The Case of the Burgled Bundle

Mighty Muskrats #3

by Michael Hutchinson

The Mighty Muskrats, four cousins from the Windy Lake First Nation, are back for another mystery!

The National Assembly of Cree Peoples has gathered together in the Windy Lake First Nation, home to the Mighty Muskrats—cousins Chickadee, Atim, Otter, and Sam. But when the treaty bundle, the center of a four-day-long ceremony, is taken, the four mystery-solving cousins set out to catch those responsible and help protect Windy Lake’s reputation!

What’s worse, prime suspect and long-time bully Pearl takes off to the city with her older brother and known troublemaker, Eddie. If they have the burgled bundle with them, the Mighty Muskrats fear it may be lost for good. With clues pointing in too many different directions, the cousins need to find and return the missing bundle before the assembly comes to an end. The history and knowledge passed down to each generation through the bundle is at stake.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Indigenous, Childrens, Native American

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2021

About the author

Michael Hutchinson is a citizen of the Misipawistik Cree Nation. As a teen, he pulled nets on Lake Winnipeg, fought forest fires in the Canadian Shield, and worked at the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Station’s Underground Research Lab. Since then, he has worked as the Director of Communications for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, a project manager for the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba, where he helped create the “We are all treaty people” campaign, and as a communications officer for the Assembly of First Nations. Over seven years ago, he jumped at the chance to make mini-documentaries for the first season of APTN Investigates. Michael then became host of APTN National News and produced APTN’s sit-down interview show, Face to Face, and APTN’s version of Politically Incorrect, The Laughing Drum. Michael was recently in charge of communications for the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, an advocacy organization for First Nations in northern Manitoba. He currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario where he works in communications for the Assembly of First Nations, which advocates for First Nation families and communities across Canada. His greatest accomplishments are his two lovely daughters.

Reviews

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a treaty bundle goes missing during the National Assembly of Cree Peoples, the Mighty Muskrats launch into action. There are too many people who might have taken it, and though the case is tough, the four cousins do discover the who and the why. Not only do they help to maintain the Windy Lake reserve's reputation, but also ensure a couple begins communicating again. So, a good few day's work.
These stories are fantastic. The mysteries are small, and the character interactions are great. Additionally, I love how author Michael Hutchinson educates non-Indigenous readers on aspects of reserve life and indigenous values.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mighty Muskrats mysteries are about Children of the Cree First Nations peoples, and this story is the third book in the series, of the four cousins who solve mysteries set on their reserve (known as a reservation in the US).

Each mystery has been one that would be unique to this series, and this is especially true in this case, where there is a Cree ceremony and a bundle that represents the stories of Treaty 12 (which doesn't exist in real life, as there were only 11 treaties. The author said that in keeping with the theme of this story, that the ceremony is sacred, he didn't want to write about a real thing.)

I love how the author blends into the story Cree philosophy and world views. In this case, is is from the Elders, one of whom explains why there is an oral tradition, rather than one where the memories are written down, or photographed.

She gives the example of hearing the story of cinderella. When you hear it, you imagine what she looks like. But when you see it, that image is locked into your brain, and you can't unsee it.

There is great love in this story, and good lessons taught. The kids solve the mystery, but with love, because the Cree ceremony and gathering should not accuse anyone when everyone is trying to get together.

One of the important lessons is family. The other is place. And the bundle are the objects with memories and stories that are shared.

And that it is cold outside the tent, as one of the elders explains.

So this story is both part mystery as well as thoughts on how people all must work together

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[T.B. Caine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Booktube

Like the other books in this series, you don't need to read them in order, you can pick up any of them and you're fine! There are just a few lines in each that reference past books and they aren't like major plot details usually.

Since this is a mystery, I will say, the big reveal about who did it? Did not see that plot reveal coming and it made sense once it was all set out and explained. And personally I was invested as the story built up to the theft and as we were carried on throughout the book I felt the pacing was great.

at this point I'm very biased for this series so maybe take my thoughts with a grain of salt, but listen I loved this one just like I loved the other two books. I almost teared up at a certain scene (and it wasn't even REALLY an emotional scene). I loved experiencing another mystery with the Muskrats and Spring 2022 can NOT come soon enough <3

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It will be released April 6, 2021, by Second Story Press.

Like the first two of Michael Hutchinson's (Misipawistik Cree) Mighty Muskrat series, this mystery integrates Cree ways of knowing the world into a modern day mystery novel. Each of the books so far has introduced readers to different aspects of Indigenous life and culture. They are a fascinating mirror for Indigenous readers, and a window for the rest of us.

This tale is set at The National Assembly of Cree Peoples being held at the fictional Windy Lake First Nation, home to the Mighty Muskrats.

The Mighty Muskrats include cousins Chickadee, Atim, Otter, and Sam. Their home base is hidden deep within an old junkyard. Chickadee and Otter live on the reserve. Atim and Sam, two brothers, live in the city away from their family and traditions. They end up making cultural mistakes, but it's obvious that this doesn't mean they are not part of the people. Over time, they will learn. I appreciate the role of Sam, who can't help but ask questions. It's through the answers that outsiders like me come to understand more about the culture. We learn together.

I love that the book educates as it entertains. It clarifies what it means to be Indigenous or Metis, with Grandpa explaining: "A little bit of Indian blood in you does not a nation make. The Metis are a nation. That's what's Indigenous to Canada... that nation and culture."

Readers will learn about treaties signed between Indigenous nations and Canada. It shows the importance of ceremony in the Cree culture and highlights the significance of memory bundles. A bundle contains objects that represent the oral histories of the group. A treaty bundle includes the Indigenous perspective of the treaty or treaties signed with another nation. It could be another Indigenous nation or Canada. Being the keeper of the bundle is a sacred trust. "Keepers don't own the stories, but they must steward them through history. Tell them in the same way each time, so the next generation can be given that memory. Undamaged. Unforgotten."

During a ceremony, the cousins' grandfather makes a comment that offends another elder. To resolve the issue Grandpa contacts Leon Shining Deer and his wife, the keepers of the Treaty 12 bundle. It is a bundle known to create unity, so they ask him to come share the bundle to help reconcile the conflict.

When the bundle goes missing it's a huge deal. The nearby RCMP won't even bother with it, but the children's Uncle Levi, the local band constable, begins to investigate the crime. Of course the Mighty Muskrats are there to help out. There is no shortage of suspects.

Part of what I admire about this series is that characters are complicated. Bullies are shown to have pain of their own. Mending relationships and healing are possible. I appreciate that the book shows a collaborative community. While they are helping solve the crime, the Muskrats help set up the local gym to feed the guests at the assembly and work with elders in all kinds of ways.

This mystery series takes me back to my youth. I was a hard core fan of Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton, Trixie Belden & The Hardy Boys.

These are even better.

[Storytime With Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mighty Muskrats child detectives of the next generation. In the third book in the series by Michael Hutchinson, The Case of the Burgled Bundle, Chickadee, Otter, Sam and Atim are on the case to find the Treaty 12 bundle that has mysteriously disappeared from The National Assembly of Cree Peoples.

At the opening of The National Assembly of Cree Peoples, Grandpa makes a blunder setting in motion the newest case for The Mighty Muskrats. Grandpa’s friend, Elder Leon Shining Deer, the Bundle Holder and Knowledge Keeper for the fictional Treaty 12 territory arrives to help but the Treaty 12 bundle is stolen in the night and The Mighty Muskrats take on the case, with the help of Uncle Levi, reservation constable, of course. The Mighty Muskrats make observations, talk with the suspects and eventually help solve the case.

I love that the Mighty Muskrats are very highly regarded in the story. They have the trust of their Elders and the other grownups in the community and although they are warned to be careful, they are given space and latitude to investigate and solve the problem. They go about their detective work with purpose and intention, always mindful about staying neutral and letting the facts speak. Not only do they collect some clues but they also gain some valuable knowledge about how to walk a good path along the way. The Muskrats are far from perfect certainly as we all are but are very open in their interactions with all of the suspects in the case as well as all the members of the Windy Lake community.

This book kept me guessing all along the way. Michael Hutchinson did a masterful job ensuring that the outcome was not obvious. There was a lot of work needed by The Mighty Muskrats and many, many questions to be answered. Every time they talked to another suspect they were just left with more questions and very few answers.

Right from the beginning the reader will feel the love and pride for all Cree Peoples leap off the pages and right into their hearts. The story is all wrapped around ceremony and the significance and importance of ceremony for all Cree Peoples. In each action, The Mighty Muskrats are keenly aware of the reaction, how their actions have an effect and how in order to walk a good path, there needs to be balance. There is a great amount of understanding to be gained in this series and specifically in this instalment. The Case of the Burgled Bundle is a story for not only Cree readers but their classmates, friends and the wider community. Cree readers will feel pride and see their experiences through the words of Michael Hutchinson. We have a whole new set of child detectives to admire and emulate. Readers who are not members of a Cree nation will gain a greater understanding and respect for Indigenous Peoples as a larger group and more specifically Cree Peoples. Educators and parents, we no longer need to look to the books of our childhood for compelling mysteries, we have some brand new ones right at our fingertips.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book of the Mighty Muskrats series is another mystery set in fictional community of Windy Lake First Nation. Most readers, especially non-Indigenous, will learn a lot about the ways that many Indigenous peoples live, particularly in rural, reserve areas.
I would say that each book has one topic that is a theme in the plot and something that young (or old) readers likely know little about. The '60's scoop in the first book, land use in the second and in this one treaties are important topics. The Burgled Bundle of the title is the missing Treaty Bundle. I didn't have much knowledge of what a treaty bundle is, but throughout the story Hutchinson weaves in a lot of information about how treaty bundles tell a story of a people and I also learned more about the ways that Indigenous peoples use story, ceremony and information in this book. This could start a lot of conversations about the ways that Indigenous peoples in Canada hold and pass on their knowledge and stories that is quite different from how non-Indigenous people have do.
The four main characters, Sam, Chickadee, Otter and Atim, are cousins that all live on the reserve but have slightly different backgrounds and personalities that allow them to rely on each other's strengths to solve these mysteries, and also to learn about their culture from their Elders as they grow. Readers, particularly those of non-Indigenous ancestry like myself, can learn with them about ideas like ceremonies, treaties, the unity of Cree people from different areas, the importance of the land, and many other smaller seeming parts of daily life.
I always enjoy a new Muskrat Mystery.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in the Might Muskrats series is little different from the first two books but definitely in a good way! This story focuses more on tradition and ceremony of Cree people, allowing the reader to learn about some cultural practices, their origins and meanings. Like the previous stories, it draws on Canadian history but this time talks about treaty making and significance of treaties as agreements.

What the story was also able to do in a great way was highlight the fact that Indigenous people and even Cree people are not a monolith. There is diversity amongst Cree people and differences among nations, as seen through the misunderstanding that occurs between the muskrats' Grandpa from Windy Lake and Elder Lone Man from Butterfly Narrows. A misunderstanding that is resolved when they acknowledge their mistake and agree that there is strength in their diversity as Cree people. I think it's also a good example to show children that adults and Elders make mistakes as well, but not to let this mistakes get in the way of communication and reconciliation.

I've been really enjoying this series so far. After only three books, the rez and the Mighty Muskrats have become familiar, each with their own personalities that the reader comes to know. The stories raise awareness about issues Indigenous people faced and are facing while maintaining a fun and intriguing mystery storyline. The only disappointment is having to wait until 2022 for the next book!

[Erica Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You are the land you live on.”

The Treaty 12 bundle binds Canada and the Indigenous nations...but as the preparations for a ceremony featuring it commence, the bundle goes missing. Who stole it? Where did the bundle end up? What happens to the ceremonies? The Mighty Muskrats strive to answer these questions in Michael Hutchinson's The Case of the Burgled Bundle.

This book immerses us into the rich culture of the Cree people. The culture gave meanings to seemingly normal, random everyday events and items. Which amazed me. The author made me ask why then gave the answer to the question as part of the beautiful narrative. It gave us a picture of culture and its importance.

The characters in this book are very singular...unique. Particularly the Muskrats! It's amazing how quickly I picked up the various traits of the characters, owed to the ingenuity of the author. I love books that can execute this in a subtle manner.

I honestly thought this was gonna be a boring read but I stand corrected. The introduction of the bundles immediately caught my attention. The ceremony was a wonderful thing to witness! The sleuthing so much more! I was reading the Hardy Boys mysyeries and comparison to the Mighty Muskrats books is very accurate.

Overall, The Case of the Burgled Bundle is super fun, exciting and rife with morals. Curious and inquisitive young readers will certainly adore this book.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G
Windy Lake is hosting the National Assembly of Cree People. The Mighty Muskrats and their grandfather, their Elder, hope to build positive relationships with other Cree Nations gathered for the Assembly. When the treaty bundle goes missing the night before a ceremony, the Mighty Muskrats put themselves on the case, which has to be solved before everyone leaves.
The case solved by these young sleuths has good lessons about judgements and prejudices as the kids learn not to make assumptions. While the mystery is the focus of the book, I loved learning about the setting and the characters. All the characters are Cree, and learning about their culture was interesting, too. The mature content rating is for criminal mischief and smoking.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third novel in this Canadian First Nations children series finds the Mighty Muskrats (four cousins growing up on the fictional Windy Lake First Nation) trying determine who has stolen a sacred treaty bundle from the National Assembly of Cree Peoples. I'm a fan of this book series overall and was glad to see the author, Hutchinson, once again managed to expertly intertwine a kid-friendly mystery with information about Cree culture and some of the cultural and political problems common to contemporary indigenous people (in this case, the role and experiences of "City" indigenous people who did not benefit from growing up within their culture but now wish to learn their traditions and ceremonies).

[Jennybeast · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I appreciate about this series is that Hutchinson takes on important conversations that are happening in the Indigenous world with each title and makes it something that kids or outsiders can understand. In this case, it's the controversy over people (especially authors) sharing sacred knowledge that isn't meant to be shared. He also takes the opportunity to talk about treaties and what that means for different nations -- or at least what that _can_ mean for different nations, since each nation is unique. The Muskrats continue to be a really good group of kids, working well with their Elders and bringing their own backgrounds to the story. The mystery is a good one, as well, with constant reminders not to leap to conclusions. Very well done.

[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel has an incredibly interesting and relevant concept. However, it is incredibly poorly written. The author uses many phrases repetitively. I must have read the phrase, "Atim flicked the hair out of his eyes" close to a hundred times. People are constantly "lip pointing" at things. What exactly is lip pointing? One of the characters "raised her palms to the sky" a lot. And people punch each other in the shoulder and slap each other on the back far more than anyone in real life. It's a shame that a story as relevant as this didn't get better treatment, but the writing quality is far lower than everything else I am reading with my daughter these days.

[Cynthia Parkhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case of the Burgled Bundle stands as a particularly strong entry in author Michael Hutchinson's Mighty Muskrats series. It offers a gripping, tight mystery that I think really speaks to Hutchinson’s deft ability as a writer. Complete video review at https://youtu.be/hJ5VHj_BzWw

(I received a digital advance copy of this book through NetGalley)

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this mystery series. Glad to hear #4 comes out Spring 2022.

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

New to this series, I loved the reverence for community and culture. The Mighty Muskrats are a great group of friends that young readers will enjoy. I appreciated Hutchinson touching on the shame and complex emotions of not knowing one's hereditary language. And I loved the kindness he showed in the mentor / mentee relationships.