3 Below

Floors #2

by Patrick Carman

Charlie had his chocolate factory. Stanley Yelnats had his holes. Leo has the wacky, amazing Whippet Hotel.

Now that Leo has uncovered a few secrets behind the wacky Whippet Hotel, he'll have to save it!

Leo has explored the zany, wonderful Whippet Hotel from basement to top floor, with trains, flying goats, and mazes (among other things) in between. But even Leo doesn't know every secret of the Whippet - and when he discovers that there's more beneath the hotel than he'd thought, it doesn't take long for more adventures to unfold!

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Middle Grade, Adventure, Fiction, Childrens, Audiobook

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

I have been a lifelong writer and storyteller. Salem, Oregon is where I spent my formative years and I graduated from Willamette University. After college, I spent a decade living in Portland, Oregon where I worked in advertising, game design, and technology.

I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins Publishers.

I've been fortunate enough to have had some bestselling series work: The Land of Elyon, Atherton, Elliot’s Park, 39 Clues, and Skeleton Creek. Here's a fun note...the books have been translated into approximately two dozen languages. Currently I'm developing a few new-media projects. Check out DARK EDEN to experience this type of cross-platform project.

When I'm not writing or creating a story, I spend my free time supporting literacy campaigns and community organizations, fly fishing, playing basketball and tennis, doing crosswords, watching movies, dabbling in video games, reading (lots), and (more than anything else) spending time with my wife and two daughters.

Reviews

[Elevetha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story felt forced, the characters flat, the burp jokes were getting very old (not to mention that I wouldn't let my little brother touch this book for fear of him burping non-stop for weeks), and it didn't have the same sense of fun and quirkiness as Floors, despite both of them taking place at the wonderful and whimsical Whippet Hotel.

From where I stand, it appears to be one of those series that could have easily, and probably for the better, have stood alone.

[Bridie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was one of the best books I have ever read

[Paige Knowlton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the first book had a great premise but didn't succeed in what it was attempting to do, though there was enough intrigue for me to give the next book a chance. Unfortunately, the writing style and premise did not improve in the second book, and the little bit of intrigue carried over from the first was lost by the end of this one. I have no desire to continue to the third book.

[Mr. pink · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is so exciting and Jessie Bernstein is my favorite reader

[sophia ! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. This book felt a little flat, and the burp jokes were definitely getting old. The hotel just didn't seem as whimsical as in the first book. But still, it was a good adventure, and I think I will read the third one!

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book that had it's up's and down's. It kept me on my feet the way that they explain it it had a lot of detail in the surrounding like wen they where in the jungle ish room with the moncy. It gust was a god book for people that like to be on thar feet. All in all it is a great book for a lot of people.

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first Floors book was okay but not great. This one is even more about wacky devices and strange characters, with not a hint of character development. Enjoyable for 6-10 year olds, but hardly a masterpiece.

[Cecil · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first read Floors in the Internet Archive last January, I found it a delight. It was like reading a whimsical Roald Dahl story for modern times. Imagine crossing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, and you get the idea. The mysterious character of Merganzer D. Whippet resembles Willy Wonka in many ways. He’s eccentric, cryptic and always seems to have a backup plan. And Leo and Remi are just kids along for the adventure. 3 Below is the sequel to Floors and picks up pretty much where the last novel left off. Leo and Remi’s parents have married and now they are stepbrothers.

Leo is running the hotel, but things are far from perfect. The governor has told the hotel owner that he has to pay about 700,000 in back taxes. So, much like the last novel, Leo and Remi must follow the various clues Whippet leaves them in order to save the hotel. Meanwhile, Ms Sparks has returned and is hatching a plan to auction off the hotel while Leo and Remi are on their adventure. This is a pretty whimsical children’s book. You have mutant monkeys, giant ants, and robot dogs. Unfortunately, I have the same problem with this sequel as I did with the previous book: there are way too many characters.

The one character, Rickenbacker, who disguises himself as Batman, could have been left out altogether. The same can be said about Phipps, the gardener. But it’s neither here or there, as new characters are introduced. There’s Dr. Flart, a mad scientist; Ingrid, a strange woman who lives in a tree house; and Mr. Carp, a man hired by Ms Sparks to keep an eye on Leo and Remi. The book culminates with Leo and Remi discovering a secret diamond mine under the hotel. And if I remember correctly, they have about $ 10 million worth of diamonds. Of course, Leo and Remi manage to foil Ms Sparks’ dastardly plan to auction off the hotel.

And it turns out Mr. Carp works for Whippet. Talk about a billionaire with a lot of contingencies. Anyway, I digress; the novel ends with Leo and Remi sailing off in an airship with Whippet for another adventure. I highly recommend reading 3 Below on Internet Archive. It’s a fun read, and it’s only 234 pages. And if you’re an average reader like me, you can read through it in four days or less. And I’m not going to lie: I wish Patrick Carman’s book series would get film adaptations. Of course, if they did, they would be pretty expensive. These books are pretty fantastical it won’t be cheap. And I am looking forward to reading the last book in his Floor series, The Field of Wacky Inventions. Enough said.

[Twinkly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. I love finding books I read in my childhood that have a series which I recently learned about.
This book wasn't as good as the first but it was still really good.
The title basically summarizes the story. In this book, we discover 3 more floors that are under the basement. Ms. Sparks pulls up to the hotel stating that the hotel is behind on taxes and has only 6 hours to collect all the money, or she will put the hotel under an auction which Mr.Yancy seems to want to buy. Leo and Remi are sent on an adventure by Merganzer to get the money
On the first floor, they discover monkeys and Flartz. In the second, they're in a lab. In the third, they find a diamond mine.
There are a lot of characters in this book, some that didn't really need to make an appearance, like Rickenbacker and Phipps. It gets hard to keep track when we're already getting 4 new characters in this book.
This is overall a fun read, and I'm excited to read the final book!

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book- it's goofy, strange, full of adventure, and a good quick read. The kids are smart but still make mistakes and act like a typical middle schooler would, which I always appreciate. I like the crazy things that happen in the hotel. Morganzer is becoming a favorite character of mine- he's like a happy hotel owner version of Willy wonka. He just doesn't punish the kids. ;) anyway, great clean fun series- I can't wait to start the next one.

[emyrose8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, this book fell a bit flat with me. It takes place a year after the first. There are a lot more burping jokes and the hotel was less whimsical. To me, it seemed disjointed and a bit forced at times. Still, if bodily function jokes aren't a turn-off (and you enjoyed the first), you should give this book a try.

Note: listened to the audio book

[Erin Kingland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve wanted to read this for quite some time as the first was filled with so much wonder and whimsy. However, I feel this one fell somewhat short. Maybe that’s because I’m an adult now and have become more cynical but I am still glad I finally got around to reading it.
A great book for younger readers.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as the first book in the series. The boy is really given too much allowance in these books, yet the adults are dolts. This introduced us to some new characters in the floors below the hotel.

[AMY · Rating 4 out of 5]

234 pages. Book 2 of the series is full of adventures, way-out science and even a new monkey friend. This book was fun and kids will enjoy reading about Leo and Remi’s adventures in the amazing Whippet Hotel. Highly recommended for grades 4-5.

[August Neeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found all of the comments about Remi's weight to be quite unnecessary and a bit off-putting. It's fine to mention that he's a heavy-set person, but his weight is mentioned more times than was really warranted.

[Abigael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like the last one, this one is sexist, the writing is confusing, & the audiobook voice is weird. (The reader keeps saying "waddle" very incorrectly, despite having a very North American accent.)
Not finished yet, but this book is only 1.5⭐️, 2⭐️ at the very most.

[Susan Forsgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filled with many unexpected adventures and trials to overcome before the deadline when they will lose the hotel.

[Shaylyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a very good and mysterious story

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute next book. I look forward to the 3rd in the series.

[Matthew Parks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, very fun read for kids!

[Heather Rauch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, adventure sequel to the youth novel "Floors". The 'ending' suggests there's another book on the way.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as fun of a mystery as the first, but not bad.

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75

[Thomas C.Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really silly book, a little confusing if you haven't read book one, but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Lauren Merrifield · Rating 2 out of 5]

For this book, my thoughts and feelings were basically the same as they were in the first book of this trilogy :)

[Beezoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a sequel. The end was really cute. Wish it had actually wrapped up though...

[Shiraz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the jokes felt a little blander and forced this time, it was a great sequel to a wondrous book.

[Sharon Craft Viall · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a wacky little hotel and book.

[Jr. Dequiña]

Luv this book so much ❣️

[Alexys Eisenhour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one but still fun and magical! Loved it!!