The Hundred Dresses

 

The Hundred Dresses / Eleanor Estes; illus. by Louis Slobodkin
NY: Clarion, 2014, c1944.
93 p.

A bittersweet, classic children's book for today's review. Wanda Petronski is a new student, in a school full of well-off children. The girls in her class, especially one named Peggy, make fun of her for her Polish name, the fact that she wears the same faded blue dress every day, and after a little while, for her outrageous claim that she has more dresses at home: “A hundred of them. All lined up in my closet.”

Peggy's friend Maddie feels bad about the way that Wanda is treated, but not enough to say anything -- she's afraid she'll be next if she does. But then Wanda stops coming to school, and they wonder what's happened to her. Shortly after, the school art prize is going to be announced, and when the students enter their class, there are 100 beautiful sketches pinned up to view -- all of the hundred dresses that Wanda had drawn before her family moved to the more friendly big city. 

Wanda has also left instructions for two of the sketches to be given in particular to Peggy and Maddie, as she created them with the girls in mind. Maddie realizes that she made the wrong choices, that speaking up is always the thing to do when something is happening that she is uncomfortable with. The lessons in this story are gentle and not overly didactic, they arise out of a naturally told story. And sadly they are still so relevant 80 years after this was written. 

But aside from that, the descriptions of the dresses and the imagination that Wanda shared with the class are all so lovely and I really enjoyed picturing the drawings that she'd created. A lovely read, with so many touching elements. 

(first published at FollowingTheThread.ca)

House of Many Ways

House of Many Ways / Diana Wynne Jones 
NY: Greenwillow, 2009, c2008.
338 p.

This is book three in the Howl's Moving Castle trilogy, but it was written quite a few years after the first two and honestly didn't need Sophie or Howl in it at all. It could easily have been written without them, with no huge loss to the storyline. This is definitely even less connected to their world than book two was! 

Still, I liked this. There were lots of neat ideas in it, and the main character, Charmain Baker, was interesting to me as a bookish, stubborn girl. As the story opens, she is being sent off to keep house for her Great-Uncle William while he is away. There's nobody else to do it, so Charmain heads off to the very odd home of her great uncle, who is also known as the Royal Wizard Norland. 

This house has doors that open to different places, secret passages, magical water and food and so forth, and as Charmain finds out, also an apprentice, Peter, who just shows up at the door one morning expecting the Royal Wizard.  

Charmain gets involved (long story) with the King and his daughter, who are searching for something called the Elfgift, which will save their kingdom. The King is sifting through books in the royal library, and as Charmain is very good with books, she begins to assist him. These scenes in the dim, creaky library are wonderful, quiet and reeking of research. I enjoyed them! 

Howl's crew gets involved when the Princess calls in Sophie, now a feared sorceress, to help them in their search. Of course, where Sophie is, Howl and Calcifer and her child are not far behind. 

I liked this one, I thought the titular House was appealing, the villian (an insect like creature called the Lubbock) was suitably creepy, the plot was pretty good and Charmain was interesting. It felt a bit too farcical in some parts for me, as chaos is not my favourite plot device. But overall it was an enjoyable read. The creative set-up and the sneaky conspiracy that took a while to figure out were entertaining. I'm glad to have read all three titles in this trilogy now, although I'd probably only reread Howl's Moving Castle. 

 

Castle in the Air

Castle in the Air / Diana Wynne Jones 
NY: Greenwillow, 2008, c1990.
383 p.

This is book two in the loosely connected Howl books by Diana Wynne Jones. It is not a sequel exactly; Howl and Sophie show up in this one, even if you don't know it immediately, but the main action follows other characters. 

It begins in the Howl universe, but south of the land of Ingary. We meet Abdullah, a carpet seller in the Rashpuht bazaar. He's young, not that successful, and spends a lot of time dreaming of being a hero. One day, a stranger sells him a magic carpet -- and the adventures begin. 

He meets the Sultan's daughter, Princess Flower-in-the-Night, but she is stolen by an evil Djinn before Abdullah can do anything. He heads off in pursuit on his magic carpet, meeting a rather disreputable companion along the way, a rough character who turns out to dote on cats and whose skills as a thief are particularly useful. They discover that there is a castle in the air where many kidnapped princesses are being held, and the scenes in the castle (Howl's Moving Castle, stolen by the Djinn) are my favourite part of this book, funny and full of fabulous women. The princesses range from small children to mature women, but they are all interesting and clever. 

Calcifer, Sophie, and Howl (and their small infant) all turn out to be important to the story, and have been woven into the tale more than first appears. This was funny and charming, with many disguised identities and misdirections. The power of constancy and true love is highlighted as well, with many delightful pairings showing up. 

It is over 30 years old so there are a few things that might not have been included today, but overall, it was a fun read with a satisfying happy ending. 

 

The Little Broomstick

The Little Broomstick / Mary Stewart 
William Morrow, 1972, c1971.
192 p.

This charming children's book by Mary Stewart is redolent with magic. Young Mary Smith is staying with elderly relatives in Shropshire, and is lonely and bored. She goes out to help in the garden some days just for something to do. And one day she follows a mysterious black cate with green eyes and finds a little broomstick. Conveniently for her, Tib the cat had also led her to a rare flower in the woods called a fly-by-night. And all three of these together launch her onto a great adventure. 

Mary flies off, rather wobbily, on her little broomstick. It takes her straight to Endor College, a school for witchcraft where she is quickly enrolled. But she discovers that the spells taught to the students are mean-spirited and tricksy, and the teachers are generally pretty nasty. And then Tib disappears and Mary decides she is going to find him and break whatever mysterious magic is going on here. 

There is some evil experimenting going on, on all the pets and familiars who have arrived with the children. The heads of the school are running it for their own benefit and are trying out all sorts of dark magic. But with her innocence and some fortunate assistance, Mary ends up undoing the spells in one fell swoop, and then fleeing the school. 

The scenes in which she is escaping are exciting and scary. She has to use her wits to figure out how to escape from Endor and the magical landscapes to cross over back to her own world again. She has Tib and his brother cat, and another boy to help her but it's touch and go. This was a well constructed story with appealing characters, both good and bad, as well as the requisite oblivious adults supposed to be taking care of her. Lovely cats, lots of magical magic, and a funny scene with the broomsticks when she arrives at Endor for the first time -- a stableman approving of her old fashioned broom rather than all the new-fangled ones students purchase from the Harrod's catalogue (with descriptions). 

This was a good read, really reflective of many of the 'witchy' books from the 70s that were written for children. This one has great atmosphere, not surprising given the author, and an appealing heroine. Really enjoyed it. 

Adventures with Waffles

 

Adventures with Waffles / Maria Parr
trans. from the Norwegian by Guy Puzey
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2015, c2005.
232 p.

I found this delightful children's book from Norway in my library's e-collection so gave it a try. It is the first in a series, and apparently quite a popular series in its original language. I thought it was a very satisfying read -- interesting characters (both children and adults), a fascinating setting and lots of character development to engage readers. 

Trille lives with his family on an island in Norway. Lena is his neighbour and best friend, although she is so full of energy and charisma in comparison to Trille that he secretly worries that she doesn't consider him her best friend in return. The two of them have a year of adventures, from simple ones to ones that result in concussions. They have close relationships with Trille's parents, his Grandpa who lives with them, and Auntie Granny who lives nearby and makes the best waffles. And Lena decides she needs to find a husband for her single mom, another adventure for the two of them. 

The story weaves together hilarity and heart, also including more serious moments and experiences of grief. It is wholly "good" somehow, with characters who have integrity and character. It feels like a contemporary middle grade inspirational story (there is talk about Christianity) with a pinch of Pippi Longstocking. It made me laugh and it made me choke up. I really loved it. There is a second volume now available, too, so I think that's up when I need another feel-good read. 

The Wildcat Behind Glass

 

The Wildcat Behind Glass / Alki Zei
trans. from the Greek by Karen Emmerich
Amherst, MA: Restless Books, 2024, c1963.
240 p.

This is a classic children's book from Greece, but how relevant today. This is a fresh translation, and the story remains fresh and relatable. 

Melia and Myrto are sisters, growing up in 1930s Greece under a dictatorship. They share a secret language, they play with the other kids on their summer island even if they aren't quite the same class, they love their grandfather's stories of myths, and they also love their cousin Nikos. He is probably early 20s, and he is a favourite of all the children - he's charming, fun, and tells them stories, especially about the stuffed wildcat in the display case in Melia and Myrto's parlour. This wildcat gets around; having adventures, passing messages, and more -- and it becomes both a symbol and a player in the growing political upheaval. 

The story is balanced between youthful naivety and serious politics. The girls play, go to school and do things suited to their ages but they also see things; neighbours, adults, even their cousin Nikos, behaving in unusual ways that they don't quite understand - they are almost there but still too young to be fully aware. But they aren't wide eyed and ridiculous narrators either; the story is pitched just right. 

It's a timely read, with intimations of how people adjust their behaviours early on to be discreet, not to stand out -- and how others jump right into resistance. Not only that, it is a touching story of these two girls and their awakening to reality, and their loving relationships with their cousin, mother, housekeeper, and friends. I enjoyed this - great characters and setting, and a look at a political moment that is clearly still relevant. 

Linnets and Valerians

Linnets & Valerians / Elizabeth Goudge
Boston, MA: David Godine Publishers, 2015, c1964.
256 p.

I've been having a hard time reading and an even harder time sitting down to review lately. So I decided that I should read something delightful from a favourite author, one of her children's book that I hadn't yet read. This was the right choice! 

Linnets & Valerians is the story of the four Linnet children, Nan, Robert, Timothy and Betsy. They are sent to live with their grandmother when their father is assigned a post overseas -- their mother being, of course in these kinds of books, long dead. Their grandmother is strict and they are unhappy at the beginning of the book, as they are all being punished for rowdy behaviour by being locked away in solitary. They decide to escape and run away. 

And so they do, walking to another village until in exhaustion they climb into a pony trap, which then sets off, the pony heading home, while they eat all the groceries in the back. I can see why Grandma locked them up! 

Fortunately for them, the pony belongs to their Uncle Ambrose, a grumpy minister and scholar, who takes them in. Life there is much freer, even if they must be educated by Uncle Ambrose. 

But instead of just larks and hijinks for the rest of the book, the story turns darker. There is a witch in town, old Emma Cobley, who has cursed the local rich family - their son disappeared at age 8 on the hills, the husband is long missing overseas, the wife is a recluse at their estate. The Linnet children stumble into this and they do resolve it, as expected, but the story is dark, with witchcraft, magical bees, owls, and more. The children remain resolutely stout and English amidst this swirling magic, except for maybe a little bit of Nan is brought into it. As the oldest she is responsible for them and she also finds a little book of spells in Uncle Ambrose's house (the vicarage, where the rich recluse used to live as the old vicar's daughter long ago). 

But despite the odd balance of this book I loved it and would have loved it when I was a young reader as well. It was published in 1964, when these themes of English witches were everywhere -- Mary Stewart's Thornyhold, Alexander Key's Escape to Witch Mountain, or any of Ruth Chew's lighter witchy stories, for example. And this kind of dark magic against the (Christian) light is a theme in some of Goudge's other writing, in different ways but present. 

The only part I wasn't keen on was Nan's character arc - I could see her resolution coming and didn't like it, and then it happened and I still didn't like it! But this was a fun, relaxing read that I really enjoyed on a steamy summer day. 

Stitches of Tradition

 

Stitches of Tradition / Marcie Rendon,
illus. by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
NY: HarperCollins, c2024.

This Ojibwe story honours the ribbon skirt as a tradition that stitches together generations. A young girl gets her first ribbon skirt thanks to her grandmother's sewing prowess. They measure and cut and create a skirt for her to wear to a baby naming ceremony — and then as she grows older, new ribbon skirts to wear to a Fall Ceremony, a swearing in as her aunt becomes a district judge, and finally to her own coming of age ceremony. As she grows, she learns to help with the sewing and continue the traditions. The text features repeated paragraphs that both ground the story and move it forward, making it an engaging read aloud.

The text and illustrations are both by Ojibwe artists, one from Minnesota and one from Barrie. Together they've created a heart warming book about the connections between generations of women and the traditions that bind families. The text is sprinkled with Ojibwe terms, with a glossary and an author's note at the back, explaining the importance of ribbon skirts. The topic and the colour saturated illustrations make this a visually appealing book for young readers and their elders. It's a gentle story full of love, connection, and sewing! I loved it. 

Ballet Shoes

 

Ballet Shoes / Noel Streatfeild; illus by Diane Goode
Bullseye Books, 1993, c1936.
281 p.

Shortly after my Susan Scarlett reading streak, I saw this hardcover illustrated edition of Ballet Shoes at the thrift store so thought I had better read it. Susan Scarlett was the pen name of Noel Streatfeild, and this is Streatfeild's best known children's book. 

So what did I think? Well, meh. It's the story of three young girls, all adopted by a dithery professor in his scientific journeys around the world. He dumps them off a home with a female relative and a housekeeper, then disappears again, for a long time, leaving them in financial straits. 

The three girls are all artistically inclined, and are sent to a dance school to learn a trade of sorts, from a very young age. The oldest, Pauline, is an actress, dancer and singer, and once she hits 12 she's happy that she can start earning money for the family. Petrova, the middle girl, resigns herself to dance training but her real love is mechanics; she dreams of being a pilot. Posy, the youngest, is a born dancer and has a one track mind where it is concerned. All three look forward to being able to contribute to the household after age 12, when children were allowed to work for pay. 

The book is nearly all women; from the girls to their 'aunt' and housekeeper, to the lodgers that they take in to help pay the bills (all except one), to the teachers and their friends at the school -- I liked this, it was interesting to see so many kinds of women represented. 

The book really goes into the daily grind of arts training -- you can tell that Streatfeild knows this world well. But honestly that detail was a bit boring, and the three young girls and their struggles aren't very engaging either, at least to me. Also the ending is a bit fairy godmotherish with the professor's return, everyone seems delighted to see him, not even angry that he disappeared and left them struggling for so long. I wasn't as impressed with that! I can't really see modern child readers bothering with this one. But as a classic I'm glad I read it even if I didn't end up loving it (and probably wouldn't have as a young reader either). This particular edition has lovely soft pencil illustrations and they were a great addition. I don't think I'll try any of her other children's books, though. 

The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt

 

The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt / Riel Nason
illus. by Byron Eggenschewiler
Toronto: Tundra Books, c2020.
42 p.

A quick Canadian read -- this is a sweet picture book about a little ghost who just doesn't fit in with this peers - they (classic sheets) can twirl and float but our little ghost, made of a heavier patchwork quilt, likes to lay himself over clotheslines or chairs since floating is so hot and difficult. 

One Halloween he ends up on a porch railing for a better view, and is mistaken for a blanket -- he's picked up and taken on a trick-or-treating journey. He keeps a little girl warm, gets a little sticky, and escapes late at night when everyone in the house is asleep. His adventures make him the hot topic in his peer group after that! 

This is a gentle tale, and the illustrations match the tone of the story perfectly. The colours are muted, and the images feel a little bit retro. If you're looking for a book that's sweet instead of scary, and you love the idea of a patchwork ghost descended from a checked tablecloth and a lace curtain - well, you'll love this charming story. Great for any bedtime reading for quilters and textile lovers! 

(review first shared at Following the Thread)

100 Greatest Children's Books of All Time!! And my own additions...

 

Just this week an article appeared on the BBC website -- a list of the "100 Greatest Children's Books of All Time", voted on by a group of 107 different bookish people from around the world. Each person got 10 choices, and they were all collated and ranked to make up the final list.

Of course, the claim made in the title of this list is quite ambitious! 100 Greatest for whom? And how about the missing ones? One issue I have with this list is that they did not separate out picture books from early chapter books or middle grade reads. How do you compare The Very Hungry Caterpillar with Anne of Green Gables? Hard to do that. And of course, I have some disagreements as to what makes something a "children's book" (ie: why is Lord of the Rings or Watership Down on this list?)

Take a look and see what you think of it -- and how many books on this list you've read. And then share which book you would have added to your own list instead of some of these choices. 

I was quite happy to see some of my favourites on this list (Anne, the Moomins, A Wrinkle in Time, and more) but there are definitely 10 titles not on this list that I would have chosen for my own. So here are my 10 replacement titles that I think could replace the non-children's titles currently there ;) These are all books that I personally love and would gladly share with any reader! I hope that you'll check these out too, and share your own picks :)

5 Picture Books

1. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom / Bill Martin 
2. Millions of Cats / Wanda Gag
3. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes / Eric Litwin
4. The Paper Bag Princess / Robert Munsch 
5.  The Mitten / Jan Brett

5 Chapter Books

1. The Witch of Blackbird Pond / Elizabeth George Speare
2. The Little White Horse / Elizabeth Goudge
3. The Trumpet of the Swan / E.B. White
4. Mrs. Frisby & The Rats of NIMH / Robert O'Brien
5. The Borrowers / Mary Norton

Aggie Morton & the Seaside Corpse

 

The Seaside Corpse / Marthe Jocelyn
Toronto : Tundra, ©2022.
354 p.

I couldn't resist quickly reading the fourth (and sadly last) book in the Aggie Morton series. In this one, Aggie and Hector are going to be "junior scientists" at a fossil dig at Lyme Regis. There is a team of scientists getting ready to remove their discovery of a large ichthyosaur from the sea, and Aggie & Hector, along with two other young boys (Arthur & Oscar) are going to camp there for a week and help out. 

Because of this set-up the story feels more adventurous than straight mystery. Hector has to contend with a camp cot in a shared tent with other boys, not his natural milieu. And Aggie, observant as ever, begins to see how women had their work overrun with men claiming credit, and how they manage it. The dig is run by the husband and wife team of the Blenningham-Crewes, but Mrs. does the work while much older Mr. takes the credit. Aggie also notes that Helen, the camp cook, has her life constrained by her father's wishes, and of course we also see the return of Gus Fibbley, the journalist who isn't really a Gus. 

There is infighting at the camp, as well as the frequent visits of an American millionaire and a sideshow impressario, both interested and competitive potential buyers. Thankfully Grannie Jane also makes a visit to help Aggie and Hector out when they need it. 

The mystery comes a few chapters into the book, when Aggie and Hector stumble across a dead body on the beach -- it is Mr. B-C. But who could have wanted to murder this often angry, bullying, drunk? Well, that's the question -- pretty much everyone. Aggie and Hector work their way through the list of suspects, and eliminate them slowly. It's tough when it could have been anyone! The conclusion is startling and rather sad. 

I enjoyed this one. There is lots of info about fossils and about the most famous fossil hunter of Lyme Regis, Mary Anning. There are great side characters and lots of humour. And there is also a very touching conclusion to the last mystery of this childhood team of sleuths. I thought this series was well done, with many nods to the great Agatha Christie that adult readers will enjoy picking out. But the main characters hold their own, and you get attached to them. It's sad that this is the last one, but it was perfectly concluded. Highly recommend the whole series for the adventurous middle grade reader who loves mystery, strong girls, cleverness and humour. 

In Myrtle Peril

In Myrtle Peril / Elizabeth C. Bunce
New York : Algonquin Young Readers, 2022.
362 p.

Book 4 of the Myrtle Hardcastle series brings more light Victorian murder and mystery to the expectant reader. I'm a big fan of this series and all its charming characters, and this one doesn't disappoint. This time Myrtle is not ranging abroad anywhere at all, in fact it's a rather circumscribed milieu in this volume. 

Mr. Hardcastle is experiencing some medical distress - tonsilitis to be precise. It's so bad that his doctor recommends surgery, never a good thing in those days. Myrtle is very worried, as is Miss Judson, her governess. But his stay in the hospital is made more nervewracking by the fact that he witnesses a murder across the courtyard on his first night. (a la Rear Window). 

His character is more like Myrtle's in this story; a little less controlled and more impulsive, though that's put down to the painkillers he's on. Still, he insists (in a garbled voice due to his throat, which continues throughout the book) that there was a murder, and Myrtle is on the case. 

She & Miss Judson are also on the case in regards to the work that her father, a lawyer, was working on prior to his admittance to the hospital. They're investigating the claims of a young girl from Australia that she is the lost heir to a wealthy family thought lost in a shipwreck. This is based on numerous 'false heir' cases of the time - it was harder to prove or disprove identity in those days, and money was going wanting. Myrtle befriends this young girl, Sally, & they find that all the threads of all the mysteries surrounding both Sally and Mr. Hardcastle and the hospital staff are tangled up in ways that are unexpected but eventually make sense. 

There are hijinks and explosions and Peony appearances; Cook has more of a role here, and there are hints of changes to Myrtle's home life. All in all, a rambunctious plot and lots of intrigue to entertain you. The only thing I wasn't as enamoured by was Mr. Hardcastle's adenoidal mumbling. However, this novel provides a great setup for the next and last book of the series, which I'm both looking forward to and dreading as the end of this delightful series. 
 

The Dead Man in the Garden

The Dead Man in the Garden / Marthe Jocelyn
TO: Tundra, c2021
368 p.

Taking a break from older classics to catch up on the Aggie Morton series! I really enjoyed the first two novels in this series, The Body Under the Piano and Peril at Owl Park, so when this one was available I thought it was the perfect time to take a break with some delightful middle grade mystery. This series features a young girl inspired by Agatha Christie, and for adult readers and Christie fans, there are lots of subtle references to her works to enjoy in each book.

Moving from the Christmas setting of the Owl Park volume, in this adventure, Aggie and her friend Hector are at a resort hotel in Yorkshire so her newly widowed mother can rest. Aggie and Hector, as usual, get up to mischief investigating rumours of a dead body, and then discovering a second corpse themselves. They are assisted in their investigations by Grannie Jane and their new friend George, a resident of the hotel who is in a wheelchair. His situation provides them with some great angles to snoop and explore, and Aggie uses all those opportunities to their fullest. 

This restful interlude at the spa hotel turns less restful and more dangerous and the three young people poke and prod and uncover corruption, conspiracy, and cold-blooded murder. 

The pace and characterizations in this volume are all really well done. George is a clever new addition to the main characters, and adds more complexity to their interactions. The mystery is well developed and makes sense when all is revealed, which I always appreciate in a mystery novel no matter which age it is written for. And the conclusion is quite thrilling and uses the setting to its fullest advantage. 

Another title in this series that I can highly recommend. Very enjoyable, and I have the fourth volume in the series to look forward to shortly.

Spooky Youthful Reads

 

Freaks / Brett Riley
Las Vegas, NV : Imbrifex Books, 2022.
288 p.

Since it's time for some spooky reads, I picked up a couple of books from the young reader section of my library. I started with this one by Brett Riley -- the comparison to Stranger Things caught me! Unfortunately, I didn't see a lot of that here other than a group of kids facing a supernatural villain. The tone is quite different; it feels more Marvel movie style to me. But the story was still a quick and mostly satisfying read.

Four friends, bullied throughout their school years, accidentally open a portal to another dimension, releasing evil into the world. Thanks to the same accident, though, they develop superpowers that they must learn to control in order to fight the monsters they've brought to their small Arkansas town. Micah, Christian, Jamie and Gabby are all 'freaks' at their school; they aren't the popular kids. But they stick together even in the face of this sudden shift in their reality. 

In this fight they must pair up with one of their long-time bullies in order to defeat the creature terrorizing their town. But how do you forgive years of bullying even when it's clear you have to? In this fast-paced read, the backstories of all the teens (as well as the four-armed, fanged vampire monster they are fighting) are mixed in with lots of action and teen angst, and a sprinkle of romance. The novel is full of adventure, gore, and dark magic, but the teens also experience challenges to their friendships and are faced with moral decisions about power and responsibility. I did find a few things about it that I didn't like as much (Micah's character arc for example) but overall it was pretty good and would likely appeal to teen readers. 

The Stars Did Wander Darkling / Colin Meloy
New York, NY : Balzer + Bray, ©2022
329 p.

This book was in the juvenile section, for middle grade readers. However, I found it spookier and more subtle than Freaks was. In this one, four friends again face an existential threat. But this time, it's some creepy and unexplained men who appear in the woods after main character Archie's father, a contractor, digs up the ground beneath the old haunted house at the edge of town.

The town starts to feel the repercussions; adults begin acting strangely and frightening the kids -- only the local video store owner seems to listen to them. They slowly come to realize that the adults are being replaced by changelings, even their own parents. It's a slow burn horror, and when Archie runs into the woods to try to find his friend Chris at their campsite, he comes across something even more terrifying. 

I thought this one was a great read. The overarching sense of horror was well done, and nothing was overly explained, which made it even creepier. We're not sure what the strange men were guarding or how they got there; we're also not sure how the kids resolved the situation, exactly, but they did. Sort of... 

This one is a great seasonal read for anyone who likes a little creepiness with their middle grade reading. I'd recommend it to teens  too, even if the characters are around 12 or 13, because the tone is definitely suitable to older readers as well. I enjoyed this one, and the title reflects the sense of unknowing that raises the spooky factor in the tale. 

The Railway Children

 

The Railway Children / E. Nesbit
[Ashland, Or.] : Blackstone Audio, Inc., 2009, c1906.

Another children's book! This time a classic. Somehow I got into the groove of reading kid lit over the break. I have a lot of favourite Nesbit from when I was young, but this wasn't one of them. Somehow, the idea of a realist story of three siblings whose family loses all its money and has to move to the country didn't appeal as much as stories of sand fairies and magic carpets when I was a child reader.

But I decided to read it now, since there was an audio version in my library. I really enjoyed the narrator, who didn't try to sound twee or sweet, just crisply English. 

It's the story of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis, three siblings who face a crisis when their father mysteriously disappears and their mother moves them to a drafty country house, and becomes far too busy writing stories for magazines to play with them any longer. They entertain themselves by haunting the railway line that runs near the house, and visiting the station regularly. They make friends with the station master and porter, with an old gentleman on the train, and with various townspeople. 

It is an episodic story, with adventures happening regularly - the children have to warn an oncoming train about a landslide around the corner; they celebrate the porter's birthday; they rescue a schoolboy who has broken his leg inside the railway tunnel. And much more.

Throughout, the sibling relationships are realistic, with lots of arguments and boy/girl stereotypes too. It is quite of its time in some ways, with adults talking about the strength of boys and the weakness of girls, and the angelic mother. But it's also lively and fresh in others, as when the children's father states near the opening that girls and boys are equal and encourages Roberta, the eldest, in her interest in trains. 

It was a little soppy for me in parts, and the habit of the narrator talking to the reader, especially as the end got nearer, was a bit trying. It gets a bit meta in the end, with the children and their story-writing mother saying things like 'if this were a story, then x would happen' and the mother sweetly saying that God knows the right end to a story. 

But I did enjoy it in the main, and found the ending touching. I still think this wouldn't have appealed to me much as a child; I would always go for the magic in the other Nesbit stories. As an adult, I appreciated it but didn't make that connection you can make when reading as a young reader. 

Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen

The Body Under the Piano / Marthe Jocelyn

TO: Tundra, c2020

325 p.

And now for some more middle grade mystery writing, this time by an author who is local to me & a delight to read. These books are similar to the Myrtle Hardcastle series, but set a little later (1902) and for a slightly younger crowd. The writing is pitched at about the 9-13 age range, and there are illustrations included which are pretty charming. 

The main character, Aggie Morton, is inspired by Agatha Christie; in the first book she stumbles across a young refugee from Belgium, Hector Perot, in a candy store, and they befriend one another since they are both slightly odd in comparison to other 12 year olds around. There has been been a murder in the room that Aggie's dance class meets in, and before they are all sent away she's able to dash in and get a good look at the dead body. She's the classic cerebral, socially awkward, gawky girl who is interested in poisons, death and other "morbid" things. 

There are references to people and places from Agatha Christie's life and her later novels throughout the series, which you'll only catch is you are yourself a big Christie fan -- fun for the adult readers but which will almost certainly be missed by younger readers. In this intro to the series, the action gets going a little slowly, but it's a credible and interesting set-up overall. I found the characters a little hard to handle in the beginning but by the end it felt like the reliance on Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot was loosening up a bit and these characters were becoming more themselves. I enjoyed it enough to immediately pick up the second book in the series, which was perfect because it is a Christmas themed novel! 

Peril at Owl Park / Marthe Jocelyn
TO: Tundra, c2020
256 p.

This second novel was just great! It's set at Owl Park, the manor house that Aggie's older sister Marjorie lives at now that she's Lady Greyson. Aggie and her grandmother have been invited to spend the Christmas holiday there, and Aggie manages to get Hector invited as well as a poor lonely refugee with no family. 

It's classic British country house mystery, and even better because it's so very Christmassy. The house is decorated up, they do Christmassy things, there's snow and a Christmas performance by a travelling theatre troupe, in addition to hidden passages, mysterious Indian jewels, and murder. Aggie and Hector investigate the crime, and here it feels likely that they are the only ones able to do so, since the adults are all running around concerned with adult things but the children are essentially invisible as they move around the house. Nobody pays any attention to them at all. A grave error...

This was a real delight. The enclosed space makes the plot tighter than the first, and Aggie is forced to face her own shortcomings as well as her cleverness; it adds more to her character. There are faint shades of Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins in the theatricals and the jewel subplot, and so many great characters among the manor house staff and the theatre performers. The mystery is a solid one, and the book itself has a great atmosphere which I really enjoyed - all the elements of British Christmas closed room mystery here. The characters come into their own in this second book in the series and are very entertaining and more rounded somehow. A great Christmas read! 

Cold-Blooded Myrtle

Cold-Blooded Myrtle / Elizabeth C. Bunce
NY: Algonquin, c2021.
368 p.

Just in time for Christmas, this latest entry into the Myrtle Hardcastle mystery series hits the spot! It's set at Christmastime -- Mr. Leighton, owner of Leighton's Mercantile, is found dead in his shop the day that his annual Christmas window display is set to be revealed. Myrtle is on the scene when this occurs, and she and her intrepid governess Miss Judson don't quite believe that this is all coincidental, especially as the window display has been rearranged to provide a clue to the murder. 

Myrtle must leap into action to try to track clues from the past, from the time that Mr. Leighton was a professor at a nearby college, before a mysterious scandal and a missing girl derailed that career. There are multitudinous suspects in their town, as she discovers with every new clue. And this has something to do with her long deceased mother. All of these elements combine to make a dashing story with red herrings flung about with abandon. 

This entry into the series gives us a little more about Myrtle and her own family, and digs into the relationships between many of the regulars. The lady journalist from the previous book is back, as well as Myrtle's young lawyer friend, and her nemesis La Rue Spence-Hastings. But every interaction has the possibility to surprise the reader, and I didn't guess the conclusion easily. Also, Miss Judson gets more to do here as well, and that was wonderful to read. 

There are also lots of footnotes (one of my favourite things about this series) and witty observations on Christmas itself. However, the book is set at Christmas, but it's not really about the holiday, and there isn't a heavy focus on Christmassy things. I'd have liked a little more actual Christmas in it, but then I absolutely love all things Victorian Christmas so I may be an outlier here ;) 

But another hit in this series, which fortunately has been extended to two more books. Looking forward to reading them next year! 

How to Get Away With Myrtle

 

How to Get Away With Myrtle / Elizabeth C. Bunce
NY: Algonquin Young Readers, c2020.
346 p.

After reading Premeditated Myrtle, the first book in this series, I eagerly got my hands on the second volume. (The third, Cold Blooded Myrtle, isn't out until October, sadly!) 

In this outing, Myrtle's father is at a law conference in France, and has sent Myrtle for a seaside holiday with her governess Miss Judson, and her intimidatingly proper Aunt Helena. The idea is to get Myrtle away from crime and murder in town, but of course, things do not go as planned. 

A woman is killed on their excursion train, and so Myrtle is now intimately involved in a murder from the moment they step off the train and into their holiday location. This big hotel has been restored, but nothing else in this small town has been as yet -- even the pier is closed off and decrepit. So Myrtle has a few mysteries to investigate; what happened to the woman on the train, and why is the town so secretive and opposed to the flashy new hotel owner? 

She finds a co-conspirator in the son of the hotel manager, who has the convenient hobby of photography. This leads to some danger and intrigue for them both. Miss Judson takes her own tack, befriending a salesman staying at the hotel (which puts Myrtle's nose a bit out of joint). Meanwhile, proper Aunt Helena is arrested for the murder of the woman on the train, since it was her sewing scissors used to do the deed. All three of these women turn out to be quite a dab hand at both investigating, and intimidating others into both confessions and schemes of their own.

The non-idyllic seaside setting turns this into a perfect Victorian novel. It's a bit of a 'closed room' mystery, with its contained set of characters. The setting plays a big role in the mystery, and is described wonderfully. 

Another hit in this series, and one in which we learn more of the various characters and their relationships. I delighted in the setting and in the growth of all three characters. Definitely looking forward to the fall release of the next book, which has a Christmas timeframe -- Victorian Christmas mystery = my very favourite kind. 

Premeditated Myrtle

Premeditated Myrtle / Elizabeth C. Bunce
NY: Algonquin Young Readers, c2020.
361 p.

I picked up this delightful middle grade novel recently, after its Edgar Award win. It sounded like just my thing -- 12 yr old heroine Myrtle, Victorian era, a murder next door -- and it delivered. 

I loved this book. I laughed, and admired Myrtle's thought processes and use of language. The mystery was clever and the side characters, including Myrtle's father and governess, were also a delight. Although this is a middle grade book, I think that adults would enjoy it as much as their young readers (I know I did!) 

As the book opens, Myrtle's elderly neighbour is found dead in her home; Myrtle is convinced it is murder. The police aren't really concerned, an old lady died of apparent heart failure, big deal. But Myrtle pieces together clues from her knowledge of her neighbour's habits, and from her connections to the gardener next door, too. 

Handily, Myrtle's governess is a curious sort as well, so doesn't squash her ambition, rather, she gets interested in what's going on. And Mr. Hardcastle is a lawyer, which is convenient for certain things too! The neighbour's niece and nephew appear, checking out the house and their inheritance, and Myrtle's interactions with them are quite amusing. Especially when she starts to feel like the niece has set her cap for Mr. Hardcastle...

And, there's a prescient cat in the picture, which always perks up a story ;) 

The style is Victorianish, which appeals to me a lot. But it's not too confusing for the intended age group -- it's reminiscent of both the Flavia de Luce mysteries and the Lemony Snicket series, if you imagine a combination of style and plots. I think any 11-13 yr old who is a big reader would really enjoy this series. 

The plot is well done, I don't want to give anything away so will just say that it arises naturally from Myrtle's curiosity and verve. The brilliant cover image gives a hint that flowers are involved in this mystery, and that Myrtle is unafraid of investigations that take her beyond nice Victorian girl behaviours. If you're looking for an entertaining introduction to a new series featuring a delightful sleuth, I recommend this book heartily. It's light and entertaining, with witty dialogue and some lovely characters to get to know.