- cousins work together on restoring an old house while also trying to solve a mystery
- funny, upbeat, and full of sweet multi-generational relationships
- convo: jokes about witches; a boy is his younger cousin’s “idol,” a whole scene about fortune telling, mystic insights, interpreting dreams, Zodiac; a penny is kept for luck; a girl is mad at her governess and says she wants to kill her; a girl resents that “Fate” made her a girl; cigars mentioned; wine mentioned; little boys pretend to be Indians come to scalp their sisters, but the girls kick them out of the room; a quoted Catholic hymn praises parts of nature as “my brother” or “my sister”
- language: heck x7, what the x1, holy crow x1, stupid x1, asinine x1, doggone x2, occasional: By Jupiter, By Jove, Great Scot, thank fortune
Type: chapter book
Ages: 7-10
Author: Elizabeth Enright
It would be so fun to buy an old house with forgotten treasures inside! My kids and I enjoyed this book much more than the first one, which is rare for a sequel. They laughed frequently, and I enjoyed the writing style.
The story begins in the spring and goes on through summer, so it would be a delightful read during those seasons. If you’re okay with the above notes, it’s a safe title to pick up for your family. Happy reading!
