Ghosts of Greenglass House

July 15, 2017
Winter in the inn above the River Skidwrack finds Milo and his parents hosting several guests who are not what they seem--and a mystery to be solved. Just before Christmas Greenglass House is filled with unexpected visitors. A young man who claims to be an art student, studying the famous stained-glass windows of the house, is the sole guest until Georgie and Clem, young women who met the year before at Greenglass House, arrive. They've recently pulled off a caper, recovering a stash belonging to legendary smuggler Violet Cross. They hoped to find Cross' derrotero, an incalculably valuable nautical map of the impossible, changing River Skidwrack. And then a troupe of midwinter revelers arrives in a kind of Morris-dancing tradition, singing carols and traveling with the horned skull of a hobby horse and a chimney sweep. Milo and his parents invite the carolers in, but a ceremonial chimney cleaning results in an overnight stay--and the game is afoot. Milford's clever, complex plot is full of humor, tantalizing clues, and stories within the story. Adopted Milo, who has become conscious of the ways the world assumes things about him and his Chinese heritage, takes on a new hero persona that offers him confidence and insight into his emotions and strengths. A brainy, satisfying assemblage of puzzles with an immensely likable protagonist. (Mystery/fantasy. 10-14)

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September 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-The Greenglass House and Milo are back with a sequel to rival the first book. One year has passed and once again Christmas break is upon the Pine family-but, as luck would have it, this will not be the quiet holiday that the family craves. Between a suspicious art student, old acquaintances from last year's Christmas adventure, and a group of odd carolers, this historic house becomes the setting of yet another caper. Milo adopts a new persona and skill set from the role playing game Odd Trails to figure out who has stolen the mysterious derrotero of famed smuggler Violet Cross. This nautical map charts the impossible coast of Nagspeake; a map that smugglers and customs agents alike would desperately love to have in their arsenal. Milford artfully weaves a mystery that revolves around a large group of characters, new and old. Characters are quirky, scheming, funny, and not entirely what readers may expect. VERDICT A solid middle grade book best for those who appreciate a good plot twist and a great story. A recommended purchase for most libraries, especially where there are fans of the first installment.-Lisa Nabel, Tacoma Public Library, WA

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