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The Mystery of Raspberry Hill
A chilling middlegrade ghost story set in a spooky sanatorium during the 1920s
'A thrillingly gothic mystery. I loved the sense of hope that weaves its way through the story despite the dark and menacing atmosphere' Lucy Hope, author of Fledgling
The grown-ups all think she's going to die soon-she can see it in their eyes. Still, when poor twelve-year-old Stina is sent to remote Raspberry Hill Sanatorium she can't believe her luck. She gets to ride in a real motor car to the hospital, which looks like a magnificent castle hidden deep in the forest.
But as Stina explores the long, echoey corridors of her eerie new home, she begins to suspect that the building is concealing a dark secret. How did the old East Wing burn down? Why doesn't her mother reply to any of her letters? And what are the nurses all so afraid of?
Stina is determined to solve the mystery of Raspberry Hill-but as she edges closer to the truth, she finds herself in terrible danger...
'A thrillingly gothic mystery. I loved the sense of hope that weaves its way through the story despite the dark and menacing atmosphere' Lucy Hope, author of Fledgling
The grown-ups all think she's going to die soon-she can see it in their eyes. Still, when poor twelve-year-old Stina is sent to remote Raspberry Hill Sanatorium she can't believe her luck. She gets to ride in a real motor car to the hospital, which looks like a magnificent castle hidden deep in the forest.
But as Stina explores the long, echoey corridors of her eerie new home, she begins to suspect that the building is concealing a dark secret. How did the old East Wing burn down? Why doesn't her mother reply to any of her letters? And what are the nurses all so afraid of?
Stina is determined to solve the mystery of Raspberry Hill-but as she edges closer to the truth, she finds herself in terrible danger...
111 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 16, 2023
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a dark and suspenseful middle grade ghost story/thriller. I'd originally planned to read it aloud to my 10-year-old son but wanted to pre-read it first to make sure that it wasn't too spooky – he's a pretty sensitive kid and doesn't do well with scary stuff. And, well, let's just say that I won't be reading him this one, as it's pretty dark for a middle grade novel. It is an excellent story, however, and I think a thicker-skinned (or slightly older) kid would enjoy it immensely.
This story is well-written and enjoyable, and even though I'm outside of its target audience by a few decades, I found it entertaining. The “mystery” isn't really all that mysterious – I saw the twist coming from early on – but again, I'm an adult and not a preteen. Stina is a likable and courageous main character, and I rooted for her as she explored Raspberry Hill Sanitarium and struggled to regain her health. I loved her relationship with her mother and siblings, and I'll admit that I might have gotten a bit teary-eyed at the end.
Subjects in this book that might be scary for young or sensitive children: mortality, sickness, death, loss of a parent, evil adults, separation from parents, and ghosts.
Final rating: four stars. If you have a middle grader who can handle the subjects above, they would likely find The Mystery of Raspberry Hill to be a thrilling and unputdownable read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
This story is well-written and enjoyable, and even though I'm outside of its target audience by a few decades, I found it entertaining. The “mystery” isn't really all that mysterious – I saw the twist coming from early on – but again, I'm an adult and not a preteen. Stina is a likable and courageous main character, and I rooted for her as she explored Raspberry Hill Sanitarium and struggled to regain her health. I loved her relationship with her mother and siblings, and I'll admit that I might have gotten a bit teary-eyed at the end.
Subjects in this book that might be scary for young or sensitive children: mortality, sickness, death, loss of a parent, evil adults, separation from parents, and ghosts.
Final rating: four stars. If you have a middle grader who can handle the subjects above, they would likely find The Mystery of Raspberry Hill to be a thrilling and unputdownable read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
September 24, 2022
Publication Date: 13th Oct 2022
4.2 Stars
One Liner: A touching and quick read
Twelve-year-old Stina knows she will die someday. She has tuberculosis but not enough money for treatment. Her widowed mother tries her best to take care of Stina and her five siblings.
When Stina is sent to the Raspberry Hill Sanatorium for recovery treatment, she and her family are excited. It’s not every day that the poor have the same opportunities as the rich. However, Stina’s stay at the huge sanatorium has mixed results.
There are secrets around her, and one such secret could put her in grave danger. What happened to the East Wing? Why are there no other kids recovering at the sanatorium? What secrets is the place hiding? Can Stina find out the truth before it’s too late? Does she have a chance to recover and live longer than she hoped?
The story comes from Stina’s first-person POV.
My Observations:
The story has been translated from Swedish to English and reads well. It is short and fast-paced yet has enough material to entertain a middle-grader.
The book starts with Stina announcing her impending death (because of TB). This is repeated a few times, which may or may not work for all kids. Of course, it is to be expected when Stina is the narrator.
The atmospheric setting is done well. I could visualize Raspberry Hall and its gloomy surroundings.
The occasional hits of cheeky humor keep the tone lighthearted despite the heavy topic. Stina makes some thoughtful observations. She’s a smart girl with realistic traits and reactions.
A few scenes are convenient, and there are easy coincidences towards the end. However, this is a book for kids. They need some amount of positivity to believe in happy ever afters and magic. No complaints here (after all, I’m not the target audience for the book).
The book can be finished in a single sitting. The way it blends death, health issues, poverty, greed, etc., with adventure, mystery, and bravery makes it a worthy read. I also liked how Stina makes some wrong assumptions instead of being right every time.
The paranormal bits are an integral part of the plot. It’s easy to figure things out as an adult (though I think kids would, too), but that’s where the charm lies.
The characters are well-defined (and yes, some are stereotypical, but who cares). I could imagine even those characters who didn’t have an active role in the story.
To summarize, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a touching book with a lovable heroine and an intriguing setting. Just make sure your kids can read about death before picking this for them. Adults shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
Thank you, NetGalley and Pushkin Children's Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#TheMysteryofRaspberryHill #NetGalley
4.2 Stars
One Liner: A touching and quick read
Twelve-year-old Stina knows she will die someday. She has tuberculosis but not enough money for treatment. Her widowed mother tries her best to take care of Stina and her five siblings.
When Stina is sent to the Raspberry Hill Sanatorium for recovery treatment, she and her family are excited. It’s not every day that the poor have the same opportunities as the rich. However, Stina’s stay at the huge sanatorium has mixed results.
There are secrets around her, and one such secret could put her in grave danger. What happened to the East Wing? Why are there no other kids recovering at the sanatorium? What secrets is the place hiding? Can Stina find out the truth before it’s too late? Does she have a chance to recover and live longer than she hoped?
The story comes from Stina’s first-person POV.
My Observations:
The story has been translated from Swedish to English and reads well. It is short and fast-paced yet has enough material to entertain a middle-grader.
The book starts with Stina announcing her impending death (because of TB). This is repeated a few times, which may or may not work for all kids. Of course, it is to be expected when Stina is the narrator.
The atmospheric setting is done well. I could visualize Raspberry Hall and its gloomy surroundings.
The occasional hits of cheeky humor keep the tone lighthearted despite the heavy topic. Stina makes some thoughtful observations. She’s a smart girl with realistic traits and reactions.
A few scenes are convenient, and there are easy coincidences towards the end. However, this is a book for kids. They need some amount of positivity to believe in happy ever afters and magic. No complaints here (after all, I’m not the target audience for the book).
The book can be finished in a single sitting. The way it blends death, health issues, poverty, greed, etc., with adventure, mystery, and bravery makes it a worthy read. I also liked how Stina makes some wrong assumptions instead of being right every time.
The paranormal bits are an integral part of the plot. It’s easy to figure things out as an adult (though I think kids would, too), but that’s where the charm lies.
The characters are well-defined (and yes, some are stereotypical, but who cares). I could imagine even those characters who didn’t have an active role in the story.
To summarize, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a touching book with a lovable heroine and an intriguing setting. Just make sure your kids can read about death before picking this for them. Adults shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
Thank you, NetGalley and Pushkin Children's Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#TheMysteryofRaspberryHill #NetGalley
September 1, 2023
My thanks to Pushkin Children’s Books for a review copy of this book via Edelweiss
Dark and eerie with a (understandably) morbid but engaging narrator, blending an interesting (even if predictable) mystery with a thread of melancholy, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a quick and entertaining read.
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill comes from the pen of Finnish writer Eva Frantz who turned to children’s fiction when already an award-winning crime writer for adults. Originally published in Swedish as Hallonbracken, and winner of the Runeberg Junior Prize in 2019, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill was published in translation by Pushkin Children’s Books in 2022 (and in the edition under review in 2023). The translator, Annie Prime, has done an excellent job capturing Stina’s ‘voice’ very well.
Narrated in first person, we meet twelve-year old Stina, who has been living with her mother Märta, a war widow and five siblings in Sjömansgatan. Märta must work hard to make ends meet and all the children pitch in in their various ways. Stina however has fallen ill, with consumption and in all likelihood is going to die, a fact she begins her story with. She can’t do much around the house, no longer goes to school and grey, smoky Helsinki isn’t the best place for one with her illness. But an opportunity has come in the family’s way which is far beyond anything they could have expected. Stina is being taken on as a ‘research subject’ at an expensive sanatorium, Raspberry Hill where the doctor in charge wants to demonstrate that fresh air and a good diet can cure patients like her.
As our story opens, she is heading to Raspberry Hill with her few possessions and some precious gifts, a jumper knitted for her by her mother (her first ‘new’ garment, since so far she’s only had hand-me-downs), and her older brother Olle’s prized possession, a copy of Robinson Crusoe. When Stina arrives at Raspberry Hill, she finds a very imposing structure and beautiful place, but also that she is the only one in her ward with no other patients there, though she is told others will come. Most nurses (bar one) appear friendly and Doctor Hagman who runs the place treats her well too. Her course of treatment begins, and with regular and plentiful hot meals, she begins to pick up. One evening she also meets a boy Ruben who has snuck out of his ward, and befriends him.
Meanwhile, she also begins to learn some disturbing secrets. For instance, there was a great fire in the East Wing of the hospital destroying it completely after which the Sanatorium has only now been restarted. And though she seems to have been there for a while, no other child patients ever turn up. With these secrets surrounding her and her own health oscillating, can she solve the mystery of Raspberry Hill?
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill was a short read (160 pages) which I ended up devouring in one sitting and which kept me engaged all through. Stina though understandably almost always concerned with thoughts of her impending death makes for a very likeable narrator. Alongside the mystery elements, we also get to learn of her family—her father killed in the war, her siblings, each with their different interests and dreams (which she and they realise might remain as such since the poor like them don’t have much opportunity for change) and their pretty mother Märta who takes in ironing to bring up the family. She works hard to keep things neat and tidy, has brought up her children well, but at the same time, as a consequence of their circumstances, limited food (many times just broth shared between the children), patched up clothes, and even lice are a constant. At the sanatorium (to which Stina is transported in a fancy car which makes her feel like Greta Garbo), all this changes as she gets good, solid and regular meals, clean clothes and surroundings, and fresh air, all of which almost immediately begin to have effect.
But alongside is also the other side of the place, a huge empty ward with no patients but herself (there are a few adult patients but mostly of the wealthy variety coming to the sanatorium for a ‘cure’ they little need), eerie atmosphere, and the evidence of the fire that was in the East wing which is out of bounds. Exploring with Ruben and at other times on her own, her curiosity is only enhanced and she is left with many unanswered questions (not least regarding some of those who work there).
Of the secrets of Raspberry Hill, a couple I guessed part way into the book, and the other more serious one closer to the denouement, but neither affects one’s enjoyment of the mystery for one wants to see how things turn out and the book also has some surprises along the way (one development I didn’t expect at all, especially this being a children’s/middle-grade book).
I loved the inclusion of Robinson Crusoe and references to it off and on (it isn’t quite Stina’s ‘bible’ like for Gabriel Betteredge in The Moonstone but important to her nonetheless).
This was a great read which kept me absorbed all though, but it is a dark one with plenty of talk of death as well as poverty, loneliness and of dreams that can never be, so before picking it up for the intended audience, one might want to consider these points. I however, loved it. I was excited to see on Pushkin’s site that they are published another spooky title by the author, and I can’t wait to pick it up!
4.5 stars
Dark and eerie with a (understandably) morbid but engaging narrator, blending an interesting (even if predictable) mystery with a thread of melancholy, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a quick and entertaining read.
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill comes from the pen of Finnish writer Eva Frantz who turned to children’s fiction when already an award-winning crime writer for adults. Originally published in Swedish as Hallonbracken, and winner of the Runeberg Junior Prize in 2019, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill was published in translation by Pushkin Children’s Books in 2022 (and in the edition under review in 2023). The translator, Annie Prime, has done an excellent job capturing Stina’s ‘voice’ very well.
Narrated in first person, we meet twelve-year old Stina, who has been living with her mother Märta, a war widow and five siblings in Sjömansgatan. Märta must work hard to make ends meet and all the children pitch in in their various ways. Stina however has fallen ill, with consumption and in all likelihood is going to die, a fact she begins her story with. She can’t do much around the house, no longer goes to school and grey, smoky Helsinki isn’t the best place for one with her illness. But an opportunity has come in the family’s way which is far beyond anything they could have expected. Stina is being taken on as a ‘research subject’ at an expensive sanatorium, Raspberry Hill where the doctor in charge wants to demonstrate that fresh air and a good diet can cure patients like her.
As our story opens, she is heading to Raspberry Hill with her few possessions and some precious gifts, a jumper knitted for her by her mother (her first ‘new’ garment, since so far she’s only had hand-me-downs), and her older brother Olle’s prized possession, a copy of Robinson Crusoe. When Stina arrives at Raspberry Hill, she finds a very imposing structure and beautiful place, but also that she is the only one in her ward with no other patients there, though she is told others will come. Most nurses (bar one) appear friendly and Doctor Hagman who runs the place treats her well too. Her course of treatment begins, and with regular and plentiful hot meals, she begins to pick up. One evening she also meets a boy Ruben who has snuck out of his ward, and befriends him.
Meanwhile, she also begins to learn some disturbing secrets. For instance, there was a great fire in the East Wing of the hospital destroying it completely after which the Sanatorium has only now been restarted. And though she seems to have been there for a while, no other child patients ever turn up. With these secrets surrounding her and her own health oscillating, can she solve the mystery of Raspberry Hill?
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill was a short read (160 pages) which I ended up devouring in one sitting and which kept me engaged all through. Stina though understandably almost always concerned with thoughts of her impending death makes for a very likeable narrator. Alongside the mystery elements, we also get to learn of her family—her father killed in the war, her siblings, each with their different interests and dreams (which she and they realise might remain as such since the poor like them don’t have much opportunity for change) and their pretty mother Märta who takes in ironing to bring up the family. She works hard to keep things neat and tidy, has brought up her children well, but at the same time, as a consequence of their circumstances, limited food (many times just broth shared between the children), patched up clothes, and even lice are a constant. At the sanatorium (to which Stina is transported in a fancy car which makes her feel like Greta Garbo), all this changes as she gets good, solid and regular meals, clean clothes and surroundings, and fresh air, all of which almost immediately begin to have effect.
But alongside is also the other side of the place, a huge empty ward with no patients but herself (there are a few adult patients but mostly of the wealthy variety coming to the sanatorium for a ‘cure’ they little need), eerie atmosphere, and the evidence of the fire that was in the East wing which is out of bounds. Exploring with Ruben and at other times on her own, her curiosity is only enhanced and she is left with many unanswered questions (not least regarding some of those who work there).
Of the secrets of Raspberry Hill, a couple I guessed part way into the book, and the other more serious one closer to the denouement, but neither affects one’s enjoyment of the mystery for one wants to see how things turn out and the book also has some surprises along the way (one development I didn’t expect at all, especially this being a children’s/middle-grade book).
I loved the inclusion of Robinson Crusoe and references to it off and on (it isn’t quite Stina’s ‘bible’ like for Gabriel Betteredge in The Moonstone but important to her nonetheless).
This was a great read which kept me absorbed all though, but it is a dark one with plenty of talk of death as well as poverty, loneliness and of dreams that can never be, so before picking it up for the intended audience, one might want to consider these points. I however, loved it. I was excited to see on Pushkin’s site that they are published another spooky title by the author, and I can’t wait to pick it up!
4.5 stars
November 26, 2023
Twelve-year-old Stina, stricken with tuberculosis in the 1920s, is doomed to die; she knows and she guesses that, due to their extra kindness and sad looks, her impoverished widowed mother and five siblings must know it, too. So when a doctor comes to their home in Helsinki with a proposition, it’s hard to refuse: Stina can be an experimental subject in an experiment to see whether tuberculosis can be cured in the young with an experimental drug and exposure to clean country air. No guarantees, mind you, but a chance.
Thus is Stina transported miles away — by motorcar no less! — to Raspberry Hill Sanatorium, a castle-like structure with luxuries beyond Stina’s dreams in a forest, clearly a place her family could never have afforded otherwise. But the hospital is nearly empty. Stina’s reassured that it’s because there was a fire in the east wing, and the sanatorium has only recently reopened. But more and more odd things begin to happen at Raspberry Hill, and the nurses there are all frightened, except for the cold head nurse, Sister Emerentia. Stina embarks on a search for the truth; thank God she has her new friend at the sanatorium, the mischievous child Ruben Wiik, to help her. This suspenseful middle-grade novel is highly, highly, highly recommended.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Pushkin Press in exchange for an honest review.
Thus is Stina transported miles away — by motorcar no less! — to Raspberry Hill Sanatorium, a castle-like structure with luxuries beyond Stina’s dreams in a forest, clearly a place her family could never have afforded otherwise. But the hospital is nearly empty. Stina’s reassured that it’s because there was a fire in the east wing, and the sanatorium has only recently reopened. But more and more odd things begin to happen at Raspberry Hill, and the nurses there are all frightened, except for the cold head nurse, Sister Emerentia. Stina embarks on a search for the truth; thank God she has her new friend at the sanatorium, the mischievous child Ruben Wiik, to help her. This suspenseful middle-grade novel is highly, highly, highly recommended.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Pushkin Press in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2024
I would love to thank Pushkin Press, Eva Frantz and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This gothic middle-grade ended in my Top 5 MG of 2023.
The Mystery of Raspberry Hil (I love the title a lot!) talks about Stina, a little girl who has issues with her breathing. She talks a lot about her family and how she feels like a burden, so she can justify the fact that her mom is sending her away to a Sanatorium so she can get well.
But as soon as she arrives she feels like something is off. Why are there no other children around? Why is a boy visiting her everytime she sleeps? Why are some maidens acting so weird around her? And why did no one tell her before that in the past a ward from the Sanatorium burned off?
I guessed the majority aspects of the twists and turns way before they were revealed, but as an adult this is not a hard mystery to uncover. I really liked this story, the atmosphere, the protagonist and the eerie vibe throughout.
Be careful if you wish to read this with your child, thought. It is really dark, especially towards the end. But it has an important message, also.
I gave this one a 4.5 stars.
This gothic middle-grade ended in my Top 5 MG of 2023.
The Mystery of Raspberry Hil (I love the title a lot!) talks about Stina, a little girl who has issues with her breathing. She talks a lot about her family and how she feels like a burden, so she can justify the fact that her mom is sending her away to a Sanatorium so she can get well.
But as soon as she arrives she feels like something is off. Why are there no other children around? Why is a boy visiting her everytime she sleeps? Why are some maidens acting so weird around her? And why did no one tell her before that in the past a ward from the Sanatorium burned off?
I guessed the majority aspects of the twists and turns way before they were revealed, but as an adult this is not a hard mystery to uncover. I really liked this story, the atmosphere, the protagonist and the eerie vibe throughout.
Be careful if you wish to read this with your child, thought. It is really dark, especially towards the end. But it has an important message, also.
I gave this one a 4.5 stars.
August 29, 2023
This was a weird one, and not in a great way.
Young Stina is a poor girl with tuberculosis in the 1920s who has been offered a chance to stay at an expensive sanatorium and be treated by a world class doctor in an attempt to cure her with a new treatment he's developed. However, everything is not as it seems and the mysterious fire that burned down a wing and may or may not have killed some people is just the beginning.
So, in the first half of this book, nothing happens. I mean that so literally that about 45% of the way in, the main character herself comments on the fact that nothing has happened yet. There is no reason at all for nearly the whole first half of the book. It's entirely a little girl's inner monologue about how bored she is and how so super ready to die she is. Yeah.
At about 50% we actually learn what the central mystery is here, then at about 60% the action actually starts, lasts until about 80% and then it's over. Things take a weird turn at some point as well and I'm not quite sure how to describe it except to tell you to think organ harvesting plot, as told by a twelve year old..
I'm confused about the age group this was written for. The writing is extremely juvenile, leading me to believe it's aimed at ~8-11 year olds, but some of the content was pretty mature, what with people being murdered and kids getting injected with paralytics against their will. So that was confusing.
Some things were done right. There were twists with a couple characters that would've blown my 10 year old mind. The action, once we got it, was great. Stina was a unique character who showed growth, even if it was super abrupt. But none of it was enough to save this boring, boring, boring, boring, suddenly exciting! and then boring again book.
I try to be nice when rating middle grade since, as a 33 year old woman, I am clearly not the target audience, but based on my dashed hopes for a spooky, paranormal, old-timey sanatorium story, I can't give this one higher than a middle of the road rating.
Young Stina is a poor girl with tuberculosis in the 1920s who has been offered a chance to stay at an expensive sanatorium and be treated by a world class doctor in an attempt to cure her with a new treatment he's developed. However, everything is not as it seems and the mysterious fire that burned down a wing and may or may not have killed some people is just the beginning.
So, in the first half of this book, nothing happens. I mean that so literally that about 45% of the way in, the main character herself comments on the fact that nothing has happened yet. There is no reason at all for nearly the whole first half of the book. It's entirely a little girl's inner monologue about how bored she is and how so super ready to die she is. Yeah.
At about 50% we actually learn what the central mystery is here, then at about 60% the action actually starts, lasts until about 80% and then it's over. Things take a weird turn at some point as well and I'm not quite sure how to describe it except to tell you to think organ harvesting plot, as told by a twelve year old..
I'm confused about the age group this was written for. The writing is extremely juvenile, leading me to believe it's aimed at ~8-11 year olds, but some of the content was pretty mature, what with people being murdered and kids getting injected with paralytics against their will. So that was confusing.
Some things were done right. There were twists with a couple characters that would've blown my 10 year old mind. The action, once we got it, was great. Stina was a unique character who showed growth, even if it was super abrupt. But none of it was enough to save this boring, boring, boring, boring, suddenly exciting! and then boring again book.
I try to be nice when rating middle grade since, as a 33 year old woman, I am clearly not the target audience, but based on my dashed hopes for a spooky, paranormal, old-timey sanatorium story, I can't give this one higher than a middle of the road rating.
September 7, 2022
Thank you so much to Pushkin Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.
I was hooked instantly, I couldn’t put this down, I had to keep reading and reading and my goodness this was such an incredible book. It never let me down not once, it was exquisitely written and created. It had so many elements to it that just hooked you in and enraptured my attention consistently.
Stina a young girl with Tuberculosis is sent on an exciting adventure to a beautiful sanatorium that is going to use her for research to help other children get better. Hoping the fresh forest air and the medications they are using will cure her and they finally have a success story. All is not what it seems in this sanatorium though and there’s a dark mystery lurking in the shadows.
Stina was the most incredible protagonist, what she was going through was not easy. She was so brave, so confident and hopeful throughout everything that was happening. She told the story so wonderfully, she draws you in and makes you root for her to get better and lures you into the darker mystery as it unfolds. I loved this girl and reading the story she was telling was incredible.
I had no idea what I was expecting with this book at all I knew it was a mystery, I knew it was set at a Sanatorium that’s was my knowledge going into it. (Though both of those thing are enough to draw me to read it instantly.) I got so much more than this we got a sweet story that actually gave me tears, it made my heart race and got me reading feverantly to see what was coming next. It gave me characters that you connect too and characters you hate instantly and others that you can’t figure out and are intrigued by.
This story is incredible it’s written so perfectly, it really captures your attention, it draws you in, has you trying to solve the mystery but never figuring it all out, giving you twists in the storyline. I honestly couldn’t recommend this book more if I tried, it’s got so much appeal about for so many people that would all love this, especially anyone that loves a good mystery. It has elements of horror within it too so horror fans would enjoy it. It’s one book that will not disappoint you at all it’s so enrapturing from start to finish.
I was hooked instantly, I couldn’t put this down, I had to keep reading and reading and my goodness this was such an incredible book. It never let me down not once, it was exquisitely written and created. It had so many elements to it that just hooked you in and enraptured my attention consistently.
Stina a young girl with Tuberculosis is sent on an exciting adventure to a beautiful sanatorium that is going to use her for research to help other children get better. Hoping the fresh forest air and the medications they are using will cure her and they finally have a success story. All is not what it seems in this sanatorium though and there’s a dark mystery lurking in the shadows.
Stina was the most incredible protagonist, what she was going through was not easy. She was so brave, so confident and hopeful throughout everything that was happening. She told the story so wonderfully, she draws you in and makes you root for her to get better and lures you into the darker mystery as it unfolds. I loved this girl and reading the story she was telling was incredible.
I had no idea what I was expecting with this book at all I knew it was a mystery, I knew it was set at a Sanatorium that’s was my knowledge going into it. (Though both of those thing are enough to draw me to read it instantly.) I got so much more than this we got a sweet story that actually gave me tears, it made my heart race and got me reading feverantly to see what was coming next. It gave me characters that you connect too and characters you hate instantly and others that you can’t figure out and are intrigued by.
This story is incredible it’s written so perfectly, it really captures your attention, it draws you in, has you trying to solve the mystery but never figuring it all out, giving you twists in the storyline. I honestly couldn’t recommend this book more if I tried, it’s got so much appeal about for so many people that would all love this, especially anyone that loves a good mystery. It has elements of horror within it too so horror fans would enjoy it. It’s one book that will not disappoint you at all it’s so enrapturing from start to finish.
October 13, 2023
What attracted me to want to read this story is the fact that it's a ghost story set in the 1920s, and most importantly, it's set in a sanatorium.
Stina, our story's main character, is a delight from the moment readers meet her. She has come to accept her fate - she has consumption and there is not much that can be done. She also comes from a large family, and she views herself as a burden to them. When an opportunity arises for her to be able to have care and ease the load on her family, she accepts. After all, not many poor children are given such an opportunity.
She has around the clock care, fresh air, and more to eat than she ever did at home. Most importantly, she has found company in the book her brother has given her...until she meets Reuben.
And thus Stina's "adventure" at Raspberry Hill begins.
The author walks readers into the action slowly, deliberately. Even Stina comments throughout the first part of the story about how bored she is. I've seen some complain about this, but for me, it was purposeful. The author needed Stina to feel relaxed, to let her guard down, to feel that boredom so that when the action hit - and it hits hard - Stina (and the reader) is so shocked that it paralyzes her. It serves a very particular purpose.
This storytelling style reminds me of Stephen King - he also likes to walk his characters (and readers) right into danger and then smack us with all the action at once.
This is the approach of this author, too.
Initially I rated this three stars, but the more I talked about the story, the more I chewed on it, the more I realized that I didn't just like it, I really liked it. Thus my four-star rating.
As a whole, this book gets the job done. It left me curious as to what Raspberry Hill was really about - the place, not the book - and what the doctor really had planned for Stina's treatment.
WHO WILL WANT TO READ THIS: This book will appeal to those who enjoyed The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and the Cassidy Blake series by Victoria Schwab.
The book was provided by NetGalley for an honest review
Stina, our story's main character, is a delight from the moment readers meet her. She has come to accept her fate - she has consumption and there is not much that can be done. She also comes from a large family, and she views herself as a burden to them. When an opportunity arises for her to be able to have care and ease the load on her family, she accepts. After all, not many poor children are given such an opportunity.
She has around the clock care, fresh air, and more to eat than she ever did at home. Most importantly, she has found company in the book her brother has given her...until she meets Reuben.
And thus Stina's "adventure" at Raspberry Hill begins.
The author walks readers into the action slowly, deliberately. Even Stina comments throughout the first part of the story about how bored she is. I've seen some complain about this, but for me, it was purposeful. The author needed Stina to feel relaxed, to let her guard down, to feel that boredom so that when the action hit - and it hits hard - Stina (and the reader) is so shocked that it paralyzes her. It serves a very particular purpose.
This storytelling style reminds me of Stephen King - he also likes to walk his characters (and readers) right into danger and then smack us with all the action at once.
This is the approach of this author, too.
Initially I rated this three stars, but the more I talked about the story, the more I chewed on it, the more I realized that I didn't just like it, I really liked it. Thus my four-star rating.
As a whole, this book gets the job done. It left me curious as to what Raspberry Hill was really about - the place, not the book - and what the doctor really had planned for Stina's treatment.
WHO WILL WANT TO READ THIS: This book will appeal to those who enjoyed The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and the Cassidy Blake series by Victoria Schwab.
The book was provided by NetGalley for an honest review
September 8, 2023
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a short, fast paced ghost story. It’s right in the vein of Mary Downing Hahn or India Hill Brown’s books. Stina is a fairly young, innocent girl who loves her family and learning, but has tuberculosis. From the beginning of the book, she has resigned herself to death due to her condition, but her doctor arranges for her to be sent to Raspberry Hill Sanatorium where they hope the fresh country air will make her better. However, nothing there is as it seems and with some otherworldly help, Stina learns the dark secrets of the place.
Stina is the first person narrator of the book and her voice is really young. I think the appropriate grade level would be 4-6. At 160 pages it’s a really fast read. It’s a great translation and I loved the Finland setting and names. I don't read about many book set in anything but England during this time period so it was a welcome change.
The book talks a lot about death and there are some murders (like a lot of ghost books) but I don’t think there is anything truly scary about the book. There is a happy ending and everything is explained. It’s not like Dan Poblocki’s books. The evil is human and pretty easily thwarted. I’d say this is more mystery than horror, but it probably depends on how sensitive the reader is. I love mystery type ghost stories so I enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Stina is the first person narrator of the book and her voice is really young. I think the appropriate grade level would be 4-6. At 160 pages it’s a really fast read. It’s a great translation and I loved the Finland setting and names. I don't read about many book set in anything but England during this time period so it was a welcome change.
The book talks a lot about death and there are some murders (like a lot of ghost books) but I don’t think there is anything truly scary about the book. There is a happy ending and everything is explained. It’s not like Dan Poblocki’s books. The evil is human and pretty easily thwarted. I’d say this is more mystery than horror, but it probably depends on how sensitive the reader is. I love mystery type ghost stories so I enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2025
Mysterious sanatorium with ghosts and syringes and liniments, 1920 Helsinki and I'm probably giving too many stars but at least I've started reading again.. 😋
August 31, 2022
This is a dark and thought provoking children’s story translated from the Finnish original by Eva Frantz. Stina suffers from TB and lives a poor life until one day she is offered the opportunity to be given health care in remote countryside sanitarium managed by Dr Hagman and his team of nurses. Stina is alone for much of the time apart from receiving daily medication , food and medicine One night she meets a young boy called Ruben who helps her explore the hospital and its grounds and meet the witch like Mrs Frostmo. Soon things become more curious and gradual Stina pieces together the dark secret of Raspberry Hill - no spoiler here . This is a mysterious tale that is part adventure , ghost story and an exploration of survival against the greed and insanity of power . An intriguing tale for 11 years and upwards … with the autumn months approaching perfect for darker evenings
October 5, 2022
this was unexpectedly really great. It starts fairly unassumingly and just gets better as it goes through.
October 6, 2023
A young, quite ill Stina is sent to the Raspberry Hill sanitorium to receive treatment for tuberculosis. Her widowed mother and siblings are sad, but eager about the possibility that the new treatment will return her home, healthy.
She’s very weak, and is polite and compliant to everything the nurses or her doctor tell her to do. She’s lonely, but a young boy visits occasionally, livening up her nights with cheerful chatter and exploration of the sanitorium. An elderly woman stops her one day, and warns her of terrible things happening at the place. Stina starts to recover, then takes a turn for the worse.
This was really good! It's a surprisingly dark story, with some pretty terrible things first hinted at by the author, Eva Frantz, then made real. Franz builds the suspense well, making us slowly realize that something is not right at Raspberry Hill.
Stina is a terrific character, preparing herself to die as her health is quite poorly. She's tough, observant, and quite intelligent. One cannot but root for her as she gets acquainted with the nurses, explores the grounds slowly, and makes a friend with the boy who occasionally visits her.
I really liked the balance the author achieved of Stina's lightness and positivity, and the echoey, uncomfortable quiet of the sanitorium, and its hints of danger.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Pushkin Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
She’s very weak, and is polite and compliant to everything the nurses or her doctor tell her to do. She’s lonely, but a young boy visits occasionally, livening up her nights with cheerful chatter and exploration of the sanitorium. An elderly woman stops her one day, and warns her of terrible things happening at the place. Stina starts to recover, then takes a turn for the worse.
This was really good! It's a surprisingly dark story, with some pretty terrible things first hinted at by the author, Eva Frantz, then made real. Franz builds the suspense well, making us slowly realize that something is not right at Raspberry Hill.
Stina is a terrific character, preparing herself to die as her health is quite poorly. She's tough, observant, and quite intelligent. One cannot but root for her as she gets acquainted with the nurses, explores the grounds slowly, and makes a friend with the boy who occasionally visits her.
I really liked the balance the author achieved of Stina's lightness and positivity, and the echoey, uncomfortable quiet of the sanitorium, and its hints of danger.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Pushkin Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
September 13, 2023
Sjömansgatan felt very far away. Almost like a different lifetime. Maybe this was my real life, here at Raspberry Hill.
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a well paced story with a compelling, young narrator. Stina is twelve and can tell from everyone's reactions to her that she will die soon from her consumption. Her blasé attitude to the subject of her own death (without particularly desiring it!) opens this story and very much shapes the way the story unfolds. To me, this worked very well. The atmosphere of this story is gorgeously rendered and ushers the reader in.
I loved the ghostly element of this tale, and I truly enjoyed the pacing. The mysteries twists, turns, and conclusion to ultimately be very satisfying. Despite Stina being away from her family for the majority of this story, we still learn quite a lot about her parents, her siblings, and even some about her grandparents. (Ellen is my favorite of the siblings.) There is a happy ending.
Readers who enjoy mysteries with supernatural elements as well as horror elements will enjoy this book! This story is arresting, like others I simply could not put this down!
My thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing a copy to review!
This is a 4.25/5 because of how well this story blends chronic illness, classism, death, and medical ethics together into a seamless narrative while merrily subverting the reader's expectations along the way.
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a well paced story with a compelling, young narrator. Stina is twelve and can tell from everyone's reactions to her that she will die soon from her consumption. Her blasé attitude to the subject of her own death (without particularly desiring it!) opens this story and very much shapes the way the story unfolds. To me, this worked very well. The atmosphere of this story is gorgeously rendered and ushers the reader in.
I loved the ghostly element of this tale, and I truly enjoyed the pacing. The mysteries twists, turns, and conclusion to ultimately be very satisfying. Despite Stina being away from her family for the majority of this story, we still learn quite a lot about her parents, her siblings, and even some about her grandparents. (Ellen is my favorite of the siblings.) There is a happy ending.
Readers who enjoy mysteries with supernatural elements as well as horror elements will enjoy this book! This story is arresting, like others I simply could not put this down!
My thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing a copy to review!
This is a 4.25/5 because of how well this story blends chronic illness, classism, death, and medical ethics together into a seamless narrative while merrily subverting the reader's expectations along the way.
December 3, 2023
Wow. This book was fantastic. A spooky Gothic horror middle grade tale set in 1920s Finland. The description refers to it as a ghost story and that’s part of it but the scary parts are bigger than that. Without spoilers, it’s hard to say much else. Suffice it to say that, while it’s not mysterious, the story goes in directions I wasn’t expecting. Again, not a twist and it’s fairly obvious as you get going but still.
There’s a ton of great stuff here for younger readers. Insight into healthcare in the early 20th century, a little about war, and a very stark commentary on class structure. I saw some people saying it was too dark for MG, and it is dark. However, Finland is consistently named the happiest country in the world and our mental health and youth suicide numbers are appalling. So I’m going to say that maybe dark books aren’t corrupting anyone’s minds and perhaps exposure to difficult topics at an early age is actually beneficial?
Also, Stina (our protagonist) is fabulous. Wry, insightful, and brave as hell.
What a refreshingly exceptional read. The last two MG titles I read blew me away. I need to read more MG.
I hope this author has more books translated so I can read more. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
There’s a ton of great stuff here for younger readers. Insight into healthcare in the early 20th century, a little about war, and a very stark commentary on class structure. I saw some people saying it was too dark for MG, and it is dark. However, Finland is consistently named the happiest country in the world and our mental health and youth suicide numbers are appalling. So I’m going to say that maybe dark books aren’t corrupting anyone’s minds and perhaps exposure to difficult topics at an early age is actually beneficial?
Also, Stina (our protagonist) is fabulous. Wry, insightful, and brave as hell.
What a refreshingly exceptional read. The last two MG titles I read blew me away. I need to read more MG.
I hope this author has more books translated so I can read more. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
August 20, 2023
This is an excellent novel that I began reading with trepidation, not sure whether it would be bleak and realistic or fantastical; happily, it's both those things, and best of all, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill, which is set in a Sanatorium in the years between the wars, is full of marvelous people and places, all very real to the reader.
Stina is sent to Raspberry Hill from Helsinki, where she lives with her siblings and widowed mother; they are poor, and Stina is at first overwhelmed at the size and grandeur of Raspberry Hill, which is as big as a castle. Very quickly, she realizes there are people not to be trusted, and places it's not safe to explore. The suspense builds stealthily: at first, the doctors and nurses, the other patients seem all right, but then Stina starts to see and hear things, and put pieces together. She meets Ruben, a child who appears suddenly at night and departs just as suddenly; she meets Kirsten, a cleaner who wants to be a nurse some day; Esmeralda, another patient, with a heart condition - strange in a Sanatorium for people with lung ailments, thinks Stina. Out of doors, she finds a church that turns out to be a mortuary, and meets a white eyed elderly lady. She finds out that Raspberry Hill is sparsely populated because there'd been a fire. As Stina collects and pockets each piece of information, the eerie feeling of the story grows; the reader will worry about Stina, and root for her.
The writing is terrific, and made me wish I knew Swedish and could read the original; Frantz writes place - rooms, landscapes - so well that at any point in the story the reader has a feel for what Stina is seeing and feeling. The dialog is clear, and there's a lightness to it that feels true. As I read, I experienced the rare gift I associate with reading certain works by writers like Ray Bradbury, Shirley Jackson, Neil Gaiman, and Eleanor Cameron, the gift of being unaware entirely of reading, of being taken into the world of the story. At the end, I had to go back and page through before I could try to write anything about this book.
To give more specific details would spoil the story, but the way the mystery unfolds allows the careful reader to figure things out bit by bit alongside Stina, in a very gratifying way.
I highly recommend this book: it is one of the best mysteries for middle grade readers I have read in years, and the writing is top-notch. This is a challenging, rich story that doesn't shy away from tropes more commonly found in young adult mysteries and thrillers, and it's exceedingly rare in American middle grade fiction. I can't praise this book enough - I will be ordering a physical copy and sharing it wherever I can. I look forward to seeing what Eva Frantz does next.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Stina is sent to Raspberry Hill from Helsinki, where she lives with her siblings and widowed mother; they are poor, and Stina is at first overwhelmed at the size and grandeur of Raspberry Hill, which is as big as a castle. Very quickly, she realizes there are people not to be trusted, and places it's not safe to explore. The suspense builds stealthily: at first, the doctors and nurses, the other patients seem all right, but then Stina starts to see and hear things, and put pieces together. She meets Ruben, a child who appears suddenly at night and departs just as suddenly; she meets Kirsten, a cleaner who wants to be a nurse some day; Esmeralda, another patient, with a heart condition - strange in a Sanatorium for people with lung ailments, thinks Stina. Out of doors, she finds a church that turns out to be a mortuary, and meets a white eyed elderly lady. She finds out that Raspberry Hill is sparsely populated because there'd been a fire. As Stina collects and pockets each piece of information, the eerie feeling of the story grows; the reader will worry about Stina, and root for her.
The writing is terrific, and made me wish I knew Swedish and could read the original; Frantz writes place - rooms, landscapes - so well that at any point in the story the reader has a feel for what Stina is seeing and feeling. The dialog is clear, and there's a lightness to it that feels true. As I read, I experienced the rare gift I associate with reading certain works by writers like Ray Bradbury, Shirley Jackson, Neil Gaiman, and Eleanor Cameron, the gift of being unaware entirely of reading, of being taken into the world of the story. At the end, I had to go back and page through before I could try to write anything about this book.
To give more specific details would spoil the story, but the way the mystery unfolds allows the careful reader to figure things out bit by bit alongside Stina, in a very gratifying way.
I highly recommend this book: it is one of the best mysteries for middle grade readers I have read in years, and the writing is top-notch. This is a challenging, rich story that doesn't shy away from tropes more commonly found in young adult mysteries and thrillers, and it's exceedingly rare in American middle grade fiction. I can't praise this book enough - I will be ordering a physical copy and sharing it wherever I can. I look forward to seeing what Eva Frantz does next.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this middle grade spooky book! It was the perfect fall read and it kept me entertained and intrigued the entire way through. The ending had me tearing me, and was a super cute way to end the book.
June 27, 2023
Stina knows she’s not going to live a long life. At only 12 she has consumption wreaking havoc in her lungs. One of six children in a poor family, it is deemed to be a godsend to be part of a special medical trial at Raspberry Hill Sanitorium. A doctor named Hagman wants to learn more about clean air’s effects on young consumptive lungs, and Stina is his prize patient.
Raspberry Hill certainly has clean, crisp air, far from Stina’s town of Sjömansgatan in Denmark. Like a castle it sits on a hill overlooking a gleaming lake and an oak lined avenue to its doors.
Inside is mostly empty with only a handful of nursing staff and doctors, Stina quickly choosing her favourites. She’s grateful to have this chance of getting well, and knows it will be a blessing to her mother with her gone. With five more siblings, her home is a very busy household.
She does miss her brothers and sisters, their noise and chatter and dreams of the future, because most of her time is spent alone in her dormitory surrounded by empty beds. Will more children arrive soon?
When she wakes to find a young boy reading her beloved copy of Robinson Crusoe she is a little cross at first, but quickly relieved to have someone to talk to. This begins her friendship with Ruben Wiik, a veteran of Raspberry Hill. They have adventures together, inside and out of the Sanitorium, and Stina learns much about it.
There was once a terrible fire, and an entire wing of the hospital is out of bounds. But what happened there and why does one of the doctors still have a key?
Meeting others in the grounds, one Stina is almost positive is a witch, she learns even more and begins to unravel The Mystery of Raspberry Hill.
If only Ruben had her help before…
A young tween novel translated from Swedish to English by AA Prime, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill won the prestigious Runeberg Junior Prize in Finland.
Set in Finland in the 1920’s, this story has a spooky, gothic vibe inside a partially used sanitorium. At first, Stina doesn’t find any other children, just wealthy ladies wanting to rest in the fresh air and beautiful scenery. Her desire to find others to talk to drives her curiosity and discoveries within the hospital.
There are some surprises in store as she learns more about the staff of Raspberry Hill, and an exciting but shocking climax to the story. Young tweens will cheer this young heroine on in her determination to share the truth, as her own life is suddenly in danger.
Author – Eva Frantz
Translator – AA Prime
Age – 8+
Raspberry Hill certainly has clean, crisp air, far from Stina’s town of Sjömansgatan in Denmark. Like a castle it sits on a hill overlooking a gleaming lake and an oak lined avenue to its doors.
Inside is mostly empty with only a handful of nursing staff and doctors, Stina quickly choosing her favourites. She’s grateful to have this chance of getting well, and knows it will be a blessing to her mother with her gone. With five more siblings, her home is a very busy household.
She does miss her brothers and sisters, their noise and chatter and dreams of the future, because most of her time is spent alone in her dormitory surrounded by empty beds. Will more children arrive soon?
When she wakes to find a young boy reading her beloved copy of Robinson Crusoe she is a little cross at first, but quickly relieved to have someone to talk to. This begins her friendship with Ruben Wiik, a veteran of Raspberry Hill. They have adventures together, inside and out of the Sanitorium, and Stina learns much about it.
There was once a terrible fire, and an entire wing of the hospital is out of bounds. But what happened there and why does one of the doctors still have a key?
Meeting others in the grounds, one Stina is almost positive is a witch, she learns even more and begins to unravel The Mystery of Raspberry Hill.
If only Ruben had her help before…
A young tween novel translated from Swedish to English by AA Prime, The Mystery of Raspberry Hill won the prestigious Runeberg Junior Prize in Finland.
Set in Finland in the 1920’s, this story has a spooky, gothic vibe inside a partially used sanitorium. At first, Stina doesn’t find any other children, just wealthy ladies wanting to rest in the fresh air and beautiful scenery. Her desire to find others to talk to drives her curiosity and discoveries within the hospital.
There are some surprises in store as she learns more about the staff of Raspberry Hill, and an exciting but shocking climax to the story. Young tweens will cheer this young heroine on in her determination to share the truth, as her own life is suddenly in danger.
Author – Eva Frantz
Translator – AA Prime
Age – 8+
October 4, 2022
This was a gripping middle-grade story told from the perspective of Stina, a sweet and thoughtful young girl from a poor family, who suffers from TB and travels to the Raspberry Hill Sanatorium for treatment. We gradually learn more about Stina, her outlook on life as a sick child, and her adventures in the sanatorium and the people she meets there, with a core - quite dark - mystery that develops step by step.
I enjoyed this a lot and read it in a single day. It’s quite a moving story and really well-written. I feel like personally I expected, maybe because of the cover somehow, more of a Gothic vibe in this book than what I got, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment (there are some spooky elements but just not as much as I anticipated). There is a lot of focus on the theme of death and dying from illness, which should be taken into account when recommending to children.
It’s a high 4 out of 5 stars, a touching and fast-paced read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the e-ARC.
I enjoyed this a lot and read it in a single day. It’s quite a moving story and really well-written. I feel like personally I expected, maybe because of the cover somehow, more of a Gothic vibe in this book than what I got, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment (there are some spooky elements but just not as much as I anticipated). There is a lot of focus on the theme of death and dying from illness, which should be taken into account when recommending to children.
It’s a high 4 out of 5 stars, a touching and fast-paced read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the e-ARC.
November 22, 2022
This read built tension from the beginning. Knowing that 12 year old Stina is I'll & all her siblings are healthy, she is offered a place at Raspberry Hill Sanctuary in an effort to see if their new medicines can make her better.
When she arrives she finds herself the only child in her dormitory. At first she gets better & finds a friend in a boy who steals about the place when he knows which nurse will be snoozing.
But then Stina takes a turn for the worst & suspects one of the nurses is behind it.
There is a strange feel about the place, something isn't right, but will Stina be able to work it all out in time?
A fantastic translation from A.A.Prime it was so cold on the grounds, the air so fresh. It looks like a small book but certainly packs a punch of gothic scare in a read for children that's perfect for winter reading as the evenings get dark.
When she arrives she finds herself the only child in her dormitory. At first she gets better & finds a friend in a boy who steals about the place when he knows which nurse will be snoozing.
But then Stina takes a turn for the worst & suspects one of the nurses is behind it.
There is a strange feel about the place, something isn't right, but will Stina be able to work it all out in time?
A fantastic translation from A.A.Prime it was so cold on the grounds, the air so fresh. It looks like a small book but certainly packs a punch of gothic scare in a read for children that's perfect for winter reading as the evenings get dark.
September 11, 2023
"The Mystery of Raspberry Hill" by Eva Frantz is an exceptional middle-grade ghost story that seamlessly combines historical ambiance, a compelling mystery, and a brave young heroine. Set against the backdrop of a spooky sanatorium in the 1920s, this book delivers a chilling and atmospheric reading experience that will captivate young readers and adults alike.
At its heart, the story revolves around Stina, a twelve-year-old girl who, despite her grim prognosis, finds herself at Raspberry Hill Sanatorium. From the moment she arrives, the author masterfully creates an eerie and foreboding atmosphere that envelops readers. The description of the sanatorium as a magnificent castle hidden in the forest is both enchanting and unsettling, setting the stage for a tale filled with secrets.
Eva Frantz excels at building suspense and intrigue throughout the narrative. As Stina delves into the labyrinthine corridors of Raspberry Hill, the reader is drawn deeper into the mystery surrounding the old East Wing's fire, her mother's silence, and the nurses' fearful demeanor. The pacing is impeccable, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they follow Stina's relentless quest for answers.
Stina is a remarkable protagonist who is both relatable and admirable. Her determination to uncover the truth, even in the face of danger, makes her a character readers will root for from the very beginning. Her courage and resourcefulness are inspiring, making her a role model for young readers.
The historical setting of the 1920s adds depth and authenticity to the story. Eva Frantz skillfully incorporates details of the time period, from the references to the motor car to the societal expectations of the era, enriching the reading experience and making the world of Raspberry Hill feel all the more real.
One of the novel's strengths is its ability to tackle complex themes such as illness, mortality, and the resilience of the human spirit in a way that is accessible and thought-provoking for young readers. It encourages them to contemplate the mysteries of life and death while maintaining a sense of wonder and curiosity.
"The Mystery of Raspberry Hill" is a literary gem in the middle-grade genre. Eva Frantz's writing is evocative and immersive, making it easy for readers to lose themselves in the story's eerie and suspenseful atmosphere. As the mystery unfolds, it keeps readers guessing until the very end, making it a page-turner that will leave them eager for more.
In conclusion, "The Mystery of Raspberry Hill" is a stellar addition to the world of middle-grade literature. Eva Frantz has crafted a haunting and enchanting tale that combines historical authenticity, a spine-tingling mystery, and a resilient young heroine. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating and chilling ghost story that will linger in their imagination long after the final page is turned.
At its heart, the story revolves around Stina, a twelve-year-old girl who, despite her grim prognosis, finds herself at Raspberry Hill Sanatorium. From the moment she arrives, the author masterfully creates an eerie and foreboding atmosphere that envelops readers. The description of the sanatorium as a magnificent castle hidden in the forest is both enchanting and unsettling, setting the stage for a tale filled with secrets.
Eva Frantz excels at building suspense and intrigue throughout the narrative. As Stina delves into the labyrinthine corridors of Raspberry Hill, the reader is drawn deeper into the mystery surrounding the old East Wing's fire, her mother's silence, and the nurses' fearful demeanor. The pacing is impeccable, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they follow Stina's relentless quest for answers.
Stina is a remarkable protagonist who is both relatable and admirable. Her determination to uncover the truth, even in the face of danger, makes her a character readers will root for from the very beginning. Her courage and resourcefulness are inspiring, making her a role model for young readers.
The historical setting of the 1920s adds depth and authenticity to the story. Eva Frantz skillfully incorporates details of the time period, from the references to the motor car to the societal expectations of the era, enriching the reading experience and making the world of Raspberry Hill feel all the more real.
One of the novel's strengths is its ability to tackle complex themes such as illness, mortality, and the resilience of the human spirit in a way that is accessible and thought-provoking for young readers. It encourages them to contemplate the mysteries of life and death while maintaining a sense of wonder and curiosity.
"The Mystery of Raspberry Hill" is a literary gem in the middle-grade genre. Eva Frantz's writing is evocative and immersive, making it easy for readers to lose themselves in the story's eerie and suspenseful atmosphere. As the mystery unfolds, it keeps readers guessing until the very end, making it a page-turner that will leave them eager for more.
In conclusion, "The Mystery of Raspberry Hill" is a stellar addition to the world of middle-grade literature. Eva Frantz has crafted a haunting and enchanting tale that combines historical authenticity, a spine-tingling mystery, and a resilient young heroine. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating and chilling ghost story that will linger in their imagination long after the final page is turned.
August 31, 2023
The plot seems very familiar somehow, although I've never read this book before. I wonder what it reminds me of... Oh, well.
Stina is a little girl who's sick with consumption. She knows she'll die soon, but that's alright; she'd made peace with the thought, even if she gets to go to a sanatorium where there's hope for a cure. But the sanatorium is nearly empty of little children like her, so she doesn't have much to do all day except sit and read her brother's "Robinson Crusoe" while waiting to see how her condition evolves. Luckily, at night a little boy sneaks in to keep her company and show her around the place.
You can tell something's creepy while reading this as an adult because of the way things are phrased - the doctor in charge of her *seems* nice to Stina, but seems pretty willing to experiment (shadily) to us, and it doesn't help that he tells her she might still die. But there's something creepy for children, too, when an old woman asks Stina if she's rich or poor, then warns her that poor children tend to die a lot at the sanatorium.
There's a ghost, too - a very straightforward and helpful one, and we never doubt its veracity.
But what I really liked about "The Mystery of Raspberry Hill" wasn't the mystery in itself, but the atmosphere, as well as Stina's voice. You really feel that a child is telling you the story in all its gruesome detail, perhaps missing some of the concepts and details an adult would know, but understand all too well what's happening around her. It's a dark story, and very well told.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Stina is a little girl who's sick with consumption. She knows she'll die soon, but that's alright; she'd made peace with the thought, even if she gets to go to a sanatorium where there's hope for a cure. But the sanatorium is nearly empty of little children like her, so she doesn't have much to do all day except sit and read her brother's "Robinson Crusoe" while waiting to see how her condition evolves. Luckily, at night a little boy sneaks in to keep her company and show her around the place.
You can tell something's creepy while reading this as an adult because of the way things are phrased - the doctor in charge of her *seems* nice to Stina, but seems pretty willing to experiment (shadily) to us, and it doesn't help that he tells her she might still die. But there's something creepy for children, too, when an old woman asks Stina if she's rich or poor, then warns her that poor children tend to die a lot at the sanatorium.
There's a ghost, too - a very straightforward and helpful one, and we never doubt its veracity.
But what I really liked about "The Mystery of Raspberry Hill" wasn't the mystery in itself, but the atmosphere, as well as Stina's voice. You really feel that a child is telling you the story in all its gruesome detail, perhaps missing some of the concepts and details an adult would know, but understand all too well what's happening around her. It's a dark story, and very well told.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2023
"The Mystery of Raspberry Hill" by Eva Frantz is a mystery for young readers. It is set after World War 2 in Finland where young Stina has contracted tuberculosis. At that time, the odds of surviving tuberculosis was not good.
Stina has a loving mother and five siblings. Her father died in the war so she's not unfamiliar with death. With her illness, Stina is prepared to die. Into these circumstances comes an offer for her to get treatment at a sanatorium called "Raspberry Hill." Her doctor knows the doctor who runs the place as he is an old friend. Her mother doesn't want to send her away to Raspberry Hill, but eventually, she allows it and Stina is off in a fancy car to the place who might give her a chance to get better.
The story is told in first person from Stina who is about 12 years old. Given what she has already lived through (loss of her father and living with a possible terminal illness), her narrative perspective of wavering between being old for her years and yet young too makes a certain sense, even if it can be a little confusing at times. That said, she is considered to be bright and intelligent.
The plot is simple for young readers to follow. The author doesn't over-complicate the story telling or the mystery. That makes for smooth reading as Stina encounters Ruben, a young boy who seems rather cheeky, then another young girl named Esmeralda whose health problem doesn't fit for the sanatorium, and then there is an old woman who appears while Stina is out on her walks.
When Stina's health starts to get worse just when she seemed to be doing better, she questions and wonders what is going on and realizes that there may be more going on. She also finds that she is not ready to die either.
The tension is good. The storytelling is appropriate for the target audience. I did find Stina a bit passive as a main character but she does become more active. That said, the ending is a bit too neat and tidy in a way that was a little off-putting. The ending is really where I can't quite give it the 4th star. I liked the story overall but some of the details at the end made me side-eye it. As such, my rating is a 3-star.
Stina has a loving mother and five siblings. Her father died in the war so she's not unfamiliar with death. With her illness, Stina is prepared to die. Into these circumstances comes an offer for her to get treatment at a sanatorium called "Raspberry Hill." Her doctor knows the doctor who runs the place as he is an old friend. Her mother doesn't want to send her away to Raspberry Hill, but eventually, she allows it and Stina is off in a fancy car to the place who might give her a chance to get better.
The story is told in first person from Stina who is about 12 years old. Given what she has already lived through (loss of her father and living with a possible terminal illness), her narrative perspective of wavering between being old for her years and yet young too makes a certain sense, even if it can be a little confusing at times. That said, she is considered to be bright and intelligent.
The plot is simple for young readers to follow. The author doesn't over-complicate the story telling or the mystery. That makes for smooth reading as Stina encounters Ruben, a young boy who seems rather cheeky, then another young girl named Esmeralda whose health problem doesn't fit for the sanatorium, and then there is an old woman who appears while Stina is out on her walks.
When Stina's health starts to get worse just when she seemed to be doing better, she questions and wonders what is going on and realizes that there may be more going on. She also finds that she is not ready to die either.
The tension is good. The storytelling is appropriate for the target audience. I did find Stina a bit passive as a main character but she does become more active. That said, the ending is a bit too neat and tidy in a way that was a little off-putting. The ending is really where I can't quite give it the 4th star. I liked the story overall but some of the details at the end made me side-eye it. As such, my rating is a 3-star.
September 11, 2023
This book! Oh how I loved this book. I will start by saying that while is a Middle Grade read, I would say it is older middle grade, or for a very mature child. The subject matter can be dark at times, and is definitely scary - perhaps because of the fact that it absolutely could, and probably did, happen in real life.
This novel takes place in the 1920’s and is the story of a sweet, precocious and lovable little girl named Stina. Stina is twelve years old and is very ill, so she is sent to Rasberry Hill Sanatorium to see if the fresh air and specialized help can improve her condition - a condition from which she is certain she will die. Raspberry Hill is large and beautiful, and Stina cannot believer her luck as poor little girls like her never get opportunities like this. However, the longer she stays, the more she realizes something is terribly amiss. This novel asks the question - are monsters the things that go bump in the night, or are they the people that walk among us?
I adored Stina. I just fell immediately in love with her! The setting of the novel is atmospheric and beautifully creepy, and the tension is built steadily throughout. This novel can also be downright horrifying. I overall enjoyed it so much, though I do wish it was a little longer. I highly recommend this novel, but would say read it before you give it to your child or check subject warnings.
Read if you like:
✨ Sanatorium/Hospital Setting
✨Isolation
✨ Spooky MG
✨ Frank, Honest MC
This novel takes place in the 1920’s and is the story of a sweet, precocious and lovable little girl named Stina. Stina is twelve years old and is very ill, so she is sent to Rasberry Hill Sanatorium to see if the fresh air and specialized help can improve her condition - a condition from which she is certain she will die. Raspberry Hill is large and beautiful, and Stina cannot believer her luck as poor little girls like her never get opportunities like this. However, the longer she stays, the more she realizes something is terribly amiss. This novel asks the question - are monsters the things that go bump in the night, or are they the people that walk among us?
I adored Stina. I just fell immediately in love with her! The setting of the novel is atmospheric and beautifully creepy, and the tension is built steadily throughout. This novel can also be downright horrifying. I overall enjoyed it so much, though I do wish it was a little longer. I highly recommend this novel, but would say read it before you give it to your child or check subject warnings.
Read if you like:
✨ Sanatorium/Hospital Setting
✨Isolation
✨ Spooky MG
✨ Frank, Honest MC
October 12, 2023
A dark and suspense middle-grade not meant for the faint of heart!
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a mix between a ghost story, suspense and thriller. I absolutely loved it! It’s perfect for spooky season but beware that it might just be too dark for certain children. You count with sickness, death, loss of a parent, mean adults and ghosts.
The story is well-written and easy to get into and just enjoy. Set in 1920s in Finland, there’s a gothic vibe to the book particularly in the description of the Raspberry Hill Sanatorium. Stina, the female protagonist is a brave girl who fights tooth and nail to get her health back in a place with no other children and only wealthy ladies. Her curiosity leads her to explore the sanatorium and make some creepy discoveries. It all leads to an exciting climax. It has heart-warming to see her relationship with her parents and siblings. It was a nice note to end the story with.
I was a nice read, perfect for spooky season for both children, teens and adults.
Thank you, Pushkin Press via Netgalley for e-ARC.
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a mix between a ghost story, suspense and thriller. I absolutely loved it! It’s perfect for spooky season but beware that it might just be too dark for certain children. You count with sickness, death, loss of a parent, mean adults and ghosts.
The story is well-written and easy to get into and just enjoy. Set in 1920s in Finland, there’s a gothic vibe to the book particularly in the description of the Raspberry Hill Sanatorium. Stina, the female protagonist is a brave girl who fights tooth and nail to get her health back in a place with no other children and only wealthy ladies. Her curiosity leads her to explore the sanatorium and make some creepy discoveries. It all leads to an exciting climax. It has heart-warming to see her relationship with her parents and siblings. It was a nice note to end the story with.
I was a nice read, perfect for spooky season for both children, teens and adults.
Thank you, Pushkin Press via Netgalley for e-ARC.
Read
August 22, 2023Stina is a 10 year old girl, who knows she is going to die. When her family has the opportunity to give her a second chance at life, they take it. After being sent to Raspberry Hill Sanatorium, things are not quite what they appear to be.
As an adult reading this, I found it amazing. The story kept me gripped and wanting more. It puts you in the mind of a child that knows that their time is coming to an end. Some stuff was predictable (once again I'm looking at this from the perspective of an adult), but the last twist/reveal got me. I will definitely be getting the physical copy of this book when it is released in September.
This book is pretty dark for 9-12 year old's. If you have a child that can handle this type of story, then get it for them. As a parent I would read it first before giving it to them, just to make sure that it is the type of book you are okay with your kid to read. I would recommend this book to Middle school aged kids (13-15).
As an adult reading this, I found it amazing. The story kept me gripped and wanting more. It puts you in the mind of a child that knows that their time is coming to an end. Some stuff was predictable (once again I'm looking at this from the perspective of an adult), but the last twist/reveal got me. I will definitely be getting the physical copy of this book when it is released in September.
This book is pretty dark for 9-12 year old's. If you have a child that can handle this type of story, then get it for them. As a parent I would read it first before giving it to them, just to make sure that it is the type of book you are okay with your kid to read. I would recommend this book to Middle school aged kids (13-15).
September 10, 2023
The Mystery of Raspberry Hill follows a young girl in the early 20th century as she goes to a sanctuary to help heal from TB. While there, she learns of a fire to took out a while wing and many people died. She also meets a young boy and things start to go downhill. She has to save herself to get back home to her loving family.
I really liked this book! I loved our main character. She was very smart and wise and loved her family a lot. While she was poor and looked down on a lot, she was still very smart and had good manners. She has been through a lot at her young age but she still was very strong and loving. I think the mystery and twists were great. Some of them were expected but it is a children’s book so I think kids might not guess them. The ghost parts were also creepy but not too much for children. It was a short read that had a nice ending and I recommend!
Thanks so much to netgalley and Pushkin press for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
October 9, 2023
Stina was sent to the Raspberry Hill Sanatorium because the doctors wanted to study her and her cough. She knew she was dying. The doctors wanted to see if fresh air would cure the cough. When Stina arrived, she was the only patient.
Stina becomes friends with Ruben. Dr. Hagman determines her couch is from tuberculosis and wants to try his treatment plan on her as a study to get funding. Stina finds out from one of the janitors (Kristin) that the twenty-three ward where Ruben is staying no longer exist. It was destroyed in the fire the hit the sanatorium years prior. She thought Sister Emerentia was trying to kill her by switching her medicine but realized she was the only reason she was still alive. Esmeralda (child of the rich) came to the sanatorium with a bad heart. The plan had been not the heal Stina (child of the poor) but to take her heart to make sure Esmeralda made it.
Stina's escape and Sister Emerentia's attempted murder caused the truth about Raspberry Hill Sanatorium to come out and it wasn't pretty.
Stina becomes friends with Ruben. Dr. Hagman determines her couch is from tuberculosis and wants to try his treatment plan on her as a study to get funding. Stina finds out from one of the janitors (Kristin) that the twenty-three ward where Ruben is staying no longer exist. It was destroyed in the fire the hit the sanatorium years prior. She thought Sister Emerentia was trying to kill her by switching her medicine but realized she was the only reason she was still alive. Esmeralda (child of the rich) came to the sanatorium with a bad heart. The plan had been not the heal Stina (child of the poor) but to take her heart to make sure Esmeralda made it.
Stina's escape and Sister Emerentia's attempted murder caused the truth about Raspberry Hill Sanatorium to come out and it wasn't pretty.
September 9, 2022
This was such a great spooky tale. I really enjoyed it. It was just the right level of creepy. Enough to make you feel goosebumps but not so much that it would give you nightmares. I really enjoyed the premise of the sanatorium with the mysterious fire destroying one of the wings. As soon as the character of Ruben appeared I thought he is not all that he appears to be. The main character, Stina, is so brave in many different ways. Her attitude to that fact that she is probably dying and the way she thinks about what life will be like for those who she leaves behind would provide a lot of opportunities for talk in the classroom. However, this book does focus quite heavily on death and therefore I would recommend that people are careful when choosing to use it or recommend it to children in their classes.
August 24, 2023
A translated book from Sweden — I always enjoy reading books from other countries— if anything to get an idea of concepts that are interesting in their countries and cultures.
This story follows the story of a little girl with TB sent to Raspberry Hill sanatorium and her experiences there. By Chapter 8 — I was still wondering — what is the Mystery ? Then chapter 9 brings in the story about a fire where people had died — and the mystery begins as does the conspiracy theories about the place. I enjoyed the read — great for age 13 and older ( hence the 4 star rating ) as younger might get nightmares . The story was well written and enjoyable and I got invested in the character Stina immediately. A great read — recommended .
Thank-you to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for this ARC , this is my honest review.
This story follows the story of a little girl with TB sent to Raspberry Hill sanatorium and her experiences there. By Chapter 8 — I was still wondering — what is the Mystery ? Then chapter 9 brings in the story about a fire where people had died — and the mystery begins as does the conspiracy theories about the place. I enjoyed the read — great for age 13 and older ( hence the 4 star rating ) as younger might get nightmares . The story was well written and enjoyable and I got invested in the character Stina immediately. A great read — recommended .
Thank-you to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for this ARC , this is my honest review.
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