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Room One: A Mystery or Two
Ted Hammond loves a good mystery, and in the spring of his fifth-grade year, he's working on a big one. How can his school in the little town of Plattsford stay open next year if there are going to be only five students? Out here on the Great Plains in western Nebraska, everyone understands that if you lose the school, you lose the town.
But the mystery that has Ted's full attention at the moment is about that face, the face he sees in the upper window of the Andersons' house as he rides past on his paper route. The Andersons moved away two years ago, and their old farmhouse is empty, boarded up tight. At least it's supposed to be.
A shrinking school in a dying town. A face in the window of an empty house. At first these facts don't seem to be related. But Ted Hammond learns that in a very small town, there's no such thing as an isolated event. And the solution of one mystery is often the beginning of another.
But the mystery that has Ted's full attention at the moment is about that face, the face he sees in the upper window of the Andersons' house as he rides past on his paper route. The Andersons moved away two years ago, and their old farmhouse is empty, boarded up tight. At least it's supposed to be.
A shrinking school in a dying town. A face in the window of an empty house. At first these facts don't seem to be related. But Ted Hammond learns that in a very small town, there's no such thing as an isolated event. And the solution of one mystery is often the beginning of another.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2006
122 people are currently reading
1075 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Clements
189 books2,176 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
August 10, 2021
4,5 stars. Scribd.com English text, and translation for Portuguese + audio in English from Google Translate.
Synopsys: "Ted Hammond learns that in a very small town, there's no such thing as an isolated event. And the solution of one mystery is often the beginning of another. Ted Hammond loves a good mystery, and in the spring of his fifth-grade year, he's working on a big one. How can his school in the little town of Plattsford stay open next year if there are going to be only five students? Out here on the Great Plains in western Nebraska, everyone understands that if you lose the school, you lose the town.
But the mystery that has Ted's full attention at the moment is about that face, the face he sees in the upper window of the Andersons' house as he rides past on his paper route. The Andersons moved away two years ago, and their old farmhouse is empty, boarded up tight. At least it's supposed to be. A shrinking school in a dying town. A face in the window of an empty house. At first these facts don't seem to be related. But..."
Synopsys: "Ted Hammond learns that in a very small town, there's no such thing as an isolated event. And the solution of one mystery is often the beginning of another. Ted Hammond loves a good mystery, and in the spring of his fifth-grade year, he's working on a big one. How can his school in the little town of Plattsford stay open next year if there are going to be only five students? Out here on the Great Plains in western Nebraska, everyone understands that if you lose the school, you lose the town.
But the mystery that has Ted's full attention at the moment is about that face, the face he sees in the upper window of the Andersons' house as he rides past on his paper route. The Andersons moved away two years ago, and their old farmhouse is empty, boarded up tight. At least it's supposed to be. A shrinking school in a dying town. A face in the window of an empty house. At first these facts don't seem to be related. But..."
July 4, 2010
This summer, I've been searching for some excellent read-alouds for my 4th grade class. I picked Room One: A Mystery or Two because it hinted at being an adventurous mystery story that I hoped would capture my students' interests. The author, Andrew Clements has also written several kid-friendly and teacher-pleasing books, such as Frindle.
I was somewhat disappointed with this book. As a teacher, I found the commentary about teaching in a one room school fascinating. However, I think my students would be bored to death over the slow "small town life" drag of the book. There wasn't really much of the promised mystery, once you got past the first few chapters. Ted sees a mysterious face in an abandoned house, but he discovers quickly who it is and why this person is there and there's not much excitement, adventure, or mystery after that. Also, in comparison to previous Clement's books, the characters were pretty undeveloped and cliched. While I imagine a few of my kids might like this book, it didn't have a quick enough pace to be read-aloud or to capture the majority of my students' interest. It just didn't live up to Clement's standard as a writer.
The one thing that I do like about Clement's books, and appreciated in this one, is that he always includes some kind of ethical issues which can lead to great class discussions and teachable moments. Room One talks about trust, breaking promises, counting on others for help, honesty, responsibility, and the role of parents and community.
I was somewhat disappointed with this book. As a teacher, I found the commentary about teaching in a one room school fascinating. However, I think my students would be bored to death over the slow "small town life" drag of the book. There wasn't really much of the promised mystery, once you got past the first few chapters. Ted sees a mysterious face in an abandoned house, but he discovers quickly who it is and why this person is there and there's not much excitement, adventure, or mystery after that. Also, in comparison to previous Clement's books, the characters were pretty undeveloped and cliched. While I imagine a few of my kids might like this book, it didn't have a quick enough pace to be read-aloud or to capture the majority of my students' interest. It just didn't live up to Clement's standard as a writer.
The one thing that I do like about Clement's books, and appreciated in this one, is that he always includes some kind of ethical issues which can lead to great class discussions and teachable moments. Room One talks about trust, breaking promises, counting on others for help, honesty, responsibility, and the role of parents and community.
February 15, 2019
I do like the mystery elements woven throughout this book. But since this story is realistic fiction, I have some issues with the level of realism, particularly as it pertains to the homelessness. Even a grief-stricken, frightened mother wouldn't keep her two children in an abandoned house with no electricity or running water and little food, not to mention the lack of school attendance. Only a seriously mentally ill mother might subject her children to those conditions, and the mother in this story isn't portrayed in that way. Also, the teacher is a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect, and would not have been able to conceal the secret that she promised to keep. While things end well for the homeless family, the ending isn't completely satisfying for the protagonist or for readers.
March 24, 2024
This is such a fun book about a boy named Ted who loves mysteries. He lives in rural Nebraska in a town thats in danger of losing their school. There are currently 9 kids in the one room school house, but when the four 8th graders move to high school, there will be only 5 left and thats not enough to run the school. While this is a prominent part of the synopsis, its not really a big deal in the story. That is background information about the town but what this book is really about is Ted finding a girl in an abandoned farmhouse. He sees her face and is intrigued. He loves reading mysteries and fancies himself a junior detective so, while on his paper route, he investigates and finds a girl and her mom and brother. They are hiding and he decides to help them. He brings them food and supplies and keeps up with them. He tells his teacher and then the people are gone. He thinks that the teacher called the cops and hes so upset, but then we find out they just got spooked because some high schoolers were partying on the property and the cops came. They moved to another farmhouse and Ted told the young girl (April) that he was going to tell his mom and try to convince them to come live with him. The family is on the run because their dad died in Baghdad and a boyfriend is maybe pursing the mom, but honestly that was the weakest part. We didnt really understand why they were on the run. For this population, it wouldve been inappropriate to detail an abusive relationship, but I wish there wouldve been an easier to explain reason. Anywho, April tells her mom that Ted and his mom are coming and she snaps out of her funk and calls her sister who comes to get them from Colorado before Ted could arrive. When Ted tells his mom, the whole town bands together to take care of this family, even though they're gone by the time it can come to fruition. I liked Ted's bravery and the way he will self sacrifice to help this family, yet he knows his limits and when he needs to call in adult help. Overall this was a really good story about standing up for whats right.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
March 14, 2016Personal response:
I enjoyed the book Room One a Mystery or Two, because it told me how it was to find a homeless family in an abandon house and promise to help them to get them back on their feet
Plot:
This book started out with Ted, the main character, on his way to drop off the newspapers to the townspeople. He passed an abandoned house and saw a girl in the window. Later, he went to the house and he found the girl, her brother Artie, and her mom Alexa. Their car had broken down so they had to break into the abandoned house. Ted promised not to tell and get them food. He told his teacher and made her promise not to tell because she saw him leave the abandoned house. Some high school students were messing around at the house. The family hid. The police showed up at the house and the family ran to the other abandoned house about a mile away. In the end the family went to Alexa’s sister’s house to live.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to both genders from ages 14+, so they can get a clear understanding. I recommend both genders read this book because I think both gender would enjoy reading about a homeless family and a boy who helped them. They also could find out how hard it would be to keep a secret.
I enjoyed the book Room One a Mystery or Two, because it told me how it was to find a homeless family in an abandon house and promise to help them to get them back on their feet
Plot:
This book started out with Ted, the main character, on his way to drop off the newspapers to the townspeople. He passed an abandoned house and saw a girl in the window. Later, he went to the house and he found the girl, her brother Artie, and her mom Alexa. Their car had broken down so they had to break into the abandoned house. Ted promised not to tell and get them food. He told his teacher and made her promise not to tell because she saw him leave the abandoned house. Some high school students were messing around at the house. The family hid. The police showed up at the house and the family ran to the other abandoned house about a mile away. In the end the family went to Alexa’s sister’s house to live.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to both genders from ages 14+, so they can get a clear understanding. I recommend both genders read this book because I think both gender would enjoy reading about a homeless family and a boy who helped them. They also could find out how hard it would be to keep a secret.
October 13, 2016
This book is about a boy named Ted Hammon, he solved a mystery of what he didn't know about. This book is an amazing mystery book. It has a lot of feelings like when a girl was gone because they were living in an abandoned farmhouse and they had relatives. The girl (April) and her family were there because their car ran out of gas, The family had no money, so Ted was very nice and brought food for them.
I recommend this book to people who like mysteries, like in this book. Everyday he would go to the abandoned farmhouse to find clues to find where the girls family went. Soon enough, someone told him that they were a place in the book where the had relatives. This was one of the best books I ever read.
I recommend this book to people who like mysteries, like in this book. Everyday he would go to the abandoned farmhouse to find clues to find where the girls family went. Soon enough, someone told him that they were a place in the book where the had relatives. This was one of the best books I ever read.
March 2, 2017
This book is about a boy named Ted Hammond. He really loves solving mysteries. One day when he saw a face where Andersons' house from 2 years ago. Ted saw that face again the same thing as where he saw it from Andersons' house too. He knew that this face has something that is should be solved. I like this book because it's interesting. It's interesting because of the face that he saw 2 years ago.
February 16, 2009
I like Andrew Clements, but this one was just ok. Yes, it's realistic fiction, and yes, it did end realistically, but the ending felt flat to me.
February 17, 2015
I liked this book and I liked the mysteries in it. The ending was different from what I predicted and not as happy as the one I was thinking.
November 7, 2022
Six years ago, I discovered the works of Andrew Clements. I was instantly hooked and have now read 20 books by him. Many consider him the ‘master of school stories’, and I would agree. I have a dual form of dyslexia and did not learn to read until after grade 7. So I never read ‘school stories’ when I was young. That combined with having my own school aged children has instilled a great appreciation for the genre and specifically for the works of Andrew Clements. Clements passed away in 2019 his last novel was The Friendship War, which is an excellent volume. Around the time I discovered Clements works I also encountered Chris d’Lacey both write amazing stories for children, but they are also stories that any of us can learn from. Back then I set the goal of reading all of their works, but as my own children have grown these books had slid by the way side. I have now returned to them yet again. This story has inspired me to recommit to that goal.
I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. I grabbed it based on the author and title alone. The cover grabbed my interest as well. It was an interesting read and one of my favorites of all his books I have read. It is an excellent read. The description of the book states:
“Ted Hammond learns that in a very small town, there's no such thing as an isolated event. And the solution of one mystery is often the beginning of another.
Ted Hammond loves a good mystery, and in the spring of his fifth-grade year, he's working on a big one. How can his school in the little town of Plattsford stay open next year if there are going to be only five students? Out here on the Great Plains in western Nebraska, everyone understands that if you lose the school, you lose the town.
But the mystery that has Ted's full attention at the moment is about that face, the face he sees in the upper window of the Andersons' house as he rides past on his paper route. The Andersons moved away two years ago, and their old farmhouse is empty, boarded up tight. At least it's supposed to be.
A shrinking school in a dying town. A face in the window of an empty house. At first these facts don't seem to be related. But...”
Ted is a good kid, and he is trying to do the right thing. The importance and weight of promises plans a key role in this story. For example:
“Ted had reached the kitchen porch. He pushed all the fears out of his mind and pulled himself back to reality. Because whatever else was going on at this house, he’d made a promise. He had promised a girl that he’d bring her some food. And he was going to keep that promise.”
“Ted thought, I can’t lie to Mrs. Mitchell. But I promised I wouldn’t tell. I promised. I have to keep my promise.
And in the stress of the moment, with the dusty tennis racket in mid-swing, Ted saw what a powerful grip a promise can have.
And not just on him. A promise can grab hold of anyone.
Even a teacher.”
“She reached out quickly and took both his hands in hers, and when he tried to pull away, she held on. “Ted, listen to me. I’m so sorry. But you have to hear this. I started feeling like I had to do something last night. Even though I promised you I wouldn’t tell anyone. But I wanted to talk to you first. So I didn’t do anything, and I didn’t tell anyone. Not even my husband.””
It is also the story of a town on the verge of collapse rising to the challenge to help strangers in need. It was very interesting watching Ted as he worked through the questions, concerns and desire to help and do the right thing. He soon realizes he cant do it all on his own so he comes up with a plan to get help to provide help.
This is another excellent offering from the pen of Andrew Clements, it is a great Middle Grade read. A fantastic book for young readers, and for those of us who just love a great story!
I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. I grabbed it based on the author and title alone. The cover grabbed my interest as well. It was an interesting read and one of my favorites of all his books I have read. It is an excellent read. The description of the book states:
“Ted Hammond learns that in a very small town, there's no such thing as an isolated event. And the solution of one mystery is often the beginning of another.
Ted Hammond loves a good mystery, and in the spring of his fifth-grade year, he's working on a big one. How can his school in the little town of Plattsford stay open next year if there are going to be only five students? Out here on the Great Plains in western Nebraska, everyone understands that if you lose the school, you lose the town.
But the mystery that has Ted's full attention at the moment is about that face, the face he sees in the upper window of the Andersons' house as he rides past on his paper route. The Andersons moved away two years ago, and their old farmhouse is empty, boarded up tight. At least it's supposed to be.
A shrinking school in a dying town. A face in the window of an empty house. At first these facts don't seem to be related. But...”
Ted is a good kid, and he is trying to do the right thing. The importance and weight of promises plans a key role in this story. For example:
“Ted had reached the kitchen porch. He pushed all the fears out of his mind and pulled himself back to reality. Because whatever else was going on at this house, he’d made a promise. He had promised a girl that he’d bring her some food. And he was going to keep that promise.”
“Ted thought, I can’t lie to Mrs. Mitchell. But I promised I wouldn’t tell. I promised. I have to keep my promise.
And in the stress of the moment, with the dusty tennis racket in mid-swing, Ted saw what a powerful grip a promise can have.
And not just on him. A promise can grab hold of anyone.
Even a teacher.”
“She reached out quickly and took both his hands in hers, and when he tried to pull away, she held on. “Ted, listen to me. I’m so sorry. But you have to hear this. I started feeling like I had to do something last night. Even though I promised you I wouldn’t tell anyone. But I wanted to talk to you first. So I didn’t do anything, and I didn’t tell anyone. Not even my husband.””
It is also the story of a town on the verge of collapse rising to the challenge to help strangers in need. It was very interesting watching Ted as he worked through the questions, concerns and desire to help and do the right thing. He soon realizes he cant do it all on his own so he comes up with a plan to get help to provide help.
This is another excellent offering from the pen of Andrew Clements, it is a great Middle Grade read. A fantastic book for young readers, and for those of us who just love a great story!
April 13, 2020
The mystery novel, “Room One: A Mystery or Two” by Andrew Clements is an adventurous story for 5th or 6th graders. The story takes place in a small town in Nebraska that struggles to bring in enough children to have a functional school. The protagonist, Ted Hammond, a 6th grade mystery lover takes readers through an important experience in his life. While out on his paper route one morning, Ted sees a face in a window of an abandoned house in his community. Being the curious boy he is, he can’t let what he saw go and decides to investigate the situation. When Ted finds a girl his age with her family living on this abandoned farm, he takes it upon himself to help them. But will Ted be able to help this family without exposing their trespassing and getting in trouble himself? Ted realizes there may be more to the story than this family is letting on and although he is an expert in mystery novels, this is real life. The rest of the novel takes Ted through a roller coaster trying to honor his values while keeping promises but I won’t give away the ending!
I would definitely use this novel in my classroom in the future. One method could be including it in my class library under mystery/adventure sections for students to read during silent reading time as a choice book. To practice comprehension skills I would assign a book report project for student choice books and students would have a variety of options as a report. Another instructional method would be assigning this book during book clubs with the genre of adventure/mystery. I think this book is interesting and engaging which would spark rich discussions between students. I would encourage practicing inferential comprehension skills by asking students to make inferences and share how they think the mystery will end.
I chose this as one of my WOW books because as a college student, I was so hooked in solving this mystery that I read this book in one day. The author Andrew Clements wrote many of my favorite novels growing up that I knew I would enjoy another one of his books. I love reading about adventures and this was an endearing story that had me feeling connected to the characters. It was unexpected and exciting which is how an adventure book should be, so I think many students will enjoy reading it as well.
I read this book as a hardcover novel!
I would definitely use this novel in my classroom in the future. One method could be including it in my class library under mystery/adventure sections for students to read during silent reading time as a choice book. To practice comprehension skills I would assign a book report project for student choice books and students would have a variety of options as a report. Another instructional method would be assigning this book during book clubs with the genre of adventure/mystery. I think this book is interesting and engaging which would spark rich discussions between students. I would encourage practicing inferential comprehension skills by asking students to make inferences and share how they think the mystery will end.
I chose this as one of my WOW books because as a college student, I was so hooked in solving this mystery that I read this book in one day. The author Andrew Clements wrote many of my favorite novels growing up that I knew I would enjoy another one of his books. I love reading about adventures and this was an endearing story that had me feeling connected to the characters. It was unexpected and exciting which is how an adventure book should be, so I think many students will enjoy reading it as well.
I read this book as a hardcover novel!
November 14, 2021
I can't believe I'm giving an Andrew Clements book a rating of "it is ok" but that is how my girls and i felt when we read it. We liked every other Andrew Clements book better than this particular one. Would still highly recommend all his other books for any grade school level child.
January 11, 2024
This was a cute story. The dying small town aspect of the story is probably relatable to anyone in a rural community. The mystery is a little forced and is a little dated.
February 20, 2024
Another good Andrew Clements book!
June 20, 2024
We really enjoyed this. I give it 4⭐️ and as usual my children rated it something like 5 million thousand stars.
October 24, 2011
In the book Room One a story by Andrew Clemings is a book about a mystery that a boy named Ted Hammond tries to untie about a face he sees in the old Anderson farm that is abandoned. He sends them supplies for the people in the farm. There are three people in the abandoned farm a young boy named Arthur,the mother,and April the girl who he saw in the window.Ted tries to help the family in need but accidentely gets caught by his teacher from school which he tells the whole story to.Then the family moves down the street to a abandoned house that Ted did not notice until he found clues because he wanted to be a good detective he moves down to the house and sees April then greets her and gives her supplies meanwhile the town finds out then he become hero of the town for finding the family.The lost family gets a escort from the police and goes to live with there relatives.Finally April leaves a book in the farm a book of Sherlock Holmes greatest detective.
I think the authors message in this book is to prove that the smallest of children basically anybody can help everyone that wants help.I srongly recommend this book this basically proves that anyone be helped.
I think the authors message in this book is to prove that the smallest of children basically anybody can help everyone that wants help.I srongly recommend this book this basically proves that anyone be helped.
December 6, 2018
Personally I thought the book was well written but progressed through the plot too slow at points. I am also not sure how I feel about the ending yet. I like how down to earth and real the ending was but, at the same time it seemed very abrupt and the whole climax the story was building towards was simply skipped over. The ending of the story felt like it took away from the significance of the rest of the book too. If it was as easy as one phone call for the family to go from homeless and living a secret life hidden in abandoned, rundown houses, then why didn't they do that earlier on when they were struggling to get food? However, the encouraging message the book gave that no one is too young or insignificant to make a huge difference in someone else's life or the world shone through strongly.
April 1, 2009
Absolutely top-notch. Clement's prose is straightforward without being at all bland. He has a talent for effortlessly creating characters so real, you can feel their pulses, and that goes double for how he captures the essence of the small, dying Nebraska town where the tale is set. And the story itself starts simple but will ultimately surprise the reader -- this reader, anyway -- with its depth and complexity. All in all, a deeply satisfying book.
September 23, 2016
I enjoyed this book as much as I did on the other books I've read so far. This book was an easy read and at some point it made me want to keep predicting on what was going to happen next. I highly recommend my friends to read this book who likes mystery. Andrew Clements is now one of my favorite authors.
September 2, 2007
Not one of his better books, though I think it's based on a true event.
April 27, 2021
This book was one of my favorites as a child! It takes place in the Great Plains of Nebraska. The main character is Ted Hammond and when the story starts he is in the first grade and attends the Red Prairie Learning Center. There is talk that their school is going to shut down because there are only five students and it is such a small town. Without the school, the town will eventually shut down too. Ted is riding on his bike as he delivers the papers and sees a face in the Andersons house, but the Andersons had moved years ago. Nobody should be in their house, this mystery turns out to be a girl named April and the book shows the issues and struggles that her family faces. There are also other mysteries that April and Ted face together.
I think this book would be great to use in a 4th or 5th grade classroom, I think students would really enjoy this mystery. A fun activity would be to do a book club with this book, students could meet once a week and talk about the chapter they read and share their thoughts. Another activity could be for students to write their own short mystery after they are done with the book. Or they could do an activity where they predict what will happen after reading a chapter or two and then repredict throughout the story.
This is a WOW book for me, mostly because I was obsessed with all of Andrew Clements books as a child, and they have always stuck out to me. I couldn’t put them down as a kid and want my students to maybe experience something similar!
I think this book would be great to use in a 4th or 5th grade classroom, I think students would really enjoy this mystery. A fun activity would be to do a book club with this book, students could meet once a week and talk about the chapter they read and share their thoughts. Another activity could be for students to write their own short mystery after they are done with the book. Or they could do an activity where they predict what will happen after reading a chapter or two and then repredict throughout the story.
This is a WOW book for me, mostly because I was obsessed with all of Andrew Clements books as a child, and they have always stuck out to me. I couldn’t put them down as a kid and want my students to maybe experience something similar!
April 26, 2024
I love Andrew Clements, but this was not a favorite for me or my boys The book came with our homeschool curriculum, and it sounded intriguing—"two mysteries in one," says the cover. I think that skewed my expectations. I was anticipating something heavy on clues, puzzles, twists, and gasps.
But this book was very quiet and unassuming. The drama is small, just like the town of Plattsford, Nebraska, where the story is set. The main character, Ted, is a sixth-grader who stumbles upon a family squatting in an abandoned farmhouse, and he does what he can to help them.
The book has gold-standard values, I will give it that. But, everyone in the book seemed to be on his/her best behavior. It would've been interesting to have a mischief-maker or a bad guy in the mix to liven things up. There wasn't enough conflict for me.
The climax of the story is a huge bust—and it's supposed to be. This made for some interesting discussion. My boys and I were rooting for a magical ending where everyone cheers and the kids hug and the parents cry while the soundtrack swells to a crescendo. The book deliberately bursts your bubble. Asking "WHY?" is a good exercise for kids.
Overall, though, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is looking for a page-turner to keep the interest of a reluctant reader. Good but not great.
But this book was very quiet and unassuming. The drama is small, just like the town of Plattsford, Nebraska, where the story is set. The main character, Ted, is a sixth-grader who stumbles upon a family squatting in an abandoned farmhouse, and he does what he can to help them.
The book has gold-standard values, I will give it that. But, everyone in the book seemed to be on his/her best behavior. It would've been interesting to have a mischief-maker or a bad guy in the mix to liven things up. There wasn't enough conflict for me.
The climax of the story is a huge bust—and it's supposed to be. This made for some interesting discussion. My boys and I were rooting for a magical ending where everyone cheers and the kids hug and the parents cry while the soundtrack swells to a crescendo. The book deliberately bursts your bubble. Asking "WHY?" is a good exercise for kids.
Overall, though, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is looking for a page-turner to keep the interest of a reluctant reader. Good but not great.
September 24, 2024
A bit implausible, but the happy ending is definitely possible. I believe I have seen something like it happen, in the news.
To address concerns from negative reviews: Yes, your 4th grade students might be bored to learn about the pace of life in a small rural town, but one of the themes of the book is that we all are people, no matter our background. And of course it's always good to learn about diverse cultures.
And yes, the mother is experiencing a crisis that has tipped her over into clinical mental illness. All this about "getting help" for her is about a lot more than giving her Sterno and cans of stew.
To address something I don't see in other reviews - how cool is it that this is a mystery that a fan of mysteries can actually solve? And that it prompts him to "solve the mystery of why [he] likes mysteries!" (See list in comments below.)
Clements is wonderful. I need to check again to make sure I've not missed anything by him.
Oh, and, yes, there is an author's note. And also, though this is a tiny bit dated, just read it as if historical fiction and your kids will be fine.
To address concerns from negative reviews: Yes, your 4th grade students might be bored to learn about the pace of life in a small rural town, but one of the themes of the book is that we all are people, no matter our background. And of course it's always good to learn about diverse cultures.
And yes, the mother is experiencing a crisis that has tipped her over into clinical mental illness. All this about "getting help" for her is about a lot more than giving her Sterno and cans of stew.
To address something I don't see in other reviews - how cool is it that this is a mystery that a fan of mysteries can actually solve? And that it prompts him to "solve the mystery of why [he] likes mysteries!" (See list in comments below.)
Clements is wonderful. I need to check again to make sure I've not missed anything by him.
Oh, and, yes, there is an author's note. And also, though this is a tiny bit dated, just read it as if historical fiction and your kids will be fine.
November 6, 2017
This was a really exciting, page turning book. This was really exhilarating because it had kindness and arguments and other components to make a perfect book. For example, in page 21-23, it states "Ted pushed the board aside, and as he backed out, the sudden brightness of the afternoon sky almost blinded him. But he could make out see clearly enough to be sure it was a girl." and ""Could prob'ly use some food since you've got to come by here tomorrow anyway." It was the last thing the girl said to him before he left, more like and order than a request. And Ted nodded and said, "Sure thing.". This is exiting because Ted just met an unknown girl and told her randomly that he would bring her some food (which is not too sensible, but still thrilling). Hence, this is a very stirring story for mystery lovers.
November 7, 2017
Ted Hammond grew up in a very little town in Nebraska and he was the only 6th grader in the town. During his free time he loves reading about mysteries and when one happened in his own town he couldn't help but try to solve it himself. The Anderson house had him distracted from his chores and school work for some time while trying to solve the mystery.After reading the book I thought it was a little predictable and it was easy to guess what was going to happen in the end. However, for younger students it is an easy read and has a lot going on. Also since Ted is a sixth grader it is relatable towards students, so as a teacher I can see myself using this book in my classroom as a fun way to introduce mystery books to students.
October 26, 2018
My favorite quote of the book is to ¨never give up, keep trying.The book seem realistic because he broke his leg in a ditch, I broke my leg too. I like the book because it was a adventure book, he explored and I like to explore too. It change from happy to sad. The characters were believable because when Ted was going to the hospital it was his birthday and his cousins came and brought him flowers balloons & flowers for him, then sang happy birthday.The book made me feel sad. What I had in common is that we both love to ride bikes in the springtime. My favorite thing in the book is that where he find some creative stuff in the woods. My least favorite thing in the book is where he broke his leg. I would change where he would did not break his leg.
January 25, 2018
A cute little mystery story for the elementary school reader set in the fictional west central Nebraska town of Plattsford. Ted Hammond is the only sixth grader in the towns shrinking school and residents are worried that they will loose their school and with it their town. When Ted, who has read every mystery in the school and town libraries, spies a face in the window of an abandoned farmhouse he uses what he has learned from his reading and investigates. I enjoyed this books look at a small Nebraska town through the eyes of a sixth grader and to some extent his teacher. This book has a good message that was well done and presented in a surprising way that makes the reader think.
June 4, 2018
Within the first few paragraphs of this book, I wasn't sure if I would really like it, but it definitely grew on me after a chapter or two. The main character is a boy who lives in a dying town and... you guessed it, loves to read. His personal favorite is mysteries, giving some nuance from the author's other books, and when a mystery presents itself in his town, he dives right in. The book addresses some difficult concepts in a pretty effective way, I thought. However, the ending was a little disappointing for me. I won't ruin the surprises, but will note that the ending is certainly happy, just not what I would have preferred.
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July 20, 2019I love this book! It’s my old favorite from Clements; I remember very few libraries having it for some reason when I first read it... I was so desperate to grab it whenever I could! Now I own it, so I gave it another read. Really sweet, and a complicated subject.
My one issue is that it handles the injustices of the world the way many kids’ books do—a town steps up, some people do nice things, and the problems are solved. There’s no acknowledgment of the greater causes to oppression and poverty... and there’s some army boot-licking. But it’s a nice story, and I can’t expect Clements to overthrow the government on his own, so I’d gladly recommend it all the same.
My one issue is that it handles the injustices of the world the way many kids’ books do—a town steps up, some people do nice things, and the problems are solved. There’s no acknowledgment of the greater causes to oppression and poverty... and there’s some army boot-licking. But it’s a nice story, and I can’t expect Clements to overthrow the government on his own, so I’d gladly recommend it all the same.
December 25, 2020
4.5 stars
Andrew Clements did again. He engaged me as an adult in his middle-grade stories. Room One takes place in the shrinking town of Plattsford, Nebraska. Ted Hammond is a fifth-grader who is about to make a surprising discovery. He loves a good mystery. and a real-life one is right around the corner.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written story of compassion and friendship. Adults with wisdom and positive advice were part of the cast, and a sense of community filled the pages. Decision making was played a critical role in the novel, and Ted struggled with the right thing to do and say. The resolution of the novel contains a twist with a nice sense of closure.
Andrew Clements did again. He engaged me as an adult in his middle-grade stories. Room One takes place in the shrinking town of Plattsford, Nebraska. Ted Hammond is a fifth-grader who is about to make a surprising discovery. He loves a good mystery. and a real-life one is right around the corner.
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written story of compassion and friendship. Adults with wisdom and positive advice were part of the cast, and a sense of community filled the pages. Decision making was played a critical role in the novel, and Ted struggled with the right thing to do and say. The resolution of the novel contains a twist with a nice sense of closure.
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