When your fifth grade teacher sends you an email giving you a homework assignment for the first time since 1978, you better sit up and listen. That’s exactly what happened last week when Mrs. Davis (yes, I still call her that) wrote:

“This was found in a book during the recent used book sale. I kept this in hopes you can find Nate and he can have a keepsake if he wishes. Yes the photos are fun. Do whatever you like, Thanks Reva.”

I’ve put on my Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hat and now it’s time to go to work.

A bookmark with a backstory

The bookmark is simple: a vertical strip with a smiling boy in a mustard-yellow sweater and striped pants, standing in front of what looks like a classroom backdrop. On the back, in bright marker, someone drew an Israeli flag and an American flag, and wrote “Nate” next to a blue heart.

A volunteer found it while sorting books for the sale.

Found treasures at the sale

Volunteers say finding items tucked into books is part of the magic of sorting for the sale. “Over the years, they’ve discovered everything from family snapshots to century-old class photos from Hazelwood High, which they returned to the district’s archives,” said Mrs. Davis.

This one felt different, though. It’s personal, it’s handmade, and it’s the kind of thing most of us would like to have back if it were ours.

A community mystery worth solving

The used book sale crew can’t trace who donated the book, so we’re turning to the community. Do you know Nate? Do you recognize the photo, the handwriting or the artwork? The bookmark is waiting to go home — and it would be a Hanukkah miracle to reunite it with its maker before the holiday season.

If you can help us find Nate or his family, please email me at [email protected]