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Walls Within Walls
After their father, a video-game inventor, strikes it rich, the Smithfork kids find they hate their new life. They move from their cozy Brooklyn neighborhood to a swanky apartment on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. They have no friends, a nanny who takes the place of their parents, and a school year looming ahead that promises to be miserable.
And then, one day, Brid, CJ, and Patrick discover an astonishing secret about their apartment: The original owner, the deceased multimillionaire Mr. Post, long ago turned the apartment itself into a giant puzzle containing a mysterious book and hidden panels—a puzzle that, with some luck, courage, and brainpower, will lead to discovering the Post family fortune. Unraveling the mystery causes them to race through today's New York City—and to uncover some long-hidden secrets of the past.
Maureen Sherry's page-turning debut novel is filled with adventure, intrigue, and heart.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
154 people are currently reading
2036 people want to read
About the author
Maureen Sherry
7 books155 followersRecently added to the 2010 American Booksellers Association list of Best New Voices, Maureen Sherry was born in New York City and raised in Rockland County, New York. She graduated from both Cornell and Columbia Universities and went on to work on Wall Street, retiring as a managing director after twelve years. Raising four children has made her skilled in all things action-figured, sugary, mysterious and pink.
When moving homes brought feelings of melancholy, Maureen left behind clues to tell the next family about their time within those beloved walls. Taking this a step further, she also embedded messages in her new home, clues that will eventually lead a future homeowner to a good story. This idea of the walls of a home being a living, breathing thing is the basis of this action adventure through the nooks of New York City.
Currently Maureen volunteers in public after-school programs both in Harlem and Brooklyn and is grateful for the lively, hopeful voices she gets to listen to on a regular basis.
She can often be found standing on her hands.
When moving homes brought feelings of melancholy, Maureen left behind clues to tell the next family about their time within those beloved walls. Taking this a step further, she also embedded messages in her new home, clues that will eventually lead a future homeowner to a good story. This idea of the walls of a home being a living, breathing thing is the basis of this action adventure through the nooks of New York City.
Currently Maureen volunteers in public after-school programs both in Harlem and Brooklyn and is grateful for the lively, hopeful voices she gets to listen to on a regular basis.
She can often be found standing on her hands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 363 reviews
March 27, 2013
Meh. Terrific concept, not-so-terrific execution. Brooklyn kids -- Dad's a video game designer whose company's been acquired -- must cope with being newly rich and moving to the Upper East Side, to a deluxe apartment in the sky-y-y. Turns out the place used to be owned by the Post cereal family and there are secrets and mysteries hidden in the walls. The now-perpetually-left-to-their-own-devices kids band together to solve the mystery. I loved the author's obvious affection for NYC, which really is a character in the book. But oh MAN is she a leaden writer. The siblings and their voices are essentially undifferentiated. (Josie and I compared and contrasted the dialogue with that of Scumble, which we'd read just before it, in which the characters voices and personalities are strong and clear and distinct.) The parents are so underwritten they're stick figures. There are gaping plot holes. The denouement is deus ex machina central. And the author does that thing of saying "so-and-so interrupted" when THEY ARE NOT INTERRUPTING.
And then there's the larger problem. A few years ago I read the New York Times Home section profile of the author, a wealthy former managing director at Bear Stearns married to a financier, who lives in a super-upscale Upper East Side apartment that once belonged to Marjorie Merriweather Post. According to the NYT piece, Sherry and her husband hired a young architect, Eric Clough, who built puzzles and games into the walls without the family's knowledge. He hired a friend of his from Yale named Heather Bensko to write a book that tied in the puzzles he was creating with a mystery about prominent figures from New York City's history. According to the NYT, Clough eventually hired as many as 40 artists and designers to play out this project -- all without the homeowners knowing a thing. They might never have discovered the apartment's secrets if a friend of the family's 11-year-old son hadn't noticed that the seemingly random letters on a wall actually spelled out a message in skip-code (which is precisely how Walls Within Walls, the novel, starts!) and if the family hadn't found a book hidden in a wall panel (which is also a key event in Walls Within Walls!). As I read the book to my kids I had a nagging memory of the NYT article and looked it up...and, well, DANG. Which also led to an interesting discussion with the kids. So we have that going for us, which is nice.
All I can say is that I hope Ms. Sherry paid Clough and his friends handsomely for the right to use their creativity as her source material.
And then there's the larger problem. A few years ago I read the New York Times Home section profile of the author, a wealthy former managing director at Bear Stearns married to a financier, who lives in a super-upscale Upper East Side apartment that once belonged to Marjorie Merriweather Post. According to the NYT piece, Sherry and her husband hired a young architect, Eric Clough, who built puzzles and games into the walls without the family's knowledge. He hired a friend of his from Yale named Heather Bensko to write a book that tied in the puzzles he was creating with a mystery about prominent figures from New York City's history. According to the NYT, Clough eventually hired as many as 40 artists and designers to play out this project -- all without the homeowners knowing a thing. They might never have discovered the apartment's secrets if a friend of the family's 11-year-old son hadn't noticed that the seemingly random letters on a wall actually spelled out a message in skip-code (which is precisely how Walls Within Walls, the novel, starts!) and if the family hadn't found a book hidden in a wall panel (which is also a key event in Walls Within Walls!). As I read the book to my kids I had a nagging memory of the NYT article and looked it up...and, well, DANG. Which also led to an interesting discussion with the kids. So we have that going for us, which is nice.
All I can say is that I hope Ms. Sherry paid Clough and his friends handsomely for the right to use their creativity as her source material.
October 12, 2010
The Smithfork kids are moving on up, moving on up, to the east side (that was for you Jeffersons fan out there). Their dad has hit it big with his video game business and they are leaving warm and cozy Brooklyn for the wilds of Fifth Ave. With their new home comes a nanny, busier parents, less family time and a vast mystery hidden inside the walls of the new apartment. Years and years ago when the pre-war apartment was built, the puzzle-loving builder Mr. Post, hid a series of clues to find his vast fortune on the occasion of his death. But his children were never able to solve the puzzle and find the fortune. Years passed, and with the stipulation in Mr. Post's will that the walls never be touched by construction, the puzzle survived, albeit hidden behind new walls.
What a wonderful read. The story is so fast paced and compelling, I couldn't put this book down! It's also an ode to New York City and it's rich history. As a New Yorker I am always fascinated about the history that surrounds me, and this book positively celebrates it.
The story has the Smithfork kids running around Manhattan by themselves a fair amount and deceiving the neglectful adults in their lives. As mentioned above, this may raise some eyebrows, but that's not the point. We don't care that Harry gets on a runaway train, or that the children of Narnia jump inside a and end up on a ship coronated as king and queen. This story has got an "other worldly" quality to it, and I think young readers minds will be delighted by it, no need to be nervous about any copy-cat behaviors. Although I do think there are a couple scary things that if your child is going through any fears, save this one for when they are feeling stronger. I am thinking specifically about the "man" the children see lurking about the apartment.
Finally, as with all great literature, the language and the story elements in this book are lyrical and mature and not the least bit condescending to our young readers. The author said on her Harper Collins page, "I am passionate about public education reform and the promotion of using elevated language around young people both in books and speech. Kids are so smart and dumbing language down for them is insulting!" Bravo!
What a wonderful read. The story is so fast paced and compelling, I couldn't put this book down! It's also an ode to New York City and it's rich history. As a New Yorker I am always fascinated about the history that surrounds me, and this book positively celebrates it.
The story has the Smithfork kids running around Manhattan by themselves a fair amount and deceiving the neglectful adults in their lives. As mentioned above, this may raise some eyebrows, but that's not the point. We don't care that Harry gets on a runaway train, or that the children of Narnia jump inside a and end up on a ship coronated as king and queen. This story has got an "other worldly" quality to it, and I think young readers minds will be delighted by it, no need to be nervous about any copy-cat behaviors. Although I do think there are a couple scary things that if your child is going through any fears, save this one for when they are feeling stronger. I am thinking specifically about the "man" the children see lurking about the apartment.
Finally, as with all great literature, the language and the story elements in this book are lyrical and mature and not the least bit condescending to our young readers. The author said on her Harper Collins page, "I am passionate about public education reform and the promotion of using elevated language around young people both in books and speech. Kids are so smart and dumbing language down for them is insulting!" Bravo!
February 1, 2018
Quite satisfactory Middle Grade mystery. Brought to my mind From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler a bit, mainly because this book also involved a kindly, elderly lady, and bits of historical information, along with following clues to solve the puzzles and find the treasure.
It's still it's own story. I really appreciated that the siblings were friends, although as often occurs not always completely kind or considerate to one another. One small failing was how a few other kids popped into the story, as friends and peers, only to pop out again. There was an explanation for this regarding the neighbor children, but it also occurred with a school friend who was never mentioned again. Although after how C. J. rushed him out of their apartment it'd not be surprising if this pal were a bit miffed at C. J.
I also enjoyed the fact that the kids had both parents together, which is a bit unusual these days. Although for the sake of the plot the parents were mostly out of pocket. Still, in the end there seemed to be an improvement in the parent's priorities.
So many similar stories insert historical information about places and people and come off poorly, slowing the plot down, feeling too intentionally "educational", etc. Here the information felt fairly organic to the storytelling, and I think it worked fairly well.
Overall something I think MG Mystery readers should try.
For those who enjoyed this one, I recommend From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
It's still it's own story. I really appreciated that the siblings were friends, although as often occurs not always completely kind or considerate to one another. One small failing was how a few other kids popped into the story, as friends and peers, only to pop out again. There was an explanation for this regarding the neighbor children, but it also occurred with a school friend who was never mentioned again. Although after how C. J. rushed him out of their apartment it'd not be surprising if this pal were a bit miffed at C. J.
I also enjoyed the fact that the kids had both parents together, which is a bit unusual these days. Although for the sake of the plot the parents were mostly out of pocket. Still, in the end there seemed to be an improvement in the parent's priorities.
So many similar stories insert historical information about places and people and come off poorly, slowing the plot down, feeling too intentionally "educational", etc. Here the information felt fairly organic to the storytelling, and I think it worked fairly well.
Overall something I think MG Mystery readers should try.
For those who enjoyed this one, I recommend From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
December 14, 2012
Walls Within Walls By: Maureen Sherry
Historical Fiction 349 pages
Finished 12-12-12
Walls Within Walls by Maureen Sherry is a book about three kids, C.J., Patrick, and Bridget Smithfork, who went from poor to rich. It all started when Mr. Smithfork invented a new video game and the whole family had to move to New York. When the Smithforks moved they find out that a very rich person, Mr. Post, had lived there before them. When the children are fighting, they find a clue to something but they are not sure what it is for. Then the children look up Mr. Post on the internet. They find out that Mr. Post was a complicated man. Also they learn that he hid his fortune somewhere in New York. As the book goes on the Smithfork children find more clues of where Mr. Post’s fortune is. Also along the way the Smithfork children meet a dangerous man who is trying to scare the kids away from their own home so he can have the treasure all to himself.
I gave this book a five star rating because there were so many cliff hangers that kept me wanting to read on and on. I also liked how the author described the places in the book so well. Another thing I thought was good about the book was that it sounds like this really could have have happened at some point in time. I also liked how the children found clues along the way and they made friends within their apartment at the same time. The only thing that I thought was bad was when the children where in scary places. I did not like this because I normally read at night so it freaked me out just a little. Overall, I thought this was a great book and I hope that everyone has a chance to read this wonderful book by Maureen Sherry.
Historical Fiction 349 pages
Finished 12-12-12
Walls Within Walls by Maureen Sherry is a book about three kids, C.J., Patrick, and Bridget Smithfork, who went from poor to rich. It all started when Mr. Smithfork invented a new video game and the whole family had to move to New York. When the Smithforks moved they find out that a very rich person, Mr. Post, had lived there before them. When the children are fighting, they find a clue to something but they are not sure what it is for. Then the children look up Mr. Post on the internet. They find out that Mr. Post was a complicated man. Also they learn that he hid his fortune somewhere in New York. As the book goes on the Smithfork children find more clues of where Mr. Post’s fortune is. Also along the way the Smithfork children meet a dangerous man who is trying to scare the kids away from their own home so he can have the treasure all to himself.
I gave this book a five star rating because there were so many cliff hangers that kept me wanting to read on and on. I also liked how the author described the places in the book so well. Another thing I thought was good about the book was that it sounds like this really could have have happened at some point in time. I also liked how the children found clues along the way and they made friends within their apartment at the same time. The only thing that I thought was bad was when the children where in scary places. I did not like this because I normally read at night so it freaked me out just a little. Overall, I thought this was a great book and I hope that everyone has a chance to read this wonderful book by Maureen Sherry.
March 1, 2013
While NYC's history deserves a spirited book devoted to promoting children's curiosity of its historical structures and neighborhoods, this is not that book. Walls Within Walls takes a potentially exciting topic and makes it dull and inaccesible by weighing down the topic with a smug, consitent idolatry of the upper class, pointlessly complicated dialogue and incomplete characterization.
Give it a pass and go back to The Westing Game if you desire a puzzle-book or The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler if you want to experience NYC through the eyes of a child.
December 10, 2016
Such a good book!!!
November 30, 2019
The Westing Game has had an impressive impact on the world of literature. Since the release of that instant classic in 1978, it seems to me much more common to find puzzle-themed novels in the genre of juvenile literature. Just as surely as Ellen Raskin and her Newbery-Medal-winning creation took the art of mystery writing for younger readers to new heights of intellectual complexity and emotional depth, it can also be said with certainty that every author who has written a similar book since then has benefited enormously from the success of The Westing Game. I know that I, for one, always take a second glance at books like The Puzzling World of Winston Breen and Walls Within Walls, if only because I've experienced in The Westing Game the greatness that such puzzle novels are capable of achieving. When I first read the description on the book jacket of Walls Within Walls I knew that I wanted to give it a chance, and I certainly don't regret that decision.
Many books have mixed together elements of fiction and nonfiction to make for a more exciting and believable story, but few incorporate as many plot points that push general cultural literacy as Walls Within Walls. Indeed, even as we go along for the adventure with siblings CJ, Brid and Patrick while they try to figure out the mystery contained within the very walls of their New York City apartment home, we're reading all about the diverse cultural history of the Big Apple and the work of some of its most famous citizens from some of its most influential eras of philosophy and artistic productivity. There's Rafael Guastavino, Beaux-Arts architect who helped revolutionize the skyline of New York with his fireproof buildings and unique style, yet was largely forgotten about within decades of his death. There's Aaron Douglas, artist extraordinaire of the Harlem Renaissance, and Emma Lazarus, the poet who wrote The New Colossus, a sonnet which can be found engraved on a plaque within the Statue of Liberty. The names of so many people who contributed to the underlying cultural fabric of New York City are made intricate to the story of Walls Within Walls, so that even the most learned student is sure to come away with some interesting new information.
The unexpected quest of a lifetime begins for CJ, Brid and Patrick Smithfork shortly after they move into an upscale apartment building in New York City following their father's big break in his career as a game designer. After accidentally stumbling upon what turns out to be the first clue (a giant picture of an eye behind their bedroom wall) to a long and involved puzzle, it quickly becomes apparent that there's a bigger mystery to be solved, one that dates back to several decades before the eldest of the three kids was even born. The action at the start of their hunt for clues meanders for a little while, but picks up in intensity as the chase continues, and the cast of characters grows to include a few surprise guests. It turns out that the former owner of what is now the apartment building in which the Smithforks live had been an extremely wealthy man in the 1930s, and had bequeathed his millions to his children by way of an array of puzzles that has not been completely solved in the more than seventy years that have passed since then.
Racing through some of the most treasured and historically significant sites in New York City, the three Smithfork kids will have to use sharp analytical thinking to figure their way past the bewildering roadblocks to logical consistency that occasionally arise in their pursuit of solving the sprawling mystery. Perishable clues, even cleverly placed ones, have a way of not surviving completely intact for three quarters of a century, a fact that will add difficulty to a search that has already stumped everyone associated with it since the era of the Great Depression. But perhaps a kid (or three, as the case may be) is exactly what it will take to finally crack the case after so long...
For a debut novel, especially, Walls Within Walls is really something. Author Maureen Sherry clearly has the mind of an educator and a learner, and is enthusiastic about sharing with a new generation of readers what the fruits of knowledge gained can truly mean. The presence of all the scholastic information never weighs the narrative down, though; instead, it infuses the text with a deeper sense of importance, as we imagine how everything we see around us might still play a more significant role than most people will ever take the time to realize. Even if we're not on the hunt for a fortune worth many millions of dollars, the past nonetheless remains the key to understanding our future, to unlocking the richness of the wisdom and perspective that came before us and keeping alive the shared dreams and accomplishments of the best that humanity has to offer.
While Walls Within Walls is never really a very emotional story, there are moments of genuine pathos in it. The seven poems that serve as a major clue to the puzzle also point to a way of living that is courageous and gentle, taking bold chances while still guarding the most valuable commodities in our lives, and keeping a balanced outlook on everything we have or think we have. These poems remind the people in the story of mistakes they've made and people they've lost, as well as gently nudging them to realize that the failures of others in their lives must not be judged too harshly, as no one is perfect. Ultimately, we try to do what we see as best in any given moment, and have to live with the consequences of our actions, both bad and good. The best we can do is to try to minimize the damage that our choices make in the lives of our loved ones, but that's never easy.
Maureen Sherry has done a nice job with this book, and I look forward to the sequel that is strongly hinted at in its appendices. I enjoyed reading Walls Within Walls, and I'm sure that it will provide great thrills for readers of all ages for many years to come. I would probably give it two and a half stars.
Many books have mixed together elements of fiction and nonfiction to make for a more exciting and believable story, but few incorporate as many plot points that push general cultural literacy as Walls Within Walls. Indeed, even as we go along for the adventure with siblings CJ, Brid and Patrick while they try to figure out the mystery contained within the very walls of their New York City apartment home, we're reading all about the diverse cultural history of the Big Apple and the work of some of its most famous citizens from some of its most influential eras of philosophy and artistic productivity. There's Rafael Guastavino, Beaux-Arts architect who helped revolutionize the skyline of New York with his fireproof buildings and unique style, yet was largely forgotten about within decades of his death. There's Aaron Douglas, artist extraordinaire of the Harlem Renaissance, and Emma Lazarus, the poet who wrote The New Colossus, a sonnet which can be found engraved on a plaque within the Statue of Liberty. The names of so many people who contributed to the underlying cultural fabric of New York City are made intricate to the story of Walls Within Walls, so that even the most learned student is sure to come away with some interesting new information.
The unexpected quest of a lifetime begins for CJ, Brid and Patrick Smithfork shortly after they move into an upscale apartment building in New York City following their father's big break in his career as a game designer. After accidentally stumbling upon what turns out to be the first clue (a giant picture of an eye behind their bedroom wall) to a long and involved puzzle, it quickly becomes apparent that there's a bigger mystery to be solved, one that dates back to several decades before the eldest of the three kids was even born. The action at the start of their hunt for clues meanders for a little while, but picks up in intensity as the chase continues, and the cast of characters grows to include a few surprise guests. It turns out that the former owner of what is now the apartment building in which the Smithforks live had been an extremely wealthy man in the 1930s, and had bequeathed his millions to his children by way of an array of puzzles that has not been completely solved in the more than seventy years that have passed since then.
Racing through some of the most treasured and historically significant sites in New York City, the three Smithfork kids will have to use sharp analytical thinking to figure their way past the bewildering roadblocks to logical consistency that occasionally arise in their pursuit of solving the sprawling mystery. Perishable clues, even cleverly placed ones, have a way of not surviving completely intact for three quarters of a century, a fact that will add difficulty to a search that has already stumped everyone associated with it since the era of the Great Depression. But perhaps a kid (or three, as the case may be) is exactly what it will take to finally crack the case after so long...
For a debut novel, especially, Walls Within Walls is really something. Author Maureen Sherry clearly has the mind of an educator and a learner, and is enthusiastic about sharing with a new generation of readers what the fruits of knowledge gained can truly mean. The presence of all the scholastic information never weighs the narrative down, though; instead, it infuses the text with a deeper sense of importance, as we imagine how everything we see around us might still play a more significant role than most people will ever take the time to realize. Even if we're not on the hunt for a fortune worth many millions of dollars, the past nonetheless remains the key to understanding our future, to unlocking the richness of the wisdom and perspective that came before us and keeping alive the shared dreams and accomplishments of the best that humanity has to offer.
While Walls Within Walls is never really a very emotional story, there are moments of genuine pathos in it. The seven poems that serve as a major clue to the puzzle also point to a way of living that is courageous and gentle, taking bold chances while still guarding the most valuable commodities in our lives, and keeping a balanced outlook on everything we have or think we have. These poems remind the people in the story of mistakes they've made and people they've lost, as well as gently nudging them to realize that the failures of others in their lives must not be judged too harshly, as no one is perfect. Ultimately, we try to do what we see as best in any given moment, and have to live with the consequences of our actions, both bad and good. The best we can do is to try to minimize the damage that our choices make in the lives of our loved ones, but that's never easy.
Maureen Sherry has done a nice job with this book, and I look forward to the sequel that is strongly hinted at in its appendices. I enjoyed reading Walls Within Walls, and I'm sure that it will provide great thrills for readers of all ages for many years to come. I would probably give it two and a half stars.
February 6, 2024
A cute mystery blending historical facts with fiction that young readers will enjoy!
Young readers will enjoy the puzzles and the sneaking around to find clues. I like that the author includes notes on the real locations and people pulled into this fictional narrative.
I personally did not love the absent parents---climbing the social ladder, working, or deciding they want to be present but then suddenly being perpetually tired and needing hours each day to rest instead of being a present parent---but I think this is becoming a theme I'm noticing in middle grade books that irks me. I don't think many young readers will be annoyed with this trope like I am though. In fact, several of my students love the mystery-style hunt for clues as seen in this book (and don't pay any attention to the parents at all)!
It could be a good book to pair with studying New York City or even broader American history---definitely recommend for literature circles in the ELA classroom! And young readers who like Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library or similar titles will enjoy this.
Young readers will enjoy the puzzles and the sneaking around to find clues. I like that the author includes notes on the real locations and people pulled into this fictional narrative.
I personally did not love the absent parents---climbing the social ladder, working, or deciding they want to be present but then suddenly being perpetually tired and needing hours each day to rest instead of being a present parent---but I think this is becoming a theme I'm noticing in middle grade books that irks me. I don't think many young readers will be annoyed with this trope like I am though. In fact, several of my students love the mystery-style hunt for clues as seen in this book (and don't pay any attention to the parents at all)!
It could be a good book to pair with studying New York City or even broader American history---definitely recommend for literature circles in the ELA classroom! And young readers who like Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library or similar titles will enjoy this.
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October 8, 2018Laura Fronce
Mr.Shleifer
This book made me wish that i lived in the apartment that came with built in maze and adventure. Throughout all the obstacles the maze provided the siblings all grew closer. In my family me and my siblings aren't very close and i wish there was something that we could do together like how they did the maze together. I also wish that i lived in an apartment with a maze because in the maze they had to travel far and wide around new york city which brought them closer and is just an exciting adventure to have.
This book made me realize that you can't always judge a book by its cover because even though in there penthouse in new york city they had a adventure. There home life before they realized that there was an adventure to be had was not good. After there dad strikes it rich in the video game industry they moved to manhattan but in the move there dad was no longer there dad. They were mainly raised by their nanny while there dad was too busy to take care of them. It portrayed the message of don't judge a book by its cover by showing that even though they are wealthy and could afford almost anything they didn't have a father to love them
This book makes me wonder about why the author chose all those locations for the maze and not others. The author chose some well known places and some unknown places but why didn't the author do one or the other adn how did the author chose what should be apart of the maze and what shouldn't be. it also made me wonder why the previous owners of the apartment let the maze in the first place.why wouldn't the previous owners keep the money instead of having a prize at the end of the maze.
This book made me see new york city and its landmarks for what they really are. On one hand they have a historical meaning and a reason why they are so important or they have an exiting factor to the landmark. On the other hand it's not just about the landmark itself it's about what happens there and about the experiences that are tied to the geographical location. The landmarks represent both the past and the present. For each person each landmark can mean a different thing such as to a newly immigrated immigrant lady liberty means freedom and independence but to someone that has lived here there whole life and takes it for granted they don't think of it as more of a historical landmark. It all depends on the point of view and perspective of the person viewing the landmark.
This book made me believe that you can do anything that you put your mind too and to never give up. This book portrayed that message because when they were traveling around new york city there were many problems that they had to overcome and find a solution too and they did because they believed they could and put the effort in and never gave up. Such as when they had to solve the riddle at the end patricks dyslexia helped solve it. Each sibling had a different set of skills that lead to the success of the whole operation and when the going got tough they used each other to help figure out the problem and never gave up.
This book made me feel excited and looking for more throughout the book. In the book cj, bird and patrick are all siblings and they have a maze where they travel the lengths of new york city to complete the maze. Throughout the maze there are many problems and tasks that they have to overcome as a team. Throughout the book there were many suspenseful moments that had continue turning the page. In the book they were forced to make some decisions such as skipping school which in turn lead to them getting grounded by there father but it was very well executed and was very descriptive.
This book made me hope that one day there will be some sort of task that needs to be done that will bond me and my siblings since we arent that close . It also made me hope that for other children around the world that there is something that they can do to get there minds off whatever might be happening in there lives. Not everyone is able to experience luxury or to always feel safe and i hope that the people have something to keep their mind off it and people to stand with them to find a common goal.
Mr.Shleifer
This book made me wish that i lived in the apartment that came with built in maze and adventure. Throughout all the obstacles the maze provided the siblings all grew closer. In my family me and my siblings aren't very close and i wish there was something that we could do together like how they did the maze together. I also wish that i lived in an apartment with a maze because in the maze they had to travel far and wide around new york city which brought them closer and is just an exciting adventure to have.
This book made me realize that you can't always judge a book by its cover because even though in there penthouse in new york city they had a adventure. There home life before they realized that there was an adventure to be had was not good. After there dad strikes it rich in the video game industry they moved to manhattan but in the move there dad was no longer there dad. They were mainly raised by their nanny while there dad was too busy to take care of them. It portrayed the message of don't judge a book by its cover by showing that even though they are wealthy and could afford almost anything they didn't have a father to love them
This book makes me wonder about why the author chose all those locations for the maze and not others. The author chose some well known places and some unknown places but why didn't the author do one or the other adn how did the author chose what should be apart of the maze and what shouldn't be. it also made me wonder why the previous owners of the apartment let the maze in the first place.why wouldn't the previous owners keep the money instead of having a prize at the end of the maze.
This book made me see new york city and its landmarks for what they really are. On one hand they have a historical meaning and a reason why they are so important or they have an exiting factor to the landmark. On the other hand it's not just about the landmark itself it's about what happens there and about the experiences that are tied to the geographical location. The landmarks represent both the past and the present. For each person each landmark can mean a different thing such as to a newly immigrated immigrant lady liberty means freedom and independence but to someone that has lived here there whole life and takes it for granted they don't think of it as more of a historical landmark. It all depends on the point of view and perspective of the person viewing the landmark.
This book made me believe that you can do anything that you put your mind too and to never give up. This book portrayed that message because when they were traveling around new york city there were many problems that they had to overcome and find a solution too and they did because they believed they could and put the effort in and never gave up. Such as when they had to solve the riddle at the end patricks dyslexia helped solve it. Each sibling had a different set of skills that lead to the success of the whole operation and when the going got tough they used each other to help figure out the problem and never gave up.
This book made me feel excited and looking for more throughout the book. In the book cj, bird and patrick are all siblings and they have a maze where they travel the lengths of new york city to complete the maze. Throughout the maze there are many problems and tasks that they have to overcome as a team. Throughout the book there were many suspenseful moments that had continue turning the page. In the book they were forced to make some decisions such as skipping school which in turn lead to them getting grounded by there father but it was very well executed and was very descriptive.
This book made me hope that one day there will be some sort of task that needs to be done that will bond me and my siblings since we arent that close . It also made me hope that for other children around the world that there is something that they can do to get there minds off whatever might be happening in there lives. Not everyone is able to experience luxury or to always feel safe and i hope that the people have something to keep their mind off it and people to stand with them to find a common goal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2016
I approached this book, the current pick for a tween book club I co-host, hoping for something similar to The Westing Game or From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - a good old-fashioned mystery. Unfortunately, what promised to be a fun, adventurous treasure hunt across New York City was ultimately crushed under the weight of poorly written sentences, one-dimensional characters, and an implausible mystery.
One of this book’s biggest flaws was the amateur writing style and unbelievable dialogue. First novels are always tricky (even the first Harry Potter novel is messily written), but I still found it difficult to wade through the poorly constructed sentences in order to focus on the mystery. The dialogue, in particular, was jarring and unrealistic. In the acknowledgements, I believe, Sherry references listening in on the conversations of her own children and their friends and building her dialogue stylistically from what she heard. I don’t have children of my own, but the kids I do know are far more interesting, animated and age-appropriate than the Smithfork siblings. Dialogue should be a window into each character’s personality, but the dialogue in Walls Within Walls was flat and interchangeable.
This novel also suffers from one-dimensional characters. Part of this can be attributed to the poorly utilized third person omniscient point of view, which allows readers to see bits and pieces of all the characters, but doesn't seem to give them any depth. At the end of the novel, main characters still lacked real personality, and secondary characters were merely cardboard cutouts present only to spout long informational paragraphs or further a plot point.
Children are incredibly dynamic and I think Sherry missed a real opportunity to tap into the quirky things they say and do. Instead of three siblings like those in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, who are cleverly drawn with separate behaviors and interests, the Smithfork siblings are carbon copies of each other. A more unique grouping would have given the book added personality and wider appeal.
There is always some suspension of disbelief necessary when reading a mystery novel, particularly those involving children. Why would a child with limited knowledge and life experience be able to solve a mystery that has stumped hundreds of professionals? Usually I can overlook that and accept the plot for what it is. Not so this time. In Walls Within Walls, it is specifically mentioned that people have studied the apartment many times over with infrared technology and other fancy equipment, all of which should have been more than capable of finding the clues the Smithfork kids stumbled across so easily.
Even engaging the necessary suspension of disbelief required for juvenile mysteries, I still thought the mystery was inconsistent. Tying poetry to architecture is an interesting concept, perfect for a setting as rich in history and culture as New York City, but it wasn't always exciting. I did like how Sherry eschewed some of the more well-known tourist attractions and showed readers another side of the city but, on the whole, I think the city could have been a stronger component. I also felt like some of the clues didn't logically lead to the destination the characters thought they should. Some points in the mystery just didn't make sense (including the final destination), and the credibility of the story suffered for it.
The first book in a new series, Walls Within Walls had the potential to be an exciting adventure story, but ultimately could fails to deliver on its promise. However, this opinion is not a popular one, so give this book to your kids, who will probably love it, but approach it yourself with extreme caution.
Originally posted here: http://lunanshee.blogspot.com/2013/03...
One of this book’s biggest flaws was the amateur writing style and unbelievable dialogue. First novels are always tricky (even the first Harry Potter novel is messily written), but I still found it difficult to wade through the poorly constructed sentences in order to focus on the mystery. The dialogue, in particular, was jarring and unrealistic. In the acknowledgements, I believe, Sherry references listening in on the conversations of her own children and their friends and building her dialogue stylistically from what she heard. I don’t have children of my own, but the kids I do know are far more interesting, animated and age-appropriate than the Smithfork siblings. Dialogue should be a window into each character’s personality, but the dialogue in Walls Within Walls was flat and interchangeable.
This novel also suffers from one-dimensional characters. Part of this can be attributed to the poorly utilized third person omniscient point of view, which allows readers to see bits and pieces of all the characters, but doesn't seem to give them any depth. At the end of the novel, main characters still lacked real personality, and secondary characters were merely cardboard cutouts present only to spout long informational paragraphs or further a plot point.
Children are incredibly dynamic and I think Sherry missed a real opportunity to tap into the quirky things they say and do. Instead of three siblings like those in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, who are cleverly drawn with separate behaviors and interests, the Smithfork siblings are carbon copies of each other. A more unique grouping would have given the book added personality and wider appeal.
There is always some suspension of disbelief necessary when reading a mystery novel, particularly those involving children. Why would a child with limited knowledge and life experience be able to solve a mystery that has stumped hundreds of professionals? Usually I can overlook that and accept the plot for what it is. Not so this time. In Walls Within Walls, it is specifically mentioned that people have studied the apartment many times over with infrared technology and other fancy equipment, all of which should have been more than capable of finding the clues the Smithfork kids stumbled across so easily.
Even engaging the necessary suspension of disbelief required for juvenile mysteries, I still thought the mystery was inconsistent. Tying poetry to architecture is an interesting concept, perfect for a setting as rich in history and culture as New York City, but it wasn't always exciting. I did like how Sherry eschewed some of the more well-known tourist attractions and showed readers another side of the city but, on the whole, I think the city could have been a stronger component. I also felt like some of the clues didn't logically lead to the destination the characters thought they should. Some points in the mystery just didn't make sense (including the final destination), and the credibility of the story suffered for it.
The first book in a new series, Walls Within Walls had the potential to be an exciting adventure story, but ultimately could fails to deliver on its promise. However, this opinion is not a popular one, so give this book to your kids, who will probably love it, but approach it yourself with extreme caution.
Originally posted here: http://lunanshee.blogspot.com/2013/03...
October 22, 2018
Maureen Sherry's "Walls Within Walls," a wonderful combination of Historical Fiction and Science Fiction takes the 4 Smithfork children, CJ, Brid, Patrick and Carron with their Nanny, their Elevator main from their new apartment building at 2 East 92nd Street though the streets of New Your City to find seven structures that were built by architect Rafael Guastavino which will eventually lead them to a surprise.
The clues were given by Mr. Post, and earlier tenant / owner of an apartment at 2 92nd Street where the Smithfork family moved to after living in Brooklyn before becoming Manhattanites. Post used seven poems which had to be read in a specific order and that mentioned those seven structures. One of the adults helping the Smithfork children to locate the final piece of the "puzzle," was Post's own daughter, Ann.
Sherry's "Walls within Walls," is a great frolicking "middle grade" novel which gives children of all ages a lot of information about New York City. The first clue was a poem about the New York Public Library. From there, the Smithfork children had to find six more poems. The book begins when the Smithfork children move to Manhattan from Brooklyn after their school year ends. Feeling new in the building, the Borough, and wanting to explore on their own while both of their parents have started "high Powered" jobs--the first exploration begins in their new home where they discover "Walls Within Walls." in Patrick and CJ's rooms...They also meet someone on the other side of the wall who helps them with the clues....A great summer vacation or winter vacation book for any child 9 or older. It is a lot of fun...so go out and purchase at a stor, or borrow "Walls Within Walls" from your public library....Granted to be a lot of fun! Best book written for this age group in a long time! I could go on and on with this rave review...but now I want to your spend your time figuring out the puzzles in Maureen Sherry's great fantastical book, "Walls Within Walls."
Laura Cobrinik,
Boonton Township, NJ 07005
The clues were given by Mr. Post, and earlier tenant / owner of an apartment at 2 92nd Street where the Smithfork family moved to after living in Brooklyn before becoming Manhattanites. Post used seven poems which had to be read in a specific order and that mentioned those seven structures. One of the adults helping the Smithfork children to locate the final piece of the "puzzle," was Post's own daughter, Ann.
Sherry's "Walls within Walls," is a great frolicking "middle grade" novel which gives children of all ages a lot of information about New York City. The first clue was a poem about the New York Public Library. From there, the Smithfork children had to find six more poems. The book begins when the Smithfork children move to Manhattan from Brooklyn after their school year ends. Feeling new in the building, the Borough, and wanting to explore on their own while both of their parents have started "high Powered" jobs--the first exploration begins in their new home where they discover "Walls Within Walls." in Patrick and CJ's rooms...They also meet someone on the other side of the wall who helps them with the clues....A great summer vacation or winter vacation book for any child 9 or older. It is a lot of fun...so go out and purchase at a stor, or borrow "Walls Within Walls" from your public library....Granted to be a lot of fun! Best book written for this age group in a long time! I could go on and on with this rave review...but now I want to your spend your time figuring out the puzzles in Maureen Sherry's great fantastical book, "Walls Within Walls."
Laura Cobrinik,
Boonton Township, NJ 07005
October 26, 2012
This book, a golden sower nominee, is such a fun read for a young reader. Target audience is 3rd-7th grade (8-12 years old) and this is the next on the list for my grandson and me to team read.
The book itself is a quick read, and starts with a family moving to New York - bright lights, big city, unhappy Brid, CJ, and Patrick (because who wants to pick up their lives, leave their friends, and move?) end up in the middle of a huge mystery, and a puzzle behind the walls, where a fabulous tome ends up sending them on a wild goose chase.
I don't know much about New York city, but this book took me places I may never get to see in person like Grant's Tomb built by Langston Hughes, all discovered by children who move into an apartment (because their dad, a gamer, got rich on his video systems...) that was built with secrets behind the walls. Their apartment was originally owned by an eccentric multi-millionaire who created a great puzzle based on New York City, and the children end up traveling all over the city, meeting new people, learning lots of the history of the city, and ending up with a real appreciation of New York and their new home.
Most adults of my generation have either been to New York City, or know of the popular places like the Statue of Liberty or Central Park - this book read between a boomer and a youth would teach them both some things that they never knew before about American history, and in a fun way. As you read this book, you aren't ever sure where you will end up next, but somehow you forget about the fact that these children are running around in what is considered a dangerous city - they become the bold adventurers we all hope to be. (Of course, when you finish, you think 'yikes, if this was real, they could be in BIG trouble! And they would be grounded for life!!!)
Sherry, M., & Stower, A. (2010). Walls within walls. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.
The book itself is a quick read, and starts with a family moving to New York - bright lights, big city, unhappy Brid, CJ, and Patrick (because who wants to pick up their lives, leave their friends, and move?) end up in the middle of a huge mystery, and a puzzle behind the walls, where a fabulous tome ends up sending them on a wild goose chase.
I don't know much about New York city, but this book took me places I may never get to see in person like Grant's Tomb built by Langston Hughes, all discovered by children who move into an apartment (because their dad, a gamer, got rich on his video systems...) that was built with secrets behind the walls. Their apartment was originally owned by an eccentric multi-millionaire who created a great puzzle based on New York City, and the children end up traveling all over the city, meeting new people, learning lots of the history of the city, and ending up with a real appreciation of New York and their new home.
Most adults of my generation have either been to New York City, or know of the popular places like the Statue of Liberty or Central Park - this book read between a boomer and a youth would teach them both some things that they never knew before about American history, and in a fun way. As you read this book, you aren't ever sure where you will end up next, but somehow you forget about the fact that these children are running around in what is considered a dangerous city - they become the bold adventurers we all hope to be. (Of course, when you finish, you think 'yikes, if this was real, they could be in BIG trouble! And they would be grounded for life!!!)
Sherry, M., & Stower, A. (2010). Walls within walls. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.
February 22, 2019
A fun, exiting book about poetry, secret codes, mysteries and puzzles. When me and my dad were reading it together, we would sometimes figure out the puzzles before the kids in the book did. This book is about 3 kids (or 4, counting the baby) named Brid, CJ, and Patrick (the baby's name is Carron). The mystery starts when Patrick notices a big painting of an eye in his room, and decides to investigate. I like this book because I love mysteries of all kinds!
I would say that this book was meant for ages 8-14, because there are some big words in there that kids younger than 8 would not understand.
I would say that this book was meant for ages 8-14, because there are some big words in there that kids younger than 8 would not understand.
February 2, 2011
Wonderful old-fashioned mystery with all the requisite components: 3 clever kids, a hidden treasure, a missing person, a mysterious intruder and a quirky old lady downstairs. The three Smithfork children discover a complex mystery within the walls of the old apartment they've just moved into on Manhattan's upper west side. With puzzles and twists and turns galore, the book takes the reader all around New York City, delving into its architectural history as well. Highly recommended for readers 8-12 and would also make a great family read aloud.
Read
June 7, 2012This book can be for any gender, but I would say around the fifth grade age and this book is pretty big so maybe for those who are comfortable reading. It's not a hard read, actually it's page-turning but it's long without very many pictures, but there are short chapters. This book is mysterious and adventuresome which makes it a page-turner. When reading "Walls Within Walls" I found it was something I would read to my own students and could make lesson plans with it, I was imagining all of the stuff I could do with my own class with this book! It is a 2012 Golden Sower Nominee.
March 15, 2013
Spring break bookaday #8. 2013-14 Texas Bluebonnet nominee. This book was a struggle to read, a bit of a chore to get to the end. I found it too long and inconsistent in story flow. I also didn't care for the character descriptions: willowy and wiry at the same time for Brid? I thought CJ was wimpy. One of the illustrations was incorrect, showing Carron when she was supposed to be at yoga with her mother. Thought this was going to be a fantasy story like Coraline or the Gregor Underland series but no. Nothing new here, stick with Blue Baillett's mysteries instead.
August 23, 2010
I really liked this and I think 4th & 5th grade teachers would really enjoy reading this aloud to their students. There's is a lot of NYC history and poetry. There's positive message about how to live your life and a great mystery. If you liked Chasing Vermeer, give this a try.
June 7, 2012
Audience: Grades 3-7 students and teachers
Appeal: This book is fast-paced, incorporating puzzles, codes, and clues in a New York City treasure hunt. Poetry, architectural details, and full page illustrations throughout add to the intrigue.
2012-2013 Intermediate Nebraska Golden Sower Nominee
Appeal: This book is fast-paced, incorporating puzzles, codes, and clues in a New York City treasure hunt. Poetry, architectural details, and full page illustrations throughout add to the intrigue.
2012-2013 Intermediate Nebraska Golden Sower Nominee
May 27, 2013
The author's use of suspense lagged a bit about 3/4 of the way through. The rising action just became a little tedious. Bluebonnet Nominee 2014. Lexile 770.
December 10, 2014
Super fun read! Smart kids, a challenging mystery, poetry, history and ADVENTURE!
March 24, 2025
A fun adventure filled with mystery and history too!
This reminded me of the 39 Clue books, but much faster paced. I’ll read this again with the kids for sure.
This reminded me of the 39 Clue books, but much faster paced. I’ll read this again with the kids for sure.
February 8, 2022
After Mr. Smithfork, a father of 4 kids, as well as a video-game inventor, becomes rich, they move to a Manhattan apartment from their comfortable Brooklyn home. Brid, CJ, and Patrick, three of the Smithfork kids were not too happy about this. They end up uncovering a secret of their apartment just upon their arrival. Mr. Post, the previous owner of the apartment, made it into a puzzle. With nothing else to do in their final days of summer vacation, Brid, Cj and Patrick must solve all the pieces to the puzzle to find the Post family fortune. Would you go this far to find it? With a neighbor just downstairs that might have a clue about the mystery. With an ominous man who appears and disappears. Will the kids find Mr. Post’s fortune? This book is an amazing mystery with twists and turns about the puzzle. Most parts of the puzzle require thinking outside of the box. Will the kids be able to think like Mr Post?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2021
When the Smithfork family moves to Manhattan, the kids discover that their new apartment holds a secret. The former owners, the Post family, had a vast fortune which seems to have disappeared. The Smithfork kids follow a series of clues to try to find the missing fortune.
The puzzles were a little simplistic and predictable. As an adult I saw the twists coming but would be harder for a kid. Overall an enjoyable kids book.
The puzzles were a little simplistic and predictable. As an adult I saw the twists coming but would be harder for a kid. Overall an enjoyable kids book.
September 3, 2020
AHHH I remember loving this book in middle school!
October 2, 2020
I thought this book lacked adventure 😕
August 24, 2023
Another middle school read that i still think about, Remember loving it-would read again
October 27, 2025
Loved the story and am excited to share with Ada and Léiana.
October 17, 2023
2023-24 Elementary School Battle of the Books selection
Fun! A mystery wrapped in a family story. I enjoyed the way the author blended reality with fiction, highlighted by the Fact or Fiction section after the story finished. I learned quite a bit about New York City and its history, including the architect Rafael Guastavino (and yes, now I want to go read about him).
I do wonder what will happen to the Smithfork family, if the father will slow down and spend more time at home now that the kids have had this grand adventure. I hope so...
Fun! A mystery wrapped in a family story. I enjoyed the way the author blended reality with fiction, highlighted by the Fact or Fiction section after the story finished. I learned quite a bit about New York City and its history, including the architect Rafael Guastavino (and yes, now I want to go read about him).
I do wonder what will happen to the Smithfork family, if the father will slow down and spend more time at home now that the kids have had this grand adventure. I hope so...
July 26, 2019
I like puzzle books and enjoy puzzle books integrated with mystery, but I prefer a made up location that I can become invested in or a location I know. I dont like that this book uses NY as a central plot point location, as it distances a non New Yorker like me from it. Also, I feel like some characters are a bit young like the 9 year old and the youngest sibling, and I also just dont enjoy sibling/family stories as much, and I also find the exotic 4 way apartments building hard to picture visually and understand. Lastly, it was just slow getting to the core mystery and wasn't a pleasurable read. I read up to the kids finding the key and getting the library package and opening it before dropping. I'd prefer a puzzle or some actually clever aspects or something gripping sooner to pull me into the story.
Also its kind of handwaved why the non worker mom is away, and I felt the story didnt do enough to connect its readers to empathize with the three kids being isolated from their new richness and being lonely. I was told much of this, but not shown, and as a reader, I certainly didnt FEEL this loneliness as much as I'd've liked.
Edit: Walls within walls 218 pages ish skimmed end. Read about 218 total pages so a bit more than before. Haaaaaaaaate how they know an old man has a secret passage that's he's used to essentially break into the Smithforks' apartment and neither Olivia Munn the old lady nor any of the kids tell their parents or board up the spot. Like wtf - that's stupid as shit and dangerous, esp for CJ as an eleven year old and the older lady. And this was before the end when they learn the older man Joe Torrio is actually a good person, Olivia's brother in secret. Which was not that exciting a twist. The revelation that his parents and Olivia's dad faked the kidnapping to protect the brother wasn't that exciting nor did I feel that attached given he wasn't a main character for the majority of the 300 ish or so page book. Also the codes are stupid without a chance for the reader to solve. Ex the code of the dots on top of letter of words to spell out a message - the code is explained first then the viewer gets the words. Same with the sequence that's ordered with numbers and the reader has to put the words in order. I did appreciate small things like Pat the 5yo switching letters with his disorder but being able to read the secret message backwards but didnt like how readers couldn't solve stuff like the codes fairly or first before being told the answer. Scenes are slow with a lot of description and one off things like CJ's random scene with his friend or random parks which I don't care for since IDC about NYC or it's architecture which is a big focus. I also feel the kids feel more mature than their age but that's a minor nitpick. Overall disappointing.
Also its kind of handwaved why the non worker mom is away, and I felt the story didnt do enough to connect its readers to empathize with the three kids being isolated from their new richness and being lonely. I was told much of this, but not shown, and as a reader, I certainly didnt FEEL this loneliness as much as I'd've liked.
Edit: Walls within walls 218 pages ish skimmed end. Read about 218 total pages so a bit more than before. Haaaaaaaaate how they know an old man has a secret passage that's he's used to essentially break into the Smithforks' apartment and neither Olivia Munn the old lady nor any of the kids tell their parents or board up the spot. Like wtf - that's stupid as shit and dangerous, esp for CJ as an eleven year old and the older lady. And this was before the end when they learn the older man Joe Torrio is actually a good person, Olivia's brother in secret. Which was not that exciting a twist. The revelation that his parents and Olivia's dad faked the kidnapping to protect the brother wasn't that exciting nor did I feel that attached given he wasn't a main character for the majority of the 300 ish or so page book. Also the codes are stupid without a chance for the reader to solve. Ex the code of the dots on top of letter of words to spell out a message - the code is explained first then the viewer gets the words. Same with the sequence that's ordered with numbers and the reader has to put the words in order. I did appreciate small things like Pat the 5yo switching letters with his disorder but being able to read the secret message backwards but didnt like how readers couldn't solve stuff like the codes fairly or first before being told the answer. Scenes are slow with a lot of description and one off things like CJ's random scene with his friend or random parks which I don't care for since IDC about NYC or it's architecture which is a big focus. I also feel the kids feel more mature than their age but that's a minor nitpick. Overall disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2017
While organizing my expansive bookshelf, I came across my copy of Walls Within Walls, and I was immediately transported back to the time and place I bought it: New York City, at the age of eight. I have many nostalgic memories associated with this book. It is one of the first books I remember really enjoying, and having a connection to (along with Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass and Carl Hiaasen's Hoot). Though I'm now at least three years above the target age group, I decided to review Walls Within Walls to revisit this childhood favorite of mine.
The story follows the three Smithfork kids--C.J., Brid, and Patrick--whose father, a videogame designer, has just struck it rich. The family moves from Brooklyn to a historic apartment in Manhattan, and during an afternoon of boredom, the kids discover a mystery hidden behind the walls of their new home. In pursuit of answers--and a long-lost, forgotten fortune--they search for clues all over New York, discovering the city's amazing and complex history, from poetry to architecture to industry.
Facts are incorporated seamlessly into the story; they enrich the story, instead of making it feel like a history lesson. I mentioned that I was visiting New York City the first time I read this book, and I remember keeping an eye out for all the places the Smithforks looked for clues, such as Grand Central Station and Ellis Island. The characters are also portrayed quite well, especially the three protagonists, who are very realistic and relatable. The book is paced nicely, and the mystery, which is based on real events, is unique and engaging.
My takeaway from this book, in the past and the present, is that we're surrounded by mysteries waiting to be solved. You just have to look around, do a little research, and you'll discover so many intriguing things. I think Sherman Alexie sums it up best when he says, "the world, even the smallest parts of it, is filled with things you don't know." As a child, I was naturally very curious, and I think that reading this book inspired me to inquire about and explore the world around me, the way the Smithfork kids discover the rich history of New York City. I still possess these traits today, and perhaps this impact has been what caused me to keep Walls Within Walls on my shelf all these years.
I'd recommend this gem of a middle-grade novel to any older elementary school kid who likes mysteries, and I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.
The story follows the three Smithfork kids--C.J., Brid, and Patrick--whose father, a videogame designer, has just struck it rich. The family moves from Brooklyn to a historic apartment in Manhattan, and during an afternoon of boredom, the kids discover a mystery hidden behind the walls of their new home. In pursuit of answers--and a long-lost, forgotten fortune--they search for clues all over New York, discovering the city's amazing and complex history, from poetry to architecture to industry.
Facts are incorporated seamlessly into the story; they enrich the story, instead of making it feel like a history lesson. I mentioned that I was visiting New York City the first time I read this book, and I remember keeping an eye out for all the places the Smithforks looked for clues, such as Grand Central Station and Ellis Island. The characters are also portrayed quite well, especially the three protagonists, who are very realistic and relatable. The book is paced nicely, and the mystery, which is based on real events, is unique and engaging.
My takeaway from this book, in the past and the present, is that we're surrounded by mysteries waiting to be solved. You just have to look around, do a little research, and you'll discover so many intriguing things. I think Sherman Alexie sums it up best when he says, "the world, even the smallest parts of it, is filled with things you don't know." As a child, I was naturally very curious, and I think that reading this book inspired me to inquire about and explore the world around me, the way the Smithfork kids discover the rich history of New York City. I still possess these traits today, and perhaps this impact has been what caused me to keep Walls Within Walls on my shelf all these years.
I'd recommend this gem of a middle-grade novel to any older elementary school kid who likes mysteries, and I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.
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