Nine boys outwit the invisible robbers who have inhabited the house in the snow for generations, by using the robbers' own cloaks of invisibility
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Grade 4-6 This fantasy adventure is set in a long-ago time, when travelers rode on horseback through forests infested with robbers. To escape his hard life as a servant at an inn, orphaned Benjamin runs away into the forest, although he knows that the only dwelling there is the mysterious House, supposed to be haunted by ghosts or demons. Meeting a boy who has run away from the House, he learns that it is inhabited by robbers who can make themselves invisible; they keep a group of stolen boys as servants. Faced with starvation in the forest, the two sneak into the House, discover the robbers' cloaks of invisibility, and using them, manage to enlist the other boys and subdue the robbers. Benjamin persuades the boys not to become robbers themselves, but to turn the robbers over to the villagers and run the House as an inn. The first pages of the story are invitingly eerie, written in a flowing rhythm which has a folk-tale quality. This tone is not sustained once the action begins, as the language then becomes simplified and choppy as the boys struggle with the robbers, a battle which takes up half the book. There is plenty of action, but the expected mystery and suspense are lacking. Characters are not developed, and the setting is left only sketchily described. For fantasy with a folk-tale flavor for this age group, better choices are Lindgren's Ronia, the Robber's Daughter (Viking, 1983) or Singer's The Fearsome Inn (Macmillan, 1984). Ruth S. Vose, San Francisco Pub . Lib .
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. 1St Edition. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # GRP85856185
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: Book Nook, Cadillac, MI, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. Leslie Bowman (illustrator). First Edition. Usual ex-library markings. Dj is in a taped-in wrap. Very light soiling to page edges. Inside hinge is creased. Last endpage is missing. Seller Inventory # 8656
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Good condition. This is the average used book, that has all pages or leaves present, but may include writing. Book may be ex-library with stamps and stickers. 1.1. Seller Inventory # 353-0531057178-gdd
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Beautiful Tomes, Moscow, ID, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Fair. Leslie Bowman (illustrator) (illustrator). First Edition, First Printing. Light olive and dark blue covers with silver printing. White and gray illustrated dust jacket with yellow, tan, and black printing; small tears; rubbed; soiled. Seller Inventory # 004244
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Condition: Fine. Like New condition. Great condition, but not exactly fully crisp. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages. 1.1. Seller Inventory # 353-0531057178-lkn
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Save With Sam, North Miami, FL, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: New. 1.0500. Seller Inventory # VIB0531057178
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: BennettBooksLtd, North Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title!. Seller Inventory # Q-0531057178
Quantity: 1 available