Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Wright 3



Module 5

Balliett, Blue. 2006. The Wright 3. Ill. by Brett Helquist. New York: Scholastic Press.

Taking facts about the history of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House in Chicago, Balliet has created a suspense filled mystery for children. This sequel to Chasing Vermeer is written with a mixture of history, art, math and somehow combines it into a detective story that is realistic fiction which sometimes borders on fantasy. It will appeal to children who like the unusual. Three above average kids, Tommy, Petra, and Calder, set out to save the Robie house from demolition. They must use all their skills involving research, observation and mathematics to unlock the mystery of the house. While encouraged by their unorthodox teacher, they discover for themselves that the house has a life of its own and dark mysteries that beg to be discovered. While the characters are realistic, they are slightly more advanced than many children in their age group (most 12 year olds won't see all the "coincidences" or even know what pentominoes are - but they will get a chance to learn!). What is more realistic is the portrayal of three friends who are not sure abut their relationships with each other. They must learn to deal with jealousy and personal conflict to be able to work together to save the house and solve its dark mysteries. The full page black and white illustrations help describe the characters. If you look closely (and you have to look at a lot of things closely in this book) you will see more - something that is very integral to the story. This is a book that will definitely make children think. Also, they will be exposed to more than just a mystery story. They will learn about an important part of American history, art and architecture. The book will appeal to older readers, but is recommended for ages 8-12.

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