A Week in the Woods [Hardcover]

Andrew Clements (Author)

Book Description

Mark didn't ask to move to New Hampshire. Or to go to a hick school like Hardy Elementary. And he certainly didn't request Mr. Maxwell as his teacher. Mr. Maxwell doesn't like rich kids, or slackers, or know-it-alls. And he's decided that Mark is all of those things. Now the whole school is headed out for a week of camping -- Hardy's famous Week in the Woods. At first it sounds dumb, but then Mark begins to open up to life in the country, and he decides it might be okay to learn something new. It might even be fun. But things go all wrong for Mark. The Week in the Woods is not what anyone planned. Especially not Mr. Maxwell. With his uncanny knack to reach right to the heart of kids, Andrew Clements asks -- and answers -- questions about first impressions, fairness, loyalty, and courage -- and exactly what it takes to spend a Week in the Woods.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Rich kids are snobs and slackers. They think they're too good for anyone else, and that they don't have to work hard at anything. That, at least, is the opinion of fifth-grade science teacher Mr. Maxwell, and the super-rich new kid, Mark Chelmsley, is showing no signs of transcending the stereotype. Or is Mr. Maxwell just too anti-elitist or ego-driven to notice? Once again, the talented Andrew Clements (Frindle, The Janitor's Boy) allows adult characters to "come of age" right along with his adolescent characters in the most refreshing and insightful of ways.

Mark has low expectations of his new school in rural New Hampshire, and he'll be there for less than four months anyway, so he can't let himself get attached. It's the glory of the countryside around him that shakes him awake--and the urban boy's first trek on snowshoes, discovery of an old barn, and rediscovery of Jack London are exciting to behold. For the first time in his busy, absentee parent-controlled life, Mark discovers "his own sense of time--time present--and he had discovered how much this time was worth."

As the reader starts to like this curious, resourceful, clearly not lazy kid, Mr. Maxwell's preconceptions start to seem all the worse. It all comes to a head at the school's annual camp out (called A Week in the Woods), where Mr. Maxwell accuses Mark of breaking a rule--without getting all the facts that would have proven his innocence. Mark escapes into the woods before he can be driven home: "If Mr. Maxwell wants to get rid of me so bad, then he's gonna have to find me first!" Will Mark survive on his own in the woods overnight? What will Mr. Maxwell do when he learns his own prejudices have colored his judgment? What starts out as a school camp out turns into a terrifically suspenseful survival story of a man and boy who come head-to-head, and learn a few lessons while they're at it. Readers will be on the edges of their seats! (Ages 9 to 13) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Mark, the 11-year-old at the center of Clements's (Frindle; The Jacket) brooding and uneven novel, initially has no interest in making friends at his new school in Whitson, N.H., where his constantly traveling parents have just renovated and enlarged a 1798 farmhouse. Knowing that he's headed off to a prestigious boarding school next year, the boy has no incentive for pleasing his teachers and spends much of the day gazing out the classroom window. His science teacher, Mr. Maxwell, passes judgment on Mark before the boy finally decides to give the school a chance ("The only kind of people Mr. Maxwell disliked more than slackers were... buy-the-whole-world rich folks"). A showdown between boy and teacher occurs at the start of the annual environmental program organized by Mr. Maxwell for the fifth graders, who spend a week in a wooded state park. The teacher's discovery of Mark with a tool containing a knife (which actually belongs to another boy) climaxes with a pursuit through the woods. Unfortunately, the suspenseful sequence that follows and the engaging denouement account for only a fraction of the novel. Laborious passages about Mark's family's home and barn and the boy's preparations for the school trip, plus perhaps a bit too much description of Mr. Maxwell's background, bog down the story line and may derail readers drawn to the book's enticing title. Ages 9-13.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068982596X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689825965
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,612,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Most of my characters are fairly normal people who are dealing with the basics of everyday life--getting along with others, finding a place in the world, discovering talents, overcoming challenges, trying to have some wholesome fun along the way, and getting into some scrapes and a little mischief now and then, too. I guess I hope my readers will be able to see bits and pieces of themselves in the stories, particularly the novels that take place in and around school. School is a rich setting because schools and education are at the heart of every community. The stories that are set in school seem to resonate with kids, teachers, parents, librarians--readers of all ages. Everyone's life has been touched by school experiences. And I also hope, of course, that kids and others will enjoy reading, enjoy the use of language, enjoy my storytelling.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyday a Clean Slate, May 24, 2003

By 

T. Thompson (Wales, ME) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Week in the Woods (Hardcover)

I have to say that every single book I have read by Andrew Clements has been a winner! This author really knows what makes middle school kids tick... let alone his understanding of what makes adults kids! Andrew Clements is a true student of human nature.
The theme I find most encouraging in this particular book is that no matter what a jerk we may be or no matter what mistakes we make or no matter what terrible choices we make, every day is a new and fresh one!
Mark is a young man who has extremely rich parents, who barely pay any attention to him and ship him all over the place from home to home and school to school. This experience has left the 5th grader cynical and jaded. Who could blame him?
When Mark gets to yet another new home and school in New Hampshire he decides he is going to tune out everyone and everything at his new school. He decides he will not interact with them because he won't be there long enough to get to know anyone anyway.
Mark's science teacher, Mr. Maxwell is an innovative, environmentally concious educator. He seems like a typical liberal gentleman who is open to all ideas and all people. But he immediately labels Mark as a "Spoiled Rich Kid" and decides to shut him out too.
The great thing that happens in this book is that Mark and his teacher both change. They aren't trapped by the choices they made and they both evolve into better people in the end!
Every day we start with a clean slate and it's all about what we decide to do with that day, that makes us who we are.
This is a very encouraging book... well written and as always perceptive! Yet again, another winner from Andrew Clements!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Week in the Woods will leave you refreshed, December 19, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Week in the Woods (Paperback)

A Week in the Woods is a book that has a mild pace, but it will keep your interest. I am a fifth grader myself (like the character in the book) and I think this book has some realistic parts in it. The main character is a boy who has to move away from his friends, his school and his neighborhood. He moves to a small town in New Hampshire which is nothing like his previous home. His parents (unlike mine)are frequently busy and do not spend much time with him. Without giving away the story, I would like you to know that even if the book starts out a bit slow, it becomes very exciting near the middle of the book. Therefore I recommend this book to everyone but especially fifth grade boys. If you can get a hold of this book, it will be a good read. I read about six chapter books a month and I really like this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Week in the Woods, May 18, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Week in the Woods (Paperback)

A week in the Woods is a great book. It is about a 11 year old boy who has everything in the world. Rich parents, a cool house, great friends, and a great life. Then they have to move. This is common for them becasue his parents find better buisness elswhere. This time they move, Mark is really crushed. This was the first place he really loved and now they have to move to a small town in New Hampshire. The first week he gets there he goes to a small public school. He never pays attention in class and is always melancholy and grumpy. Then one day the science teacher, Mr. Maxwell hands out the information packet for a week long, camping trip in the woods. The whole 5th grade is going, but Mark doesnt want to go at all. Then one night he slept outside in his barn. He loved it so he wanted to try sleeping outside in the woods. His parent wouldnt let him so he had to sleep outside with his nanny. Leo, (nanny), also taught him how to snowshoe. Mark loved this. After about a week Mark loved the woods. So Mark gave his teacher his packet and got everything he needed. Finally it was the day. On the first day Mark's friend Jason got out his knife he had brought. He let Mark hold it and the next thing he knew Mark was in the back of Mr.Maxwell's truck about to be driven home! While Mr. Maxwell was talking to the ranger Mark jumped out of the truck and ran into the woods. For all day and all night Mr. Maxwell looked for Mark who was doing great with his food and he had also built a fire. They found each other in the middle of the night. Mr. Maxwell was in a lot of pain. When he was looking for Mark, a bolder had fallen on his leg and he was stuck. By the end Mark and Mr. Maxwell had become great friends and Mark had become much happier. If you want to read about a great adventure, some laughs, and a great story you should read this book.