The Treasures of Weatherby [Hardcover]

Zilpha Keatley Snyder (Author)

Book Description

Harleigh J. Weatherby IV feels misunderstood. At age twelve he is about as tall as a six-year-old, and no one lets him forget it. At school the bullies nicknamed him "Hardly." Now he is homeschooled at the Weatherby mansion, where strict Aunt Adelaide is always on his case about something.

Then Harleigh meets Allegra. When she literally flies over the walls of Weatherby and into Harleigh's life, the two form an unlikely friendship. Allegra is fascinated by the enormous Weatherby mansion, and against Harleigh's orders, sneaks inside. Together they discover that someone is trying to find -- and steal -- the long-lost Weatherby treasure. Will Harleigh and Allegra be able to foil the villain and save Weatherby House?

Three-time Newbery Honor winner Zilpha Keatley Snyder combines a cast of quirky characters with an eerie old mansion to create a spellbinding tale of mystery and magic.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

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
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

No bigger than a boy half his age, 12-year-old Harleigh J. Weatherby the Fourth holds out little hope that his latest heart operation will change that or much else. Still, he enjoys certain advantages in life: an ancestral home with so many rooms that he has never been able to count them, homeschooling with his accommodating uncle Edgar, and, lately, an actual friend named Allegra, a girl who apparently can fly. Mysterious characters abound at Weatherby House, and with the help of Allegra, Harleigh learns more about its past and present inhabitants. Tailor-made for children who love the thought of rambling mansions, garden mazes, and hidden treasure, this mannered but very enjoyable story strolls along at a steady pace, allowing plenty of time to savor its distinctive pleasures and unusual characters. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141691398X
• ISBN-13: 978-1416913986
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,284,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Middle school readers will appreciate another moving fantasy/adventure by Snyder., April 14, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Treasures of Weatherby (Hardcover)

Harleigh Weatherby IV is a short pre-teen who has earned the attention of school bullies for years: now he's being home schooled at the Weatherby mansion - but life gets no better until he meets one Allegra, who literally flies into his life. From that point on high adventure evolves as a plot to steal the Weatherby treasure unfolds and Harleigh and his new friend become involved in trying to thwart it. Middle school readers will appreciate another moving fantasy/adventure by Snyder.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected..., March 29, 2007

By 

A. Methvin "book lover" (beautiful Asheville, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Treasures of Weatherby (Hardcover)

This is a book most suited for grades 3-5. It has a very basic plot, and a few interesting characters. The cover promises much more of a fantasy type story-a flying girl! However, it does not really deliver, and is best described as an easy mystery.