The Big House - Hardcover

Coman, Carolyn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1932425098 ISBN 13: 9781932425093

Publisher: Front Street, Incorporated, 2004

Synopsis

When their parents are sent up the river” for embezzlement, Ray and Ivy are left to live in the lap of luxury with Marietta Noland and her ancient husband, Lionel. But life at the big house is not all it's cracked up to be. First there is the shrouded portrait, then there is the spider in the decaying wedding cake. And what about the vicious instrument Marietta uses to decapitate her egg? When "the rain in Spain" begins to fall (in other words, Ray wets his bed), things go from bad to worse and Ivy knows it is time to take matters into her own hands. What follows is a hilarious lark as Ray and Ivy case the joint, get the skinny, and show Marietta she has met her match.

About this title

About the Author

Carolyn Coman is the author of What Jamie Saw, winner of a Newbery Honor, among other highly acclaimed novels. She lives in New Hampshire.

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 3-6–In a real departure from her previous novels, Coman has created an enjoyable romp of a mystery. The story opens with a guilty verdict against Dan and Carol Fitts, the admittedly crooked parents of resourceful Ivy and her younger brother, Ray. The children are placed in the care of Marietta Noland, the snooty person who accused their parents of embezzling her father's money. The children will be the first beneficiaries of Blackstone Mouton's Last Best Hope Charity. Intrepid Ivy, who comes from a long line of scam artists, decides she and Ray must do surveillance and get the lay of the Nolands' grand but unwelcoming home. All sorts of amusing plans develop between the siblings, including making a clothesline intercom with Marietta's charm bracelet "borrowed" by Ivy. They also find a document that turns out to be the will of Blackstone Mouton II, who, unbeknownst to them, was their great grandfather. A mock trial ensues, complete with judge (Ivy), prosecutor (Ray), defendants (the Nolands), and witness for the prosecution (Veddy the chauffeur). The children get their folks freed from jail and, in the ultimate comeuppance, Marietta is employed as their maid. It's all great fun with lots of matter-of-fact, potboiler detective slang spoken by the children. Shepperson's drawings make the story even more amusing. This farcical, pseudo-Victorian drama of crime and punishment is sure to be a crowd pleaser.–B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY
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About this edition

• Publisher: Front Street, Incorporated
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1932425098
• ISBN 13: 9781932425093
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224
• Illustrator: Shepperson Rob