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105th out of 109 books
—
92 voters
The Danger Box
An all-new mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Chasing Vermeer and The Calder Game.
A boy in a small town who has a different way of seeing.
A mischievous girl who doesn't belong.
A mysterious notebook .
A fire.
A stranger.
A death.
These are some of the things you'll find within The Danger Box, the new mystery from bestselling author Blue Balliett.
A boy in a small town who has a different way of seeing.
A mischievous girl who doesn't belong.
A mysterious notebook .
A fire.
A stranger.
A death.
These are some of the things you'll find within The Danger Box, the new mystery from bestselling author Blue Balliett.
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
September 1st 2010
by Scholastic Press
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The name of the book I read is The Danger Box by Blue Balliett. The book was about Zoomy, he’s what they call “legally blind”. His hometown is Three Oaks, Michigan. Zoomy feels that he organizes himself even more by keeping a notebook of all the things that he does, since he can only see so far he’s very curious and he pays attention to detail. You should totally read this book because it’s filled with mystery, adventure, and twists that will have you wanting for more.
The point of the book was...more
Zoomy arrives on his grandparents' doorstep as such a tiny infant that he fits in a cat carrier...which is exactly how he's delivered. The Chamberlains embrace Zoomy and raise him with love, hope, and understanding. He is the child they lost when Buckeye left. Zoomy is specail in his own way. First, he has darker skin than any Chamberlain has ever had, second he is legally blind, and finally he has either OCD or Asperger's syndrome so he demands an orderly life. His life is orderly until Buckeye...more
“Mr. Zip had told no one, not one living soul,about his scheme. He had counted on survival.
That, as it turned out, was a mistake; death changed all the rules.” (page 4)
Mr. Zip dies after setting in motion an elaborate plan involving a box and something secret that is hidden in it. Because he’s dead, he isn’t there to see his plan carried out and can’t make an adjustment when pieces of his plan fall apart…like the box being stolen, hunted down, hidden, and then stolen again.
Zoomy and his Grandpar...more
That, as it turned out, was a mistake; death changed all the rules.” (page 4)
Mr. Zip dies after setting in motion an elaborate plan involving a box and something secret that is hidden in it. Because he’s dead, he isn’t there to see his plan carried out and can’t make an adjustment when pieces of his plan fall apart…like the box being stolen, hunted down, hidden, and then stolen again.
Zoomy and his Grandpar...more
Reason for Reading: I really only read this because I had received a review copy in the mail. I don't think it would have normally appealed to me otherwise.
I'm sorry it took me so long to read this book as I really enjoyed it. I love mysteries, as an adult, but don't usually read kid mysteries often except as read alouds and then I stick with tried and true authors I already know. Blue Balliett is new to me, so I haven't read her other critically acclaimed books but if this is only a sample of h...more
I'm sorry it took me so long to read this book as I really enjoyed it. I love mysteries, as an adult, but don't usually read kid mysteries often except as read alouds and then I stick with tried and true authors I already know. Blue Balliett is new to me, so I haven't read her other critically acclaimed books but if this is only a sample of h...more
Balliett's previous books have marvelous puzzles that the protagonists and the readers must solve. The puzzle in this book is less well developed and doesn't integrate into the story well. The story is about a 12 year old boy who is legally blind and may have Asperger's Syndrome. Zoomy, as he is called, lives with his grandparents in a small town in Michigan. His alcoholic father, who does not realize that he has a son, pays an unexpected visit to have his parents keep a box that was in a truck...more
Zoomy's life was ordinary from the day he was a baby. Zoomy lived with his grandparents named Grandpa Ash and Grandma Al. While Grandma Al does the cooking and half the gardening, Grandpa Ash goes to the store. The store is where Grandpa Ash sells antiques, although sometimes he helps with gardening. And Zoomy does the watering and weeding in the garden.That was all Zoomy's life was all about. Until he found the "dangerous box".
Buckeye was the one that who gave him the dangerous box. Inside th...more
Buckeye was the one that who gave him the dangerous box. Inside th...more
Aug 11, 2011
Daniel Nguyen
added it
this book is about this man who got something really precious and sends it to people to deliver it to a safe place. then it ends up in the back of a pick up truck. in this book a boy looks inside it and found a diary with list and memos of things. the diary dated back from 1865! then all of a sudden his granparent's store caught on fire and he and his new friend laurrel trys to capture the person who did it.
(i forgot his name) he was living with his grandparents. his grandpa owns a store that gi...more
(i forgot his name) he was living with his grandparents. his grandpa owns a store that gi...more
Jul 13, 2011
Charlyn Trussell
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Gr. 4 and up
Shelves:
adventure,
disabilities,
family_story,
fiction,
friendship,
mystery,
science,
strong-male-character
Blue Balliett's mysteries always have a lot packed into them and this one is no exception. The primary narrator is Zoomy, a child with pathological myopia which renders him almost blind and with OCD. Apparently left on his grandparents doorstep by his mother, Zoomy has been happily reared in a small town by them. Their son Buckeye, his father, disappeared long ago and is unaware of the child left behind. When he arrives back in town in a stolen truck, he leaves a mysterious box in which Zoomy fi...more
I'm a fan of Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3 and The Calder Game, so when I found The Danger Box on the shelf, I picked it up - for my eleven and nine year daughters to read - but also for me. I enjoyed this book, but not nearly as much as Balliett's previous ones.
The Danger Box is the story of Zoomy, a young boy who lives with his grandparents in a small Michigan town. Zoomy is legally blind and can only see clearly without glasses the length of one finger and with glasses only an...more
The Danger Box is the story of Zoomy, a young boy who lives with his grandparents in a small Michigan town. Zoomy is legally blind and can only see clearly without glasses the length of one finger and with glasses only an...more
Over the past few years, Blue Balliett has entertained young, middle readers with mysteries that are suspenseful and full of puzzles while providing some sophisticated cultural references for children. In this story, Blue pushes her boundaries a bit while maintaining her signature style. Set in rural Michigan the reader meets Zoomy, a 12 year old living with his grandparents, who help him cope and accept his pathological myopia and slight autism. He keeps his world in order by maintaining lists....more
I'll tell you what got me hooked about reading this book, and that was the page right before the table of contents....
'Author's Note: Opening the Box
ONE OF THE objects in The Danger Box is real. It was stolen from its owners a long time ago and is still missing. It is fragile, easily recognized around the world, too valuable to put a price on, and could fit in your pocket. In wondering where it is today and dreaming up this mystery, I also thought about how: 1- Every book is a box of ides. 2-Ev...more
'Author's Note: Opening the Box
ONE OF THE objects in The Danger Box is real. It was stolen from its owners a long time ago and is still missing. It is fragile, easily recognized around the world, too valuable to put a price on, and could fit in your pocket. In wondering where it is today and dreaming up this mystery, I also thought about how: 1- Every book is a box of ides. 2-Ev...more
12-year-old Zoomy Chamberlain is legally blind and mildly autistic, but he doesn't let these limitations darken his life. Abandoned on his grandparents' doorstep as an infant, Zoomy is content with his quiet life, and his collection of notebooks keeps his thoughts in order. Then the father he never met upsets his world, leaving a mysterious box taken from a truck he stole. Inside is a notebook, which thrills Zoomy. It is very old, and as Zoomy tries to read the words scrawled inside, he becomes...more
This was my first experience reading a Blue Balliett(Chasing Vermeer)mystery for young adults. It was outstanding, however much of what makes it a special read may be over the heads of younger readers. Zoomy, the almost teen protagonist is OCD and probably ASD, which explains why he is so tenacious in unraveling the mystery of why his loser bio-dad has suddenly turned up, threatened Zoomy's wonderful grandparents and left behind a very old, very unusual, scientific journal. Younger readers will...more
gr 5-8
This is definitely a spooky, mysterious story, beginning with the cover. It echoes Konigsburg and Raskin with the mystery and perhaps even When You Reach Me, because of the changing point of view, and multiple storylines. This was an interesting read with some great characters and a puzzle to put together as to how the characters connect. However, I wasn't entirely convinced that the main character was as old as he was supposed to be, as he had some behaviors I thought were applicable to a...more
This is definitely a spooky, mysterious story, beginning with the cover. It echoes Konigsburg and Raskin with the mystery and perhaps even When You Reach Me, because of the changing point of view, and multiple storylines. This was an interesting read with some great characters and a puzzle to put together as to how the characters connect. However, I wasn't entirely convinced that the main character was as old as he was supposed to be, as he had some behaviors I thought were applicable to a...more
Reminds me of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. Although it is never stated that the child has Asperger's Syndrome, I would say it's definitely a possibility. The way Zoomy thinks, lists, taps his chin and loses it when things change unexpectedly point to Asperger's for me. As I lay in bed after I finished this book though, I thought to myself about what it matters whether or not Zoomy has Asperger's, and for this story it really doesn't. He is also legally blind,...more
The Danger Box
This book is a middle school teacher's dream. It can easily be integrated with mathematics, science, Social Studies and, of course, English Language Arts. There is the requisite disability or two, one which is never named and one which is, so we can have a general discussion about disabilities in class. And we’ll talk about bullying, also. The book even has built in discussion questions and projects! The topic that drives the plot (which I won’t mention here so that your reading is...more
This book is a middle school teacher's dream. It can easily be integrated with mathematics, science, Social Studies and, of course, English Language Arts. There is the requisite disability or two, one which is never named and one which is, so we can have a general discussion about disabilities in class. And we’ll talk about bullying, also. The book even has built in discussion questions and projects! The topic that drives the plot (which I won’t mention here so that your reading is...more
I did not like this book.
I have been rereading alot of books that I never finished, and this was one of them. I can see now why I never finished it!
Mainly what annoyed me is the author's tone of voice throughout the story seemed as if it was trying too hard to connect with 9-12 year olds. Meaning that it sounded extremely immature.
Also, with the 'bad guy,' the Fish, it seemed as if Blue Balliett was trying too hard to convince us that he was a bad guy, making him say things like, "'Losers'. He...more
I have been rereading alot of books that I never finished, and this was one of them. I can see now why I never finished it!
Mainly what annoyed me is the author's tone of voice throughout the story seemed as if it was trying too hard to connect with 9-12 year olds. Meaning that it sounded extremely immature.
Also, with the 'bad guy,' the Fish, it seemed as if Blue Balliett was trying too hard to convince us that he was a bad guy, making him say things like, "'Losers'. He...more
Very good book told from the perspective of a very bright, legally blind, and (I assume) autistic 12 year old boy living in a small town in Michigan. There's a mysterious notebook, a new best friend, a reappearing but unpleasant father, a disastrous fire, loving grandparents, and a lot of scientific problem solving. Why is the box important? Why is the notebook important? Who wrote it? Where was it before turning up in Zoomy's garage? Who else wants it enough to steal it? And what can Zoomy and...more
I almost stopped reading this. It’s not my usual style. Zoomey finds a priceless treasure (although he doesn’t realize it), when his estranged father drops off a trunk at his grandparent’s home. Inside the trunk is one of Darwin’s original notebooks which had been stolen many years earlier. Without realizing any of this, Zoomey (who is after all only twelve) starts reading through the notebook and doing his own research. Together with a newfound friend, he starts a free publication about Darwin...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This books minimalist description is the first thing that really caught my eye. The synopisis gives you just enough to hook you and I liked that. I am drawn toward well crafted suspenseful mysteries and this book didn't disappoint. This book is like an onion with many layers. At first glance this book appears to be a mystery about how a few seemingly unrelated people, events, or things come together to create a kind of domino effect that becomes the bulk of the story. But what is not indicated b...more
Starts out slow and once it picks up momentum is quite delightful. Zoomy was left on his grandparents doorstep to raise. They have a lovely life that they cherish. Zoomy's dad, Buckeye is a raging drunk who is in trouble a lot and has been gone all of Zoomy's life.
Zoomy is aptly named, he thinks and sees differently than anyone else and has great coping strategies for dealing with these challenges.
One day Buckeye swoops into town leaving a box with Gam and Gumps. This would be fine except the...more
Zoomy is aptly named, he thinks and sees differently than anyone else and has great coping strategies for dealing with these challenges.
One day Buckeye swoops into town leaving a box with Gam and Gumps. This would be fine except the...more
Balliett's first novel that isn't about Calder, Petra, and Tommy has its own unique and wonderful cast of characters, great voice and historical mystery. There is a little code-breaking to do, but not like with her other books, so this one would appeal to kids for whom the other was a little too cerebral. I loved the language in this book and I'm surprised it wasn't buzzier this year.
Zoomy is legally blind, has a bit of OCD, and lives with his grandparents. When a mysterious box comes into thei...more
Zoomy is legally blind, has a bit of OCD, and lives with his grandparents. When a mysterious box comes into thei...more
Scholastic was kind enough to include this in the bounty from their breakfast at ALA in ARC format. It is a very inbteresting story that includes kids researching Darwin and a mystery I don't want to give away. The main character is probably somewhat autistic - he makes lists constantly and is a bit obsessive. He also suppers from Pathological Myopia, which means he must wear coke bottle glasses to see anything in the distance. Balliett uses all these elements to build a strong story that shows...more
I've just finished listening to the book and I absolutely loved it.
It has become one of my favorite books!
It is a book of magic moments and some deep thoughts.
The characters are adorable.
I can't understand why the low rating for it!
But perhaps it is because it addresses the Darwin issue.
Some people of faith don't feel comfortable around this subject, but not I.
As I believe that the source of religion and science is one. So they should support each other rather than conflict with one anther.
Howev...more
It has become one of my favorite books!
It is a book of magic moments and some deep thoughts.
The characters are adorable.
I can't understand why the low rating for it!
But perhaps it is because it addresses the Darwin issue.
Some people of faith don't feel comfortable around this subject, but not I.
As I believe that the source of religion and science is one. So they should support each other rather than conflict with one anther.
Howev...more
I loved Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3 and The Calder Game. So of course I was eager to read this latest book. Because my to be read list is longer than I am tall, I have recently taken to listening to books on Playaway while walking around the neighborhood. I'm a firm believer in multi-tasking.
I don't know if listening to the book rather than reading it for myself made a difference, but I don't think this book is as good as the first three books.
What I liked about the book: The c...more
I don't know if listening to the book rather than reading it for myself made a difference, but I don't think this book is as good as the first three books.
What I liked about the book: The c...more
When Zoomy, a young boy who is legally blind, comes to own a mysterious notebook, a series of events is set into place that change how he feels about family, friendship, and history.
I found the beginning of this book extremely entertaining. I was intrigued by Zoomy's interesting narrative style and by his description of his life. Due to his blindness, he has a unique way of seeing the world. Baillett also gives the reader glimpses into two other storylines that are related to Zoomy's life, inclu...more
I found the beginning of this book extremely entertaining. I was intrigued by Zoomy's interesting narrative style and by his description of his life. Due to his blindness, he has a unique way of seeing the world. Baillett also gives the reader glimpses into two other storylines that are related to Zoomy's life, inclu...more
This is a very poplar book at my library. I've been trying to get this book for months. Every time I went to get it, it was gone. Who ever had it last kept it. The copy was gone and the library had to order a new one. It was well worth the wait. There are several secrets (mysteries) going on in this book. And Zoomy is telling the story about all of them. The first one comes in the form of a box and what's inside it. It's an old journal written by.........I won't tell, it will ruin the story. But...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This books was ok, but not great. Perhaps I read it while I was doing a pre-semester class in graduate school, and it was the wrong book at the wrong time. Zoomy is a simple boy, who writes lists and does research throughout the books. I have a problem with the book because the books wastes so much time with Zoomy doing research that plot moves really slow. To be honest the story would have been cut down by quite a bit if you only had to read less of it. I think adults will believe the children...more
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I was born in New York City and grew up playing in Central Park, getting my share of scraped knees, and riding many public buses and subways. By the time I was a teenager, I sometimes stopped at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Frick Museum after school, just to wander and look and think. The Met has five Vermeer paintings and the Frick three, so Vermeer and I have been friends for many years...more
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“Every book is a box of ideas.”
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6 people liked it
“I don't know how anyone else sees the world and no one else sees the world exactly how I see the world! We each see in our own, unique way.”
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4 people liked it
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Aug 15, 2011 10:18am