What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
► UNSOLVED: One specific book
>
Another Children's "our new house has more windows outside than in" chapter book (1970s). Secret room discovered after a window was left unwashed after a thorough cleaning.
date
newest »
newest »
message 51:
by
Pygar
(new)
Jan 15, 2022 03:39PM
If I'm wrong- I'm sorry, but this puts me in mind of The Tuckers the Wonderful House (The Tuckers) but since I haven't read it since the Johnson Administration... I recall them finding a treasure, I even recall where, and I seem to recall they really needed it, perhaps to keep the house?
reply
|
flag
Thanks, Pygar, but I don't think this is it, although I can't find an electronic copy to rule it out — or in. All I can say is that it doesn't look familiar. The only e-copy of a "The Tuckers" book I could find was "Toby Tucker." That seemed a little too much of a picture book. I remember a "Bobbsey Twins"-type format, mostly text with a picture every five to ten pages or so. Toby Tucker was more of a picture book, with a picture on every page (although with a fair amount of text as well). But Goodreads suggests that Toby Tucker was specifically formatted for "younger readers"; assuming that meant "younger than the average "The Tuckers" reader", using Toby Tucker as a comparison is probably not warranted.
"Hey kids; why is that window still dusty?" bump.
Do you remember if the kids finding a secret room is mentioned in the book's blurb/description? In other words, does the reader know going into the book that the kids discover a secret room?
Sorry; I really can't remember anything about the blurb or description, if it even had one.
OK, this one is driving me nuts, because I know I read this book, or one very like it, as a child. I've thought of it over the years, but I can't remember the title. However, my memory of the window washing is a little different from SamSpayedPI's.In my memory, the old house is an inheritance. Mom and the kids go to the country to fix up the old place over the summer, Dad stays in town to work. They hope to sell the old place once it's fixed up (I think). Mom hires a handyman to clean the windows outdoors, while she and the children clean the windows indoors. Mom and the handyman settle on payment at 25 cents per window (or something like that). When the day is over, they find their count is different: mom tries to pay the man by her window count, but the handyman demands 25 cents more. Everybody troops outside to count the windows to settle the dispute, and lo and behold, an extra upstairs window (still dusty on the inside) is counted outside. Searching the house leads to a secret room behind the window. Definitely an American setting, not English. If anyone remembers this book, I'd be as grateful as Sam.
It might not be the same book, Sirvantes; windows inside versus windows outside appears to be a relatively common trope in children's literature.Some unsolved threads, including more suggestions, none of which are my book but could possibly be yours:
Robin's thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Louise Joy's thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Rainbowheart wrote: "The Merriweathers?"Thanks, but not it. No window cleaning involved (except for mention of a servant who refused to clean windows). It's very similar in style and tone to what I remember, though.
Aww, rats, lol.The hunt continues!
The Clover Club and the House of MysteryThe synopsis (thank you, Rainbowheart, for finding it and adding it!) doesn't sound quite right, but here's a group of kids and a house from the 70s that I felt was obscure enough to mention, just in case it rings bells (I only see 2 books in this series, but who knows if there's a missing volume).
Still on the radar! :)
It's not The House on Charlton Street; no window washing scene. I couldn't find a copy to check, but it's probably not The Clover Club and the House of Mystery either. The synopsis is not what I remember, and 1978 would have been a bit late for me to read that type of book.
Thanks for looking, guys!
Rainbowheart wrote: "Long shot, The Boarded-Up House?"I'm afraid not. There is some window-cleaning involved, but only so the MCs can sneak through them into an abandoned house with less damage to their clothing.
Thanks for trying!
No worries, I'll keep an eye out!
Could it be one of the Hardy Boys books by Franklin W. Dixon? I've read ALOT of them but I know there are other variations.
Sam, your search skills are better than mine. I found this title and nothing else: The House Where Nobody LivedI haven't read this author yet, but contemporary with Blyton and allegedly similar in style.
The Secret of the Hidden Room I can't find much about this, except one review:
"...a bit different in that this story takes place in the US instead of some other country like all the other books I've read of hers. The mystery was fun and there was enough "excitement" with the "bad guy" to ensure a "have to keep reading" feeling though that wasn't the whole focus of the story. One thing I wasn't sure of at first, is the relationship between the older brother and his sister. They didn't get along at first and seemed to always be having trouble. But things got better. :) I won't tell how, but I really did like the story by the time I had finished it..."
I know, it's not enough to go on. A free 'bump', again, then, if nothing else.
I found another potential contender that I can't dig up any additional info for:
The House with the Blind Window
Capn wrote: "I found another potential contender that I can't dig up any additional info for:The House with the Blind Window"
Thank you, but I couldn't find anything about it either. It doesn't look familiar. I also sort of remember the dirty window in my book being a bit of a surprise; that is, not something that was anticipated by the title of the book, if that makes sense.
I've been having some success of late with a text search at OpenLibrary. I gave it a go for this one but didn't strike gold - but maybe I didn't choose the right phrasing?https://openlibrary.org/ (drop-down in search box gives Text option. I've been adding individual "words" and "short phrases" in quotes like that, and it's paid off in other searches).
Rather contingent on OL having scanned said book, but hey, worth a shot, right? :)
The Fourth Window
Not finding much about this other than "A mystery-adventure story for most boys from ages ten through fifteen.", but saw that it hadn't been mentioned. Total potshot.
Thanks, Capn. I can't find a copy to confirm but I'm pretty sure that isn't it.Secret room behind dirty window bump.
Children's novel—dirty window/secret room bump
The Vandals of Treason House
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL44595...
It does have a secret room, and kids forced to clean an old house, but I didn't have time to search the text. Came up on the Forgotten Vintage Children's Lit. We Want Republished! list, and I didn't see it ruled out yet.
Edit: had time to take a look - doesn't look promising, as secret room is the 'whispering room' next to the chimney (accessible by wooden panel).
Capn wrote: "The Vandals of Treason Househttps://openlibrary.org/works/OL44595...
..."
Definitely not Vandals of Treason House. (source: me, having read it 30 times since I was 8 years old :))
Daisy wrote: "Capn wrote: "The Vandals of Treason Househttps://openlibrary.org/works/OL44595......"
Wow! (Quietly adds to to-read list....) :)
(Thanks Daisy, Sorry Sam!)
Capn, don't get TOO excited! I do think it's a great book, but sometimes a book you read as a little kid sticks with you but might not be a good read for another adult.That said, I do think it stands up remarkably as something that could happen the same way today, despite being published fifty years ago!
Well, thank you! I appreciate the effort.
Amber (Daisymau) wrote: "The Whispering House?"Thanks, but I don't think so. I can't find a copy to read but it doesn't look familiar and the description isn't what I remember.
Rainbowheart wrote: "Long shot, The Strange House?"Thanks, but no. The premise was definitely that the kids were cleaning their own house they just moved into, and discovered the secret room because one of the windows was still dirty after they thought they cleaned the entire house.
No worries, I'll continue to keep my eyes open!
Could it be Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper? There's a part where they find a hidden room about 20-30 pages in according to Google Books and your description made me think of that book, but I don't currently have access to it so can't confim if the method of discovery is related to window cleaning.
Hayley wrote: "Could it be Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper? There's a part where they find a hidden room about 20-30 pages in…"Thanks, Hayley. I've put a hold on it at my library and I'll check it out when it's available.
I don't think it's the one, however, from what I could tell from the Open Library preview. It looks like they found the hidden room by noticing the discrepancy in wall lengths, not by an unwashed window.
Yeah, you're right. I found a longer sample and they do figure it it from inside looking at wall length/room spacing. I do feel like I've read the story you're talking about though.
I know I've read this exact same book when I was in elementary school in the mid-70's. I've been following this thread and hoping you find the name of the book so I can read it too. :)
Rainbowheart wrote: "Another long shot, The Six Robbens?"Amber (Daisymau) wrote: "You can borrow the book on archive.org"
No, no secret rooms, unfortunately. Thanks, though!
No worries, I'll keep an eye out!
Secret room discovered by dirty window bump.
What's the Name of That Book???
Books mentioned in this topic
The Six Robbens (other topics)The Six Robbens (other topics)
The Six Robbens (other topics)
Over Sea, Under Stone (other topics)
Over Sea, Under Stone (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Enid Blyton (other topics)Franklin W. Dixon (other topics)
Betty K. Levine (other topics)
Phyllis A. Whitney (other topics)
