Withering-by-Sea

December 15, 2015
A young orphan finds friends and begins to unravel the mysteries of her family at a gloomy Victorian resort. Eleven-year-old Stella Montgomery is struggling to meet the expectations of three imperious aunts: Deliverance, Condolence, and Temperance. Blessed with wealth but not good health, the Aunts have been dragging Stella from one fancy but grim establishment to another for years. Stella is curious about the world around her, and though she's too well-mannered to openly defy her aunts' directives to be seen and not heard, she's too much of an independent spirit to stay locked in her closet-sized room when she could be exploring the Hotel Majestic late at night. This adventurous inclination lands Stella in trouble when she witnesses a gruesome, supernatural murder in the hotel's conservatory. Entrusted with the care of a mysterious, tiny stoppered bottle filled with a silvery substance, Stella must evade cockney kidnappers, befriend both a resourceful young dancer and the kindly wrangler of a feline choir, and eventually confront the menacing Professor. Along the way, she pieces together details about her late parents and learns that she has special skills that can only derive from fey ancestry. The quasi-gothic details, plucky heroine, and brisk pacing all conjure classics from Joan Aiken to Lemony Snicket. The conclusion clearly sets up a sequel, and readers will clamor for it. (Adventure. 9-12)

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January 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-Stella Montgomery leads a lonely, dreary life in a seaside hotel with her overprotective aunts. Her one escape is reading a moldy atlas and imagining adventures away from the Hotel Majestic and Withering-by-Sea. Excitement finds Stella when she witnesses the murder of a guest and is entrusted with a small package by him, a mysterious bottle of swirling silver. This new possession makes her the target of the sinister magician, the Professor, whose designs on the little bottle may send Stella on more adventures than she wished for. This is an enjoyable mix of adventure and fantasy in a historical setting featuring a strong, sympathetic heroine. Stella is eager to explore, investigate, and help, and the challenges she confronts make her relatable. Although the first half of the story moves in fits and starts and the climax is a bit rushed, the interesting and well-drawn characters, from the trainer of operatic cats to the aunts' harried maids, make up for most of the plot's failings. The charming illustrations by the author also enhance the story. VERDICT Readers who enjoyed The Invention of Hugo Cabret will appreciate the atmosphere, adventure, and detail of Withering-by-Sea.-Marian McLeod, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, CT

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2016
Grades 3-6 Young Stella Montgomery lives at the Hotel Majestic, which overlooks the town of Withering-by-Sea, with her three strict aunts (Aunt Condolence, Aunt Temperance, and Aunt Deliverance). Her days are spent practicing deportment, studying French, and otherwise being seen and not heard. When she is lucky, however, Stella slips away to revel in her atlas and dream of exploring exotic locales, like the Amazon, where there are snakes large enough to gobble up three aunts. Things become decidedly more exciting when a hotel guest entrusts Stella with the safekeeping of a small, stoppered bottle, just before the malevolent magician Professor Starke breaks in to steal it. Soon, the girl is on the run and facing countless dangers, yet also finding help in the most unexpected of places. This charming mystery carries just the right amount of suspense and magic. Details, such as a troupe of singing cats, will delight readers, as will Rossell's frequent spot illustrations. Stella's determination to do the right thing makes her an admirable and endearing protagonist whom readers will happily follow anywhere.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)