The Butler Gets a Break: A Bellweather Tale

by Kristin Clark Venuti

All is (temporarily) peaceful in the village of Eel-Smack-by-the-Bay. An art heist has been averted, an albino alligator refuge established, and a family of refugee circus performers, gainfully employed. After much thought (and a tell-all memoir) Tristan Benway has decided to remain in the employ of the Bellweather family, and the children, especially, have tried to mend their ways.

But old habits die hard, and when the triplets - Brick, Spike, and Sassy - experiment in negative space on the lighthouse stairs, Benway ends up in the hospital with a broken leg, and the Bellweathers are left without a butler. 

The family's efforts to find an interim servant fail miserably. Their troubles mount as they become mixed-up with a band of roving Gypsies, paleontological discoveries gone awry, and encounters with rare attack squirrels.  But letting the recuperating Benway know of their plight is not an option. As the Bellweathers spin increasingly amazing stories of their "new servant" at Benway's bedside, the poor butler starts to wonder if he was ever needed. . .

Genres: Juvenile, Childrens, Humor, Middle Grade

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 12, 2010

About the author

Kristin Clark Venuti wrote on many things while growing up, including her father's prized dictionary, her mother's walls, and the family dog (with blueberry ink, of course). Now a children's-theater producer, scene painter, and two-time black belt, she lives with her husband, children, and their ink-free dog in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a year since Benway decided not to leave the Bellweathers, and in that time he’s felt more appreciated. Then the triplets remove two stairs in the name of art, and Benway lands in the hospital with a broken leg and mayhem again in sues as the family members are left to fend for themselves, and Benway tries to break out of the hospital to help them.

I really enjoyed Leaving the Bellweathers, but the sequel falls a little flat. It feels like only a slightly different story. It’s still funny though, and children will enjoy revisiting the zany characters.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super-fun sequel to Leaving the Bellweathers. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one aloud to my daughter, especially the peeks into the journal of the Butler at the end of each chapter. Hoping there will be another Bellweather tale to follow. :)

[Boni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as delightful as the first Bellweather tale. Venuti's zany plotting and dry humor are spot-on and the characters are funny and wonderful.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sequel to Venuti's hilarious Leaving the Bellweathers, The Butler Gets a Break is just as fun, just as witty, and keeps the pages turning!

Even the chapter titles had me smiling!

Benway, our beloved butler to the Bellweathers, breaks his leg and has to spend some time recuperating. However, he gets little rest as he worries about the children, especially the triplets, and his mysterious replacement, while being cared for by a nurse with a firm hand.

"Chainsaws are so hard on furniture."

The triplets found themselves to be hysterically funny, and I found myself chuckling at their puns and plays on words, which are brilliant...but they aren't MY triplets!

The cover art is once again brilliant and telling, and completely eye-catching!

This is such a fun series for the Middle Grade set, I'm looking forward to the next one (Kristin? What's next?).

Oh, and I still think they would make the most colorful movies!

[Kami · Rating 3 out of 5]

- This was another charming Bellweather Tale.

- The cover is perfect for the story! It really shows what is going on with each individual family member.

- I didn't find the story as intriguing as the first book, but it was still cute.

- These books remind me a lot Lemony Snicket's books.

- I love how Benway tries to pretend he isn't attached to the family, and how he isn't addicted to a certain TV show.

- I also liked that the book showed that the Benway family really needs Benway, and they think he is part of the family.

- I want a butler. Maybe not one like Benway, but one like Carson (from Downton Abbey). I think Benway is only suited for the Bellweather family.

- I think I would have enjoyed this more if I were younger. I'm sure kids around 12 or so would love this book though!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Lemony Snicket readalike. I did not like Lemony Snicket, and this book does not grab me any more than those did. However, I do think the off humor and "naughty children" are favorites of students. The story is narrated from the Butler's Journal entries as he lies in a hospital bed laid up because the triplets cut a hole in the staircase in their pursuit of art and he fell breaking his leg. This book unlike the Snicket books features parents for the children, but rather self-absorbed ones, so the butler is in charge, until now. Venti's characters are well constructed and memorable. I love the names.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had trouble getting into the book but persevered. (I should have read the first book to get to know the characters.) I really enjoyed the butler's comments in his diary-sometimes laugh out loud silly.
Kids would enjoy!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tries really hard (too hard) to have a Lemony Snicket quirkiness. But it isn't Lemony. And it isn't Snicket-y. And it isn't even quirky. It's irk-y. And murky. And it kind of was a turkey.

[Miri Gifford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly amusing. I would have loved this as a middle-schooler. As an adult, I could wish that the only two adult female characters (one of whom wasn't even in the book, just mentioned a lot in reference to the previous book) had been portrayed less stereotypically.

[Madeline Smoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

As witty and endearing as the first book.

For ages 9 & up.

[Rafael]

i think i read this book but i not sure

[Childrens Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny! A good sequel and great nonsense. -Maeve

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny. I actually like this one a good bit more than the previous one.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find Benway to be a bit annoying, but I can see how children would find it amusing.