A review by lauriehnatiuk
Franklin Endicott and the Third Key: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Six by Kate DiCamillo

4.0

Although the sixth book of the Deckawoo Drive series, this is the first one I have read. Franklin Endicott worries a lot. So much so that he has a journal where he lists the various worries he has. Franklin worries so much that sometimes he has nightmares that his younger sister will find his book and is up in the middle of the night. On one of these occasions, Franklin visits his neighbour Eugenia Lincoln who also is up. After sharing a cup of warm milk, he ends up making plans to help Eugenia get a key made the next day. Buddy Lane's thrift store is not what Franklin expects, and he will be adding new items to worry about in his book. After Franklin finishes the errand and opens the envelope, there is a mysterious third key. Eugenia knows it is not hers and insists that Franklin return it the next day to Buddy Lane. Buddy insists the key does not belong to him, and when Franklin begins to worry about it, Buddy makes hot chocolate, tells him a story and gives him a book to take home. Thus begins Franklin's new journey and the brilliance of this story. I loved the eccentric characters and know that kids will relate to Franklin's worries and be riveted by how Eugenie and Buddy quietly remove his worries replacing them with a love of story. Now I need to go back and read the other five. There is a lot one could do with this short chapter book.