Summary (from Goodreads):
Fans of magic, mystery, and adventure will love the
third The Sixty-Eight Rooms Adventure—a perfect next step for
kids who love the Magic Tree House series, and just right for
readers who love Chasing Vermeer, The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.
Frankweiler, and Wonderstruck. Sixth Graders Ruthie and
Jack return to the Art Institute of Chicago's magical Thorne Rooms. During a
school presentation, Ruthie and Jack discover that their classmate Kendra is
descended from Phoebe Monroe, the young slave they befriended when they
traveled to 19th-century South Carolina. Kendra tells them that long ago her
family lost their good name and their business selling herbal remedies when
mobsters accused them of stealing the recipes! Only Ruthie and Jack know the
truth--because only they know about the secret ledger that Phoebe wrote the
recipes in long ago! Ruthie and Jack's mission to clear Kendra's name takes
them back to the Thorne Rooms, where a mysterious old coin leads them to 1753
Cape Cod and to Jack's own ancestor . . . the pirate Jack Norfleet! But playing
with history can be dangerous! Suddenly, Jack's very existence is in
jeopardy! Can Ruthie and Jack find the proof they need to help Kendra? And can
they fix the past and save Jack's future . . . before it's too late?
Review:
I just love these books! I know a big part of my overall
love is the connection I feel to Ruthie and Jack. They both love the Thorne
Rooms in the Art Institute in Chicago, and well I love the Thorne Rooms in the
Art Institute. I used to go there all the time (growing up), and I would
imagine being able to walk inside them. I’m so unbelievably jealous of these
two fictional characters for being able to do something I always dreamed of
doing. On top of that these books are just plain adorable and so much fun!
I think the books actually get better as the series goes
along. The initial magic of the first one was fun, but I like the magic better
as the two main characters actually learn more about it. Plus, the characters
are getting smarter, braver, and just plain more interesting as the story
continues. Less time is spent on the logistics of shrinking and growing and
climbing, and more time is spent on bravely taking leaps, running through dark
passageways, and taking adventures when they see them.
Things also get a little more serious and complicated with
the whole time-traveling business. The two learn the consequences of changing
the past –something that was never quite addressed before. It’s also learned
too (though not really highlighted), that Ruthie and Jack actually are going
back in time, and not just into some magical Thorne Room time loop. Something
the two do back in the time of Jack’s pirate ancestor (!) almost erases Jack
from history.
There’s more adventures, more history, more mysteries, and
more magic. What about that mixture sounds bad? This one was a little more
suspenseful than the others were too because Ruthie was racing for time to try
to fix Jack from disappearing while simultaneously also forgetting him…And the
other story involving slavery and the mob was also rather fascinating. And I
have also come to love the series’ formulaic plotlines that always end in
helping people. Ruthie and Jack aren’t just about going on adventures or
keeping things to themselves. They actually genuinely care about people and
want to help as many people as they can with the special knowledge they now
have.
This is probably one of my favorite middle grade series out
there and the books just keep getting better. The two main characters are
believable and so brave. The histories and room stories only get more and more
interesting. The way Ruthie and Jack keep using the advantages they have to
help others is actually rather inspiring. And I can’t wait to see where else
these two sixth graders will go, and who else they will help. I give this one a
10/10.
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