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The Finches' Fabulous Furnace
When Peter Finch's family arrives in Ashfield, there is no house for them to rent-except the one at Number Seven, Pride Street. The last family had moved out quite suddenly, saying there was a dreadful smell from the cellar.
The Finches decide to take a chance and move in. But how can Peter and his father keep it a secret that the "furnace" of their house is - a real live volcano??!!!
The Finches decide to take a chance and move in. But how can Peter and his father keep it a secret that the "furnace" of their house is - a real live volcano??!!!
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 14, 2025
I can’t remember how this book crossed my path but I’m sure glad it did! And if I can bring it even a little out of obscurity, I’ll be more pleased!
This a fantastic family read-aloud; Dad and Mom and kids will all enjoy this clever, quirky comedy!
When the Finches roll into town one night to discover there’s not a single hotel room or house to let, they’re not sure what to do until the realtor reluctantly mentions a vacant home. But it’s mysterious, and the previous owners left suddenly; the odd smell is gone though. And it’s behind closed doors, with the family waiting outside, that the realtor whispers to Mr. Finch that there’s a volcano in the cellar.
It can’t be true! Can it?
When the Finches walk into the house, Mr. Finch heads straight to the cellar to investigate.
And that’s where the fun begins!
It’s a short read, with wit and laugh out loud moments. I definitely recommend reading this; and if it’s on a cold, stormy night, all the better.
Ages: 5 - 12
Content Considerations: gosh and golly are used. There are mentions of ghosts but there are none. Some people aren’t honest about the existence of a volcano.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
This a fantastic family read-aloud; Dad and Mom and kids will all enjoy this clever, quirky comedy!
When the Finches roll into town one night to discover there’s not a single hotel room or house to let, they’re not sure what to do until the realtor reluctantly mentions a vacant home. But it’s mysterious, and the previous owners left suddenly; the odd smell is gone though. And it’s behind closed doors, with the family waiting outside, that the realtor whispers to Mr. Finch that there’s a volcano in the cellar.
It can’t be true! Can it?
When the Finches walk into the house, Mr. Finch heads straight to the cellar to investigate.
And that’s where the fun begins!
It’s a short read, with wit and laugh out loud moments. I definitely recommend reading this; and if it’s on a cold, stormy night, all the better.
Ages: 5 - 12
Content Considerations: gosh and golly are used. There are mentions of ghosts but there are none. Some people aren’t honest about the existence of a volcano.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
April 27, 2017
One cold winter, when the Finch family moves into their new house, Mr. Finch and his son find a tiny volcano in the cellar, pumping heat and steam into the house instead of a furnace. They decide to keep it a secret, so as not to alarm the ladies of the family, but when the summer heat makes the volcano unbearable, Mrs. Finch and her daughter are determined to know why their house is always so hot! The townsfolk begin to suspect that Mr. Finch is hiding something huge in his cellar, and they pester him for answers. Mr. Finch has to decide whether or not the volcano is a threat to the town, but his children have something to say about that too!
I loved all the clever little details about a family living in a house with volcanic activity! The snow melts off their roof, and their plants bloom in the winter. There are strange updrafts and strong winds surrounding their house as the steam rises from their cellar. All those details were so fun to read about!
I did not like that the men of the family had no problem hiding this major secret from the women in the family. They seem to think that they have it all under control and they don't need the input or opinions of any women or girls, because those all-mighty He-men can do it all. bleh. And when the ladies DO find out, and have a very natural instinct to get as far away from a volcano as possible, the men belittle their fears and tell them not to panic. Wow, the sexism is all over this one. The only people in the entire book who have a natural, sensible, and logical reaction to the volcano are Mrs. Finch and her daughter! Then again, it is fiction; and if ALL the characters were sensible and logical, there would be no story.
I liked the way the plot included the neighbors and schoolmates, the town leadership, and even the state governor. The plot kept me really interested to see what would happen next!
I enjoyed the simple writing style, because it paints a picture of a small town with very few words and launches right into the story.
One of the craziest things was reading about people handling asbestos as if it were nothing. Mr. Finch orders a load of bricks and mortar, and a "large roll of asbestos" to help create a chimney for the volcano, and a geologist puts on asbestos gloves when examining the little volcano! It's so weird, but they didn't know any better back then.
I loved all the clever little details about a family living in a house with volcanic activity! The snow melts off their roof, and their plants bloom in the winter. There are strange updrafts and strong winds surrounding their house as the steam rises from their cellar. All those details were so fun to read about!
I did not like that the men of the family had no problem hiding this major secret from the women in the family. They seem to think that they have it all under control and they don't need the input or opinions of any women or girls, because those all-mighty He-men can do it all. bleh. And when the ladies DO find out, and have a very natural instinct to get as far away from a volcano as possible, the men belittle their fears and tell them not to panic. Wow, the sexism is all over this one. The only people in the entire book who have a natural, sensible, and logical reaction to the volcano are Mrs. Finch and her daughter! Then again, it is fiction; and if ALL the characters were sensible and logical, there would be no story.
I liked the way the plot included the neighbors and schoolmates, the town leadership, and even the state governor. The plot kept me really interested to see what would happen next!
I enjoyed the simple writing style, because it paints a picture of a small town with very few words and launches right into the story.
One of the craziest things was reading about people handling asbestos as if it were nothing. Mr. Finch orders a load of bricks and mortar, and a "large roll of asbestos" to help create a chimney for the volcano, and a geologist puts on asbestos gloves when examining the little volcano! It's so weird, but they didn't know any better back then.
April 10, 2012
One of my two favorite kiddie/young adult books. Reread it recently and was not disappointed.
The Finches (Mom, Dad, son, and daughter) move into a lovely old Victorian in "Ashland," somewhere (apparently) in New England. The house is unusually warm, which they don't question... until the kids go downstairs and discover the heat source, which is not the sort of thing one normally keeps indoors. Efforts to conceal the truth from certain members of the family and to tame the small beast downstairs eventually come to naught.
As an "adult" rereading this book, I felt that some of the characters and situations were a bit flat: a visit from the town selectmen felt quite pat to me. It's not until the action shifts about 2/3 of the way into the book to the daughter, Patsy, that the book really comes alive. As I read the closing pages I realized I'd just finished a brief, bittersweet coming-of-age story.
I read this for the first time when I was 8 or 9; it's on my shelf now and I'll probably reread it at some point. OK for fraidycat kids (I was one).
The Finches (Mom, Dad, son, and daughter) move into a lovely old Victorian in "Ashland," somewhere (apparently) in New England. The house is unusually warm, which they don't question... until the kids go downstairs and discover the heat source, which is not the sort of thing one normally keeps indoors. Efforts to conceal the truth from certain members of the family and to tame the small beast downstairs eventually come to naught.
As an "adult" rereading this book, I felt that some of the characters and situations were a bit flat: a visit from the town selectmen felt quite pat to me. It's not until the action shifts about 2/3 of the way into the book to the daughter, Patsy, that the book really comes alive. As I read the closing pages I realized I'd just finished a brief, bittersweet coming-of-age story.
I read this for the first time when I was 8 or 9; it's on my shelf now and I'll probably reread it at some point. OK for fraidycat kids (I was one).
February 3, 2021
An interesting book! Original, certainly. About a house with a volcano in the cellar. A literal volcano. The Finches are moving into their new house, and the man selling it tells them that the last family living there deserted it suddenly, and that the house had been sitting there, still hot, for a year. Him, Mr. Finch, and the Finch boy are the only ones who know the truth. Currently. A few neighbors are suspicious of the yard that, when snow falls on it, melts immediately. The Finch girl wants to know why her dad and brother are always in the cellar by themselves. And Mrs. Finch is still wondering why in the world they don't have an oil bill, because it is always extra hot in the house, and she hadn't even touched the thermostat once. Is it really a volcano in the cellar? And, if it is, is it setting the entire town in jeopardy?
July 25, 2014
It is an interesting book and the subject is unique...I liked it as a teenager when I was around 11 or 12!
December 12, 2023
A reread for me, but brand new for the boys. This was initially read to me in class by my 3rd grade teacher, Mr. Maggs. He really understood what kids like in their stories. My guys loved reading this one, always wanted another chapter before bed and gave their opinions on Patsy and Peter’s actions. (Patsy was very annoying to them!) An oldie, but still very good.
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January 30, 2025این کتاب را در اصل من با ترجمهٔ اعظم سیفالهی خواندم.
January 25, 2017
This book has been on my shelves for years (it was first published in 1971) and I'm glad I finally read it. The furnace in the basement of a lovely, large, and mysteriously empty house is a volcano. It's a tiny one, but it's still a volcano.
The characters make references to historic volcanoes, and there are a few volcanic terms woven in. Incredibly to me, the story was amusing, but never didactic. Best of all, my edition had lovely illustrations by Erik Blegvad.
It had an exciting, but safe, happy ending.
The characters make references to historic volcanoes, and there are a few volcanic terms woven in. Incredibly to me, the story was amusing, but never didactic. Best of all, my edition had lovely illustrations by Erik Blegvad.
It had an exciting, but safe, happy ending.
Read
August 2, 2020I read this when I was 10 or 11. I remember it being such a remarkable story that I've spent years searching for it, again. I'd forgotten the title. Glad I found it!
June 19, 2025
Overall, this falls between a 2.5-3* for me personally. I did it as a read aloud with my husband, 12.5 yr old daughter, and a newly 7 yr old son.
I liked the amount of illustrations throughout, and it is an unusual storyline with the volcano. My favorite part was probably Peter's alarm creation.
I didn't like that the daughter sneaks out when she is supposed to be home recovering from illness. I didn't like that the dad and son kept things from the mom and daughter, and later, many adults didn't warn the town (to prevent panic). On one hand, the actions made sense, but not asking the mom to stay there once she is aware of the volcano in the cellar. It wasn't a very exciting or memorable story for me.
I liked the amount of illustrations throughout, and it is an unusual storyline with the volcano. My favorite part was probably Peter's alarm creation.
I didn't like that the daughter sneaks out when she is supposed to be home recovering from illness. I didn't like that the dad and son kept things from the mom and daughter, and later, many adults didn't warn the town (to prevent panic). On one hand, the actions made sense, but not asking the mom to stay there once she is aware of the volcano in the cellar. It wasn't a very exciting or memorable story for me.
June 19, 2025
A family moves from New Jersey to New England and rents a house with a small volcano in the basement. It's a humorous premise. I was skeptical how geologically accurate this book might be. I'm not an expert, but the premise is not very believable and that can distract me enough that I might not enjoy it. I was delighted that it provided some credibility to make the story believable enough that it didn't distract me from enjoying it. For example, it touched on how volcanologists monitor known locations of volcanic activity. That, and the fact that it takes place long enough ago in the past, made it credible enough that I give it a pass and enjoyed the story.
January 9, 2018
Not sure how I missed this little gem when I was a kid (it came out when I was probably exactly the right age to read it), but I would have loved it. Who could resist a story about a famiy who moves into a mysterious old house...with a baby volcano in the basement?
April 18, 2020
#unreadahelfproject2020. Quite an enjoyable read. Certainly a new, exciting topic. A volcano in the basement. A good adventure story for boys or girls. While this is an older book, I think kids today will still find it entertaining.
December 11, 2020
Childhood favorite. I was reminded of it today when reading about this project in France: https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/a-sy....
France's Fabulous Furnace?
France's Fabulous Furnace?
March 13, 2021
Not the best book in the world; barely worthy of being a Weekly Reader (which it was, apparently). It was readable, though — I kept wondering how they would resolve the situation. Ok, but definitely not great. Does feature a picture in time of the early 1970’s, for sure.
January 18, 2026
I did, in fact, judge this book by its quirky little cover when I snagged it off the shelf at McKay years ago. Just now got around to reading it, and it’s definitely a kooky seventies offbeat little work of juvenile fiction, but those are oftentimes the most underrated, amiright?
June 21, 2018
one of my absolute favorite books!
October 17, 2019
One of the best family read-a-louds ever. So much fun.
August 13, 2020
C-. fiction, children's fiction, fantasy, from stash, discard
October 4, 2020
Super fun read for my kids. They love volcanoes.
April 22, 2023
Parts were funny, but I was annoyed that the adults had no consequences for their lying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 28, 2023Thanksgiving read
April 15, 2025
an old favorite I had forgotten about!
March 9, 2017
When the Finches arrive in Ashfield for their father's new job, they find there's only one house to rent: a beautiful old three-story home on Pride Street. Even though the prior tenants left in a hurry over a year ago, it's very clean inside and well-maintained. Even better - the rent is only $1 for 3 years! But although it's December and the whole town is covered in snow, their home is snow-free and there are even robins eating worms on the green lawn outside. It would be perfect, except for the small volcano in the basement.
Published in 1971, I've always remembered this book fondly from my childhood. Growing up where winters were cold and snowy, the idea of a house where it was always springtime outside seemed like a dream. Reading it now as a grownup, I realize it deals a lot more with the fear of what might happen than I had remembered. It's a nice and entertaining read for grades 4-6.
Published in 1971, I've always remembered this book fondly from my childhood. Growing up where winters were cold and snowy, the idea of a house where it was always springtime outside seemed like a dream. Reading it now as a grownup, I realize it deals a lot more with the fear of what might happen than I had remembered. It's a nice and entertaining read for grades 4-6.
September 7, 2009
This was a fun book Klark, Lanse and I enjoyed together. The best part was the theme. We read the book for our read; we built a valcano with clay and watched it erupt with vinegar, food coloring and baking soda for our activity; and we checked out a copy of Eyewitness Valcano from the library for our view. We enjoyed every minute and learned much.
I would give the book a 3.5 star. As I have mentioned, I loved the theme - the story line was fun food for the imagination and creative; the sentence, paragraph, and chapter length was perfect for young readers; the book was full of good descriptive vocabulary for good imagery; the book contained age appropriate dialogue that the kids related well with and the book has a few pictures (always a bonus for visual learners). I also thought the story was a little slow, had a low climax, and that the story didn't wrap up superbly. Klark said he would give the book a 4 star because it, "was a really good book but not as good as other books we have read like Holes, Indian in the Cupboard,..." He also said (spoiler), "I wish the valcano got bigger and bigger and erupted and destroyed the whole town or that the Finches learned how to plug it after it was gigantic." Lanse said he would give it a 3 star because, "I liked the parts about the valcano but not all the other parts." About the book he said, "I wish we had a valcano in our basement."
All in all, we had an enjoyable time together. The theme and all the fun we had because of the book is the reason I will round up. Valcanos are, indeed, an exciting thing to discover more about when you are five and seven years old.
I would give the book a 3.5 star. As I have mentioned, I loved the theme - the story line was fun food for the imagination and creative; the sentence, paragraph, and chapter length was perfect for young readers; the book was full of good descriptive vocabulary for good imagery; the book contained age appropriate dialogue that the kids related well with and the book has a few pictures (always a bonus for visual learners). I also thought the story was a little slow, had a low climax, and that the story didn't wrap up superbly. Klark said he would give the book a 4 star because it, "was a really good book but not as good as other books we have read like Holes, Indian in the Cupboard,..." He also said (spoiler), "I wish the valcano got bigger and bigger and erupted and destroyed the whole town or that the Finches learned how to plug it after it was gigantic." Lanse said he would give it a 3 star because, "I liked the parts about the valcano but not all the other parts." About the book he said, "I wish we had a valcano in our basement."
All in all, we had an enjoyable time together. The theme and all the fun we had because of the book is the reason I will round up. Valcanos are, indeed, an exciting thing to discover more about when you are five and seven years old.
August 26, 2016
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
The Finches' Fabulous Furnace is a quirky story about a family with an unusual secret. Their new home is heated not by a furnace, but by an active volcano. Knowing how their neighbors would react to the knowledge that the volcano beneath their home may someday erupt and destroy their town, the family does its best to hide the truth and fend off rumors about their heating system. This proves difficult, however, when obvious signs of volcano activity begin to appear around the house.
Like The Enormous Egg, this book takes an utterly implausible situation and makes it completely believable. Though it is ridiculous to think of a home in upstate New York housing a volcano in its basement, the way the situation is explained within the context of the story makes perfect sense. The family does not come to life quite as strongly as many other families I have read about in vintage kids' books, but the town overall does develop a personality as the book goes on, and there are a lot of humorous moments where the Finches make ridiculous excuses to hide the strangeness of what goes on in their basement.
This is a clever and light-hearted story, and the odd premise and surprise ending will appeal to a broad range of ages, including adults. It would make a great read-aloud for a snow day, as well as a perfect fictional tie-in for scientific lessons on volcanoes.
The Finches' Fabulous Furnace is a quirky story about a family with an unusual secret. Their new home is heated not by a furnace, but by an active volcano. Knowing how their neighbors would react to the knowledge that the volcano beneath their home may someday erupt and destroy their town, the family does its best to hide the truth and fend off rumors about their heating system. This proves difficult, however, when obvious signs of volcano activity begin to appear around the house.
Like The Enormous Egg, this book takes an utterly implausible situation and makes it completely believable. Though it is ridiculous to think of a home in upstate New York housing a volcano in its basement, the way the situation is explained within the context of the story makes perfect sense. The family does not come to life quite as strongly as many other families I have read about in vintage kids' books, but the town overall does develop a personality as the book goes on, and there are a lot of humorous moments where the Finches make ridiculous excuses to hide the strangeness of what goes on in their basement.
This is a clever and light-hearted story, and the odd premise and surprise ending will appeal to a broad range of ages, including adults. It would make a great read-aloud for a snow day, as well as a perfect fictional tie-in for scientific lessons on volcanoes.
July 10, 2014
It's been a few years, so I pulled this one off the shelf for a re-read. I'd never paid much attention to the little things, like you never learn the parents names...just Mr/Mrs Finch or Mommy/Daddy. I'd also never noticed how many little volcano-ish puns Drury had thrown in. I actually busted out laughing at one point...luckily I was the only person home at the time...
Anyhow, I've been reading this book since I was a wee youngin', and have managed to hold on to my copy for closing in on 30 years. I can only hope that my kids will discover books and love reading as much as I do, and this book will work well with both of my children as it has a strong male -and- female lead, teaches respect and moral/ethical decision making against the occasional need to obscure the truth.
Anyhow, I've been reading this book since I was a wee youngin', and have managed to hold on to my copy for closing in on 30 years. I can only hope that my kids will discover books and love reading as much as I do, and this book will work well with both of my children as it has a strong male -and- female lead, teaches respect and moral/ethical decision making against the occasional need to obscure the truth.
October 22, 2012
Very fun book for kids 2nd - 5th grade or so. The brother and sister in this story are a bit sneaky in parts and get away with a few things - without getting called on it - so that would be the only thing I would change. I asked my geological engineer husband if a volcano in the basement was even possible, and he said it was 'unlikely, but possible.' He also said the sulfur smell alone would drive them out of the house! But, this is a fictional story - and it's exciting to read, and a page turner to find out what happens at the end of the book. Reviewed for the Logos Library.
April 1, 2015
The Finch’s Fabulous Furnace is about the Finch family and the live in Ashfield on prid street house seven. They live on a volcano. The volcano is in there cellar. The kids names are Pates and Peter.Peter builds a pulle so they will know when the volcano is about to explode. A volcano exploded but it was a different volcano, It was not the Fiches volcano. Overall, it was a good book. ~Izabell
July 6, 2015
Read this as an 8-10 year old and it was stuck in my mind as a strong imaginative image of a house with a volcano in the basement and as an adult that was all I could remember but I wanted to find it to read to my kids. I remembered it being a very cool book and when I finally found a rare hard bound copy on Amazon and reread it, it was still amazing!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews