Peppermints in the Parlor

Peppermints #1

by Barbara Brooks Wallace

Emily Luccock is looking forward to living at Sugar Hill Hall....She remembers her aunt and uncle's grand old mansion well, with its enormous, elegant parlor, marble fireplace, and white china cups filled with hot chocolate. But this time things are different. Her aunt's once bright and lively home is now dead with silence. Evil lurks in every corner, and the dark, shadowed walls watch and whisper late at night. And no one ever speaks. Everything's changed at Sugar Hill Hall, and Emily knows something awful is happening there. What's become of Uncle Twice? Why is Aunt Twice a prisoner in her own home? Emily is desperate to uncover the truth. Time is running out, and she must find a way to save the people and home she cares so much about.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1980

About the author

Award-winning American children's writer. Has received, among others, the NLAPW Children's Book Award and International Youth Library "Best of the Best" for 'Claudia' (2001), as well as the William Allen White Children's Book Award for 'Peppermints in the Parlor' (1983).

Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China, but then moved to the United States. San Francisco was often a port of entry for her family, who lived in a huge, white-pillared mansion on the side of a hill, later to become the Sugar Hill Hall mansion which served as the setting for some of her most popular books. She was a UCLA graduate.

Wallace won two Edgar Allan Poe Awards from the Mystery Writers of America for 'The Twin in the Tavern' (1994) and for 'Sparrows in the Scullery' (1998). 'Cousins in The Castle' (1997 and 'Ghosts in the Gallery' (2001) were also nominated for an Edgar Award.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute alliterative title! Cute Blanche Sims cover!

I was expecting something like a cross between A Little Princess and John Bellairs (um, his books, that is). This is a lot darker than that. Have you read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase? Imagine if the entire book were like the middle section, when Bonnie and Sylvia are sent to the horrible "orphanage" workhouse, where all the girls work their fingers to the bone while cold and hungry and afraid. Anyone would bear tales for a morsel of food, so there can be no friendships. This book is pretty much that with a creepy mystery element. The creepiness is pretty well done, the actual plot not so much. A lot of things aren't adequately explained, including the titular peppermints. But I was rooting for poor orphaned Emily! And thank goodness the kitten lived. I still want to know what the big deal was about the peppermints, though.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The predicament is reminiscent of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (and perhaps a little of A Little Princess). The writing also has some of the flavor of Sid Fleischman. All these are good things, and while this book doesn't quite measure up to Aiken's masterpiece, it's not just a pale imitation. The main characters are well depicted, but I think I would have liked to have heard more about the other residents. I enjoyed the various surprises and turnabouts, but the ending (nice and tidy) came together a bit too quickly.

I was surprised that this was from 1980 as the writing (and the original hardcover jacket) has a nice vintage 1960s feel.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun way to introduce children to the mystery genre! I loved this book each year my 4th grade class read it. And looked forward to the month that we were reading mystery books to see the pleasure in the eyes of my students as we discussed the book. You really need to read this charming book!

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

For so long I had a vague memory of this book from when I read it in 5th grade. I knew it had something to do with a parlor and I could almost picture the front cover... but beyond that I couldn't remember a thing. A couple of weeks ago, out of nowhere, the name Peppermints in the Parlor popped in my head and within 10 minutes I had purchased the book on amazon. I just finished it this morning and it was every bit as good as it was when I was 10. I was on the edge of my seat during the entire book and while it was clearly an easy read, not a moment of it was a bore.

If you ever need a day to avoid the world and get lost in a book - this is a good one. Even if you aren't 10. :)

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Fun to read aloud to the kids. I grew up with this one and always liked it. Upon reading aloud Asher and I noticed it was very similar to The Wolves of Willoughby Chase except instead of an orphanage they had an old folks’ home 🤪 still, any kind of orphan/evil woman guardian/triumph over evil woman story is worth reading.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

In combination with the [much better-crafted] A Little Princess of Frances Hodgson Burnett, this book shaped many years of my pretending to be an overworked starving orphan at the mercy of a cruel mistress who made me do chores. Any resemblance to my actual mother is probably exaggerated and not really fair, but I can't help what I thought. Other reasons I liked this book, which is entertaining and tolerably suspenseful the first time through although it's not by any means a masterpiece, include:

1) The heroine is named Emily
2) She has a coat at the beginning which is green velvet with a white ermine muff, which became a staple in the wardrobe of ALL of my paper dolls long after I'd forgotten where it came from
3) There are pirates.

A warning, though: the peppermints of the title are never really explained. They just kind of happen periodically. If you can figure out what they have to do with anything, I'm dying to know.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blast from the past, as this was my favorite book when I was around 10 or so. I borrowed it from the library many times, so you'd think I could remember the title. I've been searching for years for this book, but had much difficulty, as I the only thing I could remember was that it was about "a young girl sent to live at an old folks home" and that a key character reminded me of a playing piece from Clue (Mrs. Plumly). Thanks to Google books, I've FINALLY found the book, and immediately borrowed it from the library and read it on my Kindle. Was it as good as I remembered? YES! So much came flooding back, and so much discovered that I'd missed as a child. Very dark and mysterious book, will be buying a physical copy.

[Dave J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll write a new review for this one eventually.

[Rain Marie Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one with Tristen- We really enjoyed it!
We liked the creepiness of writing style, the old people, Kipper and the ending! Tristen was shocked at the twist/villain reveal. He was talking about it days and days later ☺️
I read this one as a kid, but didn’t remember much of it so it was fun! Classic.

[Cathy aka The Attached Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who spends a good portion of their life reading, discussing, and thinking about middle grade lit, I have never heard of this book! (I found that quite surprising.) However, this little-known-gem is a really great read! The book has a dark and gothic feel, yet it is innocent and wholesome at the same time. Kids will be kept on the edge of their seats while they try to uncover the truth about Sugar Hill Mansion. The "homeschool mama" in me found many opportunities to point out effective writing strategies that the author used. For example, you will find many instances of alliteration, onomatopoeia, simile/metaphor, and nice, strong verbs.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently orphaned, Emily Luccock has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle at Sugar Hill Hall. Emily remembers the mansion from past visits, and is looking forward to enjoying its grandeur. When she arrives, however, it becomes clear that something is very wrong. The house is now under the control of Mrs. Meeching and Mrs. Plumly, who are running a home for the elderly, with Emily's aunt as their servant. Emily's uncle is missing, and there is a mysterious bowl of peppermints in the parlor that no one is allowed to touch, or else. Only Kipper, who visits occasionally to deliver fresh fish to the mansion, is at all friendly to Emily, and it is with his help that she will figure out the secrets of Sugar Hill Hall and drive out the evil lurking within its walls.
I read this book to my oldest three girls, ages 7, 5, and 3, and they were really intrigued from beginning to end. The characters are just exaggerated enough that they don't feel threatening to the reader, but there is still plenty of suspense to make the reading experience a fun emotional rollercoaster.

For me, this book was also an interesting conversation starter for how the elderly are sometimes treated in our society. The residents of Sugar Hill Hall are discounted and mistreated by the people who are meant to look after them, and it is utterly detrimental to their mental and physical health. When Kipper and Emily begin to enrich their lives by reaching out to them and offering companionship, everything changes for the elderly characters, and their will to live returns. I think the fantastical tone of the book, and the odd feel of the setting make it an ideal medium for exploring this deeper issue.

Peppermints in the Parlor made a great read-aloud for us. I think to be read independently, the sweet-spot age range is probably ages 7-10. It's an interesting and fresh take on the age-old struggled between good and evil and a great opportunity for kids to examine some real social issues within the safety of a fictional environment.

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

[wanderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember reading a gothic novel for kids, but I'm glad I've found one. (Actually, two. I also just read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, which was similar to this book.) Now I can't wait to share them with my students.

The setting is The Best: a fabulous old house gone to ruin and turned into an old folks' home, of all things. I'm fairly neutral about the main character and her aunt, but the antagonists are pretty much priceless: evil women who eat all the good food and have turned the poor old folks into walking ghosts. Add a fairly wicked serving girl with redemptive qualities, a funny fishmonger's kid, a secret tunnel, and a big bowl of forbidden peppermints, and you have a book worth reading.

[Shelley Lawler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a class read aloud when I was in elementary school and after reading myself now I'm confident the ONLY part I remember was when my teacher surprised the class by throwing handfuls of peppermints at us.
The story is pretty dark and the climatic scene with the pirate on his deathbed in the dark corner would have scared me as a child had I read it alone. I appreciated that the story kept moving and big things happened all throughout, I wasn't just waiting for everything to make sense at the end but enjoyed the story as it progressed.
The needless curse word name calling at the end was disappointing, especially as I recommended this as a kids book club book. But, we'll still have fun with a peppermint themed meeting.

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably would have been more impressed if I had read it as a child but still found it very enjoyable.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute children's story

[Alex of Yoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have this clear memory of being in 4th grade and sitting on the floor with my class as Mr. Anderson read to us a chapter from this book every day. It was our favourite part of class, and we'd often beg him to keep going and read an extra chapter! This is the first book I ever remember truly captivating me and sparking my imagination. It was so poignant, that I was actually able to remember the title of the book from then until now, numerous decades later, when I have finally been able to go back and reread it!

Poor eleven-year-old Emily has just lost both her parents in a terrible accident. She has fond memories of her Aunt and Uncle Twice and their large mansion and is grateful that her aunt has offered to take her in. However, when she arrives, two strange older women have transformed the mansion into a dismal nursing home and appear to be holding her aunt hostage. It's up to Emily to bring life back to the mansion and root out the secrets that it holds...or be reduced to life as a penniless servant forever!

Even knowing what happens, I still found the plot exciting! For a middle-grade book, it is definitely full of twists and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat! It's reminiscent of The Little Princess, but with a fun mystery element to it. I like how it helps challenge kid's perceptions of people and encourages kindness and perseverance.

It is definitely for a younger audience, so the characters are pretty basic and the writing is simpler. I enjoyed it being read to me as a 4th grader, so I'm certain other kids will too. But as an adult, this was a pretty easy read lacking in depth you' expect in older reading levels. There is one "cuss word" in it toward the end, which I was surprised to see, so I suspect our teacher edited that out.

I really loved going back down memory lane with this book. I think it'd be a great family story and a fun read for upper elementary to lower middle school kids who enjoy a good rags-to-riches with a bit of suspense and mystery woven in.

[Danielle Routh · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Dingus, Emily! If you ain't the one!"

I loved this book when I was a kid and must have borrowed it from our library ten times or more. I think it holds up fairly well, even if the ending is a bit unrealistic and rushed, and it's definitely one of those books that has stuck in my mind ever since reading it. Kipper is a particularly strong character, even if his figures of speech grow rather tiresome, and Emily is a likeable heroine (definitely reminiscent of Sarah in The Little Princess , though I didn't make that connection until reading other Goodreads reviews).

I may be reading too much into this, but I think the significance of the peppermints in the parlor (besides providing a catchy title) is that they represent what the majority of the characters--Aunt Twice, Emily, Tilly, and the old ones--can't have: a better life. They make snatches at it when stealing peppermints and, eventually, turn this symbol into a means of escape.

Overall, a fun read. I don't think I'd buy it, but I would recommend it, especially for young mystery fans.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid and it had a big impact on me--even decades later I could remember specific scenes. It included all my favorite elements: Victorian time period, orphan protagonist, mystery, child abuse, melodrama, street urchins, grime and fog. I think many stories I wrote as a kid were trying to mimic this style. So I was delighted to find a copy this year and re-read it. It doesn't quiiiite hold up on a sentence-to-sentence level (Wallace loves her similes!), but it was still a fun adventure story and I enjoyed revisiting it.

[Melissa Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book left an impression on me when it was first read to me about 30 years ago when I was in elementary school. It was the first time I remember being completely knocked sideways by a plot twist...such an impression that it has stayed with me all these years!
I was anxious to revisit the mansion of Sugar Hill Hall and share this story with my own children, and I found it as mysterious and dark, and yet charming as ever. I recommend this as a great mystery for kids!

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Luccock's world is upended; both of her parents died at the same time so she is going to live with her aunt and uncle. It has been many years since she saw them, and when she arrives everything is different. Her uncle is missing; her aunt is now a servant (slave) in her own house which has been turned into an old folks home. Two horrible women run the place and punish anyone who doesn't follow their rules. What to do?

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent, simple story of an orphaned girl who lands in a messy situation. It's not the most gripping or well-told tale, but a pretty good read that would be enjoyable for a late-Elementary kid. The boy Kipper adds some good character, and the scene is interesting with the manor turned into a rest home with its scared-stiff senior residents serving as silent statues.

[Alison West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the 2nd half of this book. The first half is a little slow, but once the kitten comes into the picture the rest of the book moves quickly. I first read it when I was little, and I have recently read it again. I vividly remembered several scenes as is, and for that I really do recommend reading this book. It's a great mystery for kids.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved and was so engaged in this book and was thrilled I was discovering this wonderful book for the first time. And then I got to the last 20+ pages and it was such a let down how everything unfolded. There was a PERFECT set up for an adventurous, clever ending and instead every answer just randomly and suddenly got handed to them for a quick, easy tie-up.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like YA fiction went through a real orphan phase in the late 80s/early 90s. I must have read this 50 or 100 times when I was a kid, but I guess the magic is gone for me now that I'm an adult.

[Sondra Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was little so 30+ years later I decided to read it again. You can never go home again! It was so simply solved and characters were so simplistic. Definitely a good elementary novel although a little dark.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a child, and it really freaked me out. I was surprised to see it was still being published, so I decided to give it a read. Thankfully, I was less scared this time around! It was actually a much sweeter story than I remembered.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with my partner as a little before bed nostalgia reading - the characters were so fun to voice, the whole thing was nuts, had us laughing so hard together night after night / thank you Emily luckock (as my pa always says)

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book for young readers who are interested in mystery/Gothic novels.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite!

[Nikki Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute Mystery that a one of my past students loves to have her mom read to her! I love to read what my students enjoy!