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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
Minor: Cannibalism
Great book! It really gave me the creeps :) Not all books for children can be read by adults but this one is a nice read for any age. Well ok, maybe not for any. I wouldn't like to come across it as a child actually. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night! :) But I do recommend it - it's mysterious, scary and intriguing.
"parents, police, reporters, they won't help you. you'll be on your own. and it probably won't work. you'll get stuck too. she'll have you. and if you get out, you won't remember enough to tell anyone, and even if you do end up remembering, you won't want to, and you won't want to say anything. you'll be too afraid. like me. and if you don't get out, you'll never, ever leave."
this book... good lord. anything i could possibly say about it wouldn't be enough to encompass just how good it was, or how life-changing. also, this book and [b:The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires|44074800|The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires|Grady Hendrix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584222716l/44074800._SY75_.jpg|68534292] are holding hands, because they're both about how society refuses to believe women (and/or children) when they say they're being abused, and about how communities are frequently complicit in abuse through inaction.
also having some other, less cohesive thoughts that i may add later.
For me, the best part of The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls was the protagonist herself, Victoria. Victoria Wright is literally the best--she is the top of her class, has bouncy blonde curls, and keeps her room immaculately clean. My favorite things about Victoria, however, are her flaws. She may be polite and courteous, but otherwise she is pretty terrible at socializing, even though she personally finds it a waste of time as it is a distraction from her studies. For example, one day she decides that Lawrence needs her friendship, so just tells him that he is her friend now, without caring that he initially doesn't want to be her friend, and oftentimes she fails to realize the difference between constructive criticism and just being mean. When Lawrence expresses how much her friendship means to him, she freaks out and avoids him. Then a few weeks later Lawrence disappears, and when Victoria is the only one who remembers he is gone she finally, though begrudgingly, accepts how much his friendship means to her. Luckily for Lawrence, Victoria has another flaw: extreme stubbornness. It is this stubbornness which helps Victoria recognize that other kids are missing, that many people in town smile like someone is pulling back their lips, and that nobody ever talks about the local orphanage down the street, The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. While I am of the opinion that the book lost some of its appeal once the gophers showed up(the grotesque isn't really my thing), overall I really enjoyed reading this. The most remarkable thing about this book is not the mystery, but that Legrand dared to write a protagonist who can be rude and selfish, but as reader you still wanted to root for her with every page turn. 4.5 stars
A creepy, dark tale about a mysterious orphanage in a town where everyone is "perfect." Those who aren't perfect have a tendency to go missing and are soon forgotten. When Victoria, straight-A student and perfectly proper, takes outcast Lawrence under her wing, she does so not in order to have a friend but in order to help him become more "normal." Then Lawrence goes missing and Victoria finds herself the only person in town who notices that something is wrong. She uncovers the sinister secrets of the old Cavendish Home at the end of the road and tries to undo the damage caused by its proprietor, Mrs. Cavendish.
This book was inventive and unique, but had a very slow start--you're halfway through the book before anything really happens. The slow pace is contrasted by a quick ending, but it would have been more effective to pace the novel more evenly. It will lose a lot of readers early on because of the lack of action and minimal suspense in the first 100-150 pages. The author may have been trying to set the scene, but it could have been done in less than half the time. The first half seems to hint at something creepy going on, but less observant readers may not realize what they're getting into until it's too late--the imagery in this book is extremely disturbing. It makes it difficult to recommend to kids--it's best suited for 5th and 6th graders, but the reader will have to have a high tolerance for scary stuff but also the stamina to get through all of the scene-setting. While I'm glad I read this, I did not like it as much as I expected to.
This book was inventive and unique, but had a very slow start--you're halfway through the book before anything really happens. The slow pace is contrasted by a quick ending, but it would have been more effective to pace the novel more evenly. It will lose a lot of readers early on because of the lack of action and minimal suspense in the first 100-150 pages. The author may have been trying to set the scene, but it could have been done in less than half the time. The first half seems to hint at something creepy going on, but less observant readers may not realize what they're getting into until it's too late--the imagery in this book is extremely disturbing. It makes it difficult to recommend to kids--it's best suited for 5th and 6th graders, but the reader will have to have a high tolerance for scary stuff but also the stamina to get through all of the scene-setting. While I'm glad I read this, I did not like it as much as I expected to.
This was a bedtime story book I read aloud to my sons, ages 14 and 11. I wanted to like this much more than I did. In fact, I loved it in the beginning! The introduction and descriptions of Victoria, Lawrence, and their parents and school mates were captivating, clever, and well-written. I was intrigued, and looked forward to seeing where things went.
It was right about when things started getting weird, close to chapter 4, that the tone of the book changed for me, and I slowly lost interest. I should have known it was coming, certainly. Still, the stranger things got, the less I liked it. I started losing track of the characters, and what happened when...? I don't mind creepy books. I liked Coraline, though I am a fan of Neil Gaiman.
The ending fit fine, though
My 11 year old would also give this 3 stars. I think it was a bit too gross and creepy for him. Legrand writes well, however, and that's why I didn't give up, and why I gave it 3 stars.
It was right about when things started getting weird, close to chapter 4, that the tone of the book changed for me, and I slowly lost interest. I should have known it was coming, certainly. Still, the stranger things got, the less I liked it. I started losing track of the characters, and what happened when...? I don't mind creepy books. I liked Coraline, though I am a fan of Neil Gaiman.
The ending fit fine, though
Spoiler
I was a bit surprised that the main characters were many years older. I expected a set-up for a sequel, WITH Victoria and Lawrence. The epilogue does allude to a sequel, though perhaps with different children.My 11 year old would also give this 3 stars. I think it was a bit too gross and creepy for him. Legrand writes well, however, and that's why I didn't give up, and why I gave it 3 stars.
What a creepy story! Totally grossed me out in places, but really well-written. Would be perfect for those beyond typical Chiller stuff, but not quite ready for Stephen King. Gaiman qualities abound- would recommend to Coraline fans or those who enjoy Tim Burton.
A strange, dark tale...I enjoyed this and especially the nosy, self-righteous, "practically perfect" narrator of Victoria. I wanted just a bit more at the end of the book, but I loved the first 3/4 of the book. Creepy in a Coraline-esque sort of way.
This book is so odd. I didn't think it was spooky at all - just weird. It reminded me a lot of The Mysterious Benedict Society but without much of a story.