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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake) | J FICTION CLE | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Park Grove Library (Cottage Grove) | J FICTION CLE | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J FICTION CLE | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Valley Library (Lakeland) | J FICTION CLE | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Time is ticking as the countdown to Ben Pratt's school's total demolition continues. Ben has been given a handful of clues that could help them save the school, but they are all written in maritime riddles. "After five bells sound, time to sit down." What the heck does that mean? It's hard to know where to begin when Ben and Jill don't even know what they are looking for. All Lyman, the snake posing as the school janitor, needs to know, though, is that they are looking, and that could mean the end of the 30-million-dollar development deal that pays his salary. (Which, by the way, is MUCH larger than what a typical janitor makes.) As Lyman lurks in the shadows--and sometimes not in the shadows--Ben and Jill have to add another to-do to their list of things to accomplish in the next twenty-one days: (1) Figure out the clues left by past Keepers of the School groups, (2) figure out how these clues will help them save the school, and (3) stay one step ahead of Lyman. That's the mission...which seems, at times, impossible.
The second book in this riveting and mysterious six-book series is as action-packed as the first one, culminating in a faceoff between Ben, Jill, and Lyman. "After five bells sound, time to sit down" makes for a good riddle, but Ben and Jill also knows when it's time to stand up...for Oakes School and for themselves.
Author Notes
Andrew Clements was born in Camden, New Jersey on May 7, 1949. He received a bachelor's degree in literature from Northwestern University and master's degree in teaching from National Louis University. Before becoming a full-time author, he taught in the public schools north of Chicago for seven years, was a singer-songwriter, and worked in publishing.
He is well known for his picture book texts, but it was his middle school novel, Frindle, that was a breakthrough for his writing career. Frindle won numerous awards including the Georgia Children's Book Award, the Sasquatch Children's Book Award, the Massachusetts Children's Book Award, the Rhode Island Children's Book Award, and the Year 2000 Young Hoosier Book Award. His other works include The Landry News, The Janitor's Boy, No Talking, Things Not Seen, Things Hoped For, and Things That Are.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-In the second installment (2011) in the series by Andrew Clements, Benjamin Pratt and his friend Jill are still trying to save their historic New England school from demolition by amusement-park developers. After the untimely death of the school janitor, Mr. Keane, the new hire, seems to be stalking Ben and Jill as they attempt to uncover the meaning behind a mysterious clue: "after five bells sound, time to sit down." With the help of keys given to Ben by Mr. Keane's widow, Ben and Jill uncover a peculiar document called a codicil. They soon discover that they may have found just the thing to save their school, if they can only keep it out of the hands of the creepy new janitor. Keith Nobbs provides skillful narration. Fans of the first book, We the Children (2010, both Atheneum), will be delighted with this second adventure and eagerly await the next one. Although it can stand on its own, listeners will understand the plot better if they are familiar with the first book. For school and public libraries.-Amy Joslyn, Fairport Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
In this sequel to We the Children, Ben and his suddenly reluctant friend Jill carry on the fight to keep their seaside school from being torn down for an amusement park. With a former keeper's help, they outwit the developer's creepy spy and manage to decipher some of the original school founders clues. The engaging mystery continues to speed along toward, presumably, a third installment. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Working frantically to save their historic school from the wrecking ball scheduled in three weeks, sixth graders Ben Pratt and Jill Acton find the first of five safeguards planted more than 200 years earlier, an ally and treasure that may also help their cause. The story opens immediately after Ben has saved his arch enemy's life, and readers will need to be familiar withWe the Children(2010), the first in this planned six-volume series, to identify the characters and understand their relationships. Like that title, this is fast-paced and full of intriguing details ranging from clues leading to a hidden document and antique coins to the story of Horatio at the bridge and references to Jack London. Ben alternates between parents; in the first book he was living on his father's sailboat, so this week, he's home with his mother. Janitor Lyman continues to threaten, and even Jill seems nervous. The Massachusetts seaside setting takes a back seat to the increasing tension. Readers who've begun this well-written, modern kid-power mystery series will be glad to see this and eager for more.(Mystery. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In this second installment of the Keepers of the School series, Benjamin Pratt and his friend Jill make new contacts and uncover more clues in their effort to save their historic New England school from amusement-park developers. As the plot unrolls, the villain, a school janitor who actually works for the developers, is revealed to be even more unsavory than the kids initially suspected, and Benjamin becomes friends with another, retired janitor, who turns out to be a valuable source of information. Clements cleverly weaves his clues together, creating an intriguing, suspenseful multipart mystery.--Morning, Todd Copyright 2010 Booklist
