The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
Published 25th January 2011 by HarperCollins Publishers
Star Rating - ***
Goodreads Challenge - 10/75
Synopsis (from Goodreads)
Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children: Alexander, age ten or thereabouts, keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips; Cassiopeia, perhaps four or five, has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite; and Beowulf, age somewhere-in-the-middle, is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels.
Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Only fifteen years old and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must help them overcome their canine tendencies.
But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures, and how did they come to live in the vast forests of the estate? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners and socially useful phrases in time for Lady Constance's holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische?
Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Only fifteen years old and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must help them overcome their canine tendencies.
But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures, and how did they come to live in the vast forests of the estate? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners and socially useful phrases in time for Lady Constance's holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische?
Review
I picked this up because I was in to mood for a quick and easy read and that's usually what middle grade books are for me but unfortunately this wasn't as quick a read as I was hoping it to be. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the story but it just didn't blow me away.
It was a very simple story and because of that I found that it didn't hold my attention. I know that as a middle grade story it is supposed to be simple as it's aimed at younger readers however, I have read several middle grade books in the past that I've found really enjoyable. I also didn't really gel with the writing style. Every now and again we seemed to get some inner thoughts from the main character which seemed to go off on a little bit of a tangent and this affected the flow of the story for me. I also felt their were some aspects of the story which would of been a little bit to advanced for a younger audience.
That being said I didn't hate the story, I enjoyed it and was happy enough to keep going until the end, it just didn't excite me as much as I was hoping. Overall a pretty average read.
It was a very simple story and because of that I found that it didn't hold my attention. I know that as a middle grade story it is supposed to be simple as it's aimed at younger readers however, I have read several middle grade books in the past that I've found really enjoyable. I also didn't really gel with the writing style. Every now and again we seemed to get some inner thoughts from the main character which seemed to go off on a little bit of a tangent and this affected the flow of the story for me. I also felt their were some aspects of the story which would of been a little bit to advanced for a younger audience.
That being said I didn't hate the story, I enjoyed it and was happy enough to keep going until the end, it just didn't excite me as much as I was hoping. Overall a pretty average read.
Overall Rating
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