The Kidnappers: A Mystery

by Willo Davis Roberts

Joey witnesses the kidnapping of Willy, the school bully, outside their prestigious New York City private school. But nobody he tells--not even the 911 operator--believes him. Then Joey himself is kidnapped by the same man. Written by a three-time Edgar Award winner, this is a suspenseful, intriguing book for young minds.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Adventure

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Willo Davis Roberts was an American writer chiefly known for her mystery novels for children and young adults. She won Edgar Allan Poe awards in 1989, 1995, and 1997 for best juvenile and best young adult mysteries. Her books included The View from the Cherry Tree, Twisted Summer, Don't Hurt Laurie, Megan's Island, Baby-sitting is a Dangerous Job, Hostage, The Girl with Silver Eyes, The One Left Behind and Scared Stiff.

Reviews

[Alim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. I recommend this book to everyone. Probably one of the best books I have ever read.

[Paige Kinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE KIDNAPPERS BY:Willo Davis Roberts

I felt like it was a really good book because it made me want to read more. It is about these 2 boys Joey and Willie that do not really get along. Willie wanted to meet Joey after school so that he could "teach him a lesson". A couple days later Joey was hiding from Willie and a car came rushing toward Willie and a guy got out of the car and pulled Willie in the car with him. Joey told everyone he knew about the kidnapping and no one believed him even though he told them that he saw it with his own eyes. He told his sister about it and she believed him. He asked his dad if he could call the police about a Kidnapping that happened to a boy after school. When the Police got involved Joey had to describe the kidnapper that he saw. A couple days after that, Joey was going to go get a math book for his brother and when he walked out of an elevator and the kidnappers were standing in the elevator with him.
I really encourage you to read this book because it is really interesting and just the fact that the title was called "The Kidnappers" really hooked me and it is not like the average kidnapping book that you will find in the Library because it has allot more things that happen toward the end of the book.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

who would've guessed ernie had something to do with willie's and joe's kidnapping!!!!!!!! I can't believe it. I liked the way willow davis roberts wrote this book especially towards the middle. a bad author could have made that part slow and boring. a good author (like willow davis roberts) keeps it alive and hopping. i was so surprised when willie was kidnapped, when joe was kidnapped, and when i found out ernie was helping with both kidnappings!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nick Loehrke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Student Name: Nicholas Loehrke Date Submitted: 5-23
Book Title: The Kidnappers Lexile: 800

Personal response: The Kidnappers wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read. It had a decent plot and ok characters. My favorite part was when the protagonist was hit by a car.

Plot summary: Joey is an eleven-year-old kid who lives in a big city. He enjoys making up stories. One day after school, he saw the class bully get pulled into an unmarked car. He realized it was a kidnapping. Joey tried telling his parents, teachers and butler about what he saw. Nobody believed him because of his history of making up stories. After exhausting himself trying to convince people, a police investigator came by his house and questioned him. This got his parents to believe him. When Joey was coming back from school, he was kidnapped by the same people who kidnapped the bully. Joey and the other kid were rescued by the police, and it was found out that the kidnapper was Joey’s butler.

Characterization: In the beginning, Joey was frustrated that nobody would believe him. After the police visited him, he was relieved that someone was helping to find the bully. When Joey was kidnapped, he was obviously scared. After everything was over, Joey was just happy to go back to school.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to middle school students. It has a relatively low reading level and has a very simple plot. I think this book would be too boring for high school students.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids love these kid thrilling adventures and this author is one of our favs! Who kidnapped Willie?? Read to find out.

[Tyler Haney · Rating 4 out of 5]

School Bullies. Or personal enemies. You think'd they'd back off from you one way or another. The main character's personal enemy backed off from him...but not in the way you'd expect. This book, which I have yet to finish at the moment I'm doing this review, which is also why this has 4 stars, when I usually have 5 on the books I read. This book tells the story about [WILL PUT MAIN CHARACTER NAME HERE WHEN I GET BACK ON THE BOOK] and his personal Enemy, Willie, who, right in front of [MAIN CHARACTER], who is hiding, is kidnapped. I try and tell my opinions of the book review.
In my opinion, this is a great book so far. We've got a riveting story, and I left off at ***SPOILER ALERT*** the part after [MAIN CHARACTER] was taken hostage. (No, not that deja-vu kind of hostage, i.e. meat shields.) Of course, before he was taken hostage, well...***SPOILER ALERT. DO NOT READ BEYOND HERE IF YOU DON'T WANNA BE SPOILED.***...he was nearly ran over twice. Ya. Twice. You think the kidnappers would back off after the first near run-over. However, in the 2nd run-over, a car didn't save them. NO ONE DIED, OF COURSE! They jumped out of the way. The first near run-over had a red Camaro save them. My question is, though, how did they know that [MAIN CHARACTER] had tipped them off? Informant? Someone who just so happened to know about the kidnapping, and told them? Or just the news?
The fact though, that a school bully gets kidnapped, is, actually strange. Why him? Why not just have [MAIN CHARACTER] get kidnapped? (Of course, I think it's because, well, last book I had read before getting this book, Hostage, also by Willo Davis Roberts, had the main character and a nosy neighbor [See why you shouldn't be moseying around on other's properties sometimes?] were kidnapped after a robbery they interrupted. So, having the main character in this book kidnapped, it'd be basic deja-vu, and ya.) Other than that, this book is great. It really sets up a good story. Though I have yet to get to the ending, it is still a good book to read.
To conclude, I'd give this book a 4/5. So far, it is good, yet it still can suffer the hiccups that other kidnapping stories have, like, not getting rescued for basic ages. I still have yet to finish this book. Other than that, this is a good story.

[Sieun Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book in school,and my book group friends all guessed that Ernie would be a kidnapper,and there is one reason that I said...
WHEN JOELY TRY TO CALL POLICE AND TELL HIM THAT HE SAW WILL GOT KIDNAPPED HE TRY TO MAKE HIM DO HIS WORK AND WOULDN'T LET HIM USE HIS PHONE,AND HIS EYES GOT SHARP WHEN HE SAID HIS DAD BELIEVE HIM...VERY EASY THING TO GUESS...

And I figured out that kidnappers locked them in nice room with see through window on it...OH MY GOD...It's not realistic so I got bored at it...It wasn't a really mystery it was friendship sort of story...I really don't like this book...

[Suzanne Dix · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery itself was compelling though I found the characters a bit two-dimensional (mean older brother, cold father, somewhat ditzy mother). The main character Joe is smart and dedicated to solving this mystery. Many references are made to past mistakes he's made but very few are ever fully explained and I found that frustrating. It was as if the author wanted you to think Joe was an unreliable narrator when in fact he was a solid detailer.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun mystery. I liked the main character as he struggled to get people to believe his story of witnessing a kidnapping because he is typically such a storyteller. And even though the end wasn't all that believable, I could see how kids might think it is the coolest thing ever. A fun read.

[Kathy McC · Rating 3 out of 5]

New core curricular standards for middle school. Added the mystery genre to my requirements so I have to review some youth/young adult mysteries to my classroom library. This one was OK, especially for less skilled readers.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exciting book about, yes kidnappers, but quite easy to see who is in on the kidnapping. Fast paced, that was wonderful.

[Rebeca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the most shocking book I read. It is about a neighbor who gets robbed, while their on vacation. I would highly recommend this book to children and adults

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was okay. i would reccomend it to people that like suspense. however, the ending isn't very suprising.

[Kathleen Woodruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 5th graders were really into this book. They were excited to read it each day. I didn't care for the resolution to who kidnapped Willie. It was too obvious for the kids to figure out.

[Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

One word. Yuck.

[John]

i love this book getting good

[Rhiannon Abel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book i would recommend it to anyone if your not great at reading easy for book reports or just for fun!

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book has a lot of action but it dosent have a lot of detail. i think it should have had more detail because i was very confusing. but it was moved to fast for me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast and interesting read! Imagine what would happen if the bully who was going to beat you up suddenly kidnapped right before your eyes?

[Meera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I’m impressed with how well this book is written. My brother was cleaning out his room the other other day and had a pile of books sitting out in the garage to be donated. This book was sitting on the top of the stack. The cover itself wasn’t appealing to me, but the title was. I thought I would give this book a try. I’m honestly really glad I did. I breezed through the pages as though it was nothing. The plot line is very interesting, and it definitely will leave the most reluctant readers turning pages. I love how the book just cut to the chase, no 10 paged introduction. Just right to the story. I love the plot twist towards the end of the book, I definitely did not see that coming. My favorite part of the book was when Joe was kidnapped by the kidnappers and put into the room with his bully, Willie. I love how curious, and creative Joe is. Overall, a great mystery book. Didn’t expect to love it so much!

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as I’d hoped. Suspense lacking. Dragged at times. I figured out bad guy way early.
Like other books by this author better.

[Hannah Wells · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great mystery book for kids, ending was underwhelming though.

[Aravind Jayan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good one for children

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Joey hides from Willie, the guy who's trying to beat him up, he sees Willie dragged into a car. But Joey has been known to exaggerate, so no one will believe him when he reports the kidnapping, except for his best friend, Pink. Before he knows it, Joey is involved in the investigation and it seems that someone is trying to kill him.

[Gray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overall, very boring. I am usually not the kind of person to leave a bad rating, but this was just... BAD. The 'mystery'- you could totally see it coming. I'm also not the kind of person to not complete a book once I've started it, but finishing this book was PAINFUL.
It might've been more interesting if I was a 10-year-old boy, but I'm not. Never was, never will be. 😂 If you ARE a young boy, this book is for you! 😃👍
However, I wouldn't recommend this book to mature readers who want a good-quality book with believable characters, a real MYSTERY, and an interesting plot. Trust me when I say this: this book offers none of these things.

[Ashley McCubbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned you should ALWAYS tell the truth no matter what.

[Bri Hogue]

This is a good mystery for peeps! There's not much else to say

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

this si a very good book!

[Ivy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read years ago. barely remember but it's good.

[Annehobdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it!!! It was very suspenseful!!!