Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

In the novel Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, Cam Jansen’s photographic memory is a key part of the story, as it allows her to capture highly detailed memories and make shrewd deductions about her surroundings. As Cam gathers more and more “mental photos” she gets a clearer picture of the whole case and ultimately solves the mystery. Although Cam’s memory abilities are unique to her, her success at solving mysteries comes from her sharp situational awareness, paying particular attention to small but important details that other people miss. 

The author reveals Cam’s highly developed memory and awareness of her surroundings in the book’s first scenes as she plays a memory game with her best friend Eric. No matter how hard he tries, Eric cannot beat her at the game. Cam intentionally takes “pictures” of things by saying “click,” which prompts her to commit the scene to memory, and this mental habit serves her well as the story’s main mystery unfolds. Although Eric cannot match Cam’s photographic memory, the book still conveys the idea that Eric can improve his own memory with diligent effort. As Cam tells her friend, “You have to keep practicing” (3).

The story provides a variety of examples to show that Cam’s memory skills are exceptional, and it is clear from the very beginning that she pays attention to the world around her as a matter of habit.