Intended Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Mystery
Notes for Parents: There’s tension, ghost stories, and some thievery.
The Inside Cover
It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky
smugglers’ inn is always quiet during this season, and Milo, the innkeepers’
adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night
of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again.
Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each on bearing a
strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects
go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must
decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the
truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.
What the cover doesn’t tell
you:
The cover sums it up nicely.
What’s good?
This
is a classic but quirky mystery full of eccentric characters, cryptic local
folklore, thievery, secrets, and an attic full of treasures. The storytelling (famous
smugglers and secret stashes!) is entertaining and the young main character is endearing
(I love the wonderful relationship he has with his parents). The pace is
steady, there’s plenty of tension, and the end is delightful. Best Part: Meddy’s secret.
What isn’t good?
The story moves slowly, mostly because the
author is very wordy. What could have been said in a paragraph takes a page,
and unnecessary details make the story feel sluggish at times. While I loved
Milo, Meddy, The Pines, Mrs. Hereward, and Fenster, the rest of the supporting
cast fell a little flat. I constantly confused Georgie with Clem, and Mr. Vinge
with Dr. Gwervine. Mrs. Caraway, Lizzie, and Brandon served absolutely no
purpose.Worst part: Nothing was terrible.
Recommendation þþþoo
I liked it, but I was also happy when it was
over. I liked the quirkiness of it all, and the smuggler lore was entertaining,
but it was slow-moving. I would have liked to know more about the underground
train (Fenster was a hoot!). I also think the story would make a great movie.
Overall, recommended. Milford, Kate. Greenglass House. Boston: Clarion Books, 2014. (Hardcover)
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