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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
2.75/5
Sweet story (mostly), but I'm not a fan of Boston's writing style. It felt amateur and directionless for most of the book. I don't dislike it entirely, though. There were quite a few stunning images and turns of phrase. Plus, I saw myself in one of the characters, so I will surely remember this read for a long time; I'll just be utterly confused about my feelings.
Sweet story (mostly), but I'm not a fan of Boston's writing style. It felt amateur and directionless for most of the book. I don't dislike it entirely, though. There were quite a few stunning images and turns of phrase. Plus, I saw myself in one of the characters, so I will surely remember this read for a long time; I'll just be utterly confused about my feelings.
medium-paced
DNF at maybe 80%. I put it down and didn't pick it back up.
I love old kids' books and especially British ones and I was interested to find a new old series to love. This one's not it. Ghost children are weird and creepy, but the problem with the book is that NOTHING HAPPENS.
I love old kids' books and especially British ones and I was interested to find a new old series to love. This one's not it. Ghost children are weird and creepy, but the problem with the book is that NOTHING HAPPENS.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Deportation
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a rather charming little book, which I first came across many years ago in childhood, I think on Jackanory, and spent years trying to find in libraries. I did read it eventually but also a good many years ago and then found this paperback. Not a great deal happens in the book, but it has a haunting flavour as past and present interweave - the house, the children, the gardener and even the birds. Although the 3 ghost children say that they barely remember the plague and their deaths, and appear happy in their state of ghostly innocence, there is an unresolved poignancy and sadness to knowing how they died. There is also a poignancy to Tolly, a little boy with a name that everyone mocks and who seems unwanted by everyone until his great-grandmother (and who is she, really?) brings him to what is clearly his true home. I think I should read the rest of them!
A book that I found interesting enough to read, but not amazing to continue with after I finished. The first story in this collection was interesting, but also strange. It was appealing, but also had more plot than I like in a book. I prefer to know more about the characters.
I found the second story a bit harder to get into than the first. I might give this series another go in the future. Not my favorite reads, but decent. I’m sure kids would enjoy them more.
I found the second story a bit harder to get into than the first. I might give this series another go in the future. Not my favorite reads, but decent. I’m sure kids would enjoy them more.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A wonderfully nostalgic reread (I should have picked it up around Christmas, though!)
The elephant in the room-there are no chapters in this book. It was very hard for me to read with not one single chapter break. Maybe later editions of the book have them, but this was a very old library copy, so it definitely didn't.
Baby elephant in the room-I spent most of this book expecting the children of the title to do or become something terrifying. I guess my mind was primed for scary October books. But they were just nice, mysterious children.
Those two things out of the way, I enjoyed this a lot. I definitely think I would have liked it more when I was an actual child, partially because I wouldn't have had the expectations I did. I will probably read the next book, and if I find a newer copy (the one I read was from the 1950s, I think), I would encourage a child in my life to check it out.
Baby elephant in the room-I spent most of this book expecting the children of the title to do or become something terrifying. I guess my mind was primed for scary October books. But they were just nice, mysterious children.
Those two things out of the way, I enjoyed this a lot. I definitely think I would have liked it more when I was an actual child, partially because I wouldn't have had the expectations I did. I will probably read the next book, and if I find a newer copy (the one I read was from the 1950s, I think), I would encourage a child in my life to check it out.