that she was most likely hiding something in her case. I also believe it could’ve been Malik based on the orange fabric sticking out of his backpack, but it could be something else.
In my opinion I think Kayla is the one that stole the backpack. I think Kayla stole the backpack because she was very suspicious and she got very made when they said it was her.
I believe the person who took it was Malik. It was a piece of fabric. However, he closed it quickly, making him a suspect. Malik also made a joke about his shoes, attempting to change the subject. He looked down when Jordan glared at him, making him look guilty. Kayla was helping Jordan figure out who stole it by asking questions. Diego provided information about seeing someone near the water fountain, which also helped Jordan. Emily has a violin case, making it very unlikely that a person who plays music would steal a backpack with basketball shoes. In conclusion, I believe Malik stole the backpack because there is more evidence against him. For example, him having a piece of orange fabric.
I think it is Malik because everyone looked. Sticking out of Malik’s own backpack there was a scrap of neon orange fabric. Malik zipped it shut in a hurry. It’s just a patch he say. But it can´t be because it looked like a backpack.
Diego it is innocent because he raised his hand and say I saw someone with a gray backpack during break. By the water fountain. But I don’t remember who.
It is also not Kayla because she is helping him remember who sat behind Jordan him, spoke first. I saw it under your desk earlier. Maybe you left it in the gym.
Emily she hugged her violin case tight, and she could have been an accident. Sometimes people grab the wrong bag.
I think that Malik took the backpack because why did Malik zip up his backpack super fast like he was trying to hide so thing. Also why did he get super mad when Jordan said what was that.
I think Kayla is the one that stole the backpack. I think Kayla stole the backpack because she was very suspicious and she got very mad when they said it was her.
I think the thief is Kayla because the was very scared when they said it’s her I don’t think it is Malik because no one would want his stinky shoes. and that is why I think the theft was made by Kayla.
Maybe after people go to lunch some one come back to the class and my prove is maybe some people think the ghost will be here but how about the school teacher they will be in the class now u ganna think I said that a someone come back in the class room but the teacher are in the school so how does the person can steal the backpacks for this answer I think one more student come back to class with him and try to distract him or make him to come with him somewhere and in till that the another student take all the backpacks.
Kayla’s changing story about where the backpack was, her close seat behind Jordan giving her easy access, and her defensive reaction when accused all suggest she might have taken the backpack. Her attempt to redirect suspicion and act like no one should be blamed points to her possibly trying to hide her involvement.
I think it was Kayla because she got pressed when she was one of the suspects. She had also tried to either confused him or try to actually tell him the truth. Kayla also sits right behind Jordan.
Malik took the backpack because they sound suspicious in the story.
I think that Malik took the backpack because why did Malik zip up his backpack super fast like he was trying to hide so thing. Also why did he get super mad when Jordan said what was that.
I think Emily did it she was scared for no reason.
I think they stole the backpack. because he probably has something valuable. or it was like a chain or ring
I think that the suspect is Malik. Because he has same orange patch as Jordan. I also think it’s suspicious because he clued about the shoes, which no one was even talking about, and Malik also would try to cover up the fact he had a orange patch in his backpack. I wouldn’t think it was Kayla because she pointed out the fact that it was there before and then after gym it wasn’t there so she figured it was in gym, but Jordan actually bri it back after lunch. So Kayla is prob a suspect.I dont think that Emily is a suspect because she thought someone may have thought it was theirs and that doesn’t make sense but dosent mean she is not guilty. Diego saw someone who probrably was Malik had his backpack at the fountain which I think is key evidence to the case that draws to one person. Malik, he is shown to be guilty of stealing Jordans backpack.
I suspect that malik is the person that stole the backpack because he tried to avoid accountability by saying “why would anyone take your stinky shoes. then when he ties his shoes there’s a piece of orange fabric sticking out. Jordan (this person who’s backpack got taken) saw it and said “wait–whats that?” and then malik quickly zipped it up and saying it was just a patch. and here’s the interesting part, when said he saw someone with the backpack near the fountain but forgot who they are, what if that was Malik going to a painting or color changing store to change the color of the bag.
Malik randomly brings up the fact about his shoes and had an orange fabric patch in his backpack, but the problem with that is his backpack is grey; and zippers, which was orange, aren’t made of fabric. Emily couldn’t of stolen it because she sits across from Jordan, meaning that she couldn’t of possibly gotten it. Diego saw someone with a gray backpack during break, but that could’ve been someone else, no? I think it’s Kayla. First of all, it was the final bell. She asked Jordan if he left it in the gym, but Jordan left it during math support. That’s a bit weird… Right? Therefore, it may be Kayla.
I think it’s Malik because when Jordan saw Malik backpack Malik started to be in a hery for no reson.
I think that Malik stole the backpack. The frist rreason is because he had a orange fabric and when they saw it in his backpack he was quick to zip it up. Also he made a comment about his shoes. Saying that “who would want those shoes.” He was trying to back himself up and not make himself a suspect. He was also trying to make them think that why would he take it, he did say that he didn’t want his dirty shoes.
I think it was Kayla because she was the closest one to Jordan .I also think it was her because when they were saying that she was a thief she was scared and nervous.
I think Malik stole the backpack because the orange fabric that popped out of Malik’s backpack could’ve been from the backpack, the shoes, or the art project. Malik raised more suspicion than the others.