The Thief Of Always

Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald Dahl

One of author Dahl’s most popular children’s books—and twice adapted into motion pictures—Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a morality play in which several children succumb to the irresistible pleasures of a candy workshop during the owner’s test of their restraint and kindness. As in The Thief of Always, the kids don’t know the real reason for their tempting invitation to the factory, though unlike at Holiday House, the penalty for disobedience is merely to be removed from the place.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at SuperSummary

Book: The Adventures of Ulysses (1969) by Bernard Evslin

This prose version of the ancient epic poem The Odyssey is written for middle-grade readers and includes all the adventures of Odysseus—also known as Ulysses—and his crew as they struggle for many years to sail home after fighting in the Trojan War. Their wanderings bring them to several places whose denizens offer wondrous temptations that lure visitors into deadly traps. Among the most alluring are the Sirens, who attract sailors with songs of great beauty and then devour the unsuspecting visitors. The book itself tempts readers with grand adventures, and it rewards them with stirring lessons on heroism, perseverance, and the virtues of restraint.

The Adventures of Ulysses at SuperSummary

Book: The Phantom Tollbooth (1988) by Norton Juster

This middle-grade fantasy novel opens with a bored young boy named Milo, who sees absolutely nothing of interest in his mundane life. When a magic tollbooth and car mysteriously appear in his bedroom, he takes an unexpected journey into the fantastical Kingdom of Wisdom. With the help of a watchdog named Tock, he must rescue the exiled Princesses Rhyme and Reason from the Castle in the Air and restore balance to the land. Although a simple fantasy tale on its surface, the book abounds with metaphors, similes, allusions, and puns, and multiple levels of philosophical meaning can be found in every page of its merrily dancing prose.

The Phantom Tollbooth at SuperSummary