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The Melendy Family #3
Then There Were Five
With Father in Washington and Cuffy, their housekeeper, away visiting a sick cousin, almost anything magic might happen to the Melendy kids left behind at the Four-Story Mistake. In the Melendy family, adventures are inevitable: Mr. Titus and the catfish; the villainy of the DeLacey brothers; Rush's composition of Opus 3; Mona's first rhubarb pie and all the canning; Randy's arrowhead; the auction and fair for the Red Cross. But best of all is the friendship with Mark Herron, which begins with a scrap-collection mission and comes to a grand climax on Oliver's birthday.
Here is Elizabeth Enright's classic story of a long and glorious summer in the country with the resourceful, endearing Melendy bunch.
Here is Elizabeth Enright's classic story of a long and glorious summer in the country with the resourceful, endearing Melendy bunch.
260 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1944
69 people are currently reading
1796 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Enright
42 books279 followersElizabeth Wright Enright Gillham was an American writer of children's books, an illustrator, writer of short stories for adults, literary critic and teacher of creative writing. Perhaps best known as the Newbery Medal-winning author of Thimble Summer (1938) and the Newbery runner-up Gone-Away Lake (1957), she also wrote the popular Melendy quartet (1941 to 1951). A Newbery Medal laureate and a multiple winner of the O. Henry Award, her short stories and articles for adults appeared in many popular magazines and have been reprinted in anthologies and textbooks.
In 2012 Gone-Away Lake was ranked number 42 among all-time children's novels in a survey published by School Library Journal, a monthly with primarily U.S. audience. The first two Melendy books also made the Top 100, The Saturdays and The Four-Story Mistake.
In 2012 Gone-Away Lake was ranked number 42 among all-time children's novels in a survey published by School Library Journal, a monthly with primarily U.S. audience. The first two Melendy books also made the Top 100, The Saturdays and The Four-Story Mistake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
May 23, 2019
This 1944 YA/middle grade novel is a charming, nostalgic trip to a simpler time, when kids explored the outdoors, swam in swimming holes, searched for Indian arrowheads, and fished for jumbo catfish. A livestock auction and homemade fair with a variety show of local talent provide enough excitement for weeks. As a young teen, I learned about the Perseid meteor shower every August from reading this book. Luna moths and monarch butterflies inhabit its pages. I adored this book, and still have a huge soft spot for it.
This novel was first published while WWII was still in full swing, and the war provides the backdrop for the story of the four Melendy children, Mona, Rush, Miranda (Randy) and Oliver, ages 15 to 7. Though the war is in the background, there are reminders of it with metal scrap drives, rationing, and mock airplane battles, as well as the absence of the children's widowed father, who spends most of his time away helping with the war effort.
So the Melendy children (with the help of a housekeeper and a handyman), are mostly on their own for the summer and have lots of adventures. Among other things, they befriend a local orphaned teenager, Mark, who has been living with his neglectful and abusive second cousin.
There are a few sobering notes to this tale, mostly involving Mark’s nasty cousin Oren and his low-class friends, but for the most part this is an enjoyable, old-fashioned tale of a halcyon summer. There are also some delightful humorous moments:
Recommended for readers who enjoy books like The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy.
This novel was first published while WWII was still in full swing, and the war provides the backdrop for the story of the four Melendy children, Mona, Rush, Miranda (Randy) and Oliver, ages 15 to 7. Though the war is in the background, there are reminders of it with metal scrap drives, rationing, and mock airplane battles, as well as the absence of the children's widowed father, who spends most of his time away helping with the war effort.
So the Melendy children (with the help of a housekeeper and a handyman), are mostly on their own for the summer and have lots of adventures. Among other things, they befriend a local orphaned teenager, Mark, who has been living with his neglectful and abusive second cousin.
There are a few sobering notes to this tale, mostly involving Mark’s nasty cousin Oren and his low-class friends, but for the most part this is an enjoyable, old-fashioned tale of a halcyon summer. There are also some delightful humorous moments:
As [Randy] swam she encountered an occasional floating leaf; an occasional struggling fly or beetle. Each fly or beetle she rescued and set upon a leaf boat to dry his soaked wings and legs. It gave her a feeling of virtue. She could imagine all heaven looking down upon her and approving. Notice Miranda Melendy; she is a kind, generous girl. She ought to be rewarded. She swam back again with a smile of sweet unselfishness; a misty radiance about her bathing-capped head.I fell in love with this book as a teenager, and it holds up well with adult rereading. It reminds me of Anne of Green Gables or maybe The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. This is actually the third book in a series, but it's by far my favorite. You can read the others, beginning with The Saturdays, if you really like old-fashioned YA stories. But I think this one works fine as a stand-alone read, and it really is delightful. Definitely find a copy with the author's charming original illustrations.
"Why do you swim with your head way out like that?" inquired Rush. "And why are you grinning that goonish way?"
Randy grabbed her brother's ankle and yanked him in again. Naturally Rush dunked her. Naturally she dunked Rush. Heaven ceased to contemplate Miranda Melendy and went about its business, and Randy's halo fell off and was lost in thirty feet of water.
Recommended for readers who enjoy books like The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy.
October 29, 2017
We loved this Melendy story just as much as the first two. It's hard to keep up such good story telling, but Elizabeth Enright is such a talented writer, the story is beautiful, poetic, full of details of nature, the rhythm of the seasons, philosophy and the details of everyday life seem so natural and realistic that I am left wondering if much of this was based of Elizabeth Enright's own childhood. We loved the details of summer, the flora and fauna, the picnics, the outdoor play. We loved the storyline of Mark and the mean Oren. We were fascinated that Mona and Randy had done 'Morris dancing'-we thought this was an exclusively English thing! We really enjoyed the chapter on preserving and hearing about the cakes and sweets made for the fair. This is a wonderful book about family life, we loved the sibling relationships, close without being nauseating, realistic and fun. One thing that puzzles us is that Mrs Melendy who died when the youngest was small is never mentioned, we expected the odd moment of them missing their mum or feeling sad on an anniversary etc. A really wonderful book and a perfect summer read that will inspire you to go and make some lemonade, pack up a picnic and spend the day outdoors.
July 4, 2011
7/11
Practically perfect, especially at the beginning of summer. I want a kitchen full of glowing canned goods, and a well full of gentians. I love, love, love this book. And we get to see Randy writing TATSINDA!
1/10
This is without a doubt my favorite Melendy book, what with all the botanizing. And the excitement of meeting Mark, and the evil Oren. The Melendy kids are a little more grown-up, and their world is so lovely that one wishes one could walk inside the pages and sleep in the cupola. Even the spectre of the war, which has taken Father to Washington for the duration, doesn't tarnish the magic.
Enright's writing is lyrical and almost transcendent in places. Her ability to see to the heart of a person is magical, and unlike so many new writers, she peers into good and loving hearts. She looks deeply at the people one wants to know, and more importantly, the people one wants to be.
It's because of Enright I can't look at a gentian without thinking of wells.
Some lines:
"Used-to doesn't mean anything any more, Randy. The used-to-world is all cut away from us now; floating away in the distance like a balloon or a bubble. It isn't real any longer. Perhaps it's a good thing that it's gone. I hope so."
"Floating out of the dark, knocking against the overhang, came something so beautiful, so fairylike that Oliver hardly dared to breathe. The thing was a moth, but like no other moth that he had seen. Its wings were as wide as his two hands opened out, as frail as a pair of petals, and colored a pale, pale green: a moonlit silvery green."
Practically perfect, especially at the beginning of summer. I want a kitchen full of glowing canned goods, and a well full of gentians. I love, love, love this book. And we get to see Randy writing TATSINDA!
1/10
This is without a doubt my favorite Melendy book, what with all the botanizing. And the excitement of meeting Mark, and the evil Oren. The Melendy kids are a little more grown-up, and their world is so lovely that one wishes one could walk inside the pages and sleep in the cupola. Even the spectre of the war, which has taken Father to Washington for the duration, doesn't tarnish the magic.
Enright's writing is lyrical and almost transcendent in places. Her ability to see to the heart of a person is magical, and unlike so many new writers, she peers into good and loving hearts. She looks deeply at the people one wants to know, and more importantly, the people one wants to be.
It's because of Enright I can't look at a gentian without thinking of wells.
Some lines:
"Used-to doesn't mean anything any more, Randy. The used-to-world is all cut away from us now; floating away in the distance like a balloon or a bubble. It isn't real any longer. Perhaps it's a good thing that it's gone. I hope so."
"Floating out of the dark, knocking against the overhang, came something so beautiful, so fairylike that Oliver hardly dared to breathe. The thing was a moth, but like no other moth that he had seen. Its wings were as wide as his two hands opened out, as frail as a pair of petals, and colored a pale, pale green: a moonlit silvery green."
March 29, 2025
Just precious 🥹 I love the Melendy family!
February 2, 2012
I'm continuing to enjoy these episodic stories - I love the way Enright captures the children's perspectives on everyday and extraordinary things. A favorite moment in this one is when Mona and Randy learn to can.
It's fascinating that Enright was writing these first three books (The Saturdays, The Four-Story Mistake, and this one) during WWII - they were published between 1941 and 1944. The war is a subtle but constant presence in the background, and knowing that the war was still going on as Enright wrote gives the details a sense of immediacy. I don't know how this comes across to modern kids, but it must have been compelling for kids reading the books as they were published, to see the details of war-time life on the page. There are no great tragedies related to the war, but you do see the way it affects the family. Reading them now, the books seem to have a tinge of nostalgia, but I doubt they read like that in the 40s.
It's fascinating that Enright was writing these first three books (The Saturdays, The Four-Story Mistake, and this one) during WWII - they were published between 1941 and 1944. The war is a subtle but constant presence in the background, and knowing that the war was still going on as Enright wrote gives the details a sense of immediacy. I don't know how this comes across to modern kids, but it must have been compelling for kids reading the books as they were published, to see the details of war-time life on the page. There are no great tragedies related to the war, but you do see the way it affects the family. Reading them now, the books seem to have a tinge of nostalgia, but I doubt they read like that in the 40s.
February 8, 2025
what struck me in this re-reading (my first in five or six years) is the extent to which the kids have rich inner lives. I think this influenced me a lot; like Randy and Mona, I still pretend I am someone else a lot.
Latest rereading was for soothing comfort, which it delivered.
Latest rereading was for soothing comfort, which it delivered.
July 12, 2022
July 2022 Re-listen: Why did I ever rate this only four stars? I was mad, mad! This is sheer delightful brilliance. Also Randy dropped an Odyssey reference!
I re-read (listened) to this in April 2020 and liked it even better the second time. Pamela Dillman's narration is wonderful. She captures each character so well and the setting, the characters, the writing come to life beautifully. I want to start back at the beginning with the series and just keep listening through because I love the world of the Melendys so much. I'd like to be adopted into the family like Mark.
I re-read (listened) to this in April 2020 and liked it even better the second time. Pamela Dillman's narration is wonderful. She captures each character so well and the setting, the characters, the writing come to life beautifully. I want to start back at the beginning with the series and just keep listening through because I love the world of the Melendys so much. I'd like to be adopted into the family like Mark.
August 17, 2010
Another wonderful, beautifully written Melendy book. (This is #3). It takes place mostly during summer, and is a great book for summer months. I really, really love the descriptions, and how the Melendy siblings--and their friends and family--feel so real and so likable. These are among my favorite books :-) And after reading this (and also "Seventeenth Summer" by Maureen Daly), it's almost a let down to go back to reading "ordinary" books that aren't as beautifully written :-D
February 21, 2018
What an extremely good. The adoption lady! Exploding tomatoes! Radio dramas!
March 27, 2024
Family read aloud. Our third book of this four book series.
June 21, 2013
The Melendy children, fifteen year old Mona, fourteen year old Rush, twelve year old Miranda (Randy), and seven and three quarters year old Oliver, live with their father, their housekeeper Cuffy, and their gardner/handyman Willy Sloper, in The Four Story Mistake, an old house in the countryside near the villages of Braxton and Carthage, NY. Mr. Melendy, a widowed professor of economics, has been hired by the government for a secret, World War II related job, and must go off to Washington. Mona likes the theater. Rush is a musician. Randy is into ballet. And Oliver is fascinated with nature. As summer begins, the children, having moved from their city brownstone the previous fall, venture into their new neighborhood with the intention of helping their country. They end up making new friends, such as the Addison children, Mr. Jasper Titus, and especially Mark Herron, a boy about Rush's age, while collecting scrap metal.
Mark is under the care of his abusive adult cousin Oren Meeker, who has some rather unsavory associates. Then Cuffy is called away to care for a sick cousin. Next there is a fire at the Meeker farm, and Oren is missing. Is there anything that the Melendys can do to help? What will happen to Mark? I first became acquainted with the works of Elizabeth Enright through her Newbery Medal winner Thimble Summer, and then her Newbery Honor book Gone-Away Lake, both of which I really enjoyed, so I speedily picked up Then There Were Five at a used book sale. The book is actually the third of the “Melendy Family Quartet,” four books about the Melendys. Just a good, old-fashioned, fun read about a loving family and children who use their imagination, it is preceded by The Saturdays and The Four-Story Mistake, and followed by Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze. It has been described as the “story of a long and glorious summer in the country with the Melendy family.”
Aside from one reference to smoking a pipe, the most annoying thing about the book, something that others noticed in their reviews too, is the seemingly inordinate amount of euphemisms ( such as gosh, gee, blamed, golly, heck, darned, confounded, by gum--someone called them “objectionable slang and replacement-swear words;” Mr. Melendy even uses the term “O Lord” once as an interjection). Otherwise, there is little objectionable. However, this is not just a “nice story” about some “cute kids.” There is real conflict—an abusive guardian, a fire, even a death. However, there is also a lot of good-natured humor, and in the end everything comes out right. In addition, Enright educates her readers as she entertains them. Thanks to Mark's talent for natural history, we learn about the Perseid meteor shower that comes every August and the poisonous amanita mushroom. And the scene with the social worker is priceless, especially to anyone who has ever adopted or tried to adopt children.
Mark is under the care of his abusive adult cousin Oren Meeker, who has some rather unsavory associates. Then Cuffy is called away to care for a sick cousin. Next there is a fire at the Meeker farm, and Oren is missing. Is there anything that the Melendys can do to help? What will happen to Mark? I first became acquainted with the works of Elizabeth Enright through her Newbery Medal winner Thimble Summer, and then her Newbery Honor book Gone-Away Lake, both of which I really enjoyed, so I speedily picked up Then There Were Five at a used book sale. The book is actually the third of the “Melendy Family Quartet,” four books about the Melendys. Just a good, old-fashioned, fun read about a loving family and children who use their imagination, it is preceded by The Saturdays and The Four-Story Mistake, and followed by Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze. It has been described as the “story of a long and glorious summer in the country with the Melendy family.”
Aside from one reference to smoking a pipe, the most annoying thing about the book, something that others noticed in their reviews too, is the seemingly inordinate amount of euphemisms ( such as gosh, gee, blamed, golly, heck, darned, confounded, by gum--someone called them “objectionable slang and replacement-swear words;” Mr. Melendy even uses the term “O Lord” once as an interjection). Otherwise, there is little objectionable. However, this is not just a “nice story” about some “cute kids.” There is real conflict—an abusive guardian, a fire, even a death. However, there is also a lot of good-natured humor, and in the end everything comes out right. In addition, Enright educates her readers as she entertains them. Thanks to Mark's talent for natural history, we learn about the Perseid meteor shower that comes every August and the poisonous amanita mushroom. And the scene with the social worker is priceless, especially to anyone who has ever adopted or tried to adopt children.
July 12, 2011
I'm totally enjoying Elizabeth Enright's Melendy Quartet, in which this book is the third volume. The kids (Mona, Rush, Randy, and Oliver) are all satisfying characters (though I feel like Mona's a bit less developed than the others, or maybe I'm just less interested in her), and their country-adventures in this book are fun to read about. But more than the adventures or the characters, what I think I love most about these books is the way that Enright captures the texture of the Melendy family's daily life, and the daily life of the world in which they live. All of the books have beautiful descriptive passages, but I found the descriptions especially vivid in this book, or especially resonant—maybe because the book is so full of nature and summer, and I'm having a bit of nature and summer myself these days, though not as much as the Melendy kids are having.
This book starts in summer, with the kids building a dam in the brook behind their house, and lingers in summer, moving to autumn only at the book's end. With no school, and with their father often away in Washington for work and their housekeeper away for some time tending to a sick cousin, the Melendy kids have days and days to fill with plans of their own devising. There's a Victory Garden, and a scrap metal drive that introduces the kids to some neighbors they didn't know they had, and adventures in canning, and one new friend in particular, an orphaned thirteen-year-old boy named Mark, who becomes close to the whole family. There is much exploration in the woods, and lots about caterpillars (which Oliver collects) and moths (which Oliver loves) and mosses and flowers and how things look and smell. Everything's deliciously summery: swimming in that dammed-up brook! Swimming in an old quarry! Watching the Perseid meteor shower! And as in the other books, there's humor and sweetness: at one point the kids are talking about what they can do to help the war effort, and Oliver, who's almost eight years old, says this: "Would they take any people as young as me in the army?" cried Oliver, his eyes shining. "I could clean out the insides of cannons, for instance. I'm a good size for it." (18) Aw, Oliver. I also loved this, about how Oliver's fascination with caterpillars started: "One day, impersonating a Sherman tank, he was bellowing and threshing his way among some of the shrubs near the summer house, when he came face to face with an extraordinary thing. It was something which looked like a tiny, elaborate trolley car." (79)
This book starts in summer, with the kids building a dam in the brook behind their house, and lingers in summer, moving to autumn only at the book's end. With no school, and with their father often away in Washington for work and their housekeeper away for some time tending to a sick cousin, the Melendy kids have days and days to fill with plans of their own devising. There's a Victory Garden, and a scrap metal drive that introduces the kids to some neighbors they didn't know they had, and adventures in canning, and one new friend in particular, an orphaned thirteen-year-old boy named Mark, who becomes close to the whole family. There is much exploration in the woods, and lots about caterpillars (which Oliver collects) and moths (which Oliver loves) and mosses and flowers and how things look and smell. Everything's deliciously summery: swimming in that dammed-up brook! Swimming in an old quarry! Watching the Perseid meteor shower! And as in the other books, there's humor and sweetness: at one point the kids are talking about what they can do to help the war effort, and Oliver, who's almost eight years old, says this: "Would they take any people as young as me in the army?" cried Oliver, his eyes shining. "I could clean out the insides of cannons, for instance. I'm a good size for it." (18) Aw, Oliver. I also loved this, about how Oliver's fascination with caterpillars started: "One day, impersonating a Sherman tank, he was bellowing and threshing his way among some of the shrubs near the summer house, when he came face to face with an extraordinary thing. It was something which looked like a tiny, elaborate trolley car." (79)
February 13, 2013
Beautifully narrated, which is such a relief. One worries, especially when old favorites are at stake.
I love this book best of any of Enright's work, which is saying a lot. It's a perfectly splendid book, full of botany (gentians!), fauna (luna moth! bats!), the best children ever, the most congenial adults, and most of all, Enright's tender, lyrical, transcendent prose. Do yourself a favor- read, re-read or listen to this one right away.
"Used-to doesn't mean anything any more, Randy. The used-to-world is all cut away from us now; floating away in the distance like a balloon or a bubble. It isn't real any longer. Perhaps it's a good thing that it's gone. I hope so."
I love this book best of any of Enright's work, which is saying a lot. It's a perfectly splendid book, full of botany (gentians!), fauna (luna moth! bats!), the best children ever, the most congenial adults, and most of all, Enright's tender, lyrical, transcendent prose. Do yourself a favor- read, re-read or listen to this one right away.
"Used-to doesn't mean anything any more, Randy. The used-to-world is all cut away from us now; floating away in the distance like a balloon or a bubble. It isn't real any longer. Perhaps it's a good thing that it's gone. I hope so."
June 10, 2019
This series continues to impress me. Lots of my favorite things: fun though imperfect children, delight in nature, and family and community togetherness! Great audio book option! (I recommend the lovely free version at kayray.org/kayray-reads)
April 26, 2019
Enright's writing is captivating, creative, and full of delight as she continues volume three in the story of the Melendy children. Read aloud material doesn't get much better than this; I enjoyed it as much as the kids did.
April 27, 2025
I liked this one better than the Four Story Mistake. There was a real conflict in this one, and I loved how it turned out. As an adult reading it, it was really too perfect (again), but the kids loved it. And it was sweet, not saccharine. So we’ll go with 5 stars.
March 22, 2023
I love this series of long ago days. When common sense was still common & kids had vivid imaginations into their teens and spent lots of time outside in nature like us baby-boomers did. The descriptions of the flowers & plants are wonderful.
October 27, 2024
These books bring back great childhood memories. I really enjoyed this one!
February 27, 2010
I am still slightly annoyed with the library for taking their own sweet time in getting this book to me. But it was so worth the wait! More summer adventures, more of the fabulous Melendys, and yes, I admit it: I teared up a bit when Oliver declared the best part of his birthday was Mark becoming part of the family.
Love, love, love these books. Hate that it took so long for me to find them, but so grateful that they're a part of my life down.
Love, love, love these books. Hate that it took so long for me to find them, but so grateful that they're a part of my life down.
September 23, 2023
I absolutely loved the first 13 chapters of this book and was ready with a 5-star review if only Enright had ended it there. I didn't love the last two chapters. The addition of Mona's fortune-telling / palmistry endeavor in Chapter 14 shook me out of my reverie and made me feel critical about little things such as they way kids did things "like an Indian" and how Rush calls Oliver "fatso" and how they occasionally tell each other to "shut up".
But there is so much beautiful writing and I did enjoy this story quite a lot so I would still recommend it.
But there is so much beautiful writing and I did enjoy this story quite a lot so I would still recommend it.
February 28, 2024
This series is just so sweet. The kids and I loved this one especially. I’m convinced Elizabeth Enright is one of the best naturalists I’ve encountered and her descriptions were stunning. I want to move to the country and have a farm and look for moths and know all the names of the plants and the patterns of the woods and build a treehouse and swim near a cave and dance in summer storms.
October 10, 2025
Another good book in the series. They’re really growing into their roles and it’s such an enjoyable place where they live and each one of them is fun in their own ways. And they do so many different fun things, and sometimes there’s a bit of real danger as well. On the whole, it’s just a very enjoyable series.
April 24, 2019
Read aloud to my two girls, but we didn't enjoy this one as much as the first two. The first two with the Saturday adventures, secret room in the house, plays put on for family and friends....were more magical for us. Now we have to read the 4th and final book. Stay tuned.
June 5, 2020
My kids and I have so enjoyed all of these! I'm excited and sad to start reading the last one.
May 20, 2021
Another cute one, no complaints
October 19, 2021
This family is so loving!
March 14, 2024
I liked the story in this one but could have done without some of the dated ethnic descriptions/comparisons. 🤢
May 31, 2024
A perfect summer read aloud. I read this alongside my 8yo and he read some to me. I love these simple family books about siblings who have fun adventures together. We had read the first book in the series (The Saturdays) first.
I would have loved these books as a kid if I knew about them, but I’m glad I get to enjoy them now with my own children at least.
I would have loved these books as a kid if I knew about them, but I’m glad I get to enjoy them now with my own children at least.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews