Cousins in the Castle

I love Barbara Brooks Wallace's books. They're so full of mysteries and secrets and plot turns. It's so satisfying to reach the end and see how the plot wraps itself up perfectly. As always, this one begins with a young child in terrible circumstances, who ends up on a journey out of her control, me......more

This was a reread. I originally read this book in the 6th grade and one night I couldn’t get the book with the girl who was sent to live with her family but kidnapped out of my mind. With only that part of the plot and remembering the cover but not the title, I was able to locate the book but nowher......more

Wallace has her own little niche in the world of literature for older children, a sort of modern Victorian, almost Dickensian storyteller with a penchant for orphaned protagonists. This book fits squarely into the niche. A tale of ocean voyage, mystery, hidden identity, long lost family members, and......more

This book reminded me of some of Shakespeare's comedic plays because of the very unlikely events and coincidences, plot twists and the hidden identities that string it together. I found this a bit unsatisfying because the twists really did seem to come from nowhere, with no foreshadowing or hints. I......more

My second favorite Barbra Brooks Wallace book, that I ALSO must have read about 400 times in my youth. This one is actually about a young girl, so it makes a little more sense for me to love it. But I think I liked it more for her young friend, Rosie, who is just such a character. All of Barbara Broo......more