A Week in the Woods

The fifth-grade Week in the Woods is a beloved tradition of Hardy Elementary, where Mark Chelmsley (the Fourth) is pretty much killing time before his parents send him off to an exclusive prep school. But then Mark realizes the Week might be a chance to prove to Mr. Maxwell that he's not just another of the slacker rich kids the teacher can't stand.

But it may be too late for Mark to change Mr. Maxwell's opinion of him. On the first day of the Week, the tension between teacher and student explodes, and in a reckless moment, Mark puts not only himself, but also Mr. Maxwell, in grave danger. Can two such strong adversaries work together to save their lives?

Amazon.com Review
Rich kids are snobs and slackers. They think they're too good for anyone else, and that they don't have to work hard at anything. That, at least, is the opinion of fifth-grade science teacher Mr. Maxwell, and the super-rich new kid, Mark Chelmsley, is showing no signs of transcending the stereotype. Or is Mr. Maxwell just too anti-elitist or ego-driven to notice? Once again, the talented Andrew Clements (Frindle, The Janitor's Boy) allows adult characters to "come of age" right along with his adolescent characters in the most refreshing and insightful of ways.

Mark has low expectations of his new school in rural New Hampshire, and he'll be there for less than four months anyway, so he can't let himself get attached. It's the glory of the countryside around him that shakes him awake--and the urban boy's first trek on snowshoes, discovery of an old barn, and rediscovery of Jack London are exciting to behold. For the first time in his busy, absentee parent-controlled life, Mark discovers "his own sense of time--time present--and he had discovered how much this time was worth."

As the reader starts to like this curious, resourceful, clearly not lazy kid, Mr. Maxwell's preconceptions start to seem all the worse. It all comes to a head at the school's annual camp out (called A Week in the Woods), where Mr. Maxwell accuses Mark of breaking a rule--without getting all the facts that would have proven his innocence. Mark escapes into the woods before he can be driven home: "If Mr. Maxwell wants to get rid of me so bad, then he's gonna have to find me first!" Will Mark survive on his own in the woods overnight? What will Mr. Maxwell do when he learns his own prejudices have colored his judgment? What starts out as a school camp out turns into a terrifically suspenseful survival story of a man and boy who come head-to-head, and learn a few lessons while they're at it. Readers will be on the edges of their seats! (Ages 9 to 13) --Karin Snelson

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

good, but a little lame, 2007-11-03
This book was okay. It had a lot of interesting parts, but way more boring parts. It has a lot of interesting parts like when Mr. Maxwell gave Mark a permission slip to go to something called A Week In The Woods. I wondered what was going to happen to Mark in A Week In The Woods. The boring part is about 100 pages long. That is why it is more boring than good. It is really boring when Mark escapes from Mr. Maxwell's truck and then Mr. Maxwell is looking for Mark, and then Mark is trying to run away from Mr. Maxwell, but then decides to find Mr. Maxwell, and then it's like 40 more pages until they meet up. When you are reading the boring part, you will wonder when will this be over! I would say it's an okay book to buy if you love Andrew Clements' books.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Cool, 2007-10-30
a good book about a rich kid learning how not to make snap judgements.
relly it is for sure a do reader


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

My daughter's favorite Andrew Clements book of all!, 2007-09-21
My 11-year-old just finished this and declared it the best Andrew Clements book of all! Having enjoyed so many of his books, this was high praise for her to give.


2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Great book for my special needs students, 2007-07-18
My students in summer school extended school year thought this was great! We listened to the book on CD to help with comprehension and fluency. They loved learning about camping, the woods and friendships. It was great to show them different people and their interactions.


2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

A Week in the Woods, 2007-06-06
Mark Chelmsley had just moved to New Hampshire, where he would have to attend Hardy Elementary. At the school, A Week in the Woods was a beloved tradition and Mr. Maxwell was in charge. On the trip, Mark almost got suspended and wondered off into the woods. Will Mark and Mr. Maxwell be able to work together to save each other's lives?

A Week in the Woods is full of twists and turns. If you are looking for an adventure packed novel, than this book is for you. Also, children from 9 to 13 should probably read this fantastic story. I definitely liked the sections of the book that made me feel as if I could not stop reading! A Week in the Woods is an incredible novel that everybody should read!

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