First published 1983
Mona, Rush, Miranda, and Oliver Melendy live in New York City with their father and housekeeper Cuffy. Every Saturday, the four siblings pool their allowances so one child can have a special solo adventure in the city. Mona attends the opera, Rush explores the circus, Randy visits an art museum, and six-year-old Oliver discovers the zoo. But when the family moves to an old country house called the Four-Story Mistake, their adventures take on new dimensions. The children explore secret passages, befriend local kids, and navigate the challenges of small-town life. Later, they welcome Mark Herron, a war orphan who becomes part of their family circle. Through seasons of discovery, sibling rivalry, and growing up, the Melendy children learn what it means to belong to each other. This complete collection includes The Saturdays, The Four-Story Mistake, and Then There Were Five, plus Elizabeth Enright's own introduction addressing whether her beloved characters were based on real people.
Genres: fiction, family, 20th-century, adventure
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: New York City, Four-Story Mistake
Period: 20th Century
Hardcover · Henry Holt & Company, Inc.