The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue

By Karina Yan Glaser

Harlem’s favorite family returns in the third installment in the Vanderbeerkers series! In To the Rescue, the Vanderbeeker kids find themselves racing to save their mother’s baking business from city closure.

For the Vanderbeeker kids of Harlem’s 141st Street, spring break couldn’t be off to a better start. Isa’s back from band camp, Oliver’s building his first-ever treehouse in the backyard of the brownstone, and Laney, Jess, and Hyacinth are excited to help their mother when she gets the once in a lifetime chance to star in a cooking magazine.

But the Vanderbeekers’ plans go off the rails when an unexpected visit from city officials puts their mother’s bakery in jeopardy. Now they’ll have to band together to save the day before they’re out of business.

The New York Times bestselling Vanderbeekers series is perfect for fans of the Penderwicks. As Booklist commented in a starred review: “Few families in children’s literature are as engaging or amusing as the Vanderbeekers, even in times of turmoil.”

The series includes:

• The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
• The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden
• The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue
• The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found
• The Vanderbeekers Make a Wish
• The Vanderbeekers on the Road

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9780358162117

Karina Yan Glaser

Karina Glaser is the New York Times bestselling author of the Vanderbeekers series and A Duet for Home. A former teacher as well as employee of New York City’s largest provider of transitional housing for the homeless, Karina is now a contributing editor at Book Riot. Karina lives in Harlem, New York City, with her husband, two children, and assortment of rescue animals. One of her proudest achievements is raising two kids who can’t go anywhere without a book. Visit her at karinaglaser.com. 

Book preview

Sunday, February 24

One

It was a blustery, wintry afternoon on 141st Street. A blizzard was ripping up the East Coast, and the center of the storm had decided to stay on top of Harlem and hang out for a while. Meanwhile, the brownstones along the street stood strong and steady, protecting their inhabitants the same way they had for over a hundred years. While plows rumbled up and down the avenues, snow inched up the windowsills and dusted the bricks, engulfing parked cars and piling up on sidewalks.

In the exact middle of 141st Street sat a humble red brownstone with a weathervane currently covered in snow. The Vanderbeeker family lived on the ground and first floors of this brownstone, and at the moment they were all in the living room. Thirteen-year-old twins Jessie and Isa, ten-year-old Oliver, and eight-year-old Hyacinth were regretting that they had let Laney, newly turned six, choose the board game. She had selected the very one that could go on for hours. As they waited their turn to roll the dice, each yearned for warmer weather, spring bulbs peeking up through the earth, and getting dirty in the community garden they had created for their upstairs neighbors the year before.

When her phone rang, Mama weaved through kids, pets, and stacks of books to grab it from the side table by the door. The Vanderbeekers heard her say Really? and Of course! and That would be wonderful! As her voice grew in volume and enthusiasm, the Vanderbeeker kids paused from their game.

Papa, who was wearing his favorite pair of forest-green coveralls and attempting to fix a leak in the kitchen sink, put down his wrench and made his way toward Mama to see what was going on. When she hung up, her whole family was surrounding her. Her eyes were bright with a mixture of excitement and astonishment.

An architectural layout of the Vanderbeekers' house. The front left contains the living room which is attached to the kitchen in back, with stairs to the basement and first floor in the right of the room. In back of the kitchen is the backyard. The first floor contains the bedrooms to the left, from bottom to top, Isa and Jessie's bedroom, Oliver's bedroom, Hyacinth and Laney's bedroom, and then Mama and Papa's bedroom. To the right of the bedrooms are stairs to the second and third floors.

"That was Perch Magazine," Mama said. They want to feature me and my business in their October issue.

What? screeched Isa, Jessie, and Hyacinth at the same time. Oliver, Papa, and Laney looked at one another in confusion.

"What’s Birch Magazine?" Oliver said.

Perch Magazine, Isa clarified. And it’s only the most amazing magazine ever. They do interviews with awesome women, like Hope Jahren—

She’s a geobiologist known for her work on stable isotope analysis to analyze fossil forests! Jessie interrupted.

—and Jacqueline Woodson—

I know her books! Oliver exclaimed. "I love her books!"

—and Sonia Sotomayor, Isa finished, her face flushed.

Supreme Court justice! Hyacinth squeaked.

You’re going to be on the cover? Laney asked. What are you going to wear? Can I be in the picture too?

Mama looked dazed. "I’m definitely not going to be on the cover. They have a section about small-business owners, and they want to feature me. I have no idea how they even know me! Someone from the magazine must have gone to an event where my desserts were served. There will be a whole magazine spread about my cookies! They’re going to send a photographer to the brownstone!"

Papa pulled Mama into a hug and started doing a little dance with her at the bottom of the stairs. I’m so proud of you.

Jessie took out her phone, opened the web browser, and typed madly with her thumbs. Holy smokes, listen to these circulation numbers. Eight hundred thousand print copies and over two million unique views on their website every month!

You’re going to be famous! Laney yelled, hopping around them.

"Now everyone is going to want your cookies," Oliver said, mentally calculating how Mama’s increased business might positively affect his weekly allowance.

You’re going to need a website and a wholesale list, Isa said wisely.

How do you know that? Jessie asked.

Benny has to do it for Castleman’s Bakery, Isa said.

When is the photo shoot? Papa asked.

The first week in April, Mama said.

That’s when your birthday is! Laney yelled. On April sixth!

Mama’s hands flew to her cheeks as she looked around the brownstone. The Vanderbeekers followed her gaze, and suddenly they saw their home as a fancy magazine photographer might. Franz, their basset hound, was methodically removing toys from his basket and strategically placing them in areas with the most foot traffic. Hay was strewn on the floor from Paganini, Laney’s rabbit, who kicked as much of it as possible when jumping out of his box. George Washington, their orange-and-white tabby, was batting at the loose threads from the fabric of their couch, which was fraying because he used the furniture to sharpen his claws (even though there were two scratching posts in the living room).

And then there were the piles of books, the odds and ends of Jessie’s science experiments, and Isa’s sheet music tossed on various surfaces. Oliver’s basketball was wedged under an armchair, and Hyacinth’s treasure box gaped open, yarn in a dozen colors spilling out in every direction.

Jessie spoke first. We can totally make this brownstone magazine-worthy.

Oliver was skeptical. We can?

Isa stood up straighter. Of course we can!

Papa touched the living room walls. I’ve been meaning to patch and paint the walls. And refinish the floors. And build some more bookcases, because obviously five huge bookcases aren’t enough for us. I can do that by April.

Mama’s jaw began to relax.

Mama, trust us, Isa told her. We’ve got this.

The family gathered around her and did a communal Vanderbeeker fist bump.

Fame and fortune, here we come! Oliver yelled.

Monday, April 1

One month, eight days later

A calendar showing the first six days of April, with the first falling on a Monday. An arrow labelled Spring Break stretches across the week. Friday the fifth is labelled as Perch Magazine Photo Shoot! and Isa's Audition. Saturday the sixth is labelled as Mama's Birthday with a drawing of a balloon next to it. Monday is highlighted.

Two

It turned out that thirty-six days were not nearly enough to make the apartment magazine-ready. The past month had been full of unexpected emergencies. Laney had had her tonsils removed and lived on milkshakes and applesauce for days. Oliver had sprained two fingers while playing basketball and wore splints for three weeks, and when his fingers had healed, he’d then managed to run his bike into a tree and ended up in the emergency room for x-rays. (He was fine.) Hyacinth had come down with an ear infection, strep throat, and pinkeye at the same time. Isa and Jessie were dragging under the weight of increased homework, and Isa had also been practicing violin in the basement every day for hours in preparation for an upcoming orchestra audition. Papa had been assigned a big project at work and had been working late nights and weekends, and Mama had been baking nonstop in addition to doing business-related things like creating a website, developing promotional items, and preparing for the magazine interview.

Now it was spring break, and it was a big week. There were only five days until the Perch Magazine photo shoot on Friday, which also happened to be the day of Isa’s audition, and Mama’s birthday was on Saturday. As a result, the apartment was even more chaotic than usual.

We need a game plan, Isa told her siblings, who were scattered throughout the living room.

Laney was rearranging books to build a maze for Paganini. She believed mazes would make the rabbit even smarter than he already was. Hyacinth was kneeling on the floor, her eyes two inches from the carpet, trying to locate a sewing needle she had dropped. Over on the couch, Jessie was highlighting nearly every sentence in a science book she had found for fifty cents at the library sale. Oliver was staring out the window at the relentless rain and muttering to himself.

Did you know that the idea of absolute motion or absolute rest is misleading? Jessie said, not looking up from her book, her highlighter racing furiously over the pages. This book is blowing my mind.

I can’t work on the treehouse with Uncle Arthur when it’s raining like this, Oliver grumbled, pacing in front of the window before deciding that a snack would help him feel better. He made his way to the kitchen.

Oliver, don’t move! Hyacinth exclaimed. She was still searching for her needle, which she had dropped while making a felt birthday hat for Mama. I don’t want you to step on the needle!

Isa crossed her arms, annoyed at her siblings. Did anyone hear what I just said?

Nope, Oliver said, frozen, scanning the carpet for a glint of silver. Hey, does all this work we’re doing to get the apartment ready count as Mama’s birthday present?

Isa glared at him. She’s turning forty. That’s a big birthday.

Oliver shook his head. Maybe we should think of doing one family birthday party once a year. There are too many people in this family to keep track of.

I don’t like that idea at all, said Laney, who loved birthdays more than any holiday or other celebration.

Did you know— Jessie began, looking up from her science book again.

Listen up, Isa interrupted. We promised Mama we would help her.

"I have helped, Laney said, looking at Isa. I chose my outfit for the photo shoot, and I made some new pictures for the walls, and—"

Jessie finally put her book down. You get to be in the photo shoot?

Yup, Laney said.

Jessie glanced at Isa, who gave a little shake of her head.

We cleaned yesterday, Oliver said, referring to the ten-second vacuuming job he’d done in the living room. The apartment looks great to me.

Isa pointed to the chalkboard hanging by the front door, where they had made a list of things to do for the photo shoot. We haven’t done seventy-five percent of the things on that list.

Oliver looked at the chalkboard. "We can’t do those things."

A chalkboard reading 'Things To Do for Perch Magazine Photo Shoot' with a list underneath reading 'Repaint Walls, Refinish floors, Build bookcases' and in all capital letters 'CLEAN' with an arrow pointing to it saying 'That means you, Oliver!' A note on the side reads 'It's spring break!' with backwards S's and a drawing of a bunny head saying 'Yay'

Uncle Arthur is coming over, Isa said. Maybe you guys can build the bookcases today.

Oliver made a face. "Uncle Arthur is supposed to be building my treehouse."

It’s raining, Jessie pointed out.

Oliver glared at the window, as if the weather were personally insulting him. Fine. We’ll do the bookcases.

Now, what about these walls? Isa said.

Hyacinth, who loved to paint, eyed the formerly white walls, which now sported years’ worth of scuffs left by sneakers kicked off inside the doorway, errant basketballs, and furniture that had bumped against it over and over again. There were dozens of spots where Laney had torn down a drawing she had made to make room for a new one, and the tape holding it up had taken off a layer of paint with it. A darkened spot by the window was the result of Isa putting a candle too close to the wall, scorching the paint, and nearly setting the whole brownstone on fire.

And then there were the gouges. In addition to shredding couches, George Washington had a particular love for running his claws against corners of the walls, where thin, deep grooves rose two feet high.

I asked Mama about painting the living room, Hyacinth said as she continued her search for the missing needle, but she said the supplies would cost three hundred dollars.

Three hundred dollars! Laney exclaimed. You could buy a whole castle for that!

Outside, wind and rain lashed at the windows. The sky was dark with heavy clouds, making it seem like evening instead of noontime. Paganini huddled in his book maze, uncertain about his enclosure and the weather.

Found it! Hyacinth exclaimed, holding a sliver of silver in the air.

Oliver breathed a sigh of relief and continued to the kitchen. A crack of thunder sent George Washington bolting up the stairs to the second floor, where there were plenty of beds to hide under.

Oliver lingered by the kitchen, breathing in the smell of chocolate sea salt caramel cookies cooling on the counter. Mama had unwisely left the cookies unattended before she dashed out to a meeting with the editor at Perch Magazine. I’ll be back before the inspector comes, she had said before leaving.

What inspector? Isa had hollered back, but Mama had disappeared. Isa looked at Jessie, and Jessie shrugged.

Probably a building inspector who wants to make sure the brownstone is up to code, Oliver had said knowledgeably. Uncle Arthur was a contractor, and Oliver loved nothing more than when his uncle came over and taught him how to handle power tools.

Mama told me not to touch those cookies, Laney warned. She told me three times.

They’re for a party, Isa said. Library fundraiser or something.

"Mama won’t miss one cookie," Oliver said, pulling the tray closer to the edge of the counter.

Hyacinth gave an objecting squeak, just as the doorbell rang.

Franz, who had been chasing a cat in his sleep, leaped to his feet and ran as fast as his short legs could take him to the front door. Oliver’s curiosity about the doorbell ringer won out over the cookie stealing—for the moment—and he joined the scramble to see who it was.

First to get there after Franz was Laney. She slid the step stool in front of the door and stood on her tiptoes to glance through the peephole. It’s a stranger! she reported.

Back it up, Isa said while her younger siblings made way to let the twins through.

Jessie moved the step stool and looked through the peephole. A man about Papa’s age was standing outside the door, juggling a clipboard and an umbrella, and the thing that stood out most to Jessie wasn’t the rain pouring off his umbrella in a cascade of water or the large ID tag that said inspector in dark, bold letters. The thing that stood out most was his facial expression.

He did not look happy.

Three

Jessie opened the door but kept the security chain engaged so the door opened only a couple of inches. Her siblings crowded around to peer through the crack. Can I help you? Jessie asked.

I’m Mr. West from New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, the man said. I’m a little early. I’m here to meet with—he squinted at his clipboard—a Mrs. Vanderbeeker.

He must be the inspector Mama meant, Isa said to Jessie.

Franz gave another howl and jumped so one paw swiped through the sliver of open door. Mr. West sprang back and dropped his umbrella, which the wind stole and joyfully sent tumbling down the street before anyone could say Mississippi.

Crumb! the man said. The Vanderbeekers watched him internally debate whether to chase the umbrella. Deciding it was pointless, he tucked his clipboard into his bag and pulled the hood of his jacket over his head.

He said a bad word! Laney said loudly.

"Crumb isn’t a bad word," Jessie said.

Yes, it is, Laney insisted.

No, it isn’t.

Jessie turned back to the door, where Mr. West was getting wetter by the second.

Yes, it is, Laney whispered, just quietly enough for Jessie not to hear.

Sorry about that, Isa said through the crack in the door. Our dog gets overexcited. Mama should be back soon. Let me text her to see if I can let you in. Isa took out her phone and sent her mom a message. Then the five Vanderbeeker kids, plus Franz, who continued to howl and leap at the window, proceeded to watch the man get completely drenched.

I’m sure she’ll respond soon, Isa said apologetically. She dialed Mama’s number, but it went straight to voice mail. Do you want to come back later?

Mr. West wiped raindrops from his eyes. My department is severely understaffed. If we don’t do it now, it will be months before I can get back here.

Hold on one second, Mr. West. Jessie closed the door and turned to Isa. "Mama did say an inspector was coming. I’m sure it’s fine to let him in."

True, Isa said. It might be worse if Mama misses this appointment. Remember the time Papa forgot about the boiler inspection? Boom, two-hundred-dollar fine.

Jessie thought about this, then removed the chain and opened the door. A very wet, very disgruntled-looking Mr. West stepped inside. Franz pushed his face into Mr.

Reviews for The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue

[ines · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's great I loooooooooooove the vanderbeekers ever after!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!¡!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Abby

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[deslivres5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another heartwarming Vanderbeeker story!This middle grade novel continues the Vanderbeeker family adventures along: this installment showcases their Harlem neighborhood in springtime, about a year and a half after the original story.The rescue in the title refers to more than one problem that the Vanderbeekers come together to solve with determination and LOTS of hiccups along the way.

[foggidawn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When a disastrous encounter between a city inspector and the Vanderbeeker pets results in Mama losing her license to sell baked goods from home, the Vanderbeeker siblings are determined to right the wrong. But in the meantime, some mysterious person keeps dropping off stray animals on the Vanderbeeker doorstep. Where are these animals coming from?Another delightful entry in the Vanderbeekers series! The whole series is full of warmth and humor, and I just adore it. You could probably read this one as a stand-alone, but I recommend starting at the beginning. Fans of The Penderwicks, in particular, should take a look at the Vanderbeekers.

[lisa2013_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the first 2 books in this series, but I was afraid that I wouldn’t like this third book. It turns out that this might be my favorite book of the first three books. A fourth book, The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found, is expected out in 2020 and I definitely plan to read it as soon as it’s available.There are many charming black & white illustrations throughout by the author and a great map on the inside covers and floor plans for the family house and treehouse.This story is so funny. Many times I laughed out loud at the antics of the kids and of the animals.I also found it incredibly heartwarming.I love this family, their love from one another, their distinct personalities, all the animals, the messes they get into and the general chaos. I enjoy the adult and teen and child and animal friends and neighbors and community members of the Vanderbeekers, the sibling love, and the resourcefulness and the hard work of the kids, their independence. The Vanderbeeker children are hardworking and well-meaning people. Yes, sometimes they screw up big time but they always do all they possibly can to fix what they have messed up, and the whole story is just so funny and sweet.I love how this family loves to read. The letter on pages 278-279 is priceless, so wonderful, so hilarious, as are a few other parts farther along in the book. Fans of Anne Shirley of Anne and Green Gables will especially appreciate how the Vanderbeeker kids are also fans.I did miss some characters and settings from the first two books that have no or just a small place in this book, but new characters were introduced and that mostly made up for that lack.I love this family and I found this book superbly satisfying and I highly recommend these books to children and all readers who enjoy children’s literature.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

That warmhearted Harlem family, the Vanderbeekers, are back in this third delightful novel devoted to their adventures, as the siblings seek to undo the damage they think they have done to their mother's baking business, when an inspector's visit goes horribly wrong. Determined to hide the family's pets - Franz the dog, George Washington the cat, and Paganini the bunny - during the next inspection, in order to win back their mother's license, the Vanderbeekers instead discover that the number of animals under their care grows by leaps and bounds, as a mysterious visitor begins depositing strays, from orphaned kittens to lost chickens, on their back doorstep. With the apartment in need of refreshing, for Mama's big magazine interview, inspector Mr. West coming back for a second visit, Isa practicing for her youth orchestra audition, Oliver concerned with his new tree-house, and all of the siblings worrying about what to do with this unexpected menagerie, it's a chaotic Spring Vacation that no one will ever forget.Having raced through the first two books about this family - The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street and The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden - I was excited to pick up The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue, which I was lucky enough to obtain ahead of its publication date, in ARC (advanced reading copy) form. Once again, I found myself pulled headlong into this family's many mishaps and adventures, rooting for the loving Vanderbeekers to find a way to set things right. This one is a little longer than the previous two, and as catastrophe piled on catastrophe, I found myself wondering how Glaser would resolve the various crises into which she had plunged her characters. In the end though, the solution to two separate sets of problems proved to be the same thing - setting Mama up in a bakery/cat cafe of her own - providing a very neat and emotionally satisfactory conclusion. I appreciated the fact that all five of the Vanderbeeker children had their moments in this one, and (as always) I loved the animal characters. If anything, the animal love in this one is greatly increased, as our favorite family is inundated with unexpected animal orphans. Recommended to fans of the Vanderbeekers, to young animal lovers, and to anyone looking for heartwarming family stories for the middle grade set.