31 pages • 1-hour read
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds
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Themes
The Importance of Situational Awareness
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. Cam can remember all kinds of details from a scene. For instance, when Eric asks her to recall the wording of a shop’s sign, Cam knows it by heart and instantly recites the slogan, word for word. By describing Cam’s ability to remember all kinds of things—from details on signs and people’s clothing to questions on a worksheet that she left at school—the author shows that Cam’s memory and attention to detail have helped her in her daily life.
Throughout the story, Cam’s special memory method allows her to apply her skills to a dramatic, real-world challenge: the mystery of the diamond theft. As the people around her struggle to recall important details with enough accuracy to help the police, Cam confidently recalls the suspects’ appearances, clothing, and behavior as they left the store. Rather than focusing only on the most obvious aspects of the situation, she makes the effort to record small details that seem unimportant but eventually prove to be the key to the case. For instance, when the police return with “The Runner,” Cam instantly recognizes him, even though she only had a quick glimpse of him as he ran out of the store. The author conveys Cam’s intense emotions when he writes, “Cam was all excited. ‘That’s him! They got him! That’s the man who ran out of Parker’s. I remember that mustache, that dark suit, and that ugly green tie’” (24). By including frequent mentions of Cam’s photographic memory and connecting this attribute to her detective skills, the author gives his heroine a superhero-like quality and shows how she uses her smarts to solve the case.
The Value of Friendship and Teamwork
Cam and Eric’s close friendship, strong communication, and ongoing collaboration throughout the novel add to the author’s focus on the value of friendship and teamwork. Even though Cam and Eric have different personalities and priorities, they still communicate well and work together throughout the case. As a more cautious person, Eric prefers to follow the rules and is always reminding Cam to be more careful and responsible. For instance, when Cam stands up on the mall bench to get a good view of the jewelry store, Eric reacts in alarm, exclaiming, “Get down from there” (6). This moment suggests that Cam is the risk-taker in the friendship. However, Cam convinces Eric to take more of an interest as she makes observations about each person leaving the store. Caught up in her enthusiasm, Eric soon joins in, making observations about the two older women who were in the store as well. Cam and Eric’s keen observations make them both feel invested in the case, and their close friendship keeps them in agreement when they consider their next steps.
Their differing personalities also make their collaboration stronger. Cam brings her passion and focus to the case, urging Eric to help her follow the suspect and learn more about him. Cam’s intense interest helps to motivate Eric and allows the two friends to gain valuable clues. However, she is more absorbed in the case and doesn’t consider the risks of her choices, so Eric reminds frequently her that they should be careful. For instance, he tells Cam that they need to keep their distance from the suspect when they follow him out of the mall. When Eric and Cam find the thieves’ hideout, Eric tells Cam, “My mother will be waiting. Let’s go back and call the police” (32). The friends’ teamwork is effective because Cam’s decisive actions help the friends gain more information, while Eric’s cautious behavior keeps them from being hurt. By joining their efforts and supporting each other, the two friends make accurate observations and take action to catch the thieves and bring them to justice.
Critical Thinking in Problem-Solving
Cam and Eric’s critical thinking is an important element of the story, as it allows them to make full use of the clues they have gathered. Even with incomplete information and few witnesses, the friends are able to make accurate inferences and predictions to solve the case. Their critical thinking skills help them to build on Cam’s strong memories and act rationally on the information they have gathered. For instance, they think critically about the young couple, realizing how unrealistic it is that the pair’s only baby equipment is a rattle. As Cam tells Eric, “There was something strange about that couple. Your mother packs this whole bag when she takes Howie somewhere. That couple had a baby too, but all they brought along was a rattle” (27). By comparing the suspects’ behavior to other examples that she has observed, Cam knows to be suspicious, and this moment of realization shows Cam’s mature ability to analyze people’s behavior and decide if it needs to be investigated.
Like Cam, Eric is also very aware of inconsistent or puzzling behavior. For example, when he sees the Runner using the same exit as the young couple, he accurately suspects that they could all be connected somehow. He comments, “Before, when he was in such a rush, he went that way. […] If he was in such a rush to get there before, you’d think he’d go back that way now” (29). Eric’s critical thinking skills help him to move beyond mere observation and begin to guess at people’s real intentions.
Cam is particularly good at understanding how others perceive events and understanding how they can be deceived. For instance, once the children are outside the thieves’ hideout, Cam accurately guesses that the Runner was not trying to escape at all. She realizes that he was intentionally creating a distraction so that the armed thief, his partner in crime, could escape unnoticed. Cam comments, “The Runner made all that commotion to keep the police from catching the real thief […] Maybe they figured no one would suspect a man who went shopping with his wife and baby. If they did, they were right” (36). This realization helps her to understand the deceptive arrangement between the thieves, and she and Eric decide to call the police for help. By drawing on their own life experiences and their awareness of others’ perceptions, the children are able to use critical thinking skills to crack the case together.
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