Caught in the ACT (Orphan Train Adventures) [Large Print] [Library Binding]

Joan Lowery Nixon (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Orphan Train Adventures

Eleven-year-old Michael Patrick Kelly from New York City is sent to a foster home, a Missouri farm with a sadistic owner, a bullying son, and a number of secrets, one of which may be murder.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6 This is Nixon's second book that chronicles the adventures of six Irish-American siblings who have been sent from the slums of New York City to new homes on the Frontier in the years just prior to the Civil War. The focus here is on 11-year-old Mike Kel ley, who is placed with a German immi grant farmer more interested in acquir ing cheap labor than a new family member. When Mike overhears Frie drich and his kind-hearted wife discuss ing their fear of retribution over a man's death, he suspects foul play. The imagi native youngster's suspicions are ag gravated when his best friend Reuben, an educated farmhand, disappears after a loud altercation with the overseer. The puzzle is believably pieced togeth er as the motivations of father and son are revealed at story's end. Unfortu nately, this revelation does little to ex tend the dimension of these two flat characters who approach ethnic stereo types. The industry and discipline re quired by agrarians of the period, along with their isolation (an element which contributes to the book's suspenseful, at times melodramatic, tone), is ade quately conveyed. On the other hand, information about slavery and immigra tion is presented in a contrived manner. Flaws outweigh attributes. Events re ferred to which occured in the first in stallment are unclear, plot threads are unresolved, and the dialogue is weak. In the final analysis, this is more of a suspense novel with a historical setting than a solid historical novel with a sus penseful storyline.Julie Corsaro, Univ. of Chicago Laboratory Schools
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Library Binding: 150 pages
• Publisher: Gareth Stevens Publishing (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836826396
• ISBN-13: 978-0836826395
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,236,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hans must have killed Reuben, and was digging his grave!!!!, June 21, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Caught in the Act (Orphan Train Adventures) (Mass Market Paperback)

Mike Kelly, an orphan from New York City, is sent West to live with a family from Germany. Though he misses his family and friends he keeps is promise to his mom and Mrs. Banks. Mr. Friedrick is a man who believes that a good beating is an excellent way to keep a kid in line. As the story progresses, Hans Friedrich is suspected by Mike to have murdered two people, Mike's friend, Reuben, and another man named Ulrich. I read this book without stopping, for I could not look away. I definately intend to read numbers three and four of the Orphan Train Quartet.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The adventure continues!, February 1, 2004

By 

Alexander Nordquist (Cary, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caught in the Act (Orphan Train Adventures) (Mass Market Paperback)

"Caught In The Act" continues the story of the six Kelly children that were were sent away to get adopted by new families because their mother feels that she cannot afford to keep them. I read the first book in the series called "A Family Apart" and it was about the children getting adopted by new families and the second part was about Frances Kelly's adventures with her family. This book talks about how Michael Kelly is doing with the Friedrichs. Mike's main concern is that he believes that the Friedrichs are hiding something from him. He thinks this because he overheard a conversation about somebody named Ulrich. Mike's opinion is that Mr. Friedrich killed him. The story is all about Mike's adventure.

I really enjoyed the novel because it's interesting to see what life was like back in that time. So far I have read the books: A Family Apart, Caught In The Act and In The Face Of Danger. I'm going to read the whole series! If you are thinking of buying this book buy A Family Apart first.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for a person who loves action, But a good read., August 28, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Caught in the Act (Orphan Train Adventures) (Mass Market Paperback)

Michael Patrick Kelly, a boy who steals to feed his family, is actually a very good kid. He would shine the customer (or victim's) shoes and then pick their pocket. However, he is caught, and sentenced to five years at Tombs prison- or to be sent west to start a new life. He goes west. And that, my friend, is how everything begins. Everyone of his siblings gets good parents- except him. Hans Friedrich, a rather bulky,er, really bulky man with a temper like a bomb- ready to go off. Gunter Friedrich, a 13 year old who hates Mike and is always trying to get him into trouble. And he does,too. Mrs. Friedrich is a lovely and nice cook. The maid, Marta,is in love with a rowdy boy-who loves her back! And Rueben-the hired hand is Mike's best friend. But when Reuben suddenly disapears, and a freshly dug plot of dirt turns up that day, Mike has a creeping suspicion of Mr.Friedrich, and if he will be next...