Field Tripped

by Allan Woodrow

It's another pitch-perfect middle-grade novel full of hilarious antics, a field trip gone wrong, and a fifth grade that just can't seem to behave from Allan Woodrow! The fifth graders of Liberty Falls Elementary might be the worst fifth graders ever, but they still get to go on a field trip! They're going to visit the Edward Minks Mansion to learn about the eccentric inventor and founder of their town. Legend has it, there are some undiscovered inventions hidden in the house. The students are eager to find them, and they convince Principal Klein to let them out of writing their essay on Minks if they do. But as Aaron, Eddie, Jessie, and Chloe explore the Minks Mansion, it seems like something strange is going on. Like the adults are missing and someone might be stealing the inventions. But in order to save the inventions and their teachers, the kids might just have to pull some serious pranks to stop the bad guys. Even if it means risking a lifetime of detention.Can the fifth graders save their field trip and the mansion . . . or will this be the last field trip ever in school history?

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fiction, School, Friendship, Education, Childrens

272 pages, Hardcover

Published August 28, 2018

About the author

Allan Woodrow is the author of more than thirty books for children, some written under secret names. His books include Unschooled, Class Dismissed, and The Pet War.

Allan often presents to schools, libraries and conferences. He is currently writing his next 12 novels, which are in various states of assembly.

Reviews

[Samantha]

i liked it

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Field Tripped by Allan Woodrow, 272 pages. Scholastic, 2018. $17.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – NOT RECOMMENDED

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

The 5thgrade students of Liberty Falls elementary are headed off on their field trip to the home of Edward Minks – the eccentric, and rich, benefactor and founder of the town. Something seems to be wrong at the mansion, though – it looks like someone has been stealing the inventions. Is the caretaker the guilty one? Eddie doesn’t care. He’s the grandson of Mr. Minks, but his family has always book poor because Mr. Minks left all of his wealth to the town. Eddie has a blue[rint of the home which he hopes will lead him to a secret treasure. Aaron does care, but he wants to help Eddie on his quest, even if Eddie doesn’t want his help. Add in a super snowstorm and some creepiness and you have a recipe – for something.

Told mostly from three points of view, but a fourth is added on just to up the confusion. Hard to track who is speaking and what they know. Hard to care about what they are doing. The cover looks like the publisher is trying to play off of Gordon Korman’s books. Don’t.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author seems poised to give Andrew Clements a run for the money when it comes to writing school stories. I loved his earlier The Pet War and Class Dismissed, and enjoyed this one as well. His characters may sometimes be quirky and some of their situations may be a bit unusual, but he clearly knows his way around the fifth grade and its many different personalities. In this particular book, the fifth graders of Liberty Falls Elementary are on a field trip to the Minks Mystery Mansion where they hope to learn more about the famous inventor and see some of his inventions. There are all sorts of rumors about the place being haunted and a hidden room with hidden inventions, and the students' adventures are described by four unlikely friends. Eddie is related to the famous inventor and hopes to find something that will save his family from further economic disaster. Aaron, the son of a military father, recently moved from Alaska, and is just trying to fit in. Jessie misses her cats but channels their observation skills as she notices something awry in the mansion and becomes suspicious. Chloe tries to see the best in her friend, Sophie, but Sophie turns out just to be downright mean. Because a snow storm causes the youngsters to be stranded in the museum overnight, all sorts of things begin to happen, and interesting allegiances form. Readers will be curious about those inventions but will smile at the ending and the mistakes that lead up to it. Several of them will be entertained by Mr. St. Clare's fondness for homonyms.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I have a bad feeling about this trip. There’s a creepy man with the hedge clippers, there are dark skies above us, and I heard a kid got lost in the mansion last year and they never found him.”


Aaron - new student, Dad in the military, “Serve. Protect. Be All You Can Be.”
Jessie - cats
Eddie - great, great, great grandfather of Mr. Edward Minks IV “Legend of Liberty Falls” Innovator of Inventions, left nothing to his family but believed in “profiting the world” - “I’m not here to learn. I’m here to help my family get the secrets we were promised.”

Sophie - Bully in the guise of a BFF
Chloe - let’s Sophie boss her around and do things that she knows she shouldn’t

Field Trip to Minks Mystery Mansion - a secret room with never before seen inventions

Mr. St. Clare - curator of the mansion; Mr. Felix somewhat creepy caretake
“If this house survives the fifth-grade class of Liberty Falls Elementary, it will be a miracle.”
“... saying nothing is just as bad as doing something bad.”

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story combines the fantasy, mystery, and adventure genres. It is about Aaron who is attending a new elementary school. When his class goes on a two-day field trip to the Minks Mystery Mansion, things get weird—there are disappearances, secret passages, a map, and a mysterious room. Along the way, Aaron makes friends with Eddie who is a Minks descendant and together they deal with the class bully. Although the story starts off a little bit slow, it is worth reading because the story gradually gets more and more exciting with unexpected twists and turns. It was an enjoyable and exciting book to read.
Reviewed by Henry L., age 10, North Texas Mensa

[Vivian Summerville · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was filled with annoying characters and terrible puns.

I disliked Chloe because she always let Sophie walk all over her and wouldn't stand up for herself.

I disliked Aaron.

I disliked Jessie because she was WAY too cat obsessed. I like cats as much as the next person, but saying stuff like my cats are brave so I should be too and if I were a cat I'd land on my feet (or something like that) just hot annoying.

I disliked Eddie because he was arrogant and annoying. No wonder nobody wanted to be his friend until the end.

Overall, not impressed with this book, then again, I may just be too old for it.

[MaeveB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Field tripped
A couple of weeks ago I finished the book field tripped. The book was about a 5th grade class going to minks mystery mansion. While they are on the field trip the tour guide said when they walked in that there might be a secret invention somewhere in the mansion. One person found a room that had a plan to steal secret inventions when someone finds them and then sell them for a lot of money. The class sets a big trap and learns the whole story when they catch the tour guide using their trap. If you like reading mystery stories this is the book for you!

[Simba Saurus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about fifth graders who take a field trip to a Museum that has strange machines, interesting inventions, and rooms. They have to sleep there overnight because the buses get blocked off by a snowstorm! They think they hear someone is trying to steal the machines while they’re there. Can they figure out who the culprit is? Will they save the day? Read to find out! This book is great for fourth or fifth graders. It has about four perspectives. I think this book is lovely, full of adventure, and a mysterious plot.

[Mr. Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice book. Fun. Definitely has a hint of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library to it. Also had some lessons in it - standing up for yourself, standing up for your friends, following authority, taking a stand against bullies. I think it is one kids will like more than I did, and I guess that is the point.

[Jnase1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted Sophie to change in the end or at least admit why she was so mean all the time. Her part of the story felt unfinished. The rest of the story was good, although several parts were reminiscent of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie from the 70s. Easy and quick read, though.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh- this was ok. I was hoping for more of a mystery, rather than a bunch of kids destroying and running rampant thru the town's mansion. This is similar to Mr Lemoncello's Library- but that story was better. I liked the different narrative voices, but had a hard time staying interested.

[Rebecca van den Ham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at a Little Free Library. :)
An interesting and complicated story. I found it a little hard to figure out who all the characters were with so many different points of view. Ultimately, I think it works.

[Marney Hawes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book, good characters. A good look at the occasional perils of "friendship"

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story told from multiple points of view as a group of 5th graders get stranded in a crazy mansion full of secrets when their field trip is snowed in.

[Bianca Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually dont like mysteries but this one I like

[Janell Heimgartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun story. Not my favorite, got a little long

[Brandoni111 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much, and that's all I can say. It's a great story, and I recommend this to any reader ages 9-12.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Sarahs Reads ToKids]

Lydia read this book and this series. She really liked it.

[Idk · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was awsome. Lots of suspense!

[Read-It-all-Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Loved how some of the people connected with me, I have a little bit of Jessie, a little bit of Kyle. so yea GREAT BOOK

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. 2.5 stars.

This is kind of a mix up of the silliness of Dan Gutman and the novels of Gordon Korman, but it was more obnoxious to me in parts than enjoyable.

[Matthew Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read with Liam

[Wendy Kennar · Rating 3 out of 5]

My ten-year-old son began reading this book in school as his selection for "silent reading time." He enjoyed it so much, he wanted to own his copy, and together we read the book night-after-night at bedtime.
Right there, I'm sold. My son is an avid reader, but anytime a child gets excited by a book, I'm onboard!
The story was fun, some of the adult characters were at times quirky, and the students were believable and realistic. The structure of having each chapter told from a different child's point of view was a unique way to illustrate the idea that everyone interprets things differently. A whole class may experience one field trip, but it's different for each child.

A re-read of an old favorite. Proof that books can be timeless and age-less.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a read aloud with my 4th graders. They LOVED it, as did I!

[Clara Bradford · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would not recommend this book. I've had it for a while and decided to read it. It is worded so badly it sounds like a child wrote it. Would not recommend 😕

[Denise Chojnacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this book to review for my Kid's Choice program at the Library. I was very pleasantly surprised by the story. It was told from the point of view of 4 different kids; each seemingly having their own issues. The story was interesting and moved along. Fit perfectly with the age group intended. What I really loved were the themes presented. Friendship was a huge theme throughout as well as standing up and doing the right thing. It was woven among the story so as not to get preachy. Great read for 4th and 5th graders!