The Absent Author

“He’s coming because I invited him. I’m scared to death to meet someone so famous.”

Dink’s admiration for Wallace and his worry about disappointing him are the very parts of his character that cause him to solve the mystery. Through Dink, Roy shows that bravery is the act of overcoming fear, not its absence. Roy’s depiction of a writer as a celebrity also emphasizes the importance of reading.

“I sent him one of my school pictures and asked for one of him. But when I got his letter, there was no picture.”

In the beginning of the book, Roy establishes that Dink does not know what Wallis Wallace looks like. This crucial piece of missing information lays the groundwork for the entire mystery and also provides a clue toward its solution, establishing The Value of Observation in Problem-Solving.

“As usual she was dressed in all one color. Today it was purple.”

Roy begins to highlight certain information early on, which teaches the reader what to notice in the story. Though the character’s clothing isn’t always relevant, noticing what people are wearing helps the children solve the mystery.