Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4. Although the entries in Kline's popular chapter-book series about the kids in Room 3B aren't usually mysteries, this one turns the students, especially intrepid Harry, into amateur detectives. It's sleeting outside, and everybody is bored, bored, bored. When knock-knock jokes and the activities of ZuZu's guinea pig (he's not even pooping! ) grow stale, the kids look around for something else to occupy them. Harry finds it: the locked closet in Miss Mackle's classroom, which has remained closed for more than 40 years. What could be in there? Not even Mr. Skooghammer, who attended South School as a child, knows the answer. Meanwhile, in class, the kids learn about volcanoes, and Kline includes some appended volcano facts to add bulk to the fictional story. Fun and funny, with a credible mystery, and Kline is right on the mark when it comes to both her audience and her characters. --Stephanie Zvirin Copyright 2004 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-Another delightful Horrible Harry episode begins when Miss Mackle's students become bored after many days of bad weather and indoor recess. However, things get exciting when Harry proposes that Room 3B solve the mystery of the locked closet, which has been closed off for nearly 50 years. Harry gets his classmates and some of the teachers to help out with the investigation, which leads to many surprises including the discovery of a hidden trap door, and what they think are real eyeballs. When the closet is finally opened, each student delights in newfound treasures of old comic books, 1950s children's classic stories, and some board games. Black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout. Kline writes in a humorous style that rings true and her characters and realistic story have great appeal for reluctant readers, especially boys.-Kristina Aaronson, Henniker Community School, NH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Doug and Harry solve the mystery of a classroom closet that has been locked for forty-five years. They discover that it holds classic toys and books+fun for indoor recess. This book in the popular series delivers what readers expect+a straightforward plot, likable characters, and easy format. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
