Dexter and Winter's Detective Agency
#2 of 2 in High-Rise Mysteries Series
on Goodreads (2)
What’s inside...
When Dexter's mum is sent to jail for getting mixed up in a jewellery robbery, it's up to Dexter and his best friend Winter to get her out. On their journey to uncover the truth and free Mum, their detective work leads them to some surprising discoveries. Nathan Bryon's play Dexter and Winter's Detective Agency is a madcap adventure story for young people (and older detectives) to watch, read and perform. It was first produced in 2019 by Paines Plough and Theatr Clwyd on a nationwide tour, including a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in Paines Plough's pop-up theatre, Roundabout.
Discussion points
What do you think makes Dexter and Winter such good detectives?
How did the characters deal with the challenges they faced?
What would you have done differently if you were in Dexter’s or Winter's shoes?
Why is trust important in friendship as shown in the book?
How do you think the story would change if it took place in our town?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to put themselves in Dexter's and Winter’s shoes, fostering empathy and critical thinking. Discuss the moral decisions and challenges faced by the characters, which helps in understanding complex emotions and consequences. Highlight moments of teamwork and friendship in the story to reinforce social skills. Use real-life scenarios to compare with the book's situations, making the discussion relevant and engaging. Always encourage your child to ask questions and express their thoughts about the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: Throughout 'Dexter and Winter's Detective Agency,' Dexter and Winter work together to solve the mystery. Their cooperative efforts demonstrate the power of collaboration.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by engaging in group activities or school projects where teamwork is essential. Learning to collaborate effectively helps in building strong relationships and achieving common goals.
Example Lesson: Critical thinking and problem-solving
Explanation: The protagonists use their detective skills to gather clues and make deductions. This encourages critical thinking and methodical problem solving.
Real-World Application: Kids can use critical thinking in their daily decisions, such as figuring out how to navigate social scenarios or resolve minor conflicts at school.
Example Lesson: Importance of honesty
Explanation: In the story, the characters learn valuable lessons about the importance of being truthful during their investigation.
Real-World Application: This principle can be transferred to a child’s life through emphasizing the importance of honesty in building trust and credibility with family and friends.
Example Lesson: Perseverance in the face of challenges
Explanation: Dexter and Winter encounter several obstacles in their quest. Their determination to keep going, despite these challenges, highlights the value of perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children will learn to persist in their efforts whether they are dealing with academic challenges or learning new skills in sports or arts.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding others
Explanation: As detectives, Dexter and Winter need to understand different perspectives to solve the case, demonstrating empathy.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children in understanding and respecting others’ feelings and viewpoints, which is crucial for building interpersonal relationships.