A Flight of Angels (Lerner Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Geoffrey Trease (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1989 | Age Level: 10 and up | Series: Lerner Mysteries

Sheila and her friends solve a 400-year-old mystery while exploring the caves under their historical city of Nottingham for a class project.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6 --In this engaging mystery set in contemporary Nottingham, England, Sheila and three other students study the sandstone caves under their city, focusing their attention on the cellar beneath the shop where her father works. The group (an interesting ethnic and gender mix) is particularly fascinated by a walled-up alcove, convinced that it hides some centuries-old secret. Their investigation takes them to the public library where a refreshingly non-stereotypical male librarian with a personal interest in the art of 16th-century alabaster carving helps them find clues to convince their parents to take down the wall before the premises are sold to developers. In an exciting climactic scene, the secret behind the wall is revealed. Not only does this fast-paced narrative ring with accurate detail, but the prolific Trease has also given readers well-drawn characters and a literate story that is nevertheless accessible to young people. The text is peppered with many Briticisms, but American readers will have little difficulty following the plot to its satisfying conclusion.
- Marie Orlando, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Lerner Publications; 1St Edition edition (October 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0822507315
• ISBN-13: 978-0822507314
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,990,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars A boring book - not worth the effort, November 28, 2005

By 

Mary D. Pekowski (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Flight of Angels (Lerner Mysteries) (Hardcover)

My niece was required to read this book for a class, and since she was having trouble with it I agreed to read it aloud to her. She claimed that it was a boring book, but as I was a practiced reader from days gone by, and had heard similar incorrect claims from other youngsters, I was sure that the book would be more interesting than she claimed. After all, why would a teacher assign a book that was boring? Surely teachers have a vested interest in piquing the reading interest of their students. Sadly, I found my assumption utterly incorrect.

This book takes interesting, even exciting subjects, and manages to make them dry as toast. I have a passion for both medieval history and mysteries, and this book managed to mangle them both. 30 pages into the book, I found myself longing for it to end. Lest you think this an unfair assesment from an adult reader, I refer myself to C.S. Lewis, who made the statment (which I quite agree with) that there are no "children's books" or "adult's books", only *good* and *bad* books. I've found even picture storybooks made for the 5 and younger crowd to contain a beauty of their own. And I'm sure I could name half a dozen books written for this age group which easily trump A Flight of Angels for interest, entertainment value, and longevity. Leave this one on the shelf, please.

5.0 out of 5 stars Storyline ...., January 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: A Flight of Angels (Lerner Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Since Amazon didn't post an editorial review for this book, here is the storyline from the DJ: "Sheila and her classmates don't expect anything out of the ordinary when they choose to focus their class project on the ancient caves beneath their town. But in the cellars of Peblow's shop, where Sheila's father works, the four friends discover a mysterious walled-in archway -- and bump into a present-day problem as well. Will Peblow's have to close? Will Sheila's father lose his job? With the help of a local librarian, the young detectives follow the clues of the mysterious archway back to a 16th-century puzzle. Eventually, they find that the solution to their puzzle is tied to the fate of Peblow's. Reader's will share the excitement as the four detectives discover that events of 400 years ago can seem as exciting as those that are happening today." This story is set in Nottingham, England.