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Bobbsey Twins #10
The Ghost in the Computer
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May 18, 2020
Bobbsey Twins (Wanderer) #10-The Ghost in the Computer
Because of the unforunate title of this one, it was a few years after it came out that I read it (it appeared from the title that the supernatural/occult might be a part of this book) Let me assure you from the start, that there is nothing objectionable about this entry in the series-nothing remotely supernatural at all!
In this book, the Bobbseys are once again at home (twice in a row! That's unusual for these jet setting kids!) Bert and Nan worry about getting in trouble because they lost track of time studying in the library and are going to be late getting home (I wish I was always that well-behaved as a kid! Sadly, a lot of times when I got into naughtiness, it wasn't for staying too long at the library!) As they headed home, they passed the school and noticed a light on. I guess night janitors don't work that late because the twins are immediately suspicious and Bert stays in front of the school whilst Nan goes home to call the police. After she does this, Mr Bobbsey and Nan go back to the school to collect Bert (after Mrs Bobbsey tells the younger twins to go to bed). Freddie sneaks in the car so he won't miss the excitement, (Sorry, but my mischief as a child was more like Freddy than a few overstays at the library) and he spots a person all in white. (Don't worry, it's not a real ghost-I don't think the Bobbseys ever dealt with anything like that that wasn't someone trying to scare others) Whoever the person was, he gets away
The next day is "fun day" at school (we used to have activity days like that just before summer break too), and a popular clown that always attends this annual day gets attacked! To Freddie's dismay, it seems a prize he won was stolen and the clown was attacked trying to protect it. Another feature of "fun day" is a checkers program an overweight boy programed into a portable computer. He is bullied by Danny Rugg, but the younger twins befriend him (I'm sure the older ones would have too, but they weren't present) and they invite him to play in the clubhouse that the groundskeeper of a rich lady built for them. (This too shows a better time-so much stuff like this happens in these books, and now, sadly if adults were to take younger kids to a treat, we would have to be suspicious of their motives) Rodney (the programming boy) is also invited to dinner at the Bobbseys were he explains that he is lonely. He doesn't have any friends, and his father works as an airline pilot, and his mom has to travel for her job, so he is home alone a lot. (This is probably the most contemporary thing I've read in the Wanderer series so far, as the 1980s was the beginning of the "latch-key children" era. It was also discovered that the prize that was taken is a lot more valuable than once assumed as the temporary maid accidently put a valuable jade piece as the prize instead of the real one the rich lady donated.
Another thing that happened is that the clown (who was banged up pretty good in the fight) left the hospital (where the police took him) without a word! After a few more adventures, the Bobbseys discover that the clown is really Professor Tate-a stiff intellectual who donated a powerful computer to the school. He kept it secret because he thought people would view him as undignified if they knew the truth. The thief was actually not after Freddie's prize, but a valuable program the professor created. Rodney saw too much and was threatened so he hid out in the tree house. This time it is Freddie and Flossie who figure this out, and Bert and Nan who are "along for the ride" (This is handled very well though, and the main reason for this is that the little twins are privvy to certain hints and clues that Bert and Nan weren't present for when they unfolded.
This is a pretty good entry in the series, and I give it an 8 out of 10. Oh, I forgot to mention that the "ghost" is Rodney. He snuck into the school a few times to examine the new computer-not good behaviour by any means, but he was never called out for it! I am also unclear why he doused himself in flour each time to do this. That may be a disguise in that he wouldn't be recognised, but he would be easily spotted in the dark! (As he was several times). That didn't make sense to me, but Rodney is portrayed as awkward and a bit socially inept, so perhaps it's just his quirkiness, and it isn't supposed to make sense
Because of the unforunate title of this one, it was a few years after it came out that I read it (it appeared from the title that the supernatural/occult might be a part of this book) Let me assure you from the start, that there is nothing objectionable about this entry in the series-nothing remotely supernatural at all!
In this book, the Bobbseys are once again at home (twice in a row! That's unusual for these jet setting kids!) Bert and Nan worry about getting in trouble because they lost track of time studying in the library and are going to be late getting home (I wish I was always that well-behaved as a kid! Sadly, a lot of times when I got into naughtiness, it wasn't for staying too long at the library!) As they headed home, they passed the school and noticed a light on. I guess night janitors don't work that late because the twins are immediately suspicious and Bert stays in front of the school whilst Nan goes home to call the police. After she does this, Mr Bobbsey and Nan go back to the school to collect Bert (after Mrs Bobbsey tells the younger twins to go to bed). Freddie sneaks in the car so he won't miss the excitement, (Sorry, but my mischief as a child was more like Freddy than a few overstays at the library) and he spots a person all in white. (Don't worry, it's not a real ghost-I don't think the Bobbseys ever dealt with anything like that that wasn't someone trying to scare others) Whoever the person was, he gets away
The next day is "fun day" at school (we used to have activity days like that just before summer break too), and a popular clown that always attends this annual day gets attacked! To Freddie's dismay, it seems a prize he won was stolen and the clown was attacked trying to protect it. Another feature of "fun day" is a checkers program an overweight boy programed into a portable computer. He is bullied by Danny Rugg, but the younger twins befriend him (I'm sure the older ones would have too, but they weren't present) and they invite him to play in the clubhouse that the groundskeeper of a rich lady built for them. (This too shows a better time-so much stuff like this happens in these books, and now, sadly if adults were to take younger kids to a treat, we would have to be suspicious of their motives) Rodney (the programming boy) is also invited to dinner at the Bobbseys were he explains that he is lonely. He doesn't have any friends, and his father works as an airline pilot, and his mom has to travel for her job, so he is home alone a lot. (This is probably the most contemporary thing I've read in the Wanderer series so far, as the 1980s was the beginning of the "latch-key children" era. It was also discovered that the prize that was taken is a lot more valuable than once assumed as the temporary maid accidently put a valuable jade piece as the prize instead of the real one the rich lady donated.
Another thing that happened is that the clown (who was banged up pretty good in the fight) left the hospital (where the police took him) without a word! After a few more adventures, the Bobbseys discover that the clown is really Professor Tate-a stiff intellectual who donated a powerful computer to the school. He kept it secret because he thought people would view him as undignified if they knew the truth. The thief was actually not after Freddie's prize, but a valuable program the professor created. Rodney saw too much and was threatened so he hid out in the tree house. This time it is Freddie and Flossie who figure this out, and Bert and Nan who are "along for the ride" (This is handled very well though, and the main reason for this is that the little twins are privvy to certain hints and clues that Bert and Nan weren't present for when they unfolded.
This is a pretty good entry in the series, and I give it an 8 out of 10. Oh, I forgot to mention that the "ghost" is Rodney. He snuck into the school a few times to examine the new computer-not good behaviour by any means, but he was never called out for it! I am also unclear why he doused himself in flour each time to do this. That may be a disguise in that he wouldn't be recognised, but he would be easily spotted in the dark! (As he was several times). That didn't make sense to me, but Rodney is portrayed as awkward and a bit socially inept, so perhaps it's just his quirkiness, and it isn't supposed to make sense
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