Castle of Shadows

Gr 4–6—Charlie's life seems far from that of a princess as she struggles with starvation and the wrath of a cruel housekeeper. Mrs. O'Dair has run the household ever since the child's mother left the castle six years earlier. The king appears to be mentally ill, building his enormous card castles and paying little attention to his daughter or the state of his kingdom, the city of Quale. But when Charlie finds a clue inside a book that could reveal the reasons for her mother's disappearance, the 11-year-old's world is forever changed. Resourcefulness is the key to her existence, and she's learned every passage of the huge castle in attempts to steal food or stay out of the reach of the night watchman and the housekeeper, both of whom seem to have their own agenda for the kingdom. The gardener's boy, Tobias Petch, is her only peer and becomes her ally when she follows the clue and uncovers a treasonous plot against her father. Together they share an adventure that forces Charlie to take her place as part of the resistance movement to regain control of the kingdom. With Toby, she ventures outside the castle walls to the underbelly of the city where she finds out the truth about her family and the prime minister who claims to be her friend. Part adventure, part steampunk fantasy, the story line is quick to draw readers into the world of Victorian Quale. Charlie's transformation from scullery princess to rightful heir is an adventure not to be missed. Well written, well plotted, well done.—Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH