Yet another mystery book question
August 22, 2017 9:36 PM Subscribe
In the vein of cherished childhood YA books, there's one that I can't quite remember, but would dearly love to find. Blurry details below.
I seem to recall that there were two books in the series. The first one had an adolescent boy as the protagonist, maybe around middle school age? He somehow, along with a girl from his school finds a wise mentor the form in an older man (not unlike Mr. Feeney from Boy Meets World). Together, the boy and his friend go spend time after school with him learning all the lessons he wants to teach them. I'm not sure about this, but it might be because they accidentally break into his house and he decides to befriend them. Anyway, he teaches them a memory trick where you picture one item and then mentally attach another object to that one (i.e. for a grocery list you picture an apple glued to a carton of milk and so on). This is the most vivid thing I remember because there was a drawing in this otherwise text based book. He continues to teach them lessons and give them quizzes that the reader at home can do too.
The sequel involves the boy and the girl, now late high school aged discovering that they have romantic feelings for each other. The old mentor might have died in this book, making their reunion possible.
Other pertinent details:
I must have read the first book in the mid to late 90's (in North America), as part of a reading is fundamental library program. I believe I got the book as a reward, so it might have been an older book that they wanted to get rid of.
If anyone has any guesses or stellar google skills, I'd be eternally grateful!
I seem to recall that there were two books in the series. The first one had an adolescent boy as the protagonist, maybe around middle school age? He somehow, along with a girl from his school finds a wise mentor the form in an older man (not unlike Mr. Feeney from Boy Meets World). Together, the boy and his friend go spend time after school with him learning all the lessons he wants to teach them. I'm not sure about this, but it might be because they accidentally break into his house and he decides to befriend them. Anyway, he teaches them a memory trick where you picture one item and then mentally attach another object to that one (i.e. for a grocery list you picture an apple glued to a carton of milk and so on). This is the most vivid thing I remember because there was a drawing in this otherwise text based book. He continues to teach them lessons and give them quizzes that the reader at home can do too.
The sequel involves the boy and the girl, now late high school aged discovering that they have romantic feelings for each other. The old mentor might have died in this book, making their reunion possible.
Other pertinent details:
I must have read the first book in the mid to late 90's (in North America), as part of a reading is fundamental library program. I believe I got the book as a reward, so it might have been an older book that they wanted to get rid of.
If anyone has any guesses or stellar google skills, I'd be eternally grateful!
Response by poster: By George, I think you've got it!
With a title like that, I would never have remembered it on my own.
posted by Champagne Supernova at 9:52 PM on August 22, 2017
With a title like that, I would never have remembered it on my own.
posted by Champagne Supernova at 9:52 PM on August 22, 2017
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posted by Aquifer at 9:41 PM on August 22, 2017 [7 favorites]