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kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
4.0
Young Alex, the laird of Carra, is forced to sell his ancient and dilapidated Scottish castle to an American millionaire. Poor Alex is heartbroken to be leaving his ancestral home, but worst of all is the parting with his ghostly friends who haunt the Castle of Carra. When the millionaire tears down the castle and transplants it in Texas where his ailing daughter, Helen, can enjoy it, the ghosts accompany the ancient stones of their home, and uncover an evil plot to kidnap Helen. The good ghosts befriend a mysterious phantom hand, and rely on Alex to help save poor Helen from her kidnappers!
This has all the charm and silliness that I've come to love in Ibbotson's books! The writing is fresh with a whimsical story-telling style. I love how weird and wacky the characters are, and how every detail about them carries weight in the story. The plot is full of preposterous surprises and plenty of action.
One of the best things about Ibbotson's writing is how she takes ordinary things and turns them upside down to the astonishment of the reader.
This has all the charm and silliness that I've come to love in Ibbotson's books! The writing is fresh with a whimsical story-telling style. I love how weird and wacky the characters are, and how every detail about them carries weight in the story. The plot is full of preposterous surprises and plenty of action.
One of the best things about Ibbotson's writing is how she takes ordinary things and turns them upside down to the astonishment of the reader.
elevetha's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
This lacked the charm and sense of atmosphere I usually find so prevalent in Ibbotson's MG books.
The idea of a Scottish castle transported to America, Texas no less, and its ghosts following it there was a cute idea (and based off a true story, excepting the ghosts!), but I was having trouble mustering up energy to really care. It's cute, no doubt, but not among my favorite of Ibbotson's.
This lacked the charm and sense of atmosphere I usually find so prevalent in Ibbotson's MG books.
The idea of a Scottish castle transported to America, Texas no less, and its ghosts following it there was a cute idea (and based off a true story, excepting the ghosts!), but I was having trouble mustering up energy to really care. It's cute, no doubt, but not among my favorite of Ibbotson's.
liaisreading's review against another edition
1.0
I read this book as a kid and it hunted me until I finally picked it up again this weekend. While I do appreciate Eva Ibbotsons creativity, I was (once again) totally thrown of by the villain of the story. Just putting a character, who's personal hero is Hitler and who wears swastika jewelry around and even names herself Adolfa, in a childrens book seems very inappropriate to me.
Please before you give this book to your kids be aware that it includes: the above explained very weird way of mentioning Hitler and fanatism, suicide and animal cruelty.
Please before you give this book to your kids be aware that it includes: the above explained very weird way of mentioning Hitler and fanatism, suicide and animal cruelty.
razitaathirah's review against another edition
4.0
Cerita hantu yang comel dan seronok. Rasa kesian dengan hantu Carra sebab tak ada tempat nak “berteduh”. Recommended!
tinapatina's review against another edition
This are the cutest ghosts I've read about :)
amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy Ibbotson’s ghoulish books. The ghosts were so endearing. Though Helen and Alex were a bit too perfect and grownup, I was surprised by the plot points and enjoyed all the delightful ghostly details.
golem4kid's review against another edition
HARD NO on this as a children's book. Is it a funny, droll fantasy ? IT IS. Is it fun to read? IT IS. It's also quite sexist and transphobic and a bit racist--but you can critique that stuff, sort of. The main reason I wouldn't read this to a child is that there is a running gag about suicide and suicidal thoughts that pops up continually. That's the whole punch line--one of the ghosts drowned herself and is always trying to drown herself again. DNF.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
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