O Misterioso Lar Cavendish (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
A story with a stubborn, clever, and mildly disagreeable heroine, this book went to weird and kind of dark places for a children's book. And I LOVED IT! Victoria is a clever child who has zero tolerance for nonsense and competitively seeks to be the best in everything. Then one day, kids in her class begin disappearing, and nobody can quite remember who they were. Victoria, having little patience for events that make no sense, starts out to investigate, and basically goes on a disturbing adventure from there. I really liked this book. I liked how well the two main characters were developed, and I liked how the protagonist is kind of crabby & stubborn. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good creepy story. Recently, somewhere, I came across Winterspell by Claire Legrand. It was published at the end of September, and when I read the synopsis of the story, it sounded like something I'd want to read. Of course there is a waiting list at my library (shout out to @PlanoLibrary!), so, as I do sometimes, I decided to read something else by the author whilst waiting for my title to be available. I was not disappointed.The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire LegrandBriefly: Victoria likes order. Clean room, shining hair, perfect schoolwork. She's competitive in all aspects of her life. Messy things like untucked shirts, bad grades and friends are not part of her universe. Except for Lawrence, though he's more of a project than a friend. He's unkempt, has a grey streak in his hair akin to a skunk's and he only cares about music.Belleville is the kind of perfect town whose citizens are the right sort of people. So Victoria fits in; Lawrence does not. And then he goes missing. And then Victoria realizes that other "messy" children have gone missing. And no one seems to notice or care. What is going on?All answers seem to be waiting at The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls.Didja Like It?: I love books like this. Sometimes, it seems you have to put in a lot of effort with books; they make you work for it, with the outcome not always rosy (ie, it is not worth it). This was one of those books that effortlessly pulled me in immediately and gave me a great, immersive read. Uncovering the mystery in this town, why the parents, other adults and most of the children are seemingly oblivious to plight of their children/classmates was a treat. There's the sour neighbor with the obnoxious dog; the new teacher who maybe sees more than he should; the adults who smile a little bit too much; and the recurring warning to be careful.Anything Else to Mention?: There are lots of beetle-y type bugs mentioned throughout the story...so the fact that the publisher thought to include insect endpapers and pictures of bugs on the actual pages is a great touch that adds to the creepy crawly atmosphere. There are also actual illustrations! What a delight.To Read or Not To Read: While it can be a little gruesome at times (but that's the point), it is the perfect choice to read anytime (especially as we head into Halloween). And then there's that ending...The Cavendish Home For Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand was published August 28, 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Ink and Page picked this book up from the library. So there.Rating: 4Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grades Fiction Fantasy MysteryAges: 10 and upYou Might Want to Know: A little gruesomeness. But it's all good.
What do You think about O Misterioso Lar Cavendish (2014)?
Definitely creepy. Lots of oft used literary elements made this story lack fresh appeal for me.
—Teener
A really fun book, and not all shiny in the end, which I appreciated.
—Jackie_xo28
This book is a good combination of mystery and sci-fi.
—kat585
A deliciously creepy Gaimen-and-Burton-esque novel!
—wesleyann
