The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place – Maryrose Wood

Balzer & Bray – 9780061791055

J:  So tell me, Mia.  What's the one thing you like the most about THE INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN OF ASHTON PLACE:  THE MYSTERIOUS HOWLING?  I, for one, had trouble deciding, because I enjoyed so much about this middle-grade novel:  its playful tone; its (slightly) old-fashioned language; its surprising plot (which was particularly surprising for me because I failed to read the book jacket carefully until I'd finished the book); its humor; its focus on the plight of a penniless governess employed in a mammoth mansion (I'm a sucker for stories about penniless governesses employed in mammoth mansions--are you?).  But at the end of the day, what I like best is its immensely sympathetic and resourceful heroine, fifteen-year-old Penelope Lumley.  And you?

M: Julie! Not fair! You stole the words right out of my mouth! I LOVE the . . . well, kookiness of this book. The flat out strangeness that it embraces and relishes in. It's a book that says, "Yes, we're odd, but we're OK with it." Halfway through the book I decided to stop trying to figure out what was going to happen and just go with it. Kids raised by wolves? Sure! A 15-year-old governess who is unfazed by the biting, drooling, and howling? Why not? Bring it on!

J:  Exactly!  This book is defiantly kooky!  So much so that you just have to suspend all reason and enjoy the often hilarious ride.  

            Shall we turn now to what we liked least about the book?  For me, that question is easy.  The book ends with three of my least favorite words:  “to be continued.”  So very many questions are left unanswered, among them:  who the children's parents are; why they were left in the woods in the first place; who Penelope's parents are; why she was left as an infant at the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females; why Lord Frederick, Penelope's employer, insists on keeping the children over his wife's objections; and why he misses his wife's debut holiday ball.  Obviously, the publishers want us to buy the sequel, whenever it comes out.  But it feels like a bit of a cheat to leave *so* much unresolved.  What do you think?

M:  I agree with you on those points.  Also, considering the book is titled THE MYSTERIOUS HOWLING, we don't get much actual howling.  It only appears 30 pages before the book ends! Which is just silly. They either needed a new title (MYSTERIOUS HOWLING seems more appropriate for Book Two, since that's when we will figure out what it is--I hope) or more pages. And one more thing that bothered me a bit:  the random mentions of modern things. I believe there was one particular moment when the narrator said “microwave,” and that just bugged me.

J:  It bugged me, too!  But I think the book’s charm, humor, and offbeat quality make up for all of that.  Don't you?

M: Yes it does! And, I know this is silly, but I really do hope they don't make this into a movie, because I'm not sure they could get it right.  (A random point, I know, but every time I find a book I like I secretly wish people would just leave it alone.)  I also thought the cover was just perfect!

J:  I love the cover too, front and back.  And the little squirrel on the flap makes me laugh.  I'm so glad the post office finally delivered this to you!

M: Yes!  And in celebration of this, we are giving away a FREE COPY of the book.  Just comment on this entry for a chance to win!

Comments

[Brian Lucas]

Great review... love the Siskel and Ebert-esque back and forth! A question... what is the age appropriateness of the book? Would an 8 year old like it?

[Michael Dobbs]

I read this as an ARC. A very strange ARC that elided all "act" s from the book. So "tractor" became "trtor." A lot of contextual reading over here.

But I loved it, it's so sweet and charmingly gothic without being as twee as *The Series of Unfortunate Events* (Which I liked the first couple of, but then I realized that there were 13 of them and they were all exactly alike).

Although it could work as an animated film...

Glad you guys enjoyed this one too! Can't wait for the sequel.

[Julie Sternberg]

Hi Brian,
The book is intended for kids 9-12, but isn't your 8-year-old crazy about reading? If I'm remembering right, then I'm guessing she'd love it, once she gets into the language and the world. Thanks so much for commenting! Hope all is going great--Julie

[Ghenet]

Great review! I'd love to read it. :o)

[annie]

Oooh, sign me up for the drawing. This looks like something I'd enjoy.

[M Salomé Gailb]

I'll do anything to win a book! I'm really looking forward to reading this one, gifted or not. From your review, it all sounds a kind of lemonysnicketty to me... Am I totally off?

[M.Garcia]

Salome: I must confess! I haven't read the Snicket! I know, I know, bad Mia. Julie, have you read Snicket?

Michael: Hummm. I would give the stop motion animation version a look see. But then again I'm a sucker for stop motion.

[The Weinbrens]

Sounds like a great book! We loved your review!

[Julie Sternberg]

Hi Salome,
It has definite shades of Lemony Snicket, but it is a LOT goofier. Right, Mia?
J

[Julie Sternberg]

Oops--seeing now that you can't answer that question, Mia. Sorry.

[Brian Lucas]

Yes... Julia LOVES reading... and from the description this sounds like something she would really get into.

Thanks! And keep up the great work... love the blog!