Customer Reviews

Shadows in the Glasshouse (History Mysteries-American Girl)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In the six years since their parents died, twelve-year-old Merry Shipman and her older sister Margaret have had to survive on their own, which isn't easy in 1621 London. One day by the docks, Merry is kidnapped and taken aboard a ship bound for the Jamestown settlement, in the New World, where she will be forced to work as an indentured servant, which is little better than a slave. The sea voyage lasts three long, miserable months. Merry is both relieved and frightened to finally arrive in Virginia. Her five-year contract is purchased by the owner of the glasshouse. Although she is miserable and misses her sister, Merry enjoys watching the glass being made and is befriended by one of the apprentinces. But someone is sabotaging rhe work, and the chief suspect is Merrie's only friend. Merrie is determined to find the real culprit before it is too late. I highly reccomend this book to readers who enjoyed the other books in the History Mysteries series. Merrie was a brave and resourceful character, and I was cheering for her as she attempted to solve the mystery at the glasshouse.

This is the fourth "history mystery" that my daughter and I have shared. She has been looking forward to our reading time each night since we began them. It is also like this when we read Harry Potter, but has not always been the case with other things we've read together, so I think it's safe to say that she enjoys these stories a lot. She says this one is her "second favorite" of those we've read so far (The Smuggler's Treasure is her favorite), but they've all been good.

This one starts out with Merrie Shipman aboard ship, bound for the Jamestown colony in 1621. She and her older sister were orphans struggling to survive on their own in London when she was kidnapped and put on the ship. During the voyage, she makes friends with Angelo, a glassblower's apprentice. When they reach Jamestown, Merrie is sold into indentured servitude. Fortunately, it is the owner of the glasshouse who has her contract, so she gets to work at the glasshouse with her friend. Trouble ensues when some notes relating to a new glassmaking formula are stolen from Angelo and work at the glasshouse is sabotaged.

The storyline may be a bit predictable in its outcome, but it is plenty engaging for the 9 to 12 year-old audience it is written for. It also gives kids a good insight into the early colonial period. Indentured servitude, the hardships of sailing across the Atlantic, and the difficulties and opportunities of life in the New World are vividly portrayed. Readers even learn about "tobacco brides", which was something new to me, too. Finally, Merrie is a courageous young girl, who takes risks to protect her friend and bring about a just outcome.

The "history mystery" series is a good one for kids. This particular story will not disappoint. Highly recommended to kids and their parents.

It is a shame this book is geared for young children since it is so macabre. If your elementary aged kid wants to read about kidnapping, terror, depression, murder, and capital punishment, then read this book. Put "American Girl" on it and then you find it in the classroom.

Several years ago I visited Williamsburg and
Jamestown. I saw the glass blowers and I still have
a sugar bowl/creamer set. It was great fun to watch. Like stepping
back in time. All the taverns looked authentic and the
costumes were fabulous. My problem is with the history
part of the story. I think some facts have been
twisted. I did like the girl in this story. Hard working,
full of courage and a lot of determination to help
her friends.

This is the kind of book that gets you thinking,(who did it?). Merry is an orphan and gets kidnapped. She finds herself on a smelly ship headed for Jamestown. Is she going to be a slave, or an indentured servant? How long wil she be there? Will she have enough food and clothes? Well, I'll leave that for you to find out. Her life is a threatening patch of thorn bushes. But at least her best friend, Angelo, is there to comfort her. The problem is that Angelo's new glass formula book is missing!Oh, no! This book is one of the best history mysteries that gets you on the edge of your seat. I like this book because my favorite mystery stories are when there is always trouble for the detective, even when it seems like the detective can almost do nothing wrong. Merry may be in harms way, but she is always on the path of victory! This book makes you want to know (automatically) what is going to happen next. My friends and I (in the fourth grade)have just finished reading it and we recommend it as a high winner with all the similes, metaphors, personifications, and vivid descriptions!

My book reveiw is a great book that everybody will like. It gives
great descriptions, and alot of similes. If you like history mysteries, this is the book for you. Also this book has alot of characters. There are maides that sovle the crime and bad villains. The cool part is that in this mystery, you solve along the way, it also has a good ending, that's why the book is for you.

This book is about Merry and some glassmakers. One of the glassmakers is her friend,Angelo. His book is stolen and glass is broken in the Glasshouse. Merry has to find out who did it. In the begging it's slow, but at the end it is very good. I would recomend the book because it is exiting.

The book I read in my fouth grade class is Shadows in the Glasshouse. We just finished it.I really liked itI hope you like it to.If you like books that start the mysteries in the middle of the book you will like this one.It is about a girl who gets sent to the New World to be a slave.Lost of things go wrong inthe Glasshouse.To find out what happens read this book it is great.

Shadows In The Glasshouse is a good book. It has good descriptions. If you like a book that takes a while before the mystery; thats the book. In the book Merry is kidnapped from England and sent to Jamestown. She is forced to work in the glasshouse for five years. She later discovers that this glasshouse is no ordanary glasshouse. There was a murder, a missing book, and broken glass. I recommend this book for anyone. Megan McDonald is a good writer. She gives you a picture in your head. If you don't like this book look for more of Megan McDonald's books because she writes in different styles!!!!!!! She writes many history mysterys!!!!!!!!!

A GIRL NAMED MERIDETH SHIPMAN WAS STOLEN FROM THE STREETS OF LONDON TO BE A SERVENT IN AMERICA. THEY CALL MERIDETH MERRY FOR SHORT. SHE FINDS A DAGGER UNDER MASTER WEBBE'S MATTRESS. A FEW DAYS LATER SHE FINDS ONE OF THE CHARACTER'S DEAD! SHE WENT TO LOOK FOR ANGELO, HER FRIEND'S BOOK, BUT MISTRESS WEBBE FINDS MERRY AND ASKS HER WHY SHE IS IN THERE? SHE ANSWERED LYING, "MASTER WEBBE CALLED ME OVER HERE TO FINISH HOUSE WORK." I LIKE THIS BOOK BECAUSE ..... IT USES SLANG'TALK, SIMILES, METAPHORS, AND PERSONIFICATIONS.