The Last Treasure

This book has so many layers, I recommend it for kids who love mysteries and puzzles. I first introduced this book to kids when I was teaching 3rd grade. It was our daily read aloud for weeks! I made a giant (seriously, wall sized) hand-drawn copy of the family tree in the front of the book, and I enlarged the map as well. Every day we would read and look and discuss the relationships of the many characters in the book. It is a complicated story, moving back and forth through the family history. Ellsworth is sent to live on the family's Quad in Smith's Mills, New York, the family's historic residence of which he has no memory or connection. Meeting his cousin for the first time, they quickly jump into the many questions and mysteries around the properties. Layered on top of solving the mysteries of the family dynamics, a puzzle was built into each house that holds the answers to many questions and also holds the key to the family's future. Our two young protagonists head out to decode the mysteries, much to the dislike and fear of many of the older family members who have not dealt with the pains of the past. A rare novel for young people that combines adventure, problem solving, mystery, family dynamics, and personal growth into a novel that kids will enjoy working their way through.

I recently read a book called The Last Treasure by Janet S. Anderson. The book itself is kind of long, but I promise you'll love it. This book is about the Smith family and it goes very far back in their generation to explain things about their family. Back in the 1800's the Smith family had thirteen children so the father, John Matthew, built ten houses on a square in New York. Before he died he hid three priceless treasures in three of the ten houses to be found by members of the Smith family when times were bad. Your probably wondering how anyone could find them, or even know about them. Well the mother, Betsy Sullivan,painted three pictures each had separate clues in them so their Smith decendents would be able to find the treasures one day. One of the treasures was found in 1910 and the other in 1932. This book takes place in 2003 and the last treasure still hasn't been found. Something that is odd is adults cannot seem to find the treasure, it is always a child who ends up finding it because they look at things adults don't. The most recent Smith children are Jess and Ellsworth. They come to Smith square in New York because they are determined to find the last treasure in house No. 2 South. Will they find it or will it be lost forever?

The Last Treasure, by Janet S. Anderson, is a mystery about the Smith family. The Smith family has been in Smith Mills, New York for 150 years. This exciting adventure is Janet S. Anderson's third book for kids, and was a good candidate for the 2004 Newbery Award. Ellsworth Smith is thirteen and lives with his father. On Ellsworth's birthday, he gets a letter from a distant cousin inviting him to stay with her for the summer. He really wants to go, but he isn't sure why. When he goes to the square with ten houses built by his great, great, great, great grandfather, Ellsworth learns a lot about the Smith family members, both living and dead. He and Jess, his cousin, have to solve the puzzle of the last treasure house on the square in order to keep the family together. The author uses journal entries to tell the story of the Smith family from long ago. She also uses flashbacks in time. It is a little confusing to follow, but still really exciting. And the ending makes you feel good about the Smith family and your own. I think you will like this book and the message it has about families.

The ghost of John Smith, was a wealthy patriarch, has been taking a yearly walk around the Square of homes he built for his large family. He had hidden three treasures, two of which were found by the family when desperately needed. Now it is time for the youngest relatives to find the third. Sending dreams to two Smith teens who have never met, he promises their return to Smiths Mills. Facing a counterpane of mystery, mechanically minded Ellsworth and angry Jess must join forces to figure out the family dynamics and the meaning of the treasure clues. In Ellsworth, she has created a fully rounded and appealing character that has never been told why his father cut off all ties with his relatives years earlier. With a touch of the family's happiness of The Monkey Tree and a bit of the fake Going through the Gate Anderson has made up an awesome book for puzzle lovers. This book was great, it took ½ the book to get intrusting but well worth it! Ellsworth is the brains behind the adventure and was just waiting for a opportunity like this, Jess on the other hand was my favorite character, because Jess was a tough kid who was just pushy and a never say never type of person. For all the mystery lovers out there, this is the book for you. I ratted it 5 out of 5 stars and I'm not much of a reader. I mean, I read only for and when I HAVE TO for school. Now, if you're like me this for shore won't make you read but it is a good book and if you're willing enjoy its twists and turns! What are you still doing here go get this book, come on get out of here! :)

This book is good but some parts are hard to understand because it is poetry. The poetry is the clue to the mystery of the last treasure house. If you read the clues over you will understand what they mean. It is so good, I would probably read it again. I recommend this book for most ages.This book is about two kids who are fifth cousins named Jess and Ellsworth. Ellsworth and father, Ben Robert, live and help manage a hotel. On Ellsworth's birthday, he is invited to Smiths Mills, New York where his whole family lives. At first, Ben Robert doesn't want him to go but he knows it is necessary. As little as, they know there is treasure waiting to be found. The treasure is in a house which was built by Ellsworth's great great grandfather. This house was built on Smiths Square. It takes the whole family to find it.Can Jess and Ellsworth get their whole fighting family to work together or will they fail like every one else who tried? How will they get along? Will they get the treasure? Go ahead read "The Last Treasure."

This is Janet Anderson's third children's novel, and it contains the same sort of thought-provoking depth as her first two (GOING THROUGH THE GATE and THE MONKEY TREE). On the surface, this is a fast-paced, suspenseful read about the Smith family and the "treasure" that is hidden inside an old brick house. Intriguing flashbacks serve to hold our interest as we venture into this house and try to find the treasure.However, this book is more than just a treasure hunt, and buried along with the treasure is the story of one boy and his outlook on the world. Ellsworth Smith is one of the most convincing characters I have read in a long time, but he's not the only one - all of Anderson's characters are brought to life with a unique and interesting style of dialogue. In the end, this story delivers a message about family, especially through the relationship between Ellsworth, his father, and his grandfather - the message, however, is never heavy-handed. Anderson's prose is amazingly vivid and poetic, and the story is one of her best yet. The book itself is a hidden treasure waiting to be found.