The Matchstick Castle

Gr 4–6—The last thing Brian wants to do is spend his summer with his aunt and uncle in Boring, IL. But since his scientist father is in Antarctica for the season, Brian is shipped off to the town that lives up to its name. Online summer school and his standoffish cousin, Nora, don't help matters. Then a fight between the cousins leads Brian and Nora to a large wooden house in the woods, and things finally start to get more interesting. The house belongs to an incredibly eccentric family who refer to the ramshackle building as a castle. The summer takes off with adventures thanks to Brian and Nora's new friend, Cosmo van Dash, the house's youngest resident. The trio encounter everything from wild boars and giant wasps to having to deal with a crazy bureaucrat who wants to destroy the "castle." This quirky novel is reminiscent of a Wes Anderson movie for the tweenage set. Strange families, dilapidated houses that may or may not be legitimate deathtraps, and oddball characters abound. The plot is winsome and well-thought-out, and the characters are likable. The van Dash uncles are goofy and will earn several laughs from readers.