Overview

In this exciting conclusion to Karel Hayes' Lake Kanakondah trilogy, the mysterious Mr. Blackendoff appears to tell Alex the story of the bell box, which begins in far off Peru. Soon Alex realizes he must take control to finally unravel the ancient mystery that surrounds Lake Kanakondah. Is he on the right trail or is he making things unimaginably worse?

Full Product Details

9781684751044

Table of Contents

Reviews

"Any child who is given The Bell Box to read this summer is very lucky indeed. Even more fortunate are parents and children who read this exciting series together. (This is the third book, the conclusion of the Lake Kanakondah trilogy.) They will have the delightful opportunity to join Alex, Maizy, family and friends in their quest to solve the mystery of the bell box - and to save Lake Kanakondah. The combination of loving family, loyal friends and non-stop adventure is a sure winner. Twists and turns, fantastical creatures, wishes gone wrong - Readers will be savoring these spellbinding adventures for the remainder of school break. --Barbara Prince, Retired Librarian Great paper texture. Paper weight and texture are important supports for young page turners. I absolutely love the chapter lengths. They seems to perfectly coincide with the attention span of my 4th graders. Great for reading aloud and having end of chapter discussions. The length of the chapters also support building reading stamina in young readers. If reading together, I can hear them saying, ""read one more chapter!"" If reading independently, I can hear them thinking, ""I'll just read one more chapter."" Fantastic! My students love to share their predictions with classmates. What I loved about The Bell Box, was I found making accurate predictions challenging. This book is full of surprises and I often caught myself thinking, ""I didn't see that coming."" My favorite parts of The Bell Box were where the author creates tension and suspense. I felt myself tighten up when the stranger sits near Jane on the train and repeatedly tries to handle her backpack. I also tensed up with the rules of Mr.Blackendoff's story. The rule that Alex could not speak, kept me in anticipation. I kept waiting for him to slip up. I also kept waiting for a disaster to happen if he were to meet himself. I was so excited with the blending of characters. Everyone from the trilogy was included in the final book, but they took on different roles. So interesting and fun to have everyone there. I loved how the character, Cassandra, no longer wanted to be called Cass. We all have encountered people like that, and it shows her developing maturity and embracing her individuality. I often see my fourth graders play around with either shortening their names, or preferring to be called by their full names. The author really won my heart with the element of time travel. The Bell Box allowed me to be a kid again. The whole trilogy does that. Dinosaurs, sea creatures, Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth... When I was young, I often daydreamed about time travel and the possible places I could go. My fourth graders are at the age of when this magical thinking happens. They are going to love this trilogy! The trilogy - The sense of wonder and excitement is found on every page. I loved The Mystery of Lake Kanakondah. The Kingdom of Rattlesnake Mountain was a real page turner. I read it in 2 days! The author saved the best for last. The Bell Box triggered so many emotions; tension, anticipation, worry, suspense, and happiness. I wish Lake Kanakonda, or Marchem Island actually existed. I'd probably book my next vacations there. --Monica Quattrochio, 4th Grade Teacher The author really won my heart with the element of time travel. The Bell Box allowed me to be a kid again. The whole trilogy does that. Dinosaurs, sea creatures, Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth... When I was young, I often daydreamed about time travel and the possible places I could go. My fourth graders are at the age of when this magical thinking happens. They are going to love this trilogy! --Monica Quattrochio, 4th Grade Teacher Great paper texture. Paper weight and texture are important supports for young page turners. I absolutely love the chapter lengths. They seems to perfectly coincide with the attention span of my 4th graders. Great for reading aloud and having end of chapter discussions. The length of the chapters also support building reading stamina in young readers. If reading together, I can hear them saying, ""read one more chapter!"" If reading independently, I can hear them thinking, ""I'll just read one more chapter."" Fantastic! My students love to share their predictions with classmates. What I loved about The Bell Box, was I found making accurate predictions challenging. This book is full of surprises and I often caught myself thinking, ""I didn't see that coming."" My favorite parts of The Bell Box were where the author creates tension and suspense. I felt myself tighten up when the stranger sits near Jane on the train and repeatedly tries to handle her backpack. I also tensed up with the rules of Mr.Blackendoff's story. The rule that Alex could not speak, kept me in anticipation. I kept waiting for him to slip up. I also kept waiting for a disaster to happen if he were to meet himself. I was so excited with the blending of characters. Everyone from the trilogy was included in the final book, but they took on different roles. So interesting and fun to have everyone there. I loved how the character, Cassandra, no longer wanted to be called Cass. We all have encountered people like that, and it shows her developing maturity and embracing her individuality. I often see my fourth graders play around with either shortening their names, or preferring to be called by their full names. The author really won my heart with the element of time travel. The Bell Box allowed me to be a kid again. The whole trilogy does that. Dinosaurs, sea creatures, Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth... When I was young, I often daydreamed about time travel and the possible places I could go. My fourth graders are at the age of when this magical thinking happens. They are going to love this trilogy! The trilogy - The sense of wonder and excitement is found on every page. I loved The Mystery of Lake Kanakondah. The Kingdom of Rattlesnake Mountain was a real page turner. I read it in 2 days! The author saved the best for last. The Bell Box triggered so many emotions; tension, anticipation, worry, suspense, and happiness. I wish Lake Kanakonda, or Marchem Island actually existed. I'd probably book my next vacations there. The author really won my heart with the element of time travel. The Bell Box allowed me to be a kid again. The whole trilogy does that. Dinosaurs, sea creatures, Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth... When I was young, I often daydreamed about time travel and the possible places I could go. My fourth graders are at the age of when this magical thinking happens. They are going to love this trilogy! Any child who is given The Bell Box to read this summer is very lucky indeed. Even more fortunate are parents and children who read this exciting series together. (This is the third book, the conclusion of the Lake Kanakondah trilogy.) They will have the delightful opportunity to join Alex, Maizy, family and friends in their quest to solve the mystery of the bell box - and to save Lake Kanakondah. The combination of loving family, loyal friends and non-stop adventure is a sure winner. Twists and turns, fantastical creatures, wishes gone wrong - Readers will be savoring these spellbinding adventures for the remainder of school break."

"Any child who is given The Bell Box to read this summer is very lucky indeed. Even more fortunate are parents and children who read this exciting series together. (This is the third book, the conclusion of the Lake Kanakondah trilogy.) They will have the delightful opportunity to join Alex, Maizy, family and friends in their quest to solve the mystery of the bell box - and to save Lake Kanakondah. The combination of loving family, loyal friends and non-stop adventure is a sure winner. Twists and turns, fantastical creatures, wishes gone wrong - Readers will be savoring these spellbinding adventures for the remainder of school break. Great paper texture. Paper weight and texture are important supports for young page turners. I absolutely love the chapter lengths. They seems to perfectly coincide with the attention span of my 4th graders. Great for reading aloud and having end of chapter discussions. The length of the chapters also support building reading stamina in young readers. If reading together, I can hear them saying, ""read one more chapter!"" If reading independently, I can hear them thinking, ""I'll just read one more chapter."" Fantastic! My students love to share their predictions with classmates. What I loved about The Bell Box, was I found making accurate predictions challenging. This book is full of surprises and I often caught myself thinking, ""I didn't see that coming."" My favorite parts of The Bell Box were where the author creates tension and suspense. I felt myself tighten up when the stranger sits near Jane on the train and repeatedly tries to handle her backpack. I also tensed up with the rules of Mr.Blackendoff's story. The rule that Alex could not speak, kept me in anticipation. I kept waiting for him to slip up. I also kept waiting for a disaster to happen if he were to meet himself. I was so excited with the blending of characters. Everyone from the trilogy was included in the final book, but they took on different roles. So interesting and fun to have everyone there. I loved how the character, Cassandra, no longer wanted to be called Cass. We all have encountered people like that, and it shows her developing maturity and embracing her individuality. I often see my fourth graders play around with either shortening their names, or preferring to be called by their full names. The author really won my heart with the element of time travel. The Bell Box allowed me to be a kid again. The whole trilogy does that. Dinosaurs, sea creatures, Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth... When I was young, I often daydreamed about time travel and the possible places I could go. My fourth graders are at the age of when this magical thinking happens. They are going to love this trilogy! The trilogy - The sense of wonder and excitement is found on every page. I loved The Mystery of Lake Kanakondah. The Kingdom of Rattlesnake Mountain was a real page turner. I read it in 2 days! The author saved the best for last. The Bell Box triggered so many emotions; tension, anticipation, worry, suspense, and happiness. I wish Lake Kanakonda, or Marchem Island actually existed. I'd probably book my next vacations there. The author really won my heart with the element of time travel. The Bell Box allowed me to be a kid again. The whole trilogy does that. Dinosaurs, sea creatures, Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth... When I was young, I often daydreamed about time travel and the possible places I could go. My fourth graders are at the age of when this magical thinking happens. They are going to love this trilogy!"

Any child who is given The Bell Box to read this summer is very lucky indeed. Even more fortunate are parents and children who read this exciting series together. (This is the third book, the conclusion of the Lake Kanakondah trilogy.) They will have the delightful opportunity to join Alex, Maizy, family and friends in their quest to solve the mystery of the bell box - and to save Lake Kanakondah. The combination of loving family, loyal friends and non-stop adventure is a sure winner. Twists and turns, fantastical creatures, wishes gone wrong - Readers will be savoring these spellbinding adventures for the remainder of school break. Great paper texture. Paper weight and texture are important supports for young page turners. I absolutely love the chapter lengths. They seems to perfectly coincide with the attention span of my 4th graders. Great for reading aloud and having end of chapter discussions. The length of the chapters also support building reading stamina in young readers. If reading together, I can hear them saying, ""read one more chapter!"" If reading independently, I can hear them thinking, ""I'll just read one more chapter."" Fantastic! My students love to share their predictions with classmates. What I loved about The Bell Box, was I found making accurate predictions challenging. This book is full of surprises and I often caught myself thinking, ""I didn't see that coming."" My favorite parts of The Bell Box were where the author creates tension and suspense. I felt myself tighten up when the stranger sits near Jane on the train and repeatedly tries to handle her backpack. I also tensed up with the rules of Mr.Blackendoff's story. The rule that Alex could not speak, kept me in anticipation. I kept waiting for him to slip up. I also kept waiting for a disaster to happen if he were to meet himself. I was so excited with the blending of characters. Everyone from the trilogy was included in the final book, but they took on different roles. So interesting and fun to have everyone there. I loved how the character, Cassandra, no longer wanted to be called Cass. We all have encountered people like that, and it shows her developing maturity and embracing her individuality. I often see my fourth graders play around with either shortening their names, or preferring to be called by their full names. The author really won my heart with the element of time travel. The Bell Box allowed me to be a kid again. The whole trilogy does that. Dinosaurs, sea creatures, Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth... When I was young, I often daydreamed about time travel and the possible places I could go. My fourth graders are at the age of when this magical thinking happens. They are going to love this trilogy! The trilogy - The sense of wonder and excitement is found on every page. I loved The Mystery of Lake Kanakondah. The Kingdom of Rattlesnake Mountain was a real page turner. I read it in 2 days! The author saved the best for last. The Bell Box triggered so many emotions; tension, anticipation, worry, suspense, and happiness. I wish Lake Kanakonda, or Marchem Island actually existed. I'd probably book my next vacations there. The author really won my heart with the element of time travel. The Bell Box allowed me to be a kid again. The whole trilogy does that. Dinosaurs, sea creatures, Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth... When I was young, I often daydreamed about time travel and the possible places I could go. My fourth graders are at the age of when this magical thinking happens. They are going to love this trilogy!

Any child who is given The Bell Box to read this summer is very lucky indeed. Even more fortunate are parents and children who read this exciting series together. (This is the third book, the conclusion of the Lake Kanakondah trilogy.) They will have the delightful opportunity to join Alex, Maizy, family and friends in their quest to solve the mystery of the bell box - and to save Lake Kanakondah. The combination of loving family, loyal friends and non-stop adventure is a sure winner. Twists and turns, fantastical creatures, wishes gone wrong - Readers will be savoring these spellbinding adventures for the remainder of school break.

Author Information

Watercolor artist and illustrator Karel Hayes has participated in solo, juried, and invitational exhibitions throughout the United States. Her paintings have been shown at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History, the Fine Arts Center in Taos, New Mexico, and in New York City at the Salmagundi Club, the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, and the National Arts Club. Her drawings have appeared in several magazines and she has illustrated more than ten books, including Time for the Fair, The Winter Visitors, and Who’s Been Here? A Tale in Tracks. She lives with her husband in Center Harbor, New Hampshire.

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