I read this book and absolutely loved it. It is a great story for anyone who feels left out or "In the middle". I first read it in junior high and it gave me a character to identify with and a story to enjoy as well. I read it again and again.

Maudie in the Middle is a book about a girl who is in the middle of seven children. She felt that being in the middle she got the worst of everything, because she had to go do chores instead of staying home to play with the youngest children, and she was to young to go do exciting things with her three oldest siblings. Maudie dreamed of being Aunt Sylvie's godchild so that she would get special atention from someone. Maudie thought that if she was good enugh her wish would come true. But it was to hard not to get in to trouble on the farm that she lived in the early 1900's.

I was first introduced to this story via the movie when I was in grade school...I loved it the first time I watched it and it became tradition in the school I attended to view it every year. I lost track of the story once I hit high school because it was no longer shown on TV and so it was by pure accident that I found the book in a used book shop. I purchased it on a whim to see if the book held as much magic as the movie did from my childhood and I was more than pleased. There is no other way to describe this book but as a complete joy. Hidden in the guise of a children's book is a well-written, hilarious, and touching story showing the true meaning of Christmas and how even the "worst kids in the history of the world" can understand the spirit of the season if given a chance. This book should be added to the yearly ritual of reading Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' and Clement C. Moore's 'Night Before Christmas' because children as well as adults will enjoy the story. I'm also happy to say that I was able to find a copy of the movie on here, too, so I can add it to my annual viewing of 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas.'

I didn't read this book until I was 32 years old and it made my day! I laughed so hard that I thought that I was going to hurt something. I loved the Herdmans because I grew up with a lot of kids like them. I now know why this is a classic that will continue on long after I'm gone. Ms. Robinson did a fantastic job of incorperating humor in many, many poignant moments. I laughed reading every page until the last two or three when the tears came. You couldn't help but be deeply touched by how, for a few brief moment, the Herdmans cleaned up their act to tell the wonderful story of Christmas in their own special way. I had the opportunity to spend a day with Ms. Robinson last year and let me tell you all, it was the experience of a lifetime. She's a fantastic lady who is absolutely incredible with children.

This book tells a wonderful story of how 6 kids on child well-fair become the new meaning of christmas. By finally understanding the REAL meaning of Christmas by living it. They may not be the most liked kids on the block, but they sure do give you a laugh. It all starts when Grace's son Charlie says they get lots of dessert at sunday school, and then all the Heardmans start coming to Sunday School. Because they are so tough, not one person but the Heardmans have the leads. The oldest Heardman, Imajean, plays Mary, and the rest take all the other parts. Everyone in the neighbourhood shows up to see what happens. If you want to find out what happens, read the book or rent the movie!
All in all this book is a wonderful book, and i have nothing but good things to say about it.

I am a student at Waldron Mercy Academy. (ADH)
The story takes place in a stone orphanage close to the woods. In the orphanage lives a 10-year-old girl named Mandy. Secretly Mandy's heart pounds for a family and a place to call home. One day Mandy follows her heart and travels in the woods. There in the woods she finds a cottage and a little garden. Mandy loves it so much that she dreads leaving. When she gets back to the orphanage she swore herself to secrecy. Soon Mandy falls terribly ill and is forbidden to leave the orphanage. When
no one was around Mandy sprints towards the cottage. Outside Mandy hears loud crashing thunder and is so sick she can't even move. The only person who can reach her is a secret admirer.
This book kept me reading from page 1 to end. You should defiantly read this book.

I'm a Senior in college and I still tell everyone that this is the best book that I have ever read. I remember the first time that I found out about this book. I was in fourth grade and my reading teacher, Ms. Reed, read this story to the whole class. I got lost in the book and couldn't wait until the next day for reading class to find out what happened to Mandy next. I told my mom about the book and she went out and bought it for me. I had finished the book before Ms. Reed finished reading it to us, but I still enjoyed listening to the story. I know that this book sparked my desire to learn and read and to this day I remember that teacher and wish I could thank her for choosing such a wonderful story to get us involved in literature. I love this book!!

The book Mandy was given to me on Easter about three years ago. I started reading it and immeadiately loved it. Mandy is about a ten year-old orphan girl who yearns for something she can call her own. Thenn one day she finds it. At the edge of the orphanage there is a high wall. Mandy climbs over it and follows a path till she discovers a wonderful little cottage! The rest of the story is about how she tries so hard to keep the cottage to herself. I loved this story because every kid shares Mandy's feelings at some point in their childhood.I could feel Mandy's feelings as if they were my own as I read the book.

I loved this book as a chid, so when I ran across it recently I decided to see how well it would hold up today. I'm happy to say that it was just as fun to read now as it was all those years ago.

As an adult it is not too difficult to figure out the mystery, but it's still a fun story. As a child it was quite exciting and I'm sure that children today will love it as well. Unlike most Bellairs novels, which are usually scary stories of wizards, monsters, and curses, this is a more straightforward mystery centered around the hunt for a hidden treasure, and as such it would be appropriate for children who might be scared by some of Bellairs' other books.

This book captured my thoughts and brain with all the puzzles and mystery in it. I LOVE books that do that!!!!
It is about a boy who is searching for a treasure and has a lot of strange poems to figure out first. I can't remember to much of it, since I read it about one and a half years ago, but he comes across this other guy who is searching for it too. This 'other guy' is the son of Alpheus Winterborn and therefore thinks the treasure should be his. Well I won't give the whole book away, but if you are looking for a suspence, adventure, mystery book that is VERY CLEVERLY put together, read this one.

I recomend it 100%!

I loved this book, it's fun to read and the characters are welldeveloped and very interesting! The Anthony Monday character featuredin this story is not quite as good as the Johny Dixon character in some of John Bellair's other books (like the Curse of the Blue Figurine) but he is still enjoyable. This book has great action (floods, struggles on rooftops), and is appropriate and entertaining for ALL ages! This book might look like a childeren's book (what with it's large type and all) but I'm 15 and i still love it!

Good, short story. It can be read fast. Makes a good tale for Halloween!

Ricky just moved in with his parents to a new house. Everything was going well at first, until, during the night he heard a voice, and saw at the foot of the bed a mean small creature hanging upside down... bat!!!! .... and it talked!
It said the house belonged to the bats and that they had to leave or they would regret. Now Ricky has to convince his parents of moving out before the bats makes him very sorry for staying..

I really liked the book Bats on the Bedstead. This story is about a 6th grade boy named Ricky. His family moved into a new house. On his first night, an evil bat named Voro woke him up and asked him what he was doing in his house. The rest of the story is about how Voro tried to scare him away, and how Ricky found the courage to get rid of him.

I liked how Voro kept coming back with more and more bats to try to scare Ricky. I also got to learn about different kinds of bats as Ricky did research on them.I thought it was funny when he hit the bats with his pillow. The book was so interesting I read the whole thing in one day. I would recommend it to other kids in the 3rd grade.

This book should be resurrected in light of bats residing in the Governor's mansion in Olympia, Washington. What fun for Governor Gary Locke, wife Mona and new baby daughter Emily to read aloud. They would gain appreciation for the tiny flying mammels who inhabit older buildings like their own state mansion. Maybe the Locke's have met their Voro, the bat leader who ... but we won't tell the tales of Ricky and Voro

A childrens fiction about a young witch and her adventerous nature. Living with her aunt(a wise witch)you read how trial and error learning can turn into a adventure to save the world as we know it. This book lets your imagination run wild with the concept of magic. A great book for a young reader.

The characters and settings were a bit simplistic making the novel more suited to the junior reader. Ethnic characterizations however, are the weak point of the novel and some readers might find them politically incorrect.

When their father is reported missing in action in Viet Nam, Holly, Judy and Crock find their entire world changed. Their mother is forced to take a job where she cannot keep them with her and they are sent off to stay with their grandparents in a small New England village.

Near their grandparent's home is an overgrown garden shaped into a maze. Compelled to explore, they discover that it is a door into a bubble in time.

While Norton's books for younger readers tend to be more didactic than her books for young (and old!) adults, she makes an effort to include touches that her older readers would appreciate and enjoy. In this book which deals with magic, mystery and time travel, she tucks in a message about tolerance and accepting responsibility for one's actions. She also does not provide a pat happy ending (which children often see through and reject in books meant for them) but she does offer hope to her young characters that their situation would improve.

FROM THE COVER: A World of witches, rare herbs, and a curse are quickly discovered by Holly and the twins, Judy and Crock, when they move away from their comfortable home in Boston to live with their grandparents at the rural, rundown "Dimsdale place".... Inspired by a dream - or was it some kind of supernatural command?-the three children set out to explore the neglected, overgrown garden at the edge of the property, where they find and enter a secret house - and another century!!!...