The Castle in the Mist

November 21, 2016
Ephron (Loose Diamonds) draws on elements common to classic children’s stories—secrets gardens, powerful wishes—in her first book for young readers. Tess, 11, and her younger brother, Max, are sent to live with their widowed Aunt Evie in the English countryside for the summer, where they spend their days playing Monopoly, fighting, and helping Aunt Evie in her garden. After a particularly nasty fight with Max, Tess finds a rusted key that magically opens the gates to the estate next door. Within them are a magnificent garden, a castle, and a boy Tess’s age named William. Tess, Max, and William forge a friendship, but something is amiss, and Tess isn’t sure what it is. Ephron spends a great deal of time explaining characters’ motivations, and the overall narrative arc feels rushed. Though there are moments of wonder, such as a carousel that runs on wish-granting, these are undercut by Ephron’s need to clarify and oversimplify events (“Aunt Evie was lying to them, but they didn’t know that”) at the expense of a fully developed plot. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kari Stuart, ICM.

Narrator Laraine Newman infuses magic into this story about children who discover a friendship that goes beyond time and place. Americans Tess and her brother, Max, are spending the summer in Hampshire, England, with their aunt. Newman captures the children's initial reticence about their visit, separation from their father, and lack of access to the Internet, and reveals how the discovery of a key to a gate changes their attitudes. Newman conveys the sensitive nature and loneliness of 12-year-old William--the boy in the mysterious castle--in a soft, tender voice. She fluidly transitions between English and American accents for both child and adult characters. Best of all, her dramatic pacing and whispered warnings bring out the enchanting magic of the castle in the mist. M.F. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

June 5, 2017
Eleven-year-old Tess and her younger brother, Max, are having trouble entertaining themselves while spending the summer with their Aunt Evie in the English countryside. Then one day Tess stumbles upon an old rusty key that unlocks an ornate gate near her aunt’s house. She and Max enter through the gate and follow a long path, on which they encounter a strange but friendly boy named William. As Tess and Max spend more time with William, they cross over into a world that is wholly different than their own. Actor Newman’s versatile and lively reading will capture the minds of young listeners. She provides distinct character voices and keeps the prose exciting and engaging. Her vocal stylings and emphatic declarations capture the surreal mood of the story while upping its entertainment value. Ages 8–12. A Philomel hardcover.