The Treasures of Weatherby - Hardcover

Zilpha Keatley Snyder is the author of The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid, and The Witches of Worm, all Newbery Honor Books. Her most recent books include The Treasures of Weatherby, The Bronze Pen, William S. and the Great Escape, and William’s Midsummer Dreams. She lives in Mill Valley, California. Visit her at ZKSnyder.com.

Grade 4–6—A descendant of the famous Weatherbys, 12-year-old Harleigh J. Weatherby the Fourth claims the tower of the family's run-down castle as his bedroom. This is his first step toward asserting himself and making some of his own decisions. His father makes an infrequent appearance; he lives with overbearing Great-Aunt Adelaide, who has rules for all aspects of life in the mansion, and an assortment of odd relatives. Teasing from the local kids about his unusually small stature has driven him to be homeschooled by Uncle Edgar. While exploring the grounds, Harleigh meets a mysterious girl named Allegra. Dressed in rags, she is full of wonder and wants to know all the secrets associated with the house. They begin restoring an old maze that has grown into a tangled mess and stumble on a plan by one of the relatives to locate and steal the long-lost Weatherby treasure. Readers will identify with Harleigh's personal conflicts as he develops an inner awareness while coming to grips with the turn of events. The characters are nicely painted oddballs who help advance the mystery, but children may find the sudden change in Aunt Adelaide's character disappointing as it minimizes Harleigh's triumphs. Also, the revelation of Allegra's identity is a bit of a letdown as such an aura of mystery had been built around her. The story has a promising beginning, but the ending is a bit of a disappointment.—Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL
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