Gr 3-6-Clements's final series installment will satisfy both established fans and new listeners who will surely want to go back and listen to the other titles. Benjamin, Jill, and Robert are determined to keep their historic middle school from being torn down, thereby destroying their entire community. The three very sharp young detectives are even able to win several adults and classmates to their mission. Keith Nobbs is convincing as the determined and good-hearted Benjamin. His ability to imbue the protagonist with a truthful and sincere voice will make listeners cheer for him from page one. Clements's descriptive text and Nobbs's clear, thoughtful narration allow listeners to imagine the old middle school from the stately library to secret passages filled with dust and secrets. This is a clever mystery teeming with historical details and a strong message that young people can and do make a difference every day. A great listen for the entire family.-Shari Fesko, Southfield Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

It's a done deal. In just two and a half days, the Captain Duncan Oakes School, founded in the late 1700s, will be torn down to make way for an amusement park. But wait . . . Oakes stated that the school belongs to its students, and sixth-graders Ben, Jill, and Robert have stepped up to save it. Following clues left by the school's founder more than 200 years ago, the kids evade the spying thugs sent by the amusement park company, explore their school building's secret passages, and discover treasures that just might put off demolition day forever. Despite the twenty-first-century technology in use, this chapter book is reminiscent of mid-twentieth-century mystery books, from the style of the illustrations to the parents' willingness to let their kids take risks. In a plot based on teamwork, Clements builds suspense effectively throughout the story, leading to a startling revelation at the climax. This fifth book in the Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School series is a must-read for fans.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2014 Booklist

The efforts of Ben, Robert, and Jill to save their school from demolition conclude in this fifth installment, as the Keepers track down the final clues left by Captain Duncan Oakes and discover a treasure trove of historical documents. Clements's riddles and puzzles are engaging, but lengthy descriptions and background slow the action and Ben's emotions don't ring true. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.