  | Winterborne Home for vengeance and valor Author: Carter, Ally | |
| Price: $22.38 | ||
Summary:
After years in foster care, April gets to live in a mansion where she and four other children are caught up in a mystery related to a missing heir, a lost legacy, and the Phantom.
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| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.70 Points: 8.0 Quiz: 508441 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 6-8 Reading Level: 5.20 Points: 15.0 Quiz: 77682 | |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (01/01/20)
School Library Journal (+) (02/01/20)
Booklist (03/01/20)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 02/01/2020 Gr 4–6—Whenever one mystery is solved, it usually unearths countless more questions, like a ball of yarn slowly unraveling but filled with knots. April, an independent and scrappy orphan, is whisked away to gloomy and ostentatious Winterborne Home after her involvement with a fire. Questions abound as April is warmly welcomed into the colossal yet grim mansion whose family namesake, Gabriel Winterborne, has been missing for over a decade. April quickly realizes that the key her mother left her bears the Winterborne insignia and an unknown wanderer lurks in the shadows at night. Potential connections and even more surprises emerge as April must gather the courage to ask for help from her new acquaintances while diving headfirst into adventure and mystery. A modern thriller flavored with classic adventure, this novel is well suited for middle grade sleuths. Carter drops hints, yet her writing forces readers to create their own inferences about both the plot and the main characters. Highly descriptive writing intensifies the action, while an infusion of pop culture slang and sass keeps the text upbeat and modern. By the end, gumshoes may groan in anticipation as Carter skillfully answers some questions, yet unveils a plethora more, leaving the door wide open for further books in a potential series. VERDICT Readers will further enjoy the fast pace of this book filled with short chapters and cliff-hangers. Strongly recommended for school libraries.—Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 03/01/2020 Orphaned April didn’t mean to burn down the Winterborne exhibit, so she is shocked when, instead of getting in trouble, she hears from a “Miss Nelson,” who invites her to live at Winterborne House, home to the billionaire family beset by tragedy, including the disappearance of their heir, Gabriel. At the house, she meets four other children—Sadie, an inventor; Violet, a quiet girl; Tim, Violet’s companion; and Colin, a former thief—but April is determined to learn everything she can about the Winterbornes. When she discovers Gabriel hiding in caverns beneath the mansion, she must convince him to reveal himself before the family declares him dead. New York Times best-selling Carter’s middle-grade debut will excite a new generation of fans—even if they do see the bad guy coming from a mile away. The characters are likable and endearing, and the final paragraph, with its subtly shocking revelation, will leave readers demanding to know when the second book is coming. Hand this one to those who enjoy action, mystery, and kick-butt characters. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The ever-popular Carter’s middle-grade debut, supported by a seven-city author tour, is sure to draw interest. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.
