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Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School #3
The Whites Of Their Eyes
Demolition looms in the third Keepers of the School adventure from Andrew Clements, the master of the school story.
Benjamin Pratt is running out of time—and if the old Oakes School gets torn down by greedy developers, his hometown by the sea will be changed forever. Good thing Ben and Jill have found a secret weapon—a third Keeper. Who knew that a kid so annoying could be such a spy wiz?
But that nefarious janitor Lyman has secret weapons of his own: a bag of high-tech tricks, plus some low-tech security measures that are simple but terrifying. These kids are smart, but can they outsmart Lyman and his new “assistant”? There’s history in the making here, and the clock keeps tick, tick, ticking toward total demolition
Benjamin Pratt is running out of time—and if the old Oakes School gets torn down by greedy developers, his hometown by the sea will be changed forever. Good thing Ben and Jill have found a secret weapon—a third Keeper. Who knew that a kid so annoying could be such a spy wiz?
But that nefarious janitor Lyman has secret weapons of his own: a bag of high-tech tricks, plus some low-tech security measures that are simple but terrifying. These kids are smart, but can they outsmart Lyman and his new “assistant”? There’s history in the making here, and the clock keeps tick, tick, ticking toward total demolition
Audio CD
First published April 19, 2011
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About the author
Andrew Clements
190 books2,190 followersI was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1949 and lived in Oaklyn and Cherry Hill until the middle of sixth grade. Then we moved to Springfield, Illinois. My parents were avid readers and they gave that love of books and reading to me and to all my brothers and sisters. I didn’t think about being a writer at all back then, but I did love to read. I'm certain there's a link between reading good books and becoming a writer. I don't know a single writer who wasn’t a reader first.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
Before moving to Illinois, and even afterwards, our family spent summers at a cabin on a lake in Maine. There was no TV there, no phone, no doorbell—and email wasn’t even invented. All day there was time to swim and fish and mess around outside, and every night, there was time to read. I know those quiet summers helped me begin to think like a writer.
During my senior year at Springfield High School my English teacher handed back a poem I’d written. Two things were amazing about that paper. First, I’d gotten an A—a rare event in this teacher’s class. And she’d also written in large, scrawly red writing, “Andrew—this poem is so funny. This should be published!”
That praise sent me off to Northwestern University feeling like I was a pretty good writer, and occasionally professors there also encouraged me and complimented the essays I was required to write as a literature major. But I didn’t write much on my own—just some poetry now and then. I learned to play guitar and began writing songs, but again, only when I felt like it. Writing felt like hard work—something that’s still true today.
After the songwriting came my first job in publishing. I worked for a small publisher who specialized in how-to books, the kind of books that have photos with informative captions below each one. The book in which my name first appeared in print is called A Country Christmas Treasury. I’d built a number of the projects featured in the book, and I was listed as one of the “craftspeople”on the acknowlegements page, in tiny, tiny type.
In 1990 I began trying to write a story about a boy who makes up a new word. That book eventually became my first novel, Frindle, published in 1996, and you can read the whole story of how it developed on another web site, frindle.com. Frindle became popular, more popular than any of my books before or since—at least so far. And it had the eventual effect of turning me into a full-time writer.
I’ve learned that I need time and a quiet place to think and write. These days, I spend a lot of my time sitting in a small shed about seventy feet from my back door at our home in Massachusetts. There’s a woodstove in there for the cold winters, and an air conditioner for the hot summers. There’s a desk and chair, and I carry a laptop computer back and forth. But there’s no TV, no phone, no doorbell, no email. And the woodstove and the pine board walls make the place smell just like that cabin in Maine where I spent my earliest summers.
Sometimes kids ask how I've been able to write so many books. The answer is simple: one word at a time. Which is a good lesson, I think. You don't have to do everything at once. You don't have to know how every story is going to end. You just have to take that next step, look for that next idea, write that next word. And growing up, it's the same way. We just have to go to that next class, read that next chapter, help that next person. You simply have to do that next good thing, and before you know it, you're living a good life.
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April 10, 2017
Sixth-graders Ben and Jill have an indispensable new ally, retired janitor Tom Benton, in their quest to save the Captain Duncan Oakes School from the wrecking ball. They've also found a decent revenue source to fund their battle against the Glennley Group, a shady coalition of investors who've sunk millions of dollars into demolishing the school and building an amusement park in its place. Drafted into the resistance effort by the current janitor, Mr. Keane, shortly before he died, Ben and Jill have learned a lot about their centuries-old school's history and the unsavories conspiring to have the building razed. But even with everything they've uncovered, including the first "safeguard" hidden by Captain Oakes himself in the late 1700s, saving the school may be beyond Ben and Jill's capability. Lyman, who replaced Mr. Keane as janitor, is no faithful Keeper of the school in the tradition handed down by Captain Oakes through a lineage of janitors dating back to the establishment's founding. He's a Glennley spy and he's on to Ben and Jill, tailing them every chance he gets to thwart their efforts. They need more help.
Who can be entrusted with an oath as sacred as protecting the town's wonderful old colonial school? Jill selects one of their peers as a candidate and makes the suggestion to Ben, but he doesn't like the idea. The two of them alone are obviously in over their heads, but to confide in another kid, one they can't be positive is trustworthy? That could be the death blow to their undercover operation. Lyman makes inroads against them every day: spying, stalking, acting like a disinterested custodian when other students are around but using his size, aggressive demeanor, and connections with Glennley to intimidate Ben and Jill when no one's there to see. As much as Ben doesn't want to add a third member to their group, he reluctantly agrees, and the decision is arrived at none too soon. Tom Benton is a good remote consultant from his retirement home, but a fresh set of eyes, ears, and ideas inside the school is exactly what's needed to keep Lyman at bay, and the best part is, he doesn't know Ben and Jill have formed an alliance with a third student. That allows the "secret weapon" to search the school for additional safeguards and not be harassed while doing so. If they play their cards right and keep the third kid's identity under wraps, they'll have Lyman at a disadvantage.
But the nefarious janitor is a professional spy, and tricks concocted by even extraordinarily intelligent sixth-graders aren't going to fool him long. Every time Ben, Jill, and their mystery partner gain an edge, Lyman neutralizes it. He's playing for keeps, not going easy because his opponents are young, but Ben and Jill are just as committed on their side of the struggle. An incredible discovery beneath the stairwells at Captain Duncan Oakes School could be a gamebreaker, but its public revelation must be delayed until just the right moment to maximize its value. Concealing the find from Lyman will be difficult, but the fight to preserve the school—a fight that has seemed all but over several times—could be ready to swing in favor of the Keepers. Can three children pursued by an unscrupulous corporate henchman keep their cool long enough for the balance of power to shift?
"But all he could really do was his best, each moment. That was what mattered most—even more than the final outcome. Because the final outcome wasn't up to him alone."
—The Whites of Their Eyes, P. 206
You probably won't think highly of The Whites of Their Eyes if you read it as a standalone, but it meshes well with the other gears of the five-book series. The excitement level is nearly as high as the previous book's, Fear Itself, and the story ends in a discomfiting surprise to leave us urgently desiring to pick up book four and resume reading. Nighttime break-ins and chase scenes, face-to-face confrontations and technological espionage so sophisticated it unsettles us as much as Ben and Jill, all are part of this novel. I'd rate it two and a half stars, and it could have earned higher if it were more self-contained. The series is shaping up splendidly, an effective blend of treasure-hunt adventure and believable, likable characters, and I'll grab volume four, In Harm's Way, as soon as possible. If you like Andrew Clements's other work, you may find this series even more evocative and entertaining. I look forward to continuing it.
Who can be entrusted with an oath as sacred as protecting the town's wonderful old colonial school? Jill selects one of their peers as a candidate and makes the suggestion to Ben, but he doesn't like the idea. The two of them alone are obviously in over their heads, but to confide in another kid, one they can't be positive is trustworthy? That could be the death blow to their undercover operation. Lyman makes inroads against them every day: spying, stalking, acting like a disinterested custodian when other students are around but using his size, aggressive demeanor, and connections with Glennley to intimidate Ben and Jill when no one's there to see. As much as Ben doesn't want to add a third member to their group, he reluctantly agrees, and the decision is arrived at none too soon. Tom Benton is a good remote consultant from his retirement home, but a fresh set of eyes, ears, and ideas inside the school is exactly what's needed to keep Lyman at bay, and the best part is, he doesn't know Ben and Jill have formed an alliance with a third student. That allows the "secret weapon" to search the school for additional safeguards and not be harassed while doing so. If they play their cards right and keep the third kid's identity under wraps, they'll have Lyman at a disadvantage.
But the nefarious janitor is a professional spy, and tricks concocted by even extraordinarily intelligent sixth-graders aren't going to fool him long. Every time Ben, Jill, and their mystery partner gain an edge, Lyman neutralizes it. He's playing for keeps, not going easy because his opponents are young, but Ben and Jill are just as committed on their side of the struggle. An incredible discovery beneath the stairwells at Captain Duncan Oakes School could be a gamebreaker, but its public revelation must be delayed until just the right moment to maximize its value. Concealing the find from Lyman will be difficult, but the fight to preserve the school—a fight that has seemed all but over several times—could be ready to swing in favor of the Keepers. Can three children pursued by an unscrupulous corporate henchman keep their cool long enough for the balance of power to shift?
"But all he could really do was his best, each moment. That was what mattered most—even more than the final outcome. Because the final outcome wasn't up to him alone."
—The Whites of Their Eyes, P. 206
You probably won't think highly of The Whites of Their Eyes if you read it as a standalone, but it meshes well with the other gears of the five-book series. The excitement level is nearly as high as the previous book's, Fear Itself, and the story ends in a discomfiting surprise to leave us urgently desiring to pick up book four and resume reading. Nighttime break-ins and chase scenes, face-to-face confrontations and technological espionage so sophisticated it unsettles us as much as Ben and Jill, all are part of this novel. I'd rate it two and a half stars, and it could have earned higher if it were more self-contained. The series is shaping up splendidly, an effective blend of treasure-hunt adventure and believable, likable characters, and I'll grab volume four, In Harm's Way, as soon as possible. If you like Andrew Clements's other work, you may find this series even more evocative and entertaining. I look forward to continuing it.
October 10, 2016
Having read 11 books by Andrew Clements in under a year I can now state he is one of my favourite middle grade authors ever. For the most part his books are a realistic fiction, but this series stretches that further than any other books of his I have read. This book represents the midpoint of this series, book 3 of 5. It follows directly after Fear Itself, which followed We the Children. In this volume the action really heats up and the days are counting down until The Oakes School will be demolished and the property turned into a theme park.
In this volume Ben and Jill are trying to follow the clues to the secrets that were left behind that were intended to save the school. But because janitor Lyman is onto them they need to expand the team. They bring in the least likely partner and Ben's lifelong rival, Robert Gerritt. And every time they think they have found something that will save the school, the tables get turned on them. And time is ticking away. And yet the kids are determined and even have a few adults on their side.
This book really begins to explore some deeper themes, we have Ben dealing with the separation of his parents and their imminent divorce. Also we have Robert who has lost both his parents and is being raised by his grandmother. And Jill is dealing with her parents constantly fighting at home. They are also trying desperately to save their school, and now Lyman has rigged the school with sensors and even a beast of a dog after hours. Their troubles just keep mounting up.
Adam Stower does dome wonderful illustrations to supplement the story. There are a number of full pages illustrations and also numerous smaller pieces throughout the book. And the story has really picked up its pace. Children will stay glued to the pages wanting to find out what will happen next.
Clements writes great characters. I often find myself thinking about characters from other of his books and wondering what they are up to now. With this being one of his only three series after finishing this volume I am constantly wondering what will happen next. In this volume we see some huge character growth, both in Jill and Ben, especially in Ben as he revaluates his lifelong rivalry with Robert. Reading this book will likely spark some reflection in children, and how they relate to others especially those they struggle to get along with.
I have been hooked on Clements's books for almost a year now, and this series recently, I look forward to finding this series and reading many more books by this gifted storyteller.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Andrew Clements.
In this volume Ben and Jill are trying to follow the clues to the secrets that were left behind that were intended to save the school. But because janitor Lyman is onto them they need to expand the team. They bring in the least likely partner and Ben's lifelong rival, Robert Gerritt. And every time they think they have found something that will save the school, the tables get turned on them. And time is ticking away. And yet the kids are determined and even have a few adults on their side.
This book really begins to explore some deeper themes, we have Ben dealing with the separation of his parents and their imminent divorce. Also we have Robert who has lost both his parents and is being raised by his grandmother. And Jill is dealing with her parents constantly fighting at home. They are also trying desperately to save their school, and now Lyman has rigged the school with sensors and even a beast of a dog after hours. Their troubles just keep mounting up.
Adam Stower does dome wonderful illustrations to supplement the story. There are a number of full pages illustrations and also numerous smaller pieces throughout the book. And the story has really picked up its pace. Children will stay glued to the pages wanting to find out what will happen next.
Clements writes great characters. I often find myself thinking about characters from other of his books and wondering what they are up to now. With this being one of his only three series after finishing this volume I am constantly wondering what will happen next. In this volume we see some huge character growth, both in Jill and Ben, especially in Ben as he revaluates his lifelong rivalry with Robert. Reading this book will likely spark some reflection in children, and how they relate to others especially those they struggle to get along with.
I have been hooked on Clements's books for almost a year now, and this series recently, I look forward to finding this series and reading many more books by this gifted storyteller.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Andrew Clements.
October 30, 2015
Plot
The plot starts in the Captain Oaks School and the kids are trying to save the school from the Mr. Lyman, the janitor. Mr. Lyman is trying to tear down the school and trying to build a carnival. The main characters are Ben, Jill, Robert and Mr. Lyman. They found a lot money in the bank, 88 million dollars to be exact.
Personal Response
I like the book. It is a good book if you like mystery book. it is very interesting and it does not let me down.
The book is good if you like mystery books. The book is easy to read. The audience for this book would be younger people and teens. The book is little bit childish.
The plot starts in the Captain Oaks School and the kids are trying to save the school from the Mr. Lyman, the janitor. Mr. Lyman is trying to tear down the school and trying to build a carnival. The main characters are Ben, Jill, Robert and Mr. Lyman. They found a lot money in the bank, 88 million dollars to be exact.
Personal Response
I like the book. It is a good book if you like mystery book. it is very interesting and it does not let me down.
The book is good if you like mystery books. The book is easy to read. The audience for this book would be younger people and teens. The book is little bit childish.
March 26, 2012
Full Review at Little Red Reads: http://littleredreads.blogspot.com/20...
Heather's Review: This was my children's first experience with a full unabridged audiobook so I was curious how they would do. From the minute I put in on all was quiet in our car and they kept asking for more. We picked up the series with book three after Simon Audio sent us a copy for review and while we're missing a lot of the back story my children didn't seem to mind at all. The Keepers of the School start out as a team of two, Benjamin Pratt and his friend Jill. They are trying to save their historic school property the Oakes School from being destroyed and replaced by a theme park. Their biggest enemy... Lyman the school custodian who is spying for the ocean front land developers. Things get a little hard for just the two of them so they recruit class genius, Robert onto the case. Ben has to learn to work through his jealousy of Robert who seems to have it all-the clothes, the perfect sail boat and the brains. But as we all know things aren't always what they seem.
The author explores the effects of divorce and parental loss on children. He also adds fascinating tidbits of the history of transportation and the underground railroad which were our favorite parts of the audiobook. I wish Lyman had a more active role in the storyline so that the conflict was well established and a sense of tension was developed. But overall, I can't complain because my kids loved it! We can't wait until the next int he series. Thanks so much to Simon Audio for the chance to be introduced to the world of the Keepers of the School!
Content: some name calling and thoughts of violence by one of the boys
Heather's Review: This was my children's first experience with a full unabridged audiobook so I was curious how they would do. From the minute I put in on all was quiet in our car and they kept asking for more. We picked up the series with book three after Simon Audio sent us a copy for review and while we're missing a lot of the back story my children didn't seem to mind at all. The Keepers of the School start out as a team of two, Benjamin Pratt and his friend Jill. They are trying to save their historic school property the Oakes School from being destroyed and replaced by a theme park. Their biggest enemy... Lyman the school custodian who is spying for the ocean front land developers. Things get a little hard for just the two of them so they recruit class genius, Robert onto the case. Ben has to learn to work through his jealousy of Robert who seems to have it all-the clothes, the perfect sail boat and the brains. But as we all know things aren't always what they seem.
The author explores the effects of divorce and parental loss on children. He also adds fascinating tidbits of the history of transportation and the underground railroad which were our favorite parts of the audiobook. I wish Lyman had a more active role in the storyline so that the conflict was well established and a sense of tension was developed. But overall, I can't complain because my kids loved it! We can't wait until the next int he series. Thanks so much to Simon Audio for the chance to be introduced to the world of the Keepers of the School!
Content: some name calling and thoughts of violence by one of the boys
July 31, 2012
Are you an Andrew Cements fan? Do you like exciting adventures? Do you like to read mysteries? If you do, you should read the Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School series!
In the third book in the series, Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: The Whites of their Eyes, Andrew Clements brings characters Ben, Jill, and Robert to life as they battle their new custodian, Lyman, to save their school from being destroyed to make an amusement park! Lyman was hired by the group that’s going to run the amusement park and was told to stop anyone from saving the school.
I liked reading this book because I had lots of mental images. This was especially true when Ben, Jill, and Robert were in the secret compartment under the north stairwell in their school. This description tells when Lyman came with his guard dog. “And then everyone heard a door slam . . . and then the sound of footsteps . . . heavy steps with half a second between each one . . . the kind of footsteps a grown man would take . . . a tall man.”
Does Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: The Whites of their Eyes Book 3 sound interesting to you? Then what are you waiting for? Just go pick the series up at your local library or bookstore! The first book in the series is called Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: We the Children and the second book in the series is called Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: Fear Itself.
In the third book in the series, Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: The Whites of their Eyes, Andrew Clements brings characters Ben, Jill, and Robert to life as they battle their new custodian, Lyman, to save their school from being destroyed to make an amusement park! Lyman was hired by the group that’s going to run the amusement park and was told to stop anyone from saving the school.
I liked reading this book because I had lots of mental images. This was especially true when Ben, Jill, and Robert were in the secret compartment under the north stairwell in their school. This description tells when Lyman came with his guard dog. “And then everyone heard a door slam . . . and then the sound of footsteps . . . heavy steps with half a second between each one . . . the kind of footsteps a grown man would take . . . a tall man.”
Does Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: The Whites of their Eyes Book 3 sound interesting to you? Then what are you waiting for? Just go pick the series up at your local library or bookstore! The first book in the series is called Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: We the Children and the second book in the series is called Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School: Fear Itself.
March 6, 2012
Book 3 of the series Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School. Well written. My only problem with this book is that it doesn't stand alone--the reader should really start with Book 1 of this series to understand the story line from the beginning.
The story...The Oakes School, built in 1783, is threatened by a developer who wants to build an amusement park on its land as well as on adjacent ocean-front land. Benjamin Pratt and his friend Jill, the Keepers of the School and grade school students at the school, want to save it, the beachfront, and the harbor. Captain Oakes, the man who built the school originally, has left a series of clues (and money) to be found to save the school whenever it is endangered. Ben and Jill enlist another student, Robert, to help them and together they work to outsmart the developers and their spy, Lyman, the school custodian.
Other than some confusion in the beginning due to my starting this series with Book 3, I like the book. There's a lot of thinking and growing up when it comes to the interactions between Ben and Robert and between Ben and Jill, and there's a lot of cleverness in the three kids' detective work.
Probably for early 3rd grade and up, but younger kids who are good readers would also enjoy it.
The story...The Oakes School, built in 1783, is threatened by a developer who wants to build an amusement park on its land as well as on adjacent ocean-front land. Benjamin Pratt and his friend Jill, the Keepers of the School and grade school students at the school, want to save it, the beachfront, and the harbor. Captain Oakes, the man who built the school originally, has left a series of clues (and money) to be found to save the school whenever it is endangered. Ben and Jill enlist another student, Robert, to help them and together they work to outsmart the developers and their spy, Lyman, the school custodian.
Other than some confusion in the beginning due to my starting this series with Book 3, I like the book. There's a lot of thinking and growing up when it comes to the interactions between Ben and Robert and between Ben and Jill, and there's a lot of cleverness in the three kids' detective work.
Probably for early 3rd grade and up, but younger kids who are good readers would also enjoy it.
May 15, 2012
The last day of school is coming closer and Benjamin Pratt is running out of time. Jill and Ben need another Keeper of the School. Janitor Lyman is upping the game with technology and they need to outsmart him. The school and its history needs to survive!
With each new addition to Clements series, I am left on the edge of my seat. Clements is writing a series that is reminiscent of the serialized novels of the 1800's. Readers from the past would wait for book chapters to be printed in the newspaper. Once the complete story was finished, printers would publish the novel in several novels (think Charles Dickens). I want to read the whole book in one sitting and Clements is drawing the readers along so cleverly. Bravo! I cannot wait for the next installment!
Keith Nobbs returns to narrate the third Keepers of the School. With the first words, the characters spring back to mind immediately.
Reviewed from a library copy.
With each new addition to Clements series, I am left on the edge of my seat. Clements is writing a series that is reminiscent of the serialized novels of the 1800's. Readers from the past would wait for book chapters to be printed in the newspaper. Once the complete story was finished, printers would publish the novel in several novels (think Charles Dickens). I want to read the whole book in one sitting and Clements is drawing the readers along so cleverly. Bravo! I cannot wait for the next installment!
Keith Nobbs returns to narrate the third Keepers of the School. With the first words, the characters spring back to mind immediately.
Reviewed from a library copy.
September 10, 2016
I can't tell whether I like this series or not. I can't tell exactly how it is going to go and I am not sure I like all of the twists and turns that are unfolding and connected. I guess that means it is a series of merit - I just wish I had decided to read it when I could begin it from start to finish.
I appreciate the connections to history. I really like how the characters grow and develop from book to book. They have gained dimension from one book to the next. I appreciate the family situations and diversity - they match the New England seacoast families I know too. I think kids can connect - I just want to know if the end stays true to the beginning. I'm not certain of that.
And I wonder about the history of the back story. Will we get to know and understand. How do human beings have that much compassion and fore thought over centuries?
I appreciate the connections to history. I really like how the characters grow and develop from book to book. They have gained dimension from one book to the next. I appreciate the family situations and diversity - they match the New England seacoast families I know too. I think kids can connect - I just want to know if the end stays true to the beginning. I'm not certain of that.
And I wonder about the history of the back story. Will we get to know and understand. How do human beings have that much compassion and fore thought over centuries?
April 10, 2012
I think this series would make a great read - aloud for kids over 3rd grade. This, the third one in the series, started a bit slowly, but it was very good. I am not sure that I liked the format of braking the story between books two and three. I think it would be better to finish number two and then immediately pick up The Whites of Their Eyes so you didn't lose the continuity.
Clements doesn't bother with too much background story here; that's all right with me, as I find that tedious at times.
My DS read this before I did and he enjoyed checking in with me to see where I was in the plot. I love that enthusiasm for a story. We do not know how we are going to wait for number four, though!
I am going to recommend this right now to a young friend who is looking for a book to capture his imagination.
Clements doesn't bother with too much background story here; that's all right with me, as I find that tedious at times.
My DS read this before I did and he enjoyed checking in with me to see where I was in the plot. I love that enthusiasm for a story. We do not know how we are going to wait for number four, though!
I am going to recommend this right now to a young friend who is looking for a book to capture his imagination.
November 2, 2012
I recently started reading The Whites Of There Eyes, by: Andrew Clements. I really like this book because it tells you the feeling of Benjamin Pratt as you read the story, with all of the heart pounding situations he goes through. I also really enjoy how Andrew describes the setting in a special way. This book has a lot of suspense in the right parts and little suspense in parts that don't need it. I hope that Benjamin and Jill, the other main character in the book, can somehow save the school. If I was in Ben's situation I would do the exact thing he is doing. This book really relates to my life because his he is trying to protect the school with his life and I have been in situations like that such as sometimes I have to hide things to keep them safe from my parents or my brother. I can't wait to read more!
January 11, 2014
This is book three in a series written by one of my favorite authors of books for juveniles. I'll be honest, the first book did not grab my attention. The second book didn't do much for me either. This book, however, has increased my desire to continue reading as new books are released in the series. I'd say the whole thing just got off to a slow start. The plot is getting far more interesting as the two primary characters (Ben and Jill) decide to invite another person (Robert) on their mission to save the Oakes school from demolition to make way for a theme park. There is a lot more character development and more backstory revealed this time. Also, the main nemesis has some tricks up his sleeve and it's fascinating to see how the kids fight back. There's a thematic lesson too: never give up and stay positive.
June 14, 2019
This is the third book in the Keepers of the School series by Andrew Clements.
interesting quotes:
"He deserved a day off, and the ocean was waiting." (p. 29)
"Most people live a whole lifetime and never get to hear the words 'believable vomit.'" (p. 128)
"But really, it was more like learning history. You go along and you think the world is one way, then you pick up just a few more facts, and everything changes." (p. 178)
"But all he could really do was his best, each moment. That was what mattered most—even more than the final outcome. Because the final outcome wasn't up to him alone." (p. 206)
interesting quotes:
"He deserved a day off, and the ocean was waiting." (p. 29)
"Most people live a whole lifetime and never get to hear the words 'believable vomit.'" (p. 128)
"But really, it was more like learning history. You go along and you think the world is one way, then you pick up just a few more facts, and everything changes." (p. 178)
"But all he could really do was his best, each moment. That was what mattered most—even more than the final outcome. Because the final outcome wasn't up to him alone." (p. 206)
October 7, 2013
I really enjoy this series by Andrew Clements. It is a great chapter book series for third and fourth graders. It is full of mystery and the story line is very entertaining and children will like it. The plot is extremely suspenseful so the kids will continue to turn the page and finish the series. The two main characters are great role models for the children as well. They display great characteristics and are people that children can aspire to act like. Over all, I was very impressed by these chapter books. It was an interesting chapter book to read because along with the chapters there were little pictures occasionally on the pages that go along with the objects that the story is describing.
July 9, 2012
In this third installment of the “Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School” series, Benjamin and Jill are trying to save their school from the bulldozers of greedy developers. If the school is torn down, Ben knows his town will never be the same. But, can they escape evil janitor Lyman and his even eviler guard dog? With the help of a surprising new keeper, they may just be able to save the school, but the clock is ticking!!!
Not a bad read, but I think it would be more interesting to elementary school kids.
Price: 14.99
Suitability: Grades3-6
Illustrations: black/white/orange
Genre: Mystery
Possible Censorship Issues: N/A
Call #: FIC CLE
Not a bad read, but I think it would be more interesting to elementary school kids.
Price: 14.99
Suitability: Grades3-6
Illustrations: black/white/orange
Genre: Mystery
Possible Censorship Issues: N/A
Call #: FIC CLE
April 14, 2012
There's a lot going on in this series. It's a mystery-and a bit of a puzzle mystery, so kids can play along. It's an adventure with plenty of action and excitement. But there are unexpected touches that I really like. Ben and Jill and learning to get along with the obnoxious "know-it-all" in their class in book 3. They've brought him on board as the third keeper in their little band and Ben discovers things about Robert's life he never imagined. And Ben himself is still coping with his parent's separation. These touches bring realism to the series and help kids relate to Ben and Jill.
October 24, 2015
In this third book of the Keepers of the School Series, Ben and Jill link up with Robert to speed up their search for the Captain's clues. In the process, Ben and Jill get closer, while Robert opens up about the realities of his secretive life. Through it all, they discover an unknown hidden room which was part of the Underground Railroad. I still believe splitting this collection of a single novel's chapters into five separate books disturbs the flow and effectiveness of the story.
January 18, 2016
Another winner by Clements. His characterization is great, including the twists and turns that we learn about the characters throughout the book. And in this mystery, there are enough false starts and unexpected surprises to keep me and my girl interested. The only problem: at this rate there will be four more books (at least) before the series is over, which means Rebekah will be a teenager by the time we figure out if Ben and Jill and now Robert are able to save the school.
June 7, 2012
Part 3 in this mystery/adventure series from Andrew Clements. Benjamin, Jill and Robert really push the envelope this time by breaking into the school several times to look for more clues. Lyman, the spy/janitor is hot on their trail with every turn. I like how Clements has crafted this extended tale so far. I am hopeful that book 4 wraps up the series.
February 5, 2012
The series gets better with each book. In the third book, Gerritt joins Ben and Jill in their search for clues. Lyman is still causing trouble but kicks up the attacks. There will be a fourth book in the series. If readers can get through the first book, they will enjoy the series.
May 15, 2012
This series gets better and better. In this 3rd outing, the "Keepers" become a trio, discover something amazing, and find out that things -- and people -- are not always what they seem. Andrew Clements scores again! Highly recommended.
June 23, 2012
This is just a series because the whole story would be a gigantic book. I hate when a storyline is unresolved. However - I DO know that students eat it up! :) I do like the plot and characters; I just wish it were in one book instead of many.
July 10, 2012
Another good additions to the Keepers of the School series. Many ups and downs as Ben and his friends try to save their school. There is a fourth book coming out. I would like to know how many books ther will be all together!
June 12, 2020
I am a 9 year old on my Moms name.
I loved this book because they add a new recruit to their keepers team. This new recruit helps the keeps to make progress in their fight to save the school. Robert, the new recruit, is the main character rival wns now they are working together.
I loved this book because they add a new recruit to their keepers team. This new recruit helps the keeps to make progress in their fight to save the school. Robert, the new recruit, is the main character rival wns now they are working together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2018
Slow start, but the book picks up; the second-weakest of the series but, hey, you have to read them all to get to the conclusion.
July 14, 2012
Narrator Review:
Overall, I thought that Keith Nobbs did a pretty fair job at narrating this book. His girl voices could use a little work, but then again it's tough to be a girlish girl when you have a deeper voice :). I accept that. His pacing is spot on, and I loved the way that he would pause for dramatic effect at important points. Nobbs also does a great job at intoning danger and excitement.
Audio Book Rating: 4/5 - It's a great listen!
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Book Review:
First off I find it only fair to say that I wasn't really paying attention to the fact that this was the third book in the series. I'm a long time fan of Andrew Clements, and when I saw The Whites of Their Eyes I knew I wanted to read it! So, I picked it up. Unfortunately for me that meant I came in at the middle of the story. I'll warn you, this is not a stand alone book. I had to go back and pick up pieces from the other two in order to understand what was going on. If you're looking at this series, make sure to start from the beginning!
That being said, I was pleased to see that Ben and his friends fit so wonderfully into the world of Clements' writing. They are vivid, funny, and smart. His characters always know how to hold their own. In particular (and I may be a little biased) I loved Jill. She not only has the wit to keep up with Ben, but a lot of the good ideas they come up with start with her. These two are fun to follow, even when they head off into dangerous situations. It's nice to see a female and male main character who both shine so boldly off the page.
The story does move a little more slowly than most books geared toward this age group generally do. There is a lot of historical background, and Ben does a lot of explaining about what his mission is. I had no problem with it as an older listener/reader, but I'm not sure that the younger audience would be as patient. Still, once the story picks up it does it very well! Clements' writing shines as Ben and Jill take off on a hunt for the ultimate treasure, and try to find a way to save their school from being torn down.
As a last comment, I really think that this installment should be coupled with the other two in one entire book. This was a short read, and it would be nice for readers to be able to get the entire story in one fell swoop. Despite everything though, I really did end up enjoying the story overall! If you have a young reader who loves adventure, pick up a copy of The Whites of Their Eyes and Ben's previous two adventures.
Overall, I thought that Keith Nobbs did a pretty fair job at narrating this book. His girl voices could use a little work, but then again it's tough to be a girlish girl when you have a deeper voice :). I accept that. His pacing is spot on, and I loved the way that he would pause for dramatic effect at important points. Nobbs also does a great job at intoning danger and excitement.
Audio Book Rating: 4/5 - It's a great listen!
**********
Book Review:
First off I find it only fair to say that I wasn't really paying attention to the fact that this was the third book in the series. I'm a long time fan of Andrew Clements, and when I saw The Whites of Their Eyes I knew I wanted to read it! So, I picked it up. Unfortunately for me that meant I came in at the middle of the story. I'll warn you, this is not a stand alone book. I had to go back and pick up pieces from the other two in order to understand what was going on. If you're looking at this series, make sure to start from the beginning!
That being said, I was pleased to see that Ben and his friends fit so wonderfully into the world of Clements' writing. They are vivid, funny, and smart. His characters always know how to hold their own. In particular (and I may be a little biased) I loved Jill. She not only has the wit to keep up with Ben, but a lot of the good ideas they come up with start with her. These two are fun to follow, even when they head off into dangerous situations. It's nice to see a female and male main character who both shine so boldly off the page.
The story does move a little more slowly than most books geared toward this age group generally do. There is a lot of historical background, and Ben does a lot of explaining about what his mission is. I had no problem with it as an older listener/reader, but I'm not sure that the younger audience would be as patient. Still, once the story picks up it does it very well! Clements' writing shines as Ben and Jill take off on a hunt for the ultimate treasure, and try to find a way to save their school from being torn down.
As a last comment, I really think that this installment should be coupled with the other two in one entire book. This was a short read, and it would be nice for readers to be able to get the entire story in one fell swoop. Despite everything though, I really did end up enjoying the story overall! If you have a young reader who loves adventure, pick up a copy of The Whites of Their Eyes and Ben's previous two adventures.
December 22, 2014
This is book #3 in the Keepers of the School series. I was not impressed with book #1 and I don't own book #2. It didn't mater much in the scheme of things, though. I like this one a little more than book #1. I still dislike the fact that the story is told piecemeal and you have to read an entire series in order to learn the story. I don't have any more books in this series.
The gist of the series: Benjamin Pratt and his friends Jill and Richard are trying to save their Massachusetts harbor school, started in the late 1700s, from being torn down to make an amusement park. Some school children in the 1790s had set up safeguards to save the school if it ever should be in trouble. Ben and his friends are following the clues one by one but must avoid the janitor, who is a spy for the company who will build the amusement park. There were some more exciting scenes in this book.
The gist of the series: Benjamin Pratt and his friends Jill and Richard are trying to save their Massachusetts harbor school, started in the late 1700s, from being torn down to make an amusement park. Some school children in the 1790s had set up safeguards to save the school if it ever should be in trouble. Ben and his friends are following the clues one by one but must avoid the janitor, who is a spy for the company who will build the amusement park. There were some more exciting scenes in this book.
July 7, 2012
Jill, Ben, and Robert are junior sleuths trying to save their school from greedy developers. They want to demolish the old Oakes School on the waterfront to build a fancy resort and casino. They find clues left behind long ago that will bolster their case...and help make the Oakes School a historical establishment in the national registry.
This was not my favorite Andrew Clements book by any means...however, two things may have contributed to that fact. The audio version was not compelling and did not keep my interest. Also, this is the third book in a series and I did not read the first two.
This was not my favorite Andrew Clements book by any means...however, two things may have contributed to that fact. The audio version was not compelling and did not keep my interest. Also, this is the third book in a series and I did not read the first two.
September 5, 2018
I'm back to being annoyed by this series. The overarching plot is interesting enough (if extremely unrealistic) that I'll push through to the end to find out what happens. But the more I read, the more I'm bothered by them. The main character, Benjamin, in impossibly perfect. He has moral dilemmas in his head and always comes out of them making decisions with adult-type maturity and forethought. It feels like a case of the author writing children with his own life experience and morals as the inner driving force. Good thing they are quick little reads!
July 20, 2014
In the 2012 hardcover edition I read, ISBN 9781416938880, there's a missing word on page 134.
September 3, 2014
Fun! This book entertained me almost as much as it kept my 9 year old son's attention in the car. (Audiobook) third in a series of five. Recommended as a just-for-fun book for kids in third or fourth grade.
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