Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School

The Boston area has been hit hard by a new wave of commercialization. Historic sites have yielded to the lure of big bucks, and now, C. Robinson Fetchley, a shady developer, is planning to make history by breaking ground for his tenth entertainment mega-parkbut he needs to get his hands on the Duncan Oakes School first. While everyone else in town is in love with this garish future, young Benjamin Pratt is in love with the past, the real past. He is one of those rare middle schoolers who already knows what he wants to do in life, he wants to be an historian. And, right now, the only thing he likes about his educational experience is Oakes School itself. Its so old, its so interesting. Its so full of stories. But what can he do? He's just a 6th grade kid who likes American history. Then, one day at school Ben discovers an old leather pouch, really old - just the way he likes it. Inside is a parchment scroll written by three students. The date on the note is 1791. They call themselves The Keepers of the School and it turns out, the 18th century keepers are not the only secret groups that have existed at Oakes School. This first in a six-book series follows Ben and his sarcastic friend, Jill as they uncover a remarkable history and use it to protect the future of their school.

The Keepers of the School are back - and the stakes are even higher. Time is ticking as the countdown to Ben Pratt's school's total demolition continues. Ben has been given a handful of clues that could help them save the school, but they are all written in maritime riddles. After five bells sound, time to sit down. What the heck does that mean? Its hard to know where to begin when Ben and Jill dont even know what they are looking for. All Lyman, the snake posing as the school janitor, needs to know, though, is that they are looking, and that could mean the end of the 30-million-dollar development deal that pays his salary. (Which, by the way, is MUCH larger than a typical janitor makes.) As Lyman lurks in the shadows - and sometimes not in the shadows - Ben and Jill have to add another to-do to their list of things to accomplish in the next twenty-one days, (1) Figure out the clues left by past Keepers of the School Groups, (2) figure out how these clues will help them save the school, and (3) stay one step ahead of Lyman. Thats the mission - which seems, at times, impossible. The second installment in this riveting and mysterious six-book series is as action-packed as the first one, culminating in a faceoff between Ben and Lyman. After five bells sound, time to sit down makes for a good riddle, but Ben also knows when its time to stand upfor Oakes School and for himself.

Andrew Clements delivers the latest in his adventure-filled school series. This could be the last great Memorial Day weekend on Barclay Bay, and Ben knows it. This time next year, he might not be able to stand in the yard of the Oakes School and watch the harbor shake off winterboats buzzing just beyond the bulkhead and families spreading picnics in the fields. If the school gets torn down and replaced by an amusement park, the town will never be the same. But thats only if the school gets torn down. Ben and Jill are determined to keep that from happening. And the evil janitor Lyman has taken note. He's following their every move - and undoing their progress along the way. Good thing Ben and Jill have a secret weapon. (Who knew that annoying Robert Gerritt would be such a spy wiz?) But Lyman has a secret weapon as well, a vicious guard dog. These kids are smart, but can they outsmart Lymanand his beastas the clock tick, tick, ticks toward total demolition?

The threat to the Keepers doubles in the fourth Keepers of the School adventure from Andrew Clements, the master of the school story. Benjamin Pratt and his friends, Jill and Robert, are determined to save their school from destruction. But just when it seems they've finally gotten the upper hand over that awful Janitor Lyman, theyre caught completely off guard by his next move: Lyman has called in reinforcements, and suddenly Benjamin, Jill, and Robert find themselves dodging not one evil janitor, but two. That's right: Lyman's got himself a partner. And it quickly becomes clear that Wally, the new guy, is even more corrupt and menacing than Lyman. Luckily, Ben's team has been growing too. Plus, thanks to the latest safeguard, they also have a secret fund of millions of dollars. But all the money in Massachusetts isn't enough to stop Lyman and Wally, not when they've come this far, and not when they are about to put the most harmful part of their plan into play. Could the next safeguard give the Keepers what they need, or has their battle to save the school already been sunk?

Time is almost out for the Keepers of the School in this fifth Keepers adventure from Andrew Clements, the master of the school story. The Keepers of the School - known to their friends as Ben, Jill, and Robert - have one last chance to save their school before its torn down to make room for a seaside amusement park. But their nemeses, Janitors Lyman and Wally, are just as determined to keep the kids out of the way and the demolition on schedule. One way or the other, this battle is about to come to a head. When all is said and done, will the school still be standing? Or will everything the Keepers have fought for be destroyed?