The Wright 3

I have to say, in this series the level of pseudoscience and happenstance that leads to their more brilliant conclusions always irks me, but the story is still interesting and I learn from the characters about art. I think the portrayal of Miss Hussey is a bit flighty, but the curriculum is interesting. I like the notion behind the whole student-centered classroom, but I also see pitfalls in that Miss Hussey seems to use it as a chance to get on a soapbox about her issues and drag the kids into it whether they are on her side or not. I get so tired of the pentominoes that Calder is always trying to divine clues out of. Maybe I'm just a hard science guy, but the whole premise of his contribution seems absurd. Good mysteries, poorly solved.

This was all around fun. Actual mystery which was--for the most part--solved, and peacefully too. There was some fear induced grimacing at the end, but no actual knife-at-the-throat threatening. Clever, more than just a little, I had to scratch my head. I did not get those Pentominoes right away. The characters are very likeable and real. This is what Young Adult is. Interesting and not too bogged down with 'messages'. Yeesh.

You go, Blue!

Spring semester at the Lab School in Hyde Park finds Petra and Calder drawn into another mystery when unexplainable accidents and ghostly happenings throw a spotlight on Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and it's up to the two junior sleuths to piece together the clues. Stir in the return of Calder's friend Tommy (which creates a tense triangle), H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man, 3D pentominoes, and the hunt for a coded message left behind by Wright, and the kids become tangled in a dangerous web in which life and art intermingle with death, deception, and surprise.

Calder's class is learning about the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie house because it is set to be torn down. As he and his two friends (Petra and Tommy who do not really get along) try to find a way to save the house, they must learn to work together to keep the house together!

Not as intriguing as Chasing Vermeer, but a good mystery. And I'm a sucker for anything set in/around Chicago.

Spring semester at the Lab School in Hyde Park finds Petra and Calder drawn into another mystery when unexplainable accidents and ghostly happenings throw a spotlight on Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and it's up to the two junior sleuths to piece together the clues. Stir in the return of Calder's friend Tommy (which creates a tense triangle), H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man, 3D pentominoes, and the hunt for a coded message left behind by Wright, and the kids become tangled in a dangerous web in which life and art intermingle with death, deception, and surprise.

Calder's old friend, Tommy, has moved back to Hyde Park and the three of them are in Ms. Hussey's class sixth grade class. Before, Tommy and Calder were the best of friends. During Tommy's one year absence, Calder and Petra had become best friends. Tommy wasn't too sure if he liked it and didn't know if he wanted to be friends with Petra. Tommy's actions were as if Petra wasn't really around and he didn't want her around. This made for awkward times.

The Robie House, built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1910, had fallen into disrepair over the years. There was a plan to divide the house into three sections and send them to various museums. Something else would be built on the land. Ms. Hussey has brought the topic up and the idea that perhaps show more the students could drum up enough publicity to maybe save the house. The class learns a lot about the house and the architect who designed it. History, architectural style, myths, superstitions and the history of the various residents of the house.

Eerie things start to happen to people involved in the property. It is as if the house is a living being. Lights that show up inside when no one is supposed to be there. Workmen injured on the site in odd and unusual accidents. Unexplained events.

While trying to solve some of the myths and mysteries of the house, Calder, Petra and Tommy discover there is sinister activity and it is not the house that is causing it.

I enjoyed this book, as I did "Chasing Vermeer" as it gives you historical information as part of the background of the story. The kids try to work together and are also learning at the same time. There are parts that are scary where you do hold your breath, and parts where things may not work out for the good.

I will definitely keep an eye out for more works by Balliett. show less

While Blue Balliett is a wonderful writer who is great at story telling from a kid's perspective, I was a bit disappointed with the way she ended "The Wright 3."
"The Wright 3" is a puzzle mystery that involves three sixth graders, Tommy, Calder and Petra, whose teacher encourages them to get involved with saving Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House from imminent destruction. When they begin discovering coincidences and mysteries surrounding the house, they become determined not only to save the house, but solve the mystery using many clues, some of which were left by the architect himself.
Although the story is well written, pulling you along through the twists and turn and encouraging you to solve the mystery along with the three kids, the show more ending was abrupt, disjointed and Balliett seemed almost eager to end the story. Rather than the mystery being solved by the kids, it was, in a way, solved by the bungling criminals. In some ways the ending reminded me of the old Scooby-Doo cartoons and I was just waiting for that famous line- "We would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for you meddling kids." While I would recommend the book as a fun read, I would warn- be prepared for a somewhat disappointing ending. show less