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The Wright 3
- By Blue Balliett
- Genre: Mystery
Common Sense Media says
Clever kids save historic house in tepid sequel.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the child-heroes of this book, while clever, lie to each other and to their parents, and sneak out at night in dangerous situations. As readers travel through this mystery, they can find and decode the clues, both verbal and pictorial, scattered throughout the book.
What's the story?
Petra and Calder from Chasing Vermeer, finishing up their sixth grade year, are joined by Calder's friend Tommy, who has moved back to town, and the trio is not a comfortable one. Tommy resents Calder and Petra's friendship, and is sullen and rude about it.
Then their teacher, Ms. Hussey, introduces them to a tragedy in the making -- Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House is about to be cut into four pieces and sent to different museums. The kids and teacher quickly organize an effective protest that gets plenty of media and political attention.
But there's more going on at Robie House than meets the eye: strange lights, worker injuries, hidden codes, and a house that may have a mind of its own bring the trio together to solve the mystery and save the house.
Is it any good?
Kids who liked Chasing Vermeer will probably enjoy this sequel about unlikely friends saving a Frank Lloyd Wright house -- and solving a mystery. There are more art crimes, more clues hidden in pictures, more codes to solve, more pentominoes, more mathematical, literary, and historical connections -- more of everything that made the first book fun. But somehow it adds up to less.
The clever bits are mostly extraneous: You don't need to find the hidden pictures or decode the codes or understand pentominoes to follow the story -- none of them are integral. The author introduces interesting strands, characters, and ideas and then drops them without their having served any purpose. It's all pleasant and interesting, in a tepid sort of way, and some kids will enjoy it.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the historical background. Who was Frank Lloyd Wright, and what is the real history of the Robie Residence? Also, why does Tommy behave the way he does? If you were Calder or Petra, how would you have handled it?
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AGE
Page Turner
The author twists historical facts into this gripping book! Mysteries and social life all ties in nicely! You sit at the edge or you seat! My favorite part is the ending! Awesome Book!
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AGE
A Perfect Sequel
This was an excellent sequel. It is the second best in the series. It isn't as good as chasing vermeer but i liked it
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AGE
wow!
a perfect sequel to the perfect book! I loved it, and liked the mystery aspect to it. It was completely appropriate. Once you start reading it you can't stop. Great read.
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AGE
A must read book for a mystery lover
This is a very good book but I only suggust it for kids about 10 and up because it is a bit confusing.I also suggust this book to people who like supenceful mysteries and who like to read a good book.
This book has very intresing things that happen with the house and the three kids.This is one of my favorite mysteries because I like houses bulit by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is one of the most different ones I have ever read because the house seems to be saying thing to them.
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AGE
Awsome
This bbok was great for my age. It always gave my brain something to think about. I think you need to have a pretty high reading levle to be able to understand all of the content though. It was great. Keep reading!
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AGE
Awesomee !!
I loved this book because it was about history, but in a fun way. The suspense was building up, and the clues just all tied up. Its very good.
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| Author: | Blue Balliett |
| Illustrator: | Brett Helquist |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Mystery |
| Publisher: | Scholastic Inc. |
| Publication date: | April 3, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 318 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 10 - 14 |
| Read aloud: | 9 |
| Read alone: | 10 |
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