Then There Were Five is a children's novel

Children's literature

Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...

 by Elizabeth Enright

Elizabeth Enright

Elizabeth Enright was an American children's author and illustrator. She was born in Oak Park, Illinois.-Life:Her father, Walter J...

, the third of her four books about the Melendy family, preceded by The Saturdays and The Four-Story Mistake

The Four-Story Mistake

The Four-Story Mistake is a children's novel by Elizabeth Enright, the second of her four books about the Melendy family, preceded by The Saturdays, and followed by Then There Were Five, and Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze. The four Melendy children live with their father, a widowed professor...

, and followed by Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze

Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze

Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze is a children's novel by Elizabeth Enright, the last of her four books about the Melendy family, preceded by The Saturdays, The Four-Story Mistake and Then There Were Five. The four Melendy children live with their father, a widowed professor of economics, and...

. The four Melendy children live with their father, a widowed professor of economics, and Cuffy, their beloved housekeeper. This novel takes place in the summer immediately following the previous book, The Four-Story Mistake. The writing style is vivid and lush with details, and multiple historic reference points make this children's book a chewy read. For example, while the Melendy family are far away from any actual fighting in World War II, their thoughts are focused on the immediacy of war: an innocent and noble spirit of patriotism that is wholly separate from the realities of modern warfare. In addition, traditional, pre-feminist gender roles in Then There Were Five are the most distinct of any of the Melendy family books: Randy is responsible for cleaning her brother Rush's room, the kitchen is "women's territory," and only the girls are frightened by bats during Oliver's birthday party.

Plot introduction

Summer has sprung, and the Four-Story Mistake is awash with new life. The Melendy children are becoming more independent all the time, exploring beyond their doorstep. As Father has been hired by the government in a secret, wartime position, the children venture forth into the neighborhood with the intention of helping their country. They end up making new friends, of course, and also find themselves brushing against local scoundrels. The most notable of their new friends is Mark, a boy around Rush's age, who is under the care of his abusive adult cousin Oren Meeker. The Melendy children want to help Mark, but don't know how. Meanwhile, there are adventures to be had: Rush takes on Opus 3, Randy and Mona try their hand at canning, and Oliver is entranced by the possibilities presented by fish and caterpillars. But when Cuffy, their housekeeper, goes away to visit a sick cousin in Ithaca, the unexpected occurs--a twist that brings Mark into the Four-Story Mistake, maybe even to live there. Will Mark be able to join the Melendy family as their new brother?