White House White-Out (A to Z Mysteries Super Edition, No. 3) by Roy, Ron (2008) Paperback

A to Z Mysteries: Super Edition #3

by Ron Roy

A White House Mystery

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Chapter Books, Childrens, Christmas, Middle Grade, School

Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Ron Roy has been writing books for children since 1974. He is the author of dozens of books, including the popular A to Z Mysteries®, Calendar Mysteries, and Capital Mysteries. When not working on a new book, Ron likes to teach tricks to his dog Pal, play poker with friends, travel, and read thrilling mystery books.

Reviews

[Kristen Fraley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ron Roy has written a fast-paced mystery novel that will delight children and keep them on their toes. The mystery-solving trio of Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are at it again, this time in Washington, D.C. with some new friends—including the President’s step-daughter. Havoc breaks out when the newly formed five-some get kidnapped and held for ransom. It will take all of their wit, survival skills, and the help of a certain little dog to get them all out of this sticky situation alive!

This book is perfect for the sleuth in your classroom. The story is entertaining, but there is also a hidden code throughout the book that makes for great fun and application of the book.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken]

Eleanor and I both really liked this one. The super editions are our favorites.

These books have always required parents to suspend some belief in the way the kids solve the mysteries, but that is to be expected because these are geared toward kids. However, within the first page when I read to Eleanor that the kids were sightseeing on their own in Washington DC while Dink's dad did research at the Library of Congress, Eleanor looked at me crazy and asked, "What the heck is going on, why do these parents just let their kids wander around alone all the time?!"

I hear ya, baby girls.

Even so, this mystery had some meat to it, and it was an enjoyable story.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A to Z mysteries are the perfect starter mystery for kids. The detective is pretty clear, the mystery is also pretty clear, even the bad guy is pretty clear. But, there are still clues to be found in the book, so early mystery readers can do the work of 'trying to figure out the solution to the mystery.'

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as fun as I thought it would be

Full disclosure: I am a 56 year old woman reviewing a book for kids aged 6-9. I did not read this with a child, so this is solely my opinion. However, I was thinking of the books I enjoyed when I was that age. I did not love this. I think the whole idea behind this book series is fantastic. Three friends either solve a mystery or help someone who is in trouble. Each illustration in the book contains a letter of the alphabet clue. Collect all the letters to reveal a secret message. So cool! I would have loved this as a kid.

The story is interesting but unbelievable, even for elementary school aged kids. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are visiting Washington DC shortly before Christmas. They go to the White House and meet the first daughter KC and her friend Marshall. They also meet the first dog, a greyhound. Here comes the unbelievable part: The friends chat with KC through the fence and she gets them into the White House. The book was published in 2009 and I think that even young kids are aware of post 9-11 changes. I could be wrong about this. Anyway, in all the excitement of holiday preparations, the dog goes missing. The five kids race to save the dog and end up getting kidnapped themselves. They end up stranded in the woods in Virginia, but the bad guys are caught and the kids and dog are saved. A fun story except for the lack of White House security.

The other thing I did not enjoy, which I thought I would love, was finding the clues. This could have been so awesome. The illustrations are in black and white and the clues are plain black letters somewhere in the drawing. The letter are not really part of the drawing, but are drawn in with bolder ink. For example, the letter E is a darkened portion of a step ladder. Sometimes a letter is just randomly placed in the drawing. I think it would have been more interesting with colored pictures and if the letters were more a natural part of the picture. This is not to say that finding the letters was easy. Embarrassingly, there were a couple that I still cannot find. However, being a bit older than a first grader, I was able to solve the secret message from context! Maybe these things are obvious to kids, but it was rather frustrating to this adult! I still can’t see the F in one of the chapter 9 illustrations!

[Harsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I read for my book review is “White House White-out”. This book is from the A-Z mysteries by Ron Roy. The story starts out with our trio of main characters, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose, going to Washington D.C to go sightseeing. While the trio was looking at the white house they met the stepdaughter of the president, KC, and her friend Marshall. They also found out that her dog, Natasha, went missing in a snowstorm. The 5 kids are supposed to find their new friend’s dog while the White House is being decorated for Christmas. Another fact to remember is the Whitehouse is covered with a lot of people because of the decorating. While looking for Natasha, the gang comes up to the florist van and they hear Natasha barking. The gang gets in the van and while they try to get Natasha out of the can someone locks the door behind them. Then the gang realized that they were being kidnapped.
This book is great for kids that just started to read books. It is very easy to understand and you know what is happening and crime “thrillers”. The A-Z is a great series written by Ron Roy, each book is written about a crime that Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve. Anytime, I think about kids solving crime 2 groups come to mind: the A-z mysteries and the scooby doo gang. I think putting children in these situations shows them that they achieve and overcome a lot. At the end of the book, they say an old president ghost lives through the Whitehouse. The kids cover themselves in white cloaks and run into Lincoln's room “I hope you enjoy sleeping in my room,” the figure of Abe Lincoln said”( Roy 129). In chapter 3, the gang is looking for Natasha. Then they stumble into the van. Then Josh comes to a realization “Guys, I think we have been kidnapped !”. In conclusion, this book was a great read and I loved it along with my family.

[Kira Nerys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was curious whether this series was a good recommendation for my 5-year-old cousin, who's currently reading The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet (well, the whole Secrets of Droon series). I remember going through these mysteries at about the same time, when I was her age. The answer: yeah, they're pretty decent. Adventurous, with a touch of risk, plots where the kids always get into trouble but always end up safe and sound, and simple, fun characters. Ruth Rose ALWAYS wears only one color--which I love--and Josh wants to eat and Dirk is the responsible worrier. They're clever kids. I enjoyed reading this for the memories it provoked, although I think if I were 5 I'd find the mystery dramatic and exciting. I'd recommend it to parents wanting to introduce their kids to the genre; I don't need to re-read any more.

[O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose, characters in the series A to Z Mysteries, have come across a mystery once again in this exciting mystery for young readers. While the kids are visiting Washington D.C. they meet the President Thornton's stepdaughter, KC, and her friend Marshall. As the white house is being decorated, KC's dog Natasha goes missing. The kids track her down to a white van belonging to a florist and in the process end up being kidnapped along with the dog! This story is easy to follow along and a great book to introduce the mystery genre in grades 1-4. Many different activities can be done with this book such as looking for examples of alliteration, which by the way all the titles are a great example. Another example, is to compare and contrast the characters by creating a Venn diagram and searching for clues about the characters in the text.

[Renate Deutsche Oma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This retired educator and Oma enjoys exploring chapter book series, that my 8 year old granddaughter is reading. A page turning read that includes 2 boys and Ruth Rose Hathaway. My granddaughter's middle name is also Rose. As a reader, I love titles with alliteration. The illustrations are delightful regardless of age. Excellent series for 2nd and 3rd graders.

Christmas decorating at the White House. This book was published in 2008 and was inspired by a First Lady and the family dog sharing her Christmas decorations with the nation. The opening sketches of the White House made this educator sad for our nation. NO EAST WING. As a Michigander I am proud that the White House Christmas Tree is from Michigan.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose are in Washington DC visiting with Dink's father. While there they meet the President's step daughter, KC, her friend, Marshall, and the first dog, Natasha. The White House is being decorated for a Christmas party and during that time Natasha gets "dog napped". While searching for Natasha, the kids get trapped in a van a long with Natasha and whisked away from the White House. They now have to survive an adventure of a crash, a blizzard, bad guys, and being stranded.

[Marcus Gulley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s winter in Washington, D.C.! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are visiting the White House in snowy December, when they meet the president's stepdaughter, KC, and her friend Marshall. But in the confusion caused by all the people decorating the White House for Christmas, the president's dog goes missing! All five kids set out to find her, but it's not going to be easy. It's getting dark, and a monster snowstorm is on the way. Will they find the presidential pooch in time?

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this during my small group reading instruction. While it was a quick and easy read, it irritated my students that it overused the word "said". They also found the story to be unbelievable and didn't ask to read another from the series. There are some good uses of figurative language that could be pulled out to use in our lesson.

[Karmon Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good and I would like to read another chapter book of this and it makes me feel exciting and I love when I read it and you did a good job on this amazingly awesome book .👌👍💜💙💛💚💝💗😀😁😂😬😏 and I love can't wait to see what happens when they all nice and it got more exciting and thanks for writing this amazing book it's a very good book.

[Devorah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked when Dink was hiding from the people who stole the president's dog to see where they hid the dog and why they did it. They did it to get the President's step daughter into the truck so they can kidnap her and the President would pay lots of money to get her back. The plan didn't work and she escaped.

[TheBookWorm🐛 🐛 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like all of the other A to Z mystery books, this book is great. I really like how the special editions are longer then the other books, they have you on edge more then the other ones. I love how no matter what, Dink and his friends always end up catching the bad guys, just like in this one.

[Jordan Highway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery
This book actually got my heart racing even though it's meant for children. I thought it was fun that I could find a hidden letter in each picture too to reveal the hidden message, a very fun read!
Grades: 3-5
Date completed: January 28, 2018

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Henry loves this series and I’ve read a few out loud and enjoyed them. But this one, which I thought would be set in the White House and enhance an upcoming trip, was actually set mostly in the woods of Virginia. It was mostly dull, with some fun bits at the end.

[Angela Deng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I'd see KC and Marshall in this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hazel]

there is not really a mystery but it has some cliff hangers

[Quincy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So unrealistic, but easy and quick read for young readers.

[Brianna Wheelock]

This would be a good book to introduce the class to a mystery book. It could also make them want to read the rest of the series.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book. I 💝 the Book. It has such amazing details

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is so great

[Amanda]

My girls (ages 6 & 7) loved me reading this aloud to them!

[Vidyuth Gowtham · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[aem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of scary adventure ad the trio get kidnapped inadvertently...

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was sad because they got kidnapped. But it was happy because the president found them.

[allison riera :)]

as a small child, this was the coolest collab w/ the capital mysteries kids. still a fun, easy read (or audiobook in my case)

[Sakura · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was more exciting and thrilling story than normal ones. I love it.

[Joyce T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved how the A to Z mysteries kids got to meet the Capital mysteries kids!

[Brittany Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in middle school and loved it