The Deadly Dungeon (A to Z Mysteries Series #4)

by Ron Roy, John Steven Gurney (Illustrator)

Overview

Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z!
 
Kids love collecting the entire alphabet and super editions! With over 8 million copies in print, the A to Z Mysteries® have been hooking chapter book readers on mysteries and reading for years. Now this classic kid favorite is back with a bright new look!
 
D is for Dungeon . . . Get ready for a sleepover—in a castle! Soon after the kids arrive at Moose Manor in Maine, they hear strange sounds behind the walls. Does this castle have a hidden dungeon? And could it be haunted? Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are dying to find out!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780679887553
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	03/03/1998
Series:	A to Z Mysteries Series , #4
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	18,042
Product dimensions:	5.38(w) x 7.59(h) x 0.24(d)
Lexile:	490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

RON ROY has been writing books for children since 1974. He is the author of dozens of books, including the popular A to Z Mysteries®, Calendar Mysteries, and Capital Mysteries. When not working on a new book, Ron likes to teach tricks to his dog Pal, play poker with friends, travel, and read thrilling mystery books.
 
STEPHEN GILPIN is the award-winning illustrator of dozens of children’s books, including the popular and very funny Pirate Mom. He brings his fresh, kid-friendly style to all the covers of the A to Z Mysteries® series.

Editorial Reviews

A missing school skeleton isn't far away when the kids at Green Lawn Elementary are on the case! After "Mr. Bones" goes missing, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose set out to find out who could have taken him. With a little detective footwork and some cooperation from the school's teachers, the three soon uncover the hidden skeleton -- and the mystery thief's hilarious motive. Another fun-loving and unpredictable entry in Ron Roy's A to Z Mysteries series -- no bones about it.

Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose are very excited about their older friend Jud coming to visit. Even better is the surprise he brings with him—a full-size mechancial T-Rex. Jud and his friends have been exhibiting the T-Rex as advertisement for their Dinosaur museum, and the fee they charge for their show is going to fund the museum's future opening. But when the money collected goes missing, the thief must be found with the help of the trio and the police. The story is cleverly pieced together, but the reader has to be on the lookout for clues to solve the mystery. Overall an excellent book, but geared toward younger readers of the 6 to 10 age group. One in the "A to Z Mysteries" series. 2003, Random House Inc, Ages 6 to 10.
— Jennifer-Lynn Draper

Children's Literature

G is for gold in the seventh book of the alphabet series. This easy-to-read, fast-paced mystery follows Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose to Key West over their winter school break. There, they save Ruth Rose's grandmother and her senior center friends from being pirated out of their savings by two con artists. Dink spearheads the effort to get to the bottom of the scam in which Spike and Chip promise to share the next sunken treasure they find with the elderly investors. The kids' unchaperoned investigation leads them to a museum, to book research, and finally to exploration of the crooks' Golden Goose boat. It is there that they have to hide out in a dark, smelly hold and then escape from the ship before it sinks. The children's ingenuity and the grandmother's non-stereotypical lifestyle (she's into sports) give the story pizzazz, while the basic plot is rooted in a genuine fear for senior citizens. The straightforward black and white illustrations are on target, and the color cover glows with three wide-eyed youngsters looking into a treasure chest. The book's plot and price should appeal to the early reader.

Children's Literature - Carol Collins

Like the adult author Sue Grafton, Roy fashions a mystery story for each letter of the alphabet. In this case, the three sleuths (two boys and a girl) uncover a plot to force an elderly couple to sell their valuable hotel because it is haunted and no guests will remain where there are ghosts. The plot unfolds pleasantly and with no scary parts, the ghosts turn out to be actors who think they are trying out for a movie, and the bad guys are three greedy realtors. Frequent illustrations, plenty of white space on the page, a continuing cast of characters, and small humorous touches make this entry in the series readable if not especially memorable. "A to Z Mysteries" series.

Children's Literature - Susan Hepler

Part of the publisher's "A to Z Mysteries" series, this little story is designed for the early chapter book reader. Other titles in the series include The Absent Author and The Canary Caper. The intrepid hero here is Donald David Duncan, known to those who count as Dink. The problem he faces is tracking down a red-haired witness to a bank robbery. An engaging cast of characters variously assist and hinder him in this enterprise. With humor and zest, the story moves along, until a clever twist makes the team draw on every last resource at their disposal. Ruth Rose, Dink's neighbor and comrade-in-disguise, is a joy to the ear!

Children's Literature - Uma Krishnaswami

The illustrations in this volume are colorful and eye-catching, but the book is slightly less successful simply due to the subject matter. The jungle is fascinating due to its complexity, and this cannot be conveyed by presenting each plant or animal singly. Despite this caveat, the text amply covers the survival mechanisms employed in the jungle, as well as the differences between the world's many tropical rainforest regions. Indigenous people and their use of jungle resources are discussed, as well as the effects of the encroachment of civilization.

Children's Literature - Dr. Judy Rowen

Gr 1-3-Josh, Ruth Rose, and Dink use their brains, observation powers, and a little courage to work together to solve four very different mysteries by Ron Roy. In Deadly Dungeon, the trio is visiting their favorite writer at her castle in Maine when they stumble upon mysterious green feathers and hear screams. Discovering a trap door which leads to a cave is only the beginning of unraveling the mystery. In Empty Envelope, Dink accidentally receives letters addressed to someone else and they soon realize that something is not right about the envelopes or the lady who comes looking for them. The trio must do some quick research and also set a trap with the police to catch the criminals. Josh discovers a nest of falcons, but when he brings Dink and Ruth Rose to the nest the birds are gone in Falcon's Feather. They find a falcon with clipped feathers and have to work fast to solve the mystery and save the birds. In Goose's Gold, the group is in Florida visiting Ruth Rose's grandmother when they stumble upon a scam involving sunken treasure and cheating senior citizens out of their money. The stories are clearly read by actor David Pittu with slightly different voices for each character. Background music transitions the beginning and end of each story. Young readers will enjoy this popular series with believable characters who have incredible opportunities to solve mysteries on their own with adults who help when needed but don't interfere in their adventures.-Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal