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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Bought myself one of Patricia McKillip’s earliest works, a middle grade ghost story to see what it was like! It was interesting to see her signature charm come through but in a “modern” setting with young kids. There is still the deep mystery there, but overlaid atop prickly kids who have to deal with each other and the adults in their lives. I actually Ike’s how this book treated the problem of adults in a kid’s story. It was neat to see the parental disbelief reckoned with in the face of supporting their child/the other kids. All in all this was neat to read! (I think the title could’ve been better, though, it does not really convey the plot.)
Wonderful children's book. I enjoyed it immensely.
American Carol is a red-headed fish out of water sent to live with family in England for a cultural experience. She doesn't get along with the boys in the neighborhood, doesn't get along with her cousin, Bruce, she's clumsy and breaks things, and she bumps into a ghost in the basement. Can this trip get any worse?
Fortunately, Carol makes friends with Bruce and together they work to solve the mystery of a sword wielding pilgrim and a young girl, both who show up every day at 4pm and walk into the wall.
My only complaints about the book were the overly sensitive boys, Bruce & Alexander, and an issue with focus. Bruce was an artist in secret, and Alexander was a poet. Something about that aspect of the story felt unreal to me, which I found amusing since I was believing the bit about ancient ghosts. As for focus, the story began in Carol's point of view, but towards the end she became a spectator and Bruce became the main character. I felt that weakened the impact of the narrative.
Overall, though, I was delighted by the book and can't wait to read it to my kids.
American Carol is a red-headed fish out of water sent to live with family in England for a cultural experience. She doesn't get along with the boys in the neighborhood, doesn't get along with her cousin, Bruce, she's clumsy and breaks things, and she bumps into a ghost in the basement. Can this trip get any worse?
Fortunately, Carol makes friends with Bruce and together they work to solve the mystery of a sword wielding pilgrim and a young girl, both who show up every day at 4pm and walk into the wall.
My only complaints about the book were the overly sensitive boys, Bruce & Alexander, and an issue with focus. Bruce was an artist in secret, and Alexander was a poet. Something about that aspect of the story felt unreal to me, which I found amusing since I was believing the bit about ancient ghosts. As for focus, the story began in Carol's point of view, but towards the end she became a spectator and Bruce became the main character. I felt that weakened the impact of the narrative.
Overall, though, I was delighted by the book and can't wait to read it to my kids.
A charming ghost story for younger readers, with a dash of English history. The characters and their relationships are satisfyingly real-feeling, and the story resolves well without it being too easy.
As a fan of Patricia McKillip, I found the style surprising. It's one of her first published works, and it's much more direct and plain-spoken than her later work. She hadn't yet developed her particular voice, or the remarkable poetry of language in her later writings. But it's a worthwhile read, and I'll be saving it for my children when they're older.
As a fan of Patricia McKillip, I found the style surprising. It's one of her first published works, and it's much more direct and plain-spoken than her later work. She hadn't yet developed her particular voice, or the remarkable poetry of language in her later writings. But it's a worthwhile read, and I'll be saving it for my children when they're older.
It was okay–I liked the realistic description of interactions between happen-to-be-related children, but I’m not keen on ghost stories in general. They just…don’t do much for me. Bar The Graveyard Book, but that’s different. [Nov. 2008]