Skip to main content

The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle

Image
By


The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle 
By Janet Fox
Viking, Penguin Random House, 2016. 388 p.

Kat, her two brothers, and son of a family friend are all sent to Rookskill Castle while WWII bombings are prevalent in London. However, it is actually a bit more dangerous at Rookskill Castle than in London with all the Nazi bombs. One by one the children of Rookskill Castle Children’s Academy are disappearing and it seems as if by some dark magic. Kat is the oldest of her crew (and quite clever and logical to boot) so she feels it is her responsibility to figure out just exactly what is happening. The only trouble is…she has a hard time believing in magic (even though her Great-Aunt Margaret gave her a chatelaine that she claims has magical powers).

This is a spooky tale where clues as to what is happening are strewn throughout the text via flashbacks or Kat slowly figuring out bits at a time. Yet, through text highlighting other characters, readers will end up guessing the mystery with enough time to be sure to read with all the lights on while Kat is still figuring it all out. And the ending! There is a solid, satisfactory ending; however, there is a door left wide open for possible sequels. Readers who love children’s horror or being a little frightened while reading a good, magical mystery will enjoy this creepy tale.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Ruthie Rose's Big Idea

By
  Ruthie Rose's Big Idea Written by John Schu Illustrated by Holly Hatam Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2025. Picture Book. Some books just reach out and touch your heart and heal your soul. This is one of those books for me! Ruthie Rose wakes up one day with a beautiful idea. Because the idea is so big, she knows she will need a lot of help from people at her school. Fortunately, there are many faculty members and students ready and willing to help Rose with her idea. This story, and the accompanying artwork feel so joyful, hopeful, and inspiring. The artwork is completely captivating. I can picture so many kids and grown-ups reading this book and feeling a spark of creativity enter into their minds. I think it could give kids the courage they need to plan and implement their own "big ideas."  I loved that no one saw Ruthie's ideas as too big, too hard, or too much. They shared her vision, and each of them individually did their part to contribute in helping it co...
Post a Comment
Read more

Books That Take You There: Under the Sea

By Suzanne
The ocean is a mesmerizing realm, teeming with an astonishing diversity of life. It contains microscopic bacteria and algae to towering kelp forests and countless marine creatures. Beyond its beauty, the ocean is vital to life on Earth. It supplies oxygen, sustains food chains, and plays a crucial role in climate regulation. Dive into these six captivating books that will transport you beneath the waves and unveil the wonders of the deep. The Sea Knows  Written by Alice B. McGinty and Alan B. Havis  Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis  New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book.  The Sea Knows  is a lyrical picture book that explores the vastness and wonder of the ocean. Through rhythmic, poetic text, the book contrasts the sea’s many characteristics. It can be both fierce and calm, shallow and deep, full of tiny creatures and enormous whales. This captivating book encourages curiosity about the natural world and highlights the ever-...
Post a Comment
Read more