The Twin in the Tavern [Paperback]

Barbara Brooks Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Pub: 10/95. *****Orphan Taddy watches as Neezer and Lucky, two sinister thieves, steal his family's possessions, and then make him a virtual prisoner. Forced to work long hours, carrying heavy blocks of ice to Lucky's delivery truck, Taddy has almost given up when he sees what might be a way out of his dilemma. An Edgar Award winner.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-A worthy successor to Peppermints in the Parlor (Aladdin, 1985), filled with orphans, musty passages, mysterious relatives, and despicable villains. This book turns Alexandria, VA, into a delightfully murky, New-World version of London past. Young Taddy is found by scavenging thieves as he cowers in the house of his recently dead aunt and uncle. Rather than face the workhouse, he submits to being hauled off to be a servant in their tavern, which is smack in the heart of the town where he was told by his dying uncle to look for his twin and find out his true identity. At the Dog's Tail, he is renamed "Toady," is made to sleep under the kitchen table, and must share that tiny space with an artful dodger who revels in his sudden seniority. The wretched treatment of the boys will inspire young readers to outraged demands for justice-and they won't be disappointed. With a fine hand for Gothic embroidery and a nifty surprise conclusion that ties up all the loose ends, Wallace has delivered another very satisfying read.
Sally Margolis, Deerfield Public Library, IL
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. Wallace begins her Dickensian story at the deathbed of Aunt and Uncle Buntz, whose untimely ends leave young Taddy an orphan. Afraid that it's the workhouse for him, Taddy has no choice but to accompany rough Neezer and his dolt of a companion, Lucky, who have stopped by to rob the house. Instead of good meals and a warm bed at Neezer's inn, Taddy finds crumbs, a piece of the floor on which to sleep, an irritating boy named Beetle, and more work than either boy can handle. But Taddy's new situation brings opportunity, too, the opportunity to find what his uncle meant by his last words: "Nothing is what you think. You are not really ours. . . . Find your twin and you will know who you are. Be careful. Trust no one." Wallace has one red herring that smells a bit if you look too closely, but the mystery also has plenty of snakes and twists that kids will enjoy as well as delightful characters that step right off the pages. Readers will have fun cheering Taddy on until he gets his just reward. Ilene Cooper --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068980167X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689801679
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,919,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was a really good book..., May 9, 2003

By 

Leleh "leleh" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Twin in the Tavern (Paperback)

I know a lot of people may think that the book Twins in the Tavern may not be such a good book, but I think it was. The book is about a boy named Taddy who was kidnapped by two men who robbed his house after his aunt and uncle died. He was forced to work in an inn called The Dog's Tail, where he mets Beatle, another kidnapped boy. Then Taddy (now called Toady), was hired to work in the a very rich house, where he sees a boy who looks exactly like him! Could this be the twin his uncle told him about? And if so, will he ever be able to confront him and tell him?

I thought this book was very good and recommend it to everyone to read.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the tavern, January 24, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Twin in the Tavern (Paperback)

spooky scary adventures the twin in the tavern one of barbra
wallace. best books yet if you have any past time events like
adoption or something close to that this book is for you this
book tells about a young boy who has been left behind with
nothing. but an blanket couch and ripped up rags with his
grandmother flower pots and his grandfather bed one night he
woke up and begin watching two men break in his house after watch
ing them take ever thing a man call nezeer told his sidekick
to get the blanket.to find out what happen get the twin in the tavern.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good., December 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Twin in the Tavern (Paperback)

Right from the start, I thought this book not to be as good as other books by Barbara Brooks Wallace. As in all most of her books that I have read, though, characters underwent totall personallity morphs at the end. I would not reccomend this book highly.