The Hideout (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Greg Shed (Illustrator) "When I found the key marked T I thought it was the best thing that had ever happened to me..." (more)
Key Phrases: banana shake, ginger cat, mousse cake, Paul Paws, Tower Suite, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-- Resentful of his stepfather, Paul, 12-year-old Andy runs away from home, finds a hotel key by chance, and moves into a plush suite. Since it is seldom occupied, it seems an ideal hideout--until the unpredictable hotel staff threaten his security. After several close calls, Andy is discovered, then kidnapped, and ultimately rescued by Paul and the police. Chastened by the harrowing experience, Andy regrets not only his actions but also his attitude toward a man who obviously cares for him. The novel has elements of Bunting's Is Anybody There? (Lippincott, 1988), including the illicit use of a key, a hideaway, and a boy too scared to sleep at night, but the overall plot is less plausible. However, the involving first-person narrative and the mounting tension offset the unlikely events. Andy's character--his jealousy of Paul and fear of discovery--is vividly portrayed. Those who like light mysteries should find this easy-to-read, moderately suspenseful story satisfying. --Pat Katka, San Diego Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Description

Twelve-year-old Andy feels he would be better off with his father in England than in his San Francisco home with his mother and her new husband. To raise the money needed to finance his trip to England, he stages his own kidnapping, but the plan backfires when someone decides to make the kidnapping a reality. “A common family situation becomes action-filled drama in Bunting’s capable hands.”-Booklist
--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Perfection Learning (May 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0780725328
• ISBN-13: 978-0780725324
• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great, fast paced, suspense novel about a run away boy., July 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hideout (Mass Market Paperback)

Because the story is told in first person point of view by 12 year old Andy, middle schoolers will become easily entangled in his run away adventure. This novel has "none stop action" and there are no slow chapters. Eve Bunting's excellent writing style and plot will keep you interested all the way to the end where you will discover that Andy is just as surprised as you are by what happens! If you liked Someone is Hiding on Alcatraz Island by Bunting, you will surely like The Hideout!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great!, December 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hideout (Mass Market Paperback)

This book takes place in hotel. The main character, Andy, is the one staying in the hotel in the tower suite room. andy wants to run away, because he thinks his mom doesn,t love him anymore, now that she has a new husband. He descides to run away, not knowing where he's going, he takes money out of his step dad's wallet and leaves. He doesn't leave a note or tell his mom where he's going. He goes to this hotel. A bellman drops a key to a hotel room. Andy picks up the key. He goes and tries to find the room that this key belongs to. But, has a T engraved on it. He doesn't know if it means room # 30, 30th floor, room # 20 or what it means. He goes on the elevator and tries to find this room. He finally finds it and it turns out to be a key for the tower suite. (the biggest room in the hotel) he descides to stay there. Later that night he almost gets caught. He takes off his shoes. Someone finds the shoes and, they almost take the shoes with them. They don't, they thought they were on of the cleaning ladies, kids shoes. Andy thinks he is going to stay in the hotel until his dad gets back from his business trip. His dad won't be back for 3 weeks. So, how will he survive for 3 weeks on his own, with not a lot of food or money? I liked this book, I thought it was interesting. I recommend this book if you like adventures or mysteries you'll like this one!

2.0 out of 5 stars Betrayed by Superman Shoelaces, May 7, 2003

By	Plume45 "kitka12345" (Westchester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hideout (School & Library Binding)

Pre-teen Andy is disgusted with things at home; his mom has remarried Paul (whom he privately calls "Paws"). His real father is out of reach--not only because he lives in England, but because he is away from home for months at a time on archaeological digs. The boy's best friend is Leah, a girl who is an avid CB'er.

Andy gets so fed up with his home life that he decides to run away--which is not hard when you happen to live in San Francisco. Hanging out by the lobby of a swanky hotel, without any specific plan in mind, Andy spots and appropriates the fancy key to a plush, rarely-used suite. Just what he needs--his own private retreat where he can wait in safety until he can contact his father, somehow, to request plane fare. But every kid's dream come true--except for Room Service which would blow his Invisible cover--turns into a nightmare.

Who cares if his mom and step father are worried sick about his disappearance? Can he exist for three weeks on room service leftovers in the halls; can he sleep and hide without leaving any trace; can he slip through the lobby without being recognized in the same clothes? Andy never considers the risk of being kidnapped, until the ransom note he writes in bitterness falls into the wrong hands. Then he must face some hard truths about his own selfishness, his prejudiced view of Paul and his childlike faith in a father who was never really there for him. Elementary and junior high kids will enjoy this story of adolescent resourcefulness and survival on the fringe of adult society.