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posies23's review against another edition
4.0
Bellairs changes up his pattern again with this, his fourth book for YA readers. Instead of the supernatural gloom of THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS and its two sequels, this book is grounded more in HARDY BOYS territory. Not that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, this is a fun, escapist thriller, with our protagonist seeking out the titular treasure, which may or may not be hidden in the local library. There are some fun digressions in the plot, and the hero's relationship with the local librarian is charming. Sure, there are a few coincidences that stretch credibility, but it all works in the context of the world Bellairs has created. The finale is suspenseful, and relies on the background of a natural disaster, and not supernatural hocus-pocus, and the ending is clever and wraps everything up nicely.
Recommended.
Recommended.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"Did Alpheus Winterborn, the eccentric town millionaire, really hide a treasure in the Hoosac Public Library before he died? Anthony Monday is sure there must be a treasure--but the clues are so bizarre that he wonders if he'll survive the search. And what if Winterborn's evil nephew is letting Anthony find the treasure--only to snatch it away?" (From Amazon)
A great mystery paranormal children's novel
"Did Alpheus Winterborn, the eccentric town millionaire, really hide a treasure in the Hoosac Public Library before he died? Anthony Monday is sure there must be a treasure--but the clues are so bizarre that he wonders if he'll survive the search. And what if Winterborn's evil nephew is letting Anthony find the treasure--only to snatch it away?" (From Amazon)
A great mystery paranormal children's novel
hoosgracie's review against another edition
3.0
Young Anthony Monday discovers a mystery the summer he works at the library. With the help of the librarian, Miss Eels, he discovers the secret.
calistareads's review against another edition
5.0
This is a re-read for me. I wanted to read the entire series so I'm starting at the beginning.
I have fond feelings of this book. Honestly, I remember little of the plot, but I have these memories of my imagination being blown by this story and it was a page turner for me. I was spellbound.
It's a solid story. Anthony works at the local library and he finds a treasure map left by the founder of the library, Alpheus Winterborn. Anthony and his family sure can use the money right now. Mrs. Ells is the librarian and she is friends with Anthony and Anthony's family need money. We see the quirky library and the only way to one room in the tower is from the basement and it's empty, so it's a bit creepy.
The story is set in Minnesota and I don't know if I've read a story set there before. A flood is part of the ending and it's a breathing taking ending. I had fun reading this again and I would read a few things here and there and a dim memory would be jogged.
John Bellairs is the best for middle grade mystery and I am a huge fan. This is a great series for kids into mystery. I'm excited to finish off this series.
I have fond feelings of this book. Honestly, I remember little of the plot, but I have these memories of my imagination being blown by this story and it was a page turner for me. I was spellbound.
It's a solid story. Anthony works at the local library and he finds a treasure map left by the founder of the library, Alpheus Winterborn. Anthony and his family sure can use the money right now. Mrs. Ells is the librarian and she is friends with Anthony and Anthony's family need money. We see the quirky library and the only way to one room in the tower is from the basement and it's empty, so it's a bit creepy.
The story is set in Minnesota and I don't know if I've read a story set there before. A flood is part of the ending and it's a breathing taking ending. I had fun reading this again and I would read a few things here and there and a dim memory would be jogged.
John Bellairs is the best for middle grade mystery and I am a huge fan. This is a great series for kids into mystery. I'm excited to finish off this series.
vincent1126's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jessalynn_librarian's review
3.0
A fun, rompy story with hidden treasure, old buildings, floods, and a great librarian. Recommended if you want a light mystery.
calistareads's review
5.0
This is a re-read for me. I wanted to read the entire series so I'm starting at the beginning.
I have fond feelings of this book. Honestly, I remember little of the plot, but I have these memories of my imagination being blown by this story and it was a page turner for me. I was spellbound.
It's a solid story. Anthony works at the local library and he finds a treasure map left by the founder of the library, Alpheus Winterborn. Anthony and his family sure can use the money right now. Mrs. Ells is the librarian and she is friends with Anthony and Anthony's family need money. We see the quirky library and the only way to one room in the tower is from the basement and it's empty, so it's a bit creepy.
The story is set in Minnesota and I don't know if I've read a story set there before. A flood is part of the ending and it's a breathing taking ending. I had fun reading this again and I would read a few things here and there and a dim memory would be jogged.
John Bellairs is the best for middle grade mystery and I am a huge fan. This is a great series for kids into mystery. I'm excited to finish off this series.
I have fond feelings of this book. Honestly, I remember little of the plot, but I have these memories of my imagination being blown by this story and it was a page turner for me. I was spellbound.
It's a solid story. Anthony works at the local library and he finds a treasure map left by the founder of the library, Alpheus Winterborn. Anthony and his family sure can use the money right now. Mrs. Ells is the librarian and she is friends with Anthony and Anthony's family need money. We see the quirky library and the only way to one room in the tower is from the basement and it's empty, so it's a bit creepy.
The story is set in Minnesota and I don't know if I've read a story set there before. A flood is part of the ending and it's a breathing taking ending. I had fun reading this again and I would read a few things here and there and a dim memory would be jogged.
John Bellairs is the best for middle grade mystery and I am a huge fan. This is a great series for kids into mystery. I'm excited to finish off this series.
tealmango's review
2.0
Read the full review here: http://newberyandbeyond.com/more-mg-and-ya-book-reviews/
manwithanagenda's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Anthony Monday is John Bellair's third-string leading man. Like Lewis Barnevelt and Johnny Dixon, he befriends an elderly curmudgeon early on, head librarian Ms. Myra Eells, and he has a troubled home life. With Anthony, his mother worries constantly about money, and his dad is sick. What set Anthony apart, just this once anyway, is the complete lack of the supernatural.
The town of Hoosac is fairly unremarkable, but Anthony admires the unusual library constructed by the eccentric millionaire Alpheus Winterborn. It is high gothic with carving inside and out and marked with the legend "Believe Only Half of What You Read". The plot kicks in when Anthony lucks out and is given a job by Ms Eells as a library page (I asked my town librarian if she were hiring after I read this when I was 9 and she laaaughed), and, after some rough dusting, uncovers a treasure scavenger-hunt.
What's interesting about this book is the lengths Bellairs went to characterize Anthony, his anxieties for his parents and about money and his desire to make things easier for them. He is a very different character than the often-cowardly Lewis Barnevelt or the overshadowed Johnny Dixon. A fun puzzle, not so sure how it would hold up with today's youth, but I should have appreciated it more when I was younger.
Anthony Monday
Next: 'The Dark Secret of Weatherend'
The town of Hoosac is fairly unremarkable, but Anthony admires the unusual library constructed by the eccentric millionaire Alpheus Winterborn. It is high gothic with carving inside and out and marked with the legend "Believe Only Half of What You Read". The plot kicks in when Anthony lucks out and is given a job by Ms Eells as a library page (I asked my town librarian if she were hiring after I read this when I was 9 and she laaaughed), and, after some rough dusting, uncovers a treasure scavenger-hunt.
What's interesting about this book is the lengths Bellairs went to characterize Anthony, his anxieties for his parents and about money and his desire to make things easier for them. He is a very different character than the often-cowardly Lewis Barnevelt or the overshadowed Johnny Dixon. A fun puzzle, not so sure how it would hold up with today's youth, but I should have appreciated it more when I was younger.
Anthony Monday
Next: 'The Dark Secret of Weatherend'