Book Description

Read by Laura Linney
approx. 3 hours
2 cassettes

Nancy believes her friend's guardians are trying to steal her inheritance.As she investigates, she has a perilous experience near the deserted bungalow. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Still great after all these years!
What a teriffic book. It got me hooked on Nancy Drew books for many years. I found my original a while back...it is still a wonderful book. You are all in for a great treat!

an exciting adventure
This book was one of the best Nancy Drew books. It captivated your interest and was suspenseful. It was a story of friendships made and renewed. You'll like the surprise ending and how Nancy goes about solving the case.

Boring title, Good book...(*** 1/2 stars...)
I read the 1930 version of this book. The title is boring, tho somehow caught my intrest as well; what in the world could be so mysterious about a bungalow? The book is a pretty good installment in the series, anyway. The part where Nancy hides inside the dark bungalow is suspenful, and is one of the rare moments is a Nancy Drew book where I was on the edge of my seat!

The Bungalow Mystery
The Bungalow Mystery is exiting and thrilling!Nancy Drew and Hellen Corning,are invited to Lilac Inn to help there friend Emily plann her wedding, but then strange things begin happening at Lilac Inn,as always Nancy Drew takes the case! The It is one of my favorite books of the series of Nancy Drew! It is pretty intriging and exiting!

A Very Original Plot
This review concerns the original 1930 edition and the revised 1960 edition which follows a similar plot to the original, with a few changes. Nancy becomes friends with an orphaned girl named Laura when she rescues Nancy and her friend Helen after their motorboat sinks during a violent storm. Upon meeting Laura's new gaurdian, Nancy immediately dislikes him. After Laura runs away from him, Nancy's suspicions of him are aroused even more. Nancy goes to confront the man only to discover that Laura's gaurdian is not who he seems to be. It's unfortunate that this book has the title that it does because I imagine that very few people were enticed to read the book based on its title. Those that passed over this book missed a very interesting and original story for either this series or the Hardy Boys. The book is very well-written (the original version, anyway) and from chapter 10 onwards is hard to put down. Something that I particularly liked about this book was that Nancy actively had a hand in capturing the criminal (criminals in the revised edition). Don't passover reading this book because of its blah title. I believe that most people who read this book will enjoy it. ... Read more

Book Description

The adventures of Arthur and the gang are brought to life by your favorite celebrities in a Enhanced Compact Disc featuring stories, songs, pictures, games and educational materials for children and parents alike to enjoy.Celebrity readers Clay Aiken, Tom Arnold, Kevin Bacon, Marc Brown (author), Daisy Fuentes, Marcia Gay Harden, Cheri Oteri, Jeff Probst and Kelly Ripa deliver lively and amusing performances to accompany Ziggy Marley’s catchy Arthur theme song.With fun characters, warm and whimsical stories and a penchant for silliness over preachiness, each of Arthur’s adventures brings answers and perspectives to the issues, problems and everyday tumult that make up life for young children.A majority of the proceeds from this first installment of the Stories for Heroes Series benefit three wonderful children’s charities:the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN) and The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF). ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not just for kids
I got this "Arthur" CD for my (90 year-old) mother because she loves Clay Aiken -- but she and several of the other residents of the nursing home adore the whole thing and feel more in touch with grandchildren or greatgrandchildren. The variety of voices is terrific, and it's very well produced.

What's really cool about this audiobook...
This is a great product because I can really enjoy listening to these stories while playing them for my son. He definitely loves it, but he's too young to know who Kelly Ripa or Clay Aiken or Tom Arnold really is. It's just so interesting and entertaining for me as a parent to listen to each celeb's unique reading style and performance. I found it comparable to watching 'Finding Nemo' and knowing Ellen Degeneres was the voice of Dorie or listening to 'Mike Myers' voice as Shrek. It just adds something special you don't find in other audio products, especially those meant for kids.

The interactive Arthur games, music and activities are just a delightful bonus. Anything to promote learning is a plus in my book. Definitely a warm fuzzy feeling too knowing some of this goes to support charity. A great product all around and thanks for making it!

WOW!!!!!
WOW!!!!!My Daughter loved it and I found myself enjoying the audiobook as well. I guess I'm still a kid at heart and that's very refreshing!!!!And the fact that the proceeds go to non-profits is great.

Can't Put It Down!!!
I just got my copy yesterday and the kids and I can't put it down! The readings were really well done and amusing... we enjoyed Clay Aiken and Kelly Ripa's stories the most. Cheri Oteri's is by far the funniest. My kids really loved the bonus features as well such as the interactive games, Arthur song and Arthur pictures.

As a Mom, it's nice to know that I can give my kids a fun and educational product and that it's all for a good cause! Highly recommended.

I love it!
My kids and I love listening to this audiobook. Each author had a different take on the story they were reading and my kids seemed to respond to all of them, especially Kevin Bacon!

The Arthur series is always enjoyable and with the proceeds going to charity, you can't go wrong with this purchase. I recommend it highly! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Arthur's Tooth
Arthur's Tooth by Marc Brown is a book that any kid that's about to loose a tooth would enjoy. In this story Arthur is the last to loose a tooth. He feels behind and awkward for it. Everyone tries to help him loose it, but nothing ever succeeds. Finally, Francine, the bully of the group, that hassles Arthur for not loosing a tooth yet, jabs Arthur in the mouth, and knocks his tooth right out!

Arthur was my favorite character in this story. Arthur felt embarrassed that he had never lost a tooth before, and while everyone else was loosing their baby teeth, his was just getting loose. Poor, innocent Arthur. But at the end he shows them that he's no different. Read the book to find out the details!

Losing A Tooth
Another great book from the Arthur series. The book is about Arthur, the last student in the class to lose his first baby tooth. Some of the other students in the class make fun of Arthur, because he still has all his baby teeth. Other students try to help Arthur's tooth fall out, but nothing works. Finally an accident causes Arthur to lose his tooth. This book teaches children to be patient and to help their friends. It also teaches them that everyone is different. I really like this book.

We LOVE the Arthur books!
We are first grade students at the Anna Merritt Elementary School. Our teacher did a Marc Brown author study. She read Arthur's Tooth to us and we loved the book. Javeon and Cory liked the part when Arthur wanted to pull out his tooth with his hand. Nicholas and Jacob liked the part when Arthur lost his tooth. Marissa liked the part when Francine knocked Arthur's tooth out. We hope Marc Brown writes a lot more Arthur stories! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Who hid the blond wig in the trash can near the Yacht Club...why does Tyrone Taylor have a black eye...and what about the mysterious handprints outside Mr. Heiden's cottage?

Who knows? Encyclopedia Brown, of course! America's Sherlock Holmes in sneakers is back, with ten brand-new solve-it-yourself mysteries to challenge and amaze his fans. You can match wits with the ten-year-old super-sleuth as he and his partner, Sally Kimball, track down clues and make some startling discoveries as they work to keep Idaville in order. There are puzzling problems of missing property, sabotaged races, a frame-up involving the boy wonder himself, and even a case of unrequited love. And if you get stuck, you can turn to the back of the book to see how Encyclopedia solved the mystery. But don't peek until you're stumped!

Reviews (3)

encyclopedia's review
You should get the book Encyclopedia Brown and the case of the mysterious hand prints because it is a great book.Donald J. Sobol wrote many Encyclopedia Brown's and this is the best by far. If you like mystery books Encyclopedia Brown and the case of the mysterious hand prints is the book for you.

A good book and a fun read for any Encyclopedia Brown fan!
Although Donald Sobol has written many wonderful books about Encycolpedia Brown this one required a little more guess work when trying to come up with the requisite solution. Encyclopedia Brown faces his favorite enemy, Bugs Meany and solves cases with his friend Sally. The stories are entertaining but some were a little hard to figure out such as deciphering punctuation and a blouse that was not reported missing. They were clues that were not obvious at all. It's still a good book but the earlier books were better done.

Cute stories but not quite as good as the first books
Although Donald Sobol has written many wonderful books about Encycolpedia Brown this one required a little more guess work when trying to come up with the requisite solution. Encyclopedia Brown faces his favorite enemy, Bugs Meany and solves cases with his friend Sally. The stories are entertaining but some were a little hard to figure out such as deciphering punctuation and a blouse that was not reported missing. They were clues that were not obvious at all. It's still a good book but the earlier books were better done. ... Read more

Book Description

2 hours, 47 mins.
2 cassettes
Performance by Phyllis Newman

In this third book from the series, Grandpa Alden tells Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny of the curious circumstances in which the yellow house became vacant over forty years ago.Determined to solve the mystery, the children uncover a trail of clues that leads them to memories of their boxcar days. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great mystery for children
This was the first real mystery story I ever read, when I was about eight or nine years old, and I madly adored it, except that for some reason the part about the grating brick freaked me out. It has never scared any other child I know who read the book, but for some reason after reading that I couldn't go to sleep for a long time many nights! It really is a well-thought-out mystery - I always thought it was, but after it scared me I didn't dare to read it again for years!

But last week I read it again, and enjoyed it very much again. Of course nothing is as exciting to the adult mind in such a book as it is to a child, but I can still see the appeal in the story and get pleasure from reading it all the same.

Basically the story is... Grandfather's "Surprise Island" has a little yellow house on it. The children sense there is a mystery about it, so they ask Grandfather to tell them about it. He says that a man named Bill lived there with his wife. He disappeared one day, presumably with a large amount of money, and no one was ever able to find where he went. But the Boxcar children are always ready for a challenge and they set off to look for Bill.

Excellent story that all boys and girls should read or have read to them.

I have never forgotten the book, neither will my kids.
When I was a child, I had a very hard time concentrating on reading. That was untill my mom entroduced me to the Box car children. I have never forgotten about those kids. It is my favorite child hood story. I always wished that I had have my own box car to go to. I think it the best fantasy land any child could ever enter.

I liked the plot in this story.
I liked the part when Benny found a box of money when he was playing with a frog.I also liked the part when the four childern's grandfather told them a story about when he was a boy. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

THIS BOOK MOLDED MY FUTURE
It's funny, heartwarming and really involving. All these feelings I felt when I read it when I was 9 yrs. old. It'sso amazing how one can be so enterprising and witty at such a young age! Tom definitely had an impact on me then and alwayswill! I grew up wishing to be like him...and I think I got my wish. EVERYONE: Grab this book, in fact, the whole GREAT BRAINseries as soon as you can. The little ones will love you forthis great gift! On a personal note: I lost all my GREAT BRAIN books to kidswho borrowed from me and never returned. Now that I'm 22 I'mvery happy to get a second chance to collect THE GREAT BRAIN SERIES!Victoria Miranda

My Review on The Great Brain Academy
The Great Brain at the Academy is a book told from John Fitzgerald the author of the book about his brother Tom, the great brain, and his time at the Catholic Academy. Tom is a smart boy so he countines his education in the 7th grade a year earlier than the other boys his age. At the Academy Tom has to deal with the horible Father Rodriguez the superetient at the school. Tom learns from him that the school is almost no fun and he must use his great brain to give the other boys some reason of coming to the school besides by the force other their parents. Tom runs a candy store, finds a card shark, and swindles many kids as he does in all the books of the Gret Brain Series. This is a very good book loaded with pranks and Great Brain fun.

I read it until it fell apart
When I was in third grade or so, my mother bought a boxed set of the first five Great Brain books for us for Christmas. This one (the fourth in the series) was my favorite; I read it until the pages were so dog-eared that it was almost impossible to slide them back into the box, and then I read it some more until I had it nearly memorized, and then I read it some more until it fell apart.

I still have the books; I ran across them when we moved recently and realized that I need to look for hardcover editions. They are all in bad shape, despite attempts at mending them over the years.

The books are still funny, and they still develop the important critical and analytical thinking skills needed to imagine a different time, place, and way of life.

I think that the books are well suited to the 9-to-12 age range that is usually recommended. Each chapter is typically a separate story, which makes the series ideal for the reader who struggles with longer works. They're officially "boys' books," but the publisher's notion of the primary market segment didn't stop me or my sisters from enjoying them.

(A slightly technical aside: what makes a publisher think of a book as a "boy's book" or a "girl's book" is not just the gender of the main characters (which are all boys here). It's also the style: boys usually buy action-oriented books, and girls usually buy books which invest more time in thought, dialogue, and emotion.

(To give one example of this phenomenon, Bridge to Terabithia, whose main character is a boy, is definitely a girl's book.

(While the Great Brain stories are almost always action-driven, there is a fair bit of thought analysis in these books, so I think they're a little closer to the midpoint of the gender spectrum than the typical "boy's book."

(For example, something will happen, JD (the narrator and the Great Brain's younger brother) will then analyze the situation: if I do this, my friends will think this, Papa will think this, and Mama will think this. If I do this other thing, then everyone except Mama will react this way. So I will do this other thing, and be prepared to give Mama this excuse for what I'm doing.)

I want to add for the sake of those who might have to listen to complaints (e.g., those on school library committees) that various bias and sensitivity organizations which review children's literature have occasionally rated books in this series as racist, sexist, materialist, individualist, and conformist.

That is, the various stories (many of which are at least semi-autobiographical) in the series depict things like:

* the horrible treatment of a new Greek immigrant boy at the hands of the town bully (as well as the silent compliance of most of the boys -- isn't that just like real life?), and the town people's shocking indifference to the welfare of an elderly Jewish man (thus the racist label: people behaved badly at times in the books -- just like they do in real life -- except that here, they're all sorry for it in the end);

* fairly run-of-the-mill girls-have-cooties themes and some historically accurate gender roles (and some historically accurate breaking of gender roles: for example, Mama is a crack shot with a rifle) (thus the sexist label);

* The Great Brain himself is tormented by his Money-Loving Heart and constantly scheming to get more money (thus the materialist label);

* The Great Brain has a me-first attitude (which is partly balanced by actions like whipping the bully for mistreating the immigrant boy) (thus this individualist label); and

* the boys in the story have an informal code of honor (you don't pick on kids younger than yourself, for example) that they all conform to, and social censure is applied by the whole group (none of the other boys will play with you any more if you break the code of honor) (thus the conformist label).

I was thinking of their code of honor the other day when I took a couple of neighborhood girls to the park and witnessed a (completely unsupervised) boy of about eight or ten annoying a couple of preschoolers. It sure made me wish for a time when boys thought that annoying little kids was dishonorable.)

Over all, I think these are excellent books which every child should have the opportunity to read -- and I'm searching now for a complete set of the books in hardback editions.

Don't Doubt the Great Brain
This book and Me and My Little Brain are parallel books, which describe events happening at the same time, however, you should read the other first to have things make sense. This book describes the Great Brain (T.D.)'s first semester away at the Academy in Salt Lake City. This book is interesting from the beginning with T.D.'s antics on the train ride to the end when T.D. introduces basketball into the Academy, the first Catholic school to have an organized sports program. The trouble that T.D. gets into is good for plenty of smiles and laughs. Amazingly enough this book is still told from the perspective of T.D.'s little brother, J.D., which allows continuity with the other books.

I had this series as a kid...
And book number four, The Great Brain At The Academy, is the best out of the whole series. Tom, a boy genius, who has a 'great brain' and a money-loving heart, is always conning people out of money, candy or whatever else they might have. His father sends him to a Catholic Academy for boys in Salt Lake City, figuring that the priests there will tame him. But Tom refuses to be tamed and does his best to get around the rules, outwit the superintendent AND make money in the bargin!
Watch Tom become the fastest potatoe peeler in the west, open an illegal candy store and introduce a new kind of game called basketball. I plan to get the rest and enjoy my childhood memories. The better parts, anyway. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Scooby Boo?
Scooby and the gang are on their way to a movie when one of the Mystery Machine's tires blows out. They plan on putting on the spare only to discover that Shaggy and Scooby have replaced the tire with their "survival kit". The gang sees a mansion on the hill and treks to the door to see if they can use the phone, arriving just before a terrible storm. The owner's phone is out because of the storm but insists that they stay for dinner. Several guests are in attendance, but when the lights go out, the man who owns the castle disappears and in his place is a ghost!

This book is a fast read (for just about any age level) and feels just like a Scooby cartoon. I loved the illustrations that accompany the text. A book that just about any Scooby fan will enjoy.

Fun Wow
I liked this Scooby Doo Mystery. I am 10 years old and I haveto admit I don't always love reading, but I loved this book. It wasfast-paced and easy to read, and really kept me interested. I likethe relationships between the people in the gang because they worked so well together in solving the mystery. I recommend this book for anyone who loved the cartoon and loves mysteries for kids. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Original Flickering Torch
After a brief absence, Leslie McFarlane returns for his second stint with "The Hardy Boys". He begins with a bang. The brothers are asked to investigate strange happenings at an Experimental Farm in Bayport. The majority of this book takes place at night and in part in underground tunnels. Unknown figures roaming about the farm hidden beneath black cloaks add an element of suspense. This book has a spooky feel and one that draws the reader from page to page. This book ranks among the series elite. RATED A

REVISION: The 1971 totally altered revision of this book with a completely new story was excellent, packed with pure suspense and a tough case to crack about two murders. Even the revision of this book ranks among my favorites and one of the best revisions in the series.

Don't Judge This One By It's Cover
This review concerns the revised 1971 edition. Frank and Joe investigate the deaths of two pilots after the planes that they were flying crashed into the cliffs at a nearby airport. This is a very interesting book with a really good plot. I enjoyed learning what the flickering torch really is and how it was connected to the rest of the case. This book is loaded with action and it kept me interested from the first page to the last. Ignore the awful cover on this book and read it anyway; you won't be disappointed.

An Average Hardy Boys Book
This review concerns the original 1943 edition. An elderly scientist comes to the Hardy home to seek Mr. Hardy's help in finding out who is stealing valuable silkworms from his lab. Mr. Hardy is busy on a case of government supplies being stolen from road construction sites, so Frank and Joe tackle the case for the scientist. Of course, the Experimental Farm where Frank and Joe had summer jobs is near the scientists home, and, oddly enough, a road construction site is also nearby. The book was a little slow going to start and I imagine many readers, after reading the first couple of chapters, would feel like giving up on the book, but it ended well. There is a moderate amount of action and the writing is good. One thing I didn't like about this book was that, aside from Aunt Gertrude and Mr. Hardy, none of the other main characters of the series played a prominent role in this book. This isn't the most thrilling book, but most readers would probably not feel like they wasted their time reading it.

Great Book
This is one of the greatest Hardy boy bnooks. It is about a scientist who comes to the Hardy's house and wants Fenton to find his stolen silkworms. Fenton however has tpo got away on another case and so Grable reluctantly lets the boys on the case. The boys are also working at the Experimental Farm where they meet some suspicoous characters. Then the Hardy's chum Dick Ames (who does appear in the Secret of Skull Mtn.) may come under suspiciion for a crime he didn't do. Read the rest to find out!!!!

Don't judge a book by it's cover
I loved this one. Don't judge it by it's cover. It sounds not very interesting, but it is one of the few volumes that has sort of a murder mystery at the heart of it's plot. The whole book keeps you in suspense trying to figure out what happened to two pilots killed in a plane crash from the first chapter on. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great mystery
This book in the Boxcar Children series involves all of thesame characters in the Alden family. In the beginning of the book,the children learn their grandfather will be traveling to Washington, D.C. for business and the children will get to go too. But because the grandfather will be busy during the day he has arranged for the children to stay at a bed and breakfast. While staying at the bed and breakfast the children meet many fascinating characters who all become suspects in the disappearance of items from the bed and breakfast. The children also make friends with a girl named Almira who is being followed by men in dark suits and sunglasses. While you enjoy the mystery you also get some great information about Washington, D.C. The children visit monuments and museums and share with readers some of the wonderful sights they see. It is a great book to read while studying Washington, D.C. in school. I highly recommend it - my third grade class really enjoyed it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of my all-time favourite Boxcar Children adventures
Like "Mike's Mystery", this is a mystery with a solid foundation and never once drags.

I first read it when I was about eight and learnt several things I didn't know before. I learned what ammunition meant. It also was my first introduction to any information about the Revolutionary War.

The story takes place primarily on a farm in New England that dates back to the 1700's. Grandfather and Aunt Jane grew up there, and he buys it back for her to live in. But everyone seems to think something is wrong with the house, and the children set out to find out what it is and clear the air of all secrets. And they are pretty sure the woodshed holds an important clue.

Read this book to your children - I am sure they will like it.

the Boxcar Children #7
Would you think that you would find a trap door in the potato pit in your aunt's basement or in the wood shed in her back yard? Well, the Boxcar Children didn't, but they found the trap doors, they had things from the Revolutionary War! They found strange letters about what was going on in the house during the Revolutionary War! Find out what mysterious things they find!

I think this book is so good because you never know what will happen next, like when the children find the trap door in the woodshed and then they find the trap door in the potato pit! The moral of this story is never play with some thing that isn't yours.

The Boxcar Children and The Wood Shed Mystery
I recently read this book and could barely put it down. The Boxcar Car children find another exciting adventure in of all places a wood shed. As the story progresses they find more and more clues and solve the mystery. I would recommend this book to ANYONE who likes adventure, danger, and excitement! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Worth Your Time
This mystery takes place in downtown Idaville.Encyclopedia brown is the main chazracter who solves the mystery's for kids and adults.Cericeo is a minor charactor who tries to find out how seamen really behave, he has a play were he is a sailor.A problem accurs when he goes into a restaraunt with the sailors and pays for his meal and there is only a 2 cents tip so he leaves under the crowd and starts running down the street.The cook calls out to him that he'll fix him good so the boy is scared .The mystery is solved when Encyclopedia is the one to sort out the problem.

Intellectual Stimulation and Everyday Situations
I read all, yes all, of the 'Encyclopedia Brown' books as a child. My mother picked up the whole set at a garage sale, and it wasn't long before I had read and reread each of them several times. These books challenge young readers intellectually while presenting every-day situations. Encyclopedia Brown not only solves mysteries, he deals with his parents, the town bully, and amazed adults as well. I recommend this series to everyone; if you're older, you may not want to present a book report on an 'Encyclopedia Brown' book, but you'll enjoy it all the same. =)

Excellent series for young readers
This was a classic series of books when I was a kid, and I read a great many of them. I can still remember a lot of the details. Now I am getting them for my son. In my opinion, I think that 9-12 is a little old for this material. I recall in 7th grade (11-12 year olds) a boy in my English class was heckled for presenting a report on an Encyclopedia Brown book in front of class, as most of us had read them some years earlier. I would guess that average kids should read them from ages 7 to 9, with gifted children of 6 being old enough to enjoy them. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Hardy Boys Forever....!!!!
Bayport is suffering a water shortage due to water from a newly constructed reservoir mysteriously disappearing at night. Deciding to take on this 'mystery' for a bit of fun, Frank and Joe Hardy along with their best friend Chet, soon find themselves the target of a sequence of deadly attacks to get them off the case.

You might find the writing style of the book a bit dated due to the age of the novel, but you will soon get 'sucked in' to the story disregarding the 'cornyness' of the style. It follows the basic layout of a Hardy Boy story, the most noticable being the case they are working on has something to do with the case their famous detective father, Fenton Hardy, is also working on in Chicago. Great for young readers and nostalgic value. RECOMMENDED TO ALL!!!

A mysterious book!
I enjoyed reading this book. It was pretty fun, adventurous, and mysterious. Like many of the other Hardy Boys books, it is fun and exciting and it is hard to put the book down after a few chapters.There is always something suprising at the end of each chapter. When I tell myself to read just one chapter, I end up reading the whole book instead! I think this book may be one of my favorite books in the whole Hardy Boys Series.I enjoyed this book mostly because it is pretty humorous in some parts when Frank and Joe trick Chet. Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book.

The Secret of Skull Mountain
This book was the best in the series. I have most of the hardy boys books. I love reading them. They are so exciting to read. I read one chapter a night before I went to bed and I couldn't put it down it's so exciting to read these books. My favorite part in the book was when they kept finding skulls on the ground, and in caverns and crevices. I would recomend this book to a person who likes mystery.

A Great Book
This review concerns the original 1948 edition and the revised 1966 edition. The revised edition follows the plot of the original and only had some events cut to eliminate some pages. Bayport is facing a water shortage when the newly constructed reservoir on Skull Mountain will not fill with water. The funny thing is that the water level in the reservoir rises during the day, but then it falls again at night. Frank, Joe and Chet camp out on Skull Mountain with two engineers to try to solve the mystery. Both editions are really great books; the original is well-written (the revised edition lost much of the rich language of the original, for that reason I'd rate it 4 stars), both have lots of interesting characters, a lot of action and an intriguing mystery. This book is what the series needed to get back on track following the extremely disappointing "The Phantom Freighter". Both books are really good; although, if possible, I'd recommend reading the original. I can't think that any Hardy Boys fan would find either of these books boring.

An A+ Hardy Boys Mystery
This is by far one of the best Hardy Boy mysteries! Frank and Joe team up with two ecologists, investigating as to why the water supply of Bayport is draining at night. Think you can figure out why and how the water drains at night, but not during the day? I couldn't! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

the wailing siren mystery
I think that you should really read the book because of all the interesting and funny parts.Also it is filled with sad and terarivig parts

Full of Adventure
Originally published in 1951, the biggest flaw with this volume was the absolutely horrible cover art drawn by Bill Gillies in 1951. Nappi's 1968 revision was a vast improvement on the original cover and fishing trawler of a Sleuth portrayed on the front cover. The book itself opens with a bang as the Hardys find a wallet full of money while out in Barmet Bay during a storm. Personally I now think the Sleuth has a voodoo doll that has been hanging beneath somebody's shower head as everytime it seems they take out that boat it rains!! This is a well written suspenseful adventure that takes place for the most part in the "North Woods" near Bayport. Very delightful reading throughout the entire book until perhaps the final chapter which tended to lack creativity. I was somewhat let down with Chapter 25. But the first 24 were excellent. This was in fact one of my more favorite volumes. RATED A-

Another Great Book
This review concerns the original 1951 edition. Frank and Joe are plunged into another mystery when they are out in the Sleuth during a storm and they find a wallet full of money and when they track down some rifles and camping equipment stolen from Chet to the North Woods. This book has one of the best opening chapters of any in the series and it gets you into the mystery very quickly. The pages from about 60-130 when the Hardys and their friends go camping in the North Woods are the best, but the whole book is really good. One thing I liked about this book was that it actually remembered that Frank and Joe have other friends besides Chet and they were given more than just a passing mention. It's a great book any Hardy Boys fan would want to read.

It was a GREAT book!
A sharp voice cut the air."Stay where you are!"
Frank and Joe wheeled. A tall man, his hat pulled low, stood before them, a gun in his hand. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Two Spies
The Two Spies Two spies are exchanging top secret information- but how? They never see each other! It's up to Encyclopedia Brown to solve this case! The Stolen Coin A very valubale 19th Century coin has been stolen. And the man who owns it has been drugged! And also, the lights went out. Who did this? Encyclopedia Brown will figure it out! The Kidnapped Dog Someone has stolen Royal Blackie, a dog! And it's almost time for the dog show! And the theif wants ransom money! Who's doing this? Encycloepdia will figure it out!

Don't worry, that's only three of the ten cases! Look back at this book and find more reviews!

Encyclopedia Brown is the best!
Encyclopedia Brown is a ten-year-old detective, for those of you who don't know that. He solves cases for his police chief dad, as well as the kids around his city. There's also Bugs Meany, the big, tough leader of the Tigers. And Wilford Wiggins, the high school dropout who tries to cheat little kids from their savings. And, of course, Encyclopedia's junior partner, Sally Kimball. She isn't just the prettiest girl in the fifth grade and the best athlete, she can beat up Bugs Meany! By the way, with Encyclopedia on a case, none of these "seemingly cool" older kids (not counting Sally) can ever succeed on even one thing they want to do bad (as in the good, bad type of bad). My opinion on this book is that it's great, but since any Encyclopedia Brown book would be the same to me, all of them are truely terrific.

Encyclopedia Brown - a good detective
In "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Two Spies" there are some brain twisting investigations. And the answers are very elusive. I think that Donald J. Sobol has very good ideas and knows how to make them into mind bendng stories. I think it is a very good book. ... Read more

Book Description

The 19th in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series, this is a facsimile reproduction of the original book, which was first published in 1942.

Reviews (5)

A Fun Adventure
This review concerns the original 1942 edition and the revised 1969 edition which is an edited version of the original. Nancy becomes involved in the search for the missing half of a treasure map and investigates the mysterious happenings at a cottage on an estate just outside of River Heights. This is a pretty good book; more deserving of 3 1/2 stars. The story is intriguing and well-written. One thing that I like about this story is that there are numerous dishonest people also searching for the missing half of the map and you don't know if they are working together against Nancy or if they are working seperately. This is an enjoyable adventure and is highly recommended.

A fun book to read - a review by OF
I like this book a lot. I like it because of the people in the book and because of what happens in the book. Lots of people in this book are very nice, they try to help each other as much as possible. People that I like in this book are : Nancy , Hanna Gruen , Ellen ,Mrs Chatham , Mr Smith , Mrs Smith and Ned. This book is fun.

This book is about is about a treasure. Nancy and Mr and Mrs Smith want to find a treasure. They had two maps of the treasure. One day, a man stole one of the maps at Mr and Mrs Smith's house. Nancy and Ellen were trying to stop the man and they couldn't. Nancy had the other map, and one day someone stole the other one from Nancy when she was walking.
One day, they tried to make a map with their imaginations because they had to find the treasure. It took them a little while to make a map. But they found the treasure later.

MY review for the book
In this story, Nancy again solves a treacherous mystery. nancy becomes friends with a girl named Elle, who is trying to get a job babysitting a small 7-year old. her only problem is she is scared of the city in which Trixie, the little girl, lives in. Then Ellen tells Nancy about a map that shows treasure left by Ellen's grandfather. Her father has only half the map. His long-lost twin brother has the remaining half. Nancy is anxious to find his brother and the lost map, and find where the treasure is hidden. She finds many clues before she concludes that the second half of the map was right under her nose. While she is trying to get the two maps together, another couple is also trying to steal the maps from Nancy to get to the treasure first. Once again, the wise Nancy Drew outsmarts the thieves and gets the two half maps together. They all go together on a trip to get the treasure. Everything turns out just fine at the end, with Nancy rewarded as a hero.
I enjoyed reading this book very much. It was the third Nancy Drew book that I ever read. I like to read mystery and suspense stories where you just can't figure out who the thief would be. It is fun to read the end of mystery stories and finding out who the culprit really was. I have read "The Boxcar Children" books before and also enjoyed them because of the mystery and suspense. My least favorite part is how in real life suspects are usually smart enough to escape, but in the nancy Drew books, the thief is never smart to get away. However, nancy always completes a mystery fairly making sure the right person is punished. When I first started it, I couldn't put it down. My favorite part in this story was when Nancy and her two best friends Bess and George go to a park to have a picnic. They borrowed a small ship model from a man named Mr. Trumbull in which they believed had the second half of the map. They were being followed by the mysterious couple. When Nancy, Bess, and George got to the park, they put the ship moel in the car, and left the door unlocked on the way to the picnic. That was the couple's chance to take the ship. So they sneaked to the car and stole it. When the three friends were done, they came back to the car only to find out the ship was gone. Nancy laughed at that and said, "I took the map with me when we left the car." This was my favorite part because at first I thought, why is Nancy keeping the map in the car when she knows there are thieves after her? nancy wouldn't do anything like that. I loved this book very much and hope you will too.

You've got to read this book!
This book is great! you'll love it just like you love all the other books you've read of Nancy Drew! If you read the first page you will become involved with this book and you won't be able to put it down. You'll feel like the great sleuth your self and will just have to read the rest of the series! It's an awesome book and you have to read it!

I JUST LOVE NANCY DREW BOOKS!
I love Nancy Drew because she uses her common sense, herintelligence, and her knack for seeing the significance of small cluesto solve mysteries. In THE QUEST OF THE MISSING MAP, Nancy comes home from school and the housekeeper (Hannah) is on the telephone with a woman named Ellen Smith. Ellen claims that her house is haunted. Nancy immediately jumps on the case and soon is involved in a quest to find answers and to figure out the mystery of this haunted house. Along the way, she encounters goofy characters and many puzzling events. But in the end, she's smart enough to figure things out. Although I would have enjoyed some more details about some of the characters and why they act they way do, all in all I think this is a good book and I recommend it to anyone who likes Nancy's style. END ... Read more

Book Description

Trixie and Honey’s friend Jim has run away from Sleepyside–before anyone could tell him that he is the only heir to the huge Frayne fortune. The girls set out across upstate New York in a trailer to track him down . . . and stumble onto another mystery along the way! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

My favorite Trixie Belden, by far!!
This was my favorite Trixie Belden mystery, and continues where the Secret Mansion story leaves off. Trixie and Honey head off in search for Jim Frayne in Honey's trailer "The Silver Swan" with Honey's governess. Their goal? Find Jim before his stepfather Jonesy does, and before Jim leaves for good. The Red Trailer actually refers to the mystery of a down-trodden family living in a red trailer they encounter along the way. Of course, this mystery is linked to Jim, too.

Elements in this story that should appeal to pre-teens include: horseback riding, visiting summer camps, the independence of travelling in a trailer, and problem-solving.

I'm really pleased to see these books being reissued, with the original illustrations by Mary Stevens. They're so nostalgic, and a delight to read. I always enjoyed Julie Campbell's Trixie the best, but hope the other books in the series will be released, too.

The Search for Jim
The good news is that Jim Frayne has indeed inherited money from his great uncle and will have a new guardian appointed. The bad news is that he left Sleepyside before he could find out. So Trixie, Honey, and her governess, Miss Trask, set out in the Wheeler's trailer to find him. The first night out, they stop next to a mysterious red trailer. The family stays inside with the curtains closed. When they arrive in upstate New York, they learn that trailer thieves are operating in the area. Will Trixie and Honey be able to find Jim before he leaves New York for good? What is going on in that mysterious trailer? And have the girls stumbled on the thieves' hide out?

This book picks up minutes after the first book in the series ended. This is unusual in kid's books, and I rather enjoyed it. There's enough of a recap that anyone new to the story will feel right at home, although it's obviously best to read book 1 first.

The first time I read the story, I knew the ultimate outcome of their search for Jim. However, the sub-plots kept me interested the whole way through. Trixie and Honey are more themselves then in the last book. And, like the last book, so much happens that it's hard to put the book down. This book also contains one of my all time favorite scenes from the series. I always laugh when Trixie and Honey are trapped in the loft by Al. Honey especially is funny while being perfectly in character.

Julie Campbell took her time setting up the characters and events of the series, so these first books are really needed to fully enjoy what follows. But that's no trouble since they are so much fun to read. I've been reading them for years, and I don't plan to stop in the near future.

Runaway Jim & a stolen red trailer
This book is the direct sequel to Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion, which really must be read first. On the quest to find Jim -- on the lam from his evil stepfather Jonsey -- Trixie, Honey, and Miss Trask arrive in the Autoville trailer park, and the girls eventually find the dual mysteries of Jim's whereabouts and a stolen red trailer converging in one area of countryside.

The Red Trailer Mystery does get confusing and could have used a map, but the author summarizes the action periodically, and it sounds natural and helps develop the reader's comprehension and critical thinking.

I think this series gave me an appreciation in my adult life for the benefits of family, community, and enduring friendships.

great
l too loved these books and still have the whole set funny how these can be so much fun to read even after all these years....nope l dont wanta sell them....LOL

This was my very favorite Trixie book!
As a young girl (like seven years ago!), my mom pulled out a box from the attic when I showed an interest in reading. In the box were the first fifteen Trixie books. I have treasured them dearly. Number 2 is still my favorite! I have enjoyed reading and collecting the rest of the set. I have only 3 left to find! - Julie Major ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Arthur's Computer Disaster
"Arthur's Computer Disaster" was a cute book. Any child would enjoy it. It's not only an easy reader that they would like reading, but it teaches a lesson. -What happens when your break the rules.

Arthur's hooked on this new computer game. His mom tells him not to play it while she's gone, but he does it anyway, even with his sister, D.W., warning him. Arthur accidently "breaks" the computer, his mother gets home, and punishes him. All in all, he learns a lesson.

D.W. is my favorite character, because she's so sweet and innocent, just like all little sisters are. She warns her brother, and he chooses not to listen, and ends up "breaking" the computer.

For non readers only
Book is on the level of SEE SPOT RUN. Not for young readers.

Arthur's in trouble now!
This is a great book to teach kids what happens when you break the rules. Arthur's mom tell him he can't play his new computer game while she's gone. But the game is really cool, and he doesn't mean to play it, exactly, just show it to Buster. But, as you might guess, things don't work out that way. Arthur is convinced he has broken the computer. D. W. worries that they will now be homeless, and it will all be his fault. But Mom is able to fix the computer and they all learn a lesson about following the rules.

As a Mom, I wish I could be as fair and calm as Arthur's Mom. She never yells or freaks out. She just grounds Arthur from the computer. And he admits that's fair, which my kids probably would not do. This is a great story about a very common situation. Kids and parents will relate to this one.

Computer Disaster a Book sensation
This book is a great book for much reason. 1 reason is that it is a book that it is a book that any kid could enjoy. This book has the idea of truth and it is a great book with descriptive words. The book has wonderful art and a great story line. It earns 4 stars in my head and 5 or above in a small kids head. I extremely recommend this book.

Arthur does it again!
This is such a good story that kids today can really relate to. It teaches that even when you disobey and mess something up, you should always 'fess up. Most often, the parents are able to fix things back. I'm glad, too, that the author included a suitable punishment for Author's misbehavior, so that the readers might understand that even though adults can fix things, he still had to suffer the consequences. ... Read more

Book Description