Then There Were Five

Four siblings - Rush, Randy, Mona, and Oliver Melendy - live with their widowed father and housekeeper Cuffy in a unique country house called the Four-Story Mistake during World War II. The children explore their rural New York surroundings while their father works on a classified government project related to the war effort. In their adventures collecting scrap metal for the war effort, the Melendys meet Mark, a boy who lives with his harsh cousin Oren Meeker. The siblings continue their individual pursuits - Rush composes music, Randy and Mona learn to preserve food, and Oliver studies nature - while growing increasingly concerned about their new friend's welfare. Changes come to the Four-Story Mistake when their housekeeper Cuffy must leave temporarily, and a series of events leads Mark to join the Melendy household. The story chronicles the children's growth as they navigate friendship, responsibility, and the challenges of wartime life. The novel explores themes of found family and the transformative power of acceptance, set against the backdrop of World War II America. Through the children's experiences with nature, music, and relationships, the story presents a portrait of childhood resilience and discovery.

Readers praise this Melendy family installment for capturing summertime childhood adventures and the addition of Mark to the family. Many note the book handles serious themes like neglect and loss while maintaining the warm, cozy tone of the series. Readers highlight: - Natural, believable dialogue between siblings - Rich descriptions of nature and outdoor exploration - Character growth, especially Rush and Mona - Balance of humor and emotional depth - Authentic portrayal of 1940s rural life Common criticisms: - Slower pacing than previous books - Less focus on younger siblings Oliver and Randy - Some dated cultural references and language Ratings: Goodreads: 4.28/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (90+ ratings) Several readers note this as their favorite in the series. One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "The way Mark's story unfolds feels organic and true to how children process difficult situations." Another mentioned: "The summer activities and projects ring completely authentic to anyone who grew up in the countryside."

All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor A Jewish immigrant family with five daughters navigates daily life on New York's Lower East Side in the early 1900s, featuring similar sibling dynamics and period details.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall Four sisters spend a summer exploring the grounds of a Massachusetts estate, echoing the Melendys' adventures and close-knit family bonds.

The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright The Melendy siblings pool their allowances for weekend adventures in New York City, sharing the same warmth and independence as the characters in Then There Were Five.

Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright Two children discover an abandoned resort community during a summer in the countryside, capturing the same spirit of exploration and friendship.

The Moffats by Eleanor Estes Four children and their widowed mother face challenges in their small Connecticut town during wartime, presenting parallel themes of family resilience and adaptation.

🌟 Elizabeth Enright was the niece of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and her artistic heritage influenced her detailed descriptions of homes and spaces in her books. 🌟 The book's portrayal of wartime metal collection drives reflects a real historical effort - Americans collected over 11 million tons of scrap metal during World War II. 🌟 The Four-Story Mistake house was inspired by actual Hudson Valley architecture, where many New York City families moved during WWII to escape potential air raids. 🌟 Then There Were Five (1944) was one of the first children's books to address the impact of WWII on American home front life through the perspective of young characters. 🌟 The book is part of the Melendy Quartet series, which has remained continuously in print since its original publication, making it one of the longest-running children's series in American publishing.