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The Ghost in the Glass House
In a 1920s seaside town, Clare discovers a mysterious glass house in the backyard of her new summer home. There she falls in love with Jack, the ghost of a boy who can’t remember who he was before he died. Their romance is a haven for her from the company of her society friends who can’t wait to grow up and embark on romances of their own. But that haven begins to crack when she realizes that Jack has lied to her about his name . . .
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
13 people are currently reading
969 people want to read
About the author
Carey Wallace
15 books42 followers Carey Wallace was raised in small towns in Michigan. Her work has appeared in Oasis, SPSM&H, Detroit's MetroTimes and quarrtsiluni, which she guest-edited in 2008. She is a founder of the Working Artists Initiative for the International Arts Movement, which helps emerging artists establish strong creative habits, of the Zoae Series, a New York arts showcase which she directed until 2008, and of the event-based Lost City Gallery, which has connected young artists with patrons in both New York and Detroit. She is a photographer with Detroit Safari, which has documented Detroit's vulnerable abandoned landmarks annually since 2003. In 2000, she also founded an annual arts retreat, The Hillbilly Underground, which draws nationally-recognized filmakers, writers, fine artists, and musicians to rural Michigan each summer. She lives and works in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 10, 2018
I read this book to fill the Ghost Stories square of my 2018 Halloween Bingo card.
I found this story to be somewhat reminiscent of Frances Hardinge’s The Lie Tree (or maybe it should be the other way around, since this was published before The Lie Tree.) I think it was a combination of a main character who is starting to question a parent’s choices and the time spent in the cave by the sea, complete with perilous journey to get there.
Strangely, it also reminded me of Edna O’Brien’s The Country Girls, with the frenemy relationship between Clare and her BFF Bridget. Clare is a bit like Kate, with her desire to find true love and Bridget is a lot like Baba, longing to experiment with life, excitement, and boys.
Many people say that teenage girls become obsessed with horses when they are looking for a safe outlet for their love and attention. Clare hasn’t got a chance of finding a horse to lavish her care upon, but she finds Jack, the ghost boy in the glass house behind their rented summer home. What could be safer than a ghost for a first real relationship?
Not as strong nor as well written as either The Lie Tree or The Country Girls, it is still a pleasant story and I wouldn’t hesitate to offer it to a young adult.
I found this story to be somewhat reminiscent of Frances Hardinge’s The Lie Tree (or maybe it should be the other way around, since this was published before The Lie Tree.) I think it was a combination of a main character who is starting to question a parent’s choices and the time spent in the cave by the sea, complete with perilous journey to get there.
Strangely, it also reminded me of Edna O’Brien’s The Country Girls, with the frenemy relationship between Clare and her BFF Bridget. Clare is a bit like Kate, with her desire to find true love and Bridget is a lot like Baba, longing to experiment with life, excitement, and boys.
Many people say that teenage girls become obsessed with horses when they are looking for a safe outlet for their love and attention. Clare hasn’t got a chance of finding a horse to lavish her care upon, but she finds Jack, the ghost boy in the glass house behind their rented summer home. What could be safer than a ghost for a first real relationship?
Not as strong nor as well written as either The Lie Tree or The Country Girls, it is still a pleasant story and I wouldn’t hesitate to offer it to a young adult.
October 4, 2013
Everything about the cover of this book screams middle grade. But what's inside is not. I was expecting something along the lines of The Humming Room by Ellen Potter, but reading this felt like I was reading The Great Gatsby or The Picture of Dorian Gray, but aimed at middle graders. I wish I could say I meant that in a positive way.
There is nothing wrong with big vocabulary words--I think books should never "dumb down" for young readers. But the stories should still feel as though they are written in the pov of a child of that age. Clare is twelve or thirteen, but her thoughts come across as far too mature. This is not an intelligence issue--it is a life experience and developmental issue. The insights she has are tinged with the feeling of someone looking back on their childhood and it inserts the wisdom/experience that has been gained over the years since then.
In other words, it does not feel like a middle grade book. I can't imagine kids of that age really getting into this story. It is a lot of wondering over the world and not really doing a whole lot. The "plot" felt pieced together with no real flow or feeling of forward movement. I found myself skimming past Clare's observations and flashbacks and bits of back story in search of something happening. I wanted to feel a sense of adventure, of discovery, particularly regarding the ghost, but Clare's initial contact with Jack was anti-climactic. Also, I never connected with any of the characters. They never became anything more than names on the page for me.
The author can turn a phrase rather beautifully--so don't think I'm calling this book drivel or anything. But a middle grade book should be a middle grade book and reviewed as such.
There is nothing wrong with big vocabulary words--I think books should never "dumb down" for young readers. But the stories should still feel as though they are written in the pov of a child of that age. Clare is twelve or thirteen, but her thoughts come across as far too mature. This is not an intelligence issue--it is a life experience and developmental issue. The insights she has are tinged with the feeling of someone looking back on their childhood and it inserts the wisdom/experience that has been gained over the years since then.
In other words, it does not feel like a middle grade book. I can't imagine kids of that age really getting into this story. It is a lot of wondering over the world and not really doing a whole lot. The "plot" felt pieced together with no real flow or feeling of forward movement. I found myself skimming past Clare's observations and flashbacks and bits of back story in search of something happening. I wanted to feel a sense of adventure, of discovery, particularly regarding the ghost, but Clare's initial contact with Jack was anti-climactic. Also, I never connected with any of the characters. They never became anything more than names on the page for me.
The author can turn a phrase rather beautifully--so don't think I'm calling this book drivel or anything. But a middle grade book should be a middle grade book and reviewed as such.
October 16, 2013
The age range for this book is 12 and up. I'm 23, a little out of the books target range, so I made a phone call and invited a very special critic over....my goddaughter.
I am not going to share my view of the book because it doesn't matter, this book was not written for 20 and ups.
My goddaughter is 10 and we read this book together. We had a little book party and stayed up all night.
Here's the list of what she said
-Really liked it
-Wanted it to be longer
-Wanted to know if there is a second book
-"Jack was awesome"
-"It was like Casper!" (she adores the movie Casper)
-Asked if she could keep the book
She wants to know more about the 1920s and try to make a wax key.
I am not going to share my view of the book because it doesn't matter, this book was not written for 20 and ups.
My goddaughter is 10 and we read this book together. We had a little book party and stayed up all night.
Here's the list of what she said
-Really liked it
-Wanted it to be longer
-Wanted to know if there is a second book
-"Jack was awesome"
-"It was like Casper!" (she adores the movie Casper)
-Asked if she could keep the book
She wants to know more about the 1920s and try to make a wax key.
February 10, 2014
To market this as a children's book is sheer folly. I say that not only due to content (drinking, infidelity, loss, death, unwanted sexual attention), or vocabulary (which is very advanced; think "temporal anomaly"), but because of complexity and tone, as well. It's much too quiet, too subtle, too delicate to be a children's book. I wish people would stop assuming that just because a novel has a child narrator, it's meant for children - or even young adults.
No, this is an adult novel through and through, as far as I'm concerned. Everything about it is meant for adults -- except for the cover art, which truly could not be more ill-suited to the story.
Unfortunately, I don't know who it *should* have been marketed to - except for me, of course. I think it's probably a smaller, more specific group who will appreciate it than its publishers would have been hoping for.
It's set in the 1920's, and centers around a 12-year old girl named Clare, whose father died several years ago. She's wealthy and tours the world with her mother, who is beautiful, moody, and used to getting what she wants - but who is also a good and kind mother. Although she lives a privileged life, Clare's deepest wish is to stop moving about and to simply go *home.* This is the one thing her mother doesn't seem willing to offer her. (I assume because the pain of being widowed feels too much to bear in familiar surroundings; constant motion and endless novelty are the only ways she can deal with the heartache). Clare is a precocious child in many ways but the wisest belief she holds is that she should be in no hurry to grow-up. On the cusp of adolescence, the adults in Clare's life are constantly teasing her about young love, but Clare has no interest in boys. Until she meets a boy who is much more than that. He lives in a small cottage, constructed entirely of glass, behind the main house where Clare & her mother are staying for the summer. He, too, is in transition - except instead of moving from childhood to adulthood, he's meant to move from death to the afterlife. Claire's new friend is a ghost. He doesn't know his name or much about his past, but he's a strong personality and strong presence, and he & Clare help one another in a way that's slow, and beautiful, and tender, and full of so much innocence, and play, and hope.
This is Carey Wallace's second book (her debut novel was "The Blind Contessa's New Machine"). I think she's a real talent. I'm so impressed by the gorgeousness and economy of her prose. (Both books are just over 200 pages). As much as I love her, I also hate her a little bit. She doesn't appear to be much older than I am, yet she's already so accomplished! And pretty, to boot! Would that I were her! I'll be a devoted follower of her career, and can't wait to see what more she has to offer.
Favorite quote:
"Clare woke several times in the dead of night to find her mother still clothed, staring out the train window at the indecipherable stars. 'I can't decide if they want to tell us something,' she said. 'Or if we should know better than to ask just by looking at them' "(46).
Note:
The end had a pretty clear religious vibe to it. After doing a little bit of research (here: http://www.arthouseamerica.com/blog/i...), I found that Wallace is Christian. The ending felt more "spiritual" in a broad sense, though, than it did denominational. I can see where a staunch atheist might feel differently and argue that it didn't belong -- and I wouldn't take too strong a stance against that person. It was a *little* weird. More so after I did the research. I would rather I didn't know the author's beliefs for certain, but that's my fault for digging.
I wasn't totally put-off by it, and it wasn't completely overwhelming or pushy, but it also wasn't my favorite part of the book.
I guess in this case, ignorance is bliss.
But now you can't be ignorant or blissful because I've told you.
Oops.
No, this is an adult novel through and through, as far as I'm concerned. Everything about it is meant for adults -- except for the cover art, which truly could not be more ill-suited to the story.
Unfortunately, I don't know who it *should* have been marketed to - except for me, of course. I think it's probably a smaller, more specific group who will appreciate it than its publishers would have been hoping for.
It's set in the 1920's, and centers around a 12-year old girl named Clare, whose father died several years ago. She's wealthy and tours the world with her mother, who is beautiful, moody, and used to getting what she wants - but who is also a good and kind mother. Although she lives a privileged life, Clare's deepest wish is to stop moving about and to simply go *home.* This is the one thing her mother doesn't seem willing to offer her. (I assume because the pain of being widowed feels too much to bear in familiar surroundings; constant motion and endless novelty are the only ways she can deal with the heartache). Clare is a precocious child in many ways but the wisest belief she holds is that she should be in no hurry to grow-up. On the cusp of adolescence, the adults in Clare's life are constantly teasing her about young love, but Clare has no interest in boys. Until she meets a boy who is much more than that. He lives in a small cottage, constructed entirely of glass, behind the main house where Clare & her mother are staying for the summer. He, too, is in transition - except instead of moving from childhood to adulthood, he's meant to move from death to the afterlife. Claire's new friend is a ghost. He doesn't know his name or much about his past, but he's a strong personality and strong presence, and he & Clare help one another in a way that's slow, and beautiful, and tender, and full of so much innocence, and play, and hope.
This is Carey Wallace's second book (her debut novel was "The Blind Contessa's New Machine"). I think she's a real talent. I'm so impressed by the gorgeousness and economy of her prose. (Both books are just over 200 pages). As much as I love her, I also hate her a little bit. She doesn't appear to be much older than I am, yet she's already so accomplished! And pretty, to boot! Would that I were her! I'll be a devoted follower of her career, and can't wait to see what more she has to offer.
Favorite quote:
"Clare woke several times in the dead of night to find her mother still clothed, staring out the train window at the indecipherable stars. 'I can't decide if they want to tell us something,' she said. 'Or if we should know better than to ask just by looking at them' "(46).
Note:
The end had a pretty clear religious vibe to it. After doing a little bit of research (here: http://www.arthouseamerica.com/blog/i...), I found that Wallace is Christian. The ending felt more "spiritual" in a broad sense, though, than it did denominational. I can see where a staunch atheist might feel differently and argue that it didn't belong -- and I wouldn't take too strong a stance against that person. It was a *little* weird. More so after I did the research. I would rather I didn't know the author's beliefs for certain, but that's my fault for digging.
I wasn't totally put-off by it, and it wasn't completely overwhelming or pushy, but it also wasn't my favorite part of the book.
I guess in this case, ignorance is bliss.
But now you can't be ignorant or blissful because I've told you.
Oops.
Read
September 17, 2014Plenty of atmosphere, very little plot and not much resolution by the end. Beautiful, if you have patience with dreamy and inconclusive. Otherwise, disappointment.
January 12, 2019
I read this years ago, so can't quite remember the story, but it was lyrical and lovely. Now I have kids I look forward to reading with them when they're old enough.
January 2, 2014
I read several reviews on this book before I read it, which is something I don't normally do. One reviewer gave the book two stars because to her, the novel wasn't unified in the sense that every chapter really felt like a separate story that could exist independently from the novel itself. Some authors tightly weave their chapters together, and some don't, but this doesn't mean that the book isn't unified or that it doesn't make sense. Another reviewer was dissatisfied with the main character's (a twelve-year-old girl named Clare)precocious emotional intelligence. In this reviewer's opinion, twelve-year-old girls are simply not capable of making observations about her surroundings and drawing conclusions. She contended that Wallace had imputed too much adult wisdom the child in the book. Of course this is true, but I disagree that this is somehow a crime in fiction. Anyone who has spent any amount of time around pre-teens can attest to the frequency of their brilliance. The observations of children of that age never cease to amaze me; indeed, I have frequently been humbled by their wisdom. Apparently some reviewers of this book don't feel that children have anything to teach them. To me, this is arrogance and a mark of immaturity.
The same reviewer went on to say that Wallace knows how to pen 'a nice turn of phrase' but seems to be confused about the audience she was directing 'Ghost' to. I'm glad that this reviewer was able to recognize the beauty of Wallace's prose because her words truly are a joy to read. Wallace creates a lush world, a world that begs the reader to utilize the five senses humans are born with. In Wallace's world, we smell cinnamon, roses and the mist of the ocean. We hear hummingbirds and waves lapping upon the beach. We feel satin sheets and we see the lush gardens surrounding a summer home on the ocean. The book, in short, is a sensory feast.
As to one reviewer's objection that there seems to be some confusion about which audience the author was targeting, there might be some truth to this, but really this is a good problem. This observation speaks more to an issue of labeling. Like countless books enjoyed by children, teens, and adults of all ages, this is a book to be relished and understood by all. I read 'The Wind in the Willows,' 'The Hobbit,' 'Alice in Wonderland,' and countless other 'children's books' as both a child and as an adult. 'The Ghost in the Glass House' is no different. This is a book about growing up and about the profound lesson of the need to let go, of moving on, of returning home (where ever and whatever 'home' may be). It is a book about the pit that forms inside a person when they lose someone they love and is about finding ways to deal with that lose. For Clare's mother, the answer is frivolity and endless travel. Upon her husband's death, she severs her roots and ends up being tossed from place to place, like a feather being wafted away by a breeze. Clare can only follow alongside her mother, making temporary friends, but most of the time her only friend is her imagination. It is Clare who is able to convince Nathaniel that it is time to leave the Glass House and go to Heaven. It is Clare who, by longing for home, has adjusted to the death of her father and it is Clare who awakens the same desire in her mother. Sometimes it is children who teach adults.
Thankfully I ignored the reviews and read 'The Ghost in the Glass House.' I think the lesson to be learned about reviews on Goodreads or Amazon or any other site that sells books, is this: if a book averages more than 3.5 stars, read the reviews that give the book high marks and ignore the reviews that give the book low marks. Chances are, the folks who rate a book higher actually understood and appreciated the book. The ones giving the book low marks tend to do the opposite.
The same reviewer went on to say that Wallace knows how to pen 'a nice turn of phrase' but seems to be confused about the audience she was directing 'Ghost' to. I'm glad that this reviewer was able to recognize the beauty of Wallace's prose because her words truly are a joy to read. Wallace creates a lush world, a world that begs the reader to utilize the five senses humans are born with. In Wallace's world, we smell cinnamon, roses and the mist of the ocean. We hear hummingbirds and waves lapping upon the beach. We feel satin sheets and we see the lush gardens surrounding a summer home on the ocean. The book, in short, is a sensory feast.
As to one reviewer's objection that there seems to be some confusion about which audience the author was targeting, there might be some truth to this, but really this is a good problem. This observation speaks more to an issue of labeling. Like countless books enjoyed by children, teens, and adults of all ages, this is a book to be relished and understood by all. I read 'The Wind in the Willows,' 'The Hobbit,' 'Alice in Wonderland,' and countless other 'children's books' as both a child and as an adult. 'The Ghost in the Glass House' is no different. This is a book about growing up and about the profound lesson of the need to let go, of moving on, of returning home (where ever and whatever 'home' may be). It is a book about the pit that forms inside a person when they lose someone they love and is about finding ways to deal with that lose. For Clare's mother, the answer is frivolity and endless travel. Upon her husband's death, she severs her roots and ends up being tossed from place to place, like a feather being wafted away by a breeze. Clare can only follow alongside her mother, making temporary friends, but most of the time her only friend is her imagination. It is Clare who is able to convince Nathaniel that it is time to leave the Glass House and go to Heaven. It is Clare who, by longing for home, has adjusted to the death of her father and it is Clare who awakens the same desire in her mother. Sometimes it is children who teach adults.
Thankfully I ignored the reviews and read 'The Ghost in the Glass House.' I think the lesson to be learned about reviews on Goodreads or Amazon or any other site that sells books, is this: if a book averages more than 3.5 stars, read the reviews that give the book high marks and ignore the reviews that give the book low marks. Chances are, the folks who rate a book higher actually understood and appreciated the book. The ones giving the book low marks tend to do the opposite.
May 16, 2018
Just not well put together---left me wondering what was the point.
October 8, 2021
Refreshingly unique.
October 4, 2013
I saw this book in the store and was immediately drawn to the cover. A read over of the plot summary pulled me in, so I downloaded it for my Nook when I got home. Unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations.
The basic premise is that 12 year old Clare and her widowed mother have come to live in a seaside summer house after having traveled many years. Clare is weary and wishes to return home and find some stability in her life. In the midst of this sojourn, Clare discovers a ghost boy who resides in the glass house on the property of the summer home. She tries to keep him a secret from her friends and family while attempting to discover his identity.
On a technical level, the book is not poorly written, per se. However, the transitions are very disjointed (particularly the chapter transitions) and the author has a habit of going off into tangental expositions which causes a loss of focus and confusion in numerous places. The biggest problem was that the story's pace is very slow and overall, it is utterly bland. We have a few tender moments, but I had to force myself to keep reading as there were several times I found myself so bored I wanted to put it aside. Hoping for a payoff, I continued on. There was no payoff.
For me, it felt like the book contained two totally different stories which were not seamlessly blended together. (*SPOLIER ALERT*) I get that the author attempted to wrap the ending up to show a paralell between the ghost,"Jack", not being able to let go and move on and Clare's mother also not being able to do the same and how both, in the end, decide to finally let go and "go home". A satisfying and sentimental ending, sure. However, the journey to that end was not memorable or gripping in any way. (*SPOILER ALERT END*)
The other thing that bothered me was the maturity issues contained within. I found the book shelved in the YA section and yet our main character is only twelve. At first I assumed that it was misshelved but during the course of reading, I found myself feeling that Clare acts and behaves far too maturely for her age. Granted, I understand that there are children with "old souls" out there who have been put in situations where they have had to grow up fast and have matured quicker than there peers. That would have been fine, but the level of detail Clare invokes during her introspective analysis does not ring true or believable for a kid her age. Furthermore, I felt some of the scenes were described far too sensually for a middle grade audience. It is fine for a Young Adult audience, but not Middle Grade. It's too mature and slow for middle grade and the protagonist is too young and unappealing to a YA audience, so I am truly confused about who the target audience for this book is.
Overall, the concept and basic message was good but I don't think the story managed to deliver it in a compelling way. Had the ages of the characters been raised to 15 or 16, more dynamic action occured and the transitions cleared up... it might have been a good YA read. But seeing as that is not the case, I cannot reccomend this story.
The basic premise is that 12 year old Clare and her widowed mother have come to live in a seaside summer house after having traveled many years. Clare is weary and wishes to return home and find some stability in her life. In the midst of this sojourn, Clare discovers a ghost boy who resides in the glass house on the property of the summer home. She tries to keep him a secret from her friends and family while attempting to discover his identity.
On a technical level, the book is not poorly written, per se. However, the transitions are very disjointed (particularly the chapter transitions) and the author has a habit of going off into tangental expositions which causes a loss of focus and confusion in numerous places. The biggest problem was that the story's pace is very slow and overall, it is utterly bland. We have a few tender moments, but I had to force myself to keep reading as there were several times I found myself so bored I wanted to put it aside. Hoping for a payoff, I continued on. There was no payoff.
For me, it felt like the book contained two totally different stories which were not seamlessly blended together. (*SPOLIER ALERT*) I get that the author attempted to wrap the ending up to show a paralell between the ghost,"Jack", not being able to let go and move on and Clare's mother also not being able to do the same and how both, in the end, decide to finally let go and "go home". A satisfying and sentimental ending, sure. However, the journey to that end was not memorable or gripping in any way. (*SPOILER ALERT END*)
The other thing that bothered me was the maturity issues contained within. I found the book shelved in the YA section and yet our main character is only twelve. At first I assumed that it was misshelved but during the course of reading, I found myself feeling that Clare acts and behaves far too maturely for her age. Granted, I understand that there are children with "old souls" out there who have been put in situations where they have had to grow up fast and have matured quicker than there peers. That would have been fine, but the level of detail Clare invokes during her introspective analysis does not ring true or believable for a kid her age. Furthermore, I felt some of the scenes were described far too sensually for a middle grade audience. It is fine for a Young Adult audience, but not Middle Grade. It's too mature and slow for middle grade and the protagonist is too young and unappealing to a YA audience, so I am truly confused about who the target audience for this book is.
Overall, the concept and basic message was good but I don't think the story managed to deliver it in a compelling way. Had the ages of the characters been raised to 15 or 16, more dynamic action occured and the transitions cleared up... it might have been a good YA read. But seeing as that is not the case, I cannot reccomend this story.
December 28, 2016
Wick is a pretty brilliant hacker. She learned from her dad, who is wanted by the police and has already escaped them once. She now lives with her sister in their new foster home. Wick does some hacking on the side to earn money for her and her sister. She doesn't believe that they will have a forever home with her foster parents and wants to be prepared. Then she gets an odd package on her doorstep. Tessa Waye's diary. The same Tessa Waye who just killed herself. Inside there's a note that says "Find Me". Wick doesn't want to work this case, because she has no idea what she's supposed to be finding...but then she finds out. Tessa was being abused by someone, someone she doesn't name even in her diary and Wick's sister is his next target.
What a fast-paced read. I had to force myself to pause my reading so that I could go to bed. I didn't want to stop. Every few pages you learn just a little bit more that grabs you and pulls you in. Romily Bernard creates a thrilling tale here with Wick.
I didn't love the relationship between Wick and Griff. It seemed a bit extraneous. I did like Griff though and thought that as the series progresses I wouldn't mind him weaving in with Wick's story more. It just felt rushed especially with how prickly Wick is to everyone.
I liked how we slowly got to find out more and more about Wick's life as we are faced with her trying to unravel Tessa's. Wick's life is not an easy one and I can see why she is suspicious of everyone. It's hard to trust anyone when the people you are supposed to be able to trust are monsters.
I would definitely recommend checking this one out. Yes it is the first in the series, but it stands by itself perfectly well. It leaves you craving more story, but wraps up it's mystery nicely.
First Line:
"I'm halfway through the remote computer's firewall then Detective Carson parks on the other side of our street."
Favorite Line:
"It's just four little words, but they make my insides go cold:
Will you do it?"
Read more: http://www.areadingnook.com/#ixzz2y97...
What a fast-paced read. I had to force myself to pause my reading so that I could go to bed. I didn't want to stop. Every few pages you learn just a little bit more that grabs you and pulls you in. Romily Bernard creates a thrilling tale here with Wick.
I didn't love the relationship between Wick and Griff. It seemed a bit extraneous. I did like Griff though and thought that as the series progresses I wouldn't mind him weaving in with Wick's story more. It just felt rushed especially with how prickly Wick is to everyone.
I liked how we slowly got to find out more and more about Wick's life as we are faced with her trying to unravel Tessa's. Wick's life is not an easy one and I can see why she is suspicious of everyone. It's hard to trust anyone when the people you are supposed to be able to trust are monsters.
I would definitely recommend checking this one out. Yes it is the first in the series, but it stands by itself perfectly well. It leaves you craving more story, but wraps up it's mystery nicely.
First Line:
"I'm halfway through the remote computer's firewall then Detective Carson parks on the other side of our street."
Favorite Line:
"It's just four little words, but they make my insides go cold:
Will you do it?"
Read more: http://www.areadingnook.com/#ixzz2y97...
September 11, 2014
Orginally posted at Letters On Letters: The Peculiar Post of Mmes. Pennylegion and Popplewell
11 September 1851
Dear Gertrude,
Mr Doe has finally managed to recommend a book that has neither baffled me nor driven me to destruction. Aside from the American oddities, which there were blessedly less of in this novel, I thought that The Ghost in the Glass House was quite enjoyable.
It is true that the story is about a twelve year old girl, but I do not think that it was written for children at all. It follows Clare, whose father died three years ago and whose mother went odd in reaction, towing Clare all around the world and refusing to go home. When they take a summer house on the eastern coast of America, Clare discovers a ghost boy in the glass house on the grounds.
Everything is so wonderfully written and realized. There is Clare’s pack of friends, and her delightful mother, and Tilda the house keeper, and the parties by the sea. And it also portrays perfectly the unevenness of things. Too often I find that novels tie all the ends into a single, neat bow. Here, just enough is left unfinished to imagine that all the characters exist well beyond the last page
Let me attempt to find its faults:
I suppose, looking back, that those readers who are excited by lots of bandits and secret passages and running around will be bored. There is some of this, but there is also quite a lot of very interesting and clever observation, and I think one must be an observer oneself—that is, to prefer looking under the rocks of people to lounging back and waiting for them to preform—in order to like this story.
What else? It did seem at times that this particular twelve year old sounded older than her years. But then, I seem to recall feeling constantly underestimated by adults at that age, so I suppose it is possible—likely, even—that I have made a certain awful transition.
With love,
Prudence Pennylegion
11 September 1851
Dear Gertrude,
Mr Doe has finally managed to recommend a book that has neither baffled me nor driven me to destruction. Aside from the American oddities, which there were blessedly less of in this novel, I thought that The Ghost in the Glass House was quite enjoyable.
It is true that the story is about a twelve year old girl, but I do not think that it was written for children at all. It follows Clare, whose father died three years ago and whose mother went odd in reaction, towing Clare all around the world and refusing to go home. When they take a summer house on the eastern coast of America, Clare discovers a ghost boy in the glass house on the grounds.
Everything is so wonderfully written and realized. There is Clare’s pack of friends, and her delightful mother, and Tilda the house keeper, and the parties by the sea. And it also portrays perfectly the unevenness of things. Too often I find that novels tie all the ends into a single, neat bow. Here, just enough is left unfinished to imagine that all the characters exist well beyond the last page
Let me attempt to find its faults:
I suppose, looking back, that those readers who are excited by lots of bandits and secret passages and running around will be bored. There is some of this, but there is also quite a lot of very interesting and clever observation, and I think one must be an observer oneself—that is, to prefer looking under the rocks of people to lounging back and waiting for them to preform—in order to like this story.
What else? It did seem at times that this particular twelve year old sounded older than her years. But then, I seem to recall feeling constantly underestimated by adults at that age, so I suppose it is possible—likely, even—that I have made a certain awful transition.
With love,
Prudence Pennylegion
September 15, 2013
The Ghost in the Glass House is part coming of age, self-discovery story and part young adult paranormal mystery. The main character, Clare, tries to come to terms with her life with her mother as well as memories of her late father as she stays at a New England resort town house one summer. Having picked up and moved about quite a bit with her mother, Clare knows very little what the feeling of “home” is, and so she is constantly trying to adjust to new surroundings.
While Clare is exploring the grounds, she discovers a mysterious glass house the piques her interest. She becomes even more fascinated when she realizes that Tilda, the servant woman, seems to be keeping some secret of the past from her. Managing to sneak into the glass house, Clare realizes that she is not alone, that a ghost named Jack resides there. Jack, a boy about her age, is unsure of his past, or why he is there. Clare attempts to solve the mystery of Jack’s past while she stays there over the summer.
Wallace has a way of taking a young adult book and handling specific scenes, themes and characters with maturity, which makes this an enjoyable read. I became invested in the mystery of the house’s past as Clare found out more about it as the novel progressed. The author also has enough imagination within the tale to keep us guessing as to how it will end.
While I enjoyed the book over all, there were a few minor criticisms. I thought Clare acted a little too mature to be twelve. I also wished the ending could have been fleshed out a little more.
Over all, though, a fun read, one that I recommend.
3 1/2 stars
While Clare is exploring the grounds, she discovers a mysterious glass house the piques her interest. She becomes even more fascinated when she realizes that Tilda, the servant woman, seems to be keeping some secret of the past from her. Managing to sneak into the glass house, Clare realizes that she is not alone, that a ghost named Jack resides there. Jack, a boy about her age, is unsure of his past, or why he is there. Clare attempts to solve the mystery of Jack’s past while she stays there over the summer.
Wallace has a way of taking a young adult book and handling specific scenes, themes and characters with maturity, which makes this an enjoyable read. I became invested in the mystery of the house’s past as Clare found out more about it as the novel progressed. The author also has enough imagination within the tale to keep us guessing as to how it will end.
While I enjoyed the book over all, there were a few minor criticisms. I thought Clare acted a little too mature to be twelve. I also wished the ending could have been fleshed out a little more.
Over all, though, a fun read, one that I recommend.
3 1/2 stars
May 11, 2016
I love my local library…just saying.
I got Ghost in the Glass House because I love ghosts. I was pretty disappointed. First off Barnes and Noble is selling this in YA and my library had it in YA as well. This is NOT a YA book, it is at best middle grade fiction. The main character is 12 and while she talks and acts more grown up than the 12 year olds I know…she isn’t even a teenager.
There is some mention of booze and sex, which is probably why this is being marketed at YA, but honestly it is so delicately handled it didn’t need to be, my 9 year old knows more about booze and sex than what was mentioned in this novel.
The characters were good, the writing wasn’t bad and the background for the plot was colorful, well written and interesting. That’s where my compliments end.
I have no idea what the actual plot of this novel was aside from girl and mom go to seaside town, spend the summer, girl meets boring ghost, helps ghost cross over very randomly and then girl and mom go home. There are a few side story lines about what Clare and her friends get up to, but most of it felt forced and ridiculous, like the author was trying for something deeper, trying to make me feel for characters I didn’t really care about and trying to give this group of 12-15 year olds some semblance of love lives.
I read this very fast and mainly finished it because by the time I realized the plot was pointless I was almost done. Maybe my daughter would like it better.
Ending on a positive note the cover was pretty.
I got Ghost in the Glass House because I love ghosts. I was pretty disappointed. First off Barnes and Noble is selling this in YA and my library had it in YA as well. This is NOT a YA book, it is at best middle grade fiction. The main character is 12 and while she talks and acts more grown up than the 12 year olds I know…she isn’t even a teenager.
There is some mention of booze and sex, which is probably why this is being marketed at YA, but honestly it is so delicately handled it didn’t need to be, my 9 year old knows more about booze and sex than what was mentioned in this novel.
The characters were good, the writing wasn’t bad and the background for the plot was colorful, well written and interesting. That’s where my compliments end.
I have no idea what the actual plot of this novel was aside from girl and mom go to seaside town, spend the summer, girl meets boring ghost, helps ghost cross over very randomly and then girl and mom go home. There are a few side story lines about what Clare and her friends get up to, but most of it felt forced and ridiculous, like the author was trying for something deeper, trying to make me feel for characters I didn’t really care about and trying to give this group of 12-15 year olds some semblance of love lives.
I read this very fast and mainly finished it because by the time I realized the plot was pointless I was almost done. Maybe my daughter would like it better.
Ending on a positive note the cover was pretty.
February 5, 2014
I picked up this book because of the delightful cover art and because I will read almost anything set in the 1920s.That being said I was disappointed to find that this book was not a well done escape to my favorite era. While this book was in the teen fiction section at my local B&N the characters are only 12 to 15 and the story itself seems like something geared more towards adults as the main character, despite being 12, thinks more like a mature woman. Also the plot was slow at best and most of the time non existent. Then enter the ghost. I am also a big fan of ghost stories when they are suspenseful and not overly terrifying. This book on the other hand was the first boring ghost story I have ever read and I hope it will be the last. The meeting and interaction with the ghost is all rather anticlimactic and I do not find myself falling in love with any of the characters as it goes along. By the time I figured out that the book was not going to pick up the pace I was nearly done so I decided to finish it and was greeted with an ending that was anticlimactic, unsatisfying and rather rushed. I almost felt as I was reading an unfinished manuscript of the last chapter as it did not resolve much of anything.
On a lighter note the setting is quite lovely,I can clearly see the beach house and the glass house out in the forest behind it which was mostly what kept me reading. This is by no means the worst book I have read and the fact that I did finish it must account for something. However I cannot say I would recommend it.
On a lighter note the setting is quite lovely,I can clearly see the beach house and the glass house out in the forest behind it which was mostly what kept me reading. This is by no means the worst book I have read and the fact that I did finish it must account for something. However I cannot say I would recommend it.
August 11, 2016
Clare and her mother are always on the move since her father died. Their latest adventure has taken them to a seaside resort town among high society neighbors. Much to the consternation of the house attendants, Tilda and Mack, Clare spends most of her time exploring the grounds of the mansion, including the off-limits glass house near the edge of the forest. There she discovers a ghost, who calls himself Jack. Clare sneaks away from her boy crazy friend, Bridget, her teasing older brother, Teddy, and even Bram, a possible (living) suitor, to visit Jack in the glass house. Jack can only go so far away from the house before he is engulfed in a mist that frightens him into turning back. Clare and Jack develop a kind of romance, but it might just be that Clare is more interested in Jack's connection to the spirit world, the place that keeps her father. Besides, she can't find any clues in the house to reveal Jack's history, and she begins to wonder who Jack really was and why he can't or won't leave the glass house.
I enjoyed Clare and her tenacity with grown-ups; although, her bravado and wisdom seemed to disappear when she was around other kids. I liked Tilda's character, who wasn't won over by Clare's usual tricks but slowly begins to open up to her. I just kept wishing for a little more of the mystery regarding Jack, and the revelations at the end weren't as satisfying as I had hoped. In the end, it was a cute story.
I enjoyed Clare and her tenacity with grown-ups; although, her bravado and wisdom seemed to disappear when she was around other kids. I liked Tilda's character, who wasn't won over by Clare's usual tricks but slowly begins to open up to her. I just kept wishing for a little more of the mystery regarding Jack, and the revelations at the end weren't as satisfying as I had hoped. In the end, it was a cute story.
January 18, 2014
Clare and her mother are always on the move since her father died. Their latest adventure has taken them to a seaside resort town among high society neighbors. Much to the consternation of the house attendants, Tilda and Mack, Clare spends most of her time exploring the grounds of the mansion, including the off-limits glass house near the edge of the forest. There she discovers a ghost, who calls himself Jack. Clare sneaks away from her boy crazy friend, Bridget, her teasing older brother, Teddy, and even Bram, a possible (living) suitor, to visit Jack in the glass house. Jack can only go so far away from the house before he is engulfed in a mist that frightens him into turning back. Clare and Jack develop a kind of romance, but it might just be that Clare is more interested in Jack's connection to the spirit world, the place that keeps her father. Besides, she can't find any clues in the house to reveal Jack's history, and she begins to wonder who Jack really was and why he can't or won't leave the glass house.
I enjoyed Clare and her tenacity with grown-ups; although, her bravado and wisdom seemed to disappear when she was around other kids. I liked Tilda's character, who wasn't won over by Clare's usual tricks but slowly begins to open up to her. I just kept wishing for a little more of the mystery regarding Jack, and the revelations at the end weren't as satisfying as I had hoped. In the end, it was a cute story.
I enjoyed Clare and her tenacity with grown-ups; although, her bravado and wisdom seemed to disappear when she was around other kids. I liked Tilda's character, who wasn't won over by Clare's usual tricks but slowly begins to open up to her. I just kept wishing for a little more of the mystery regarding Jack, and the revelations at the end weren't as satisfying as I had hoped. In the end, it was a cute story.
November 5, 2013
My review for the Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review:
Clare has not been home in three years, not since shortly after her father died. Her mother took Clare and began to travel the world, to be anywhere but where Clare’s father wasn’t. They find themselves in another rented home near the seaside. Everyone else from their group has seaside summer homes, but not Clare and her mother. But they have some things no one else has: a glass house and a resident ghost. The glass house is locked and Tilda, the housekeeper, claims the key has been lost. Clare’s mother finds the key, but Tilda hides it away. Clare keeps watch and discovers where the key is and makes a wax duplicate. When she enters the glass house, a disembodied voice speaks to her. Over days, the ghost, Jack, comes to depend on Clare and even to love her. When Clare tries to have time with her own friends, a complicated group, jealousy rears its ugly head.
“A faint weight covered her entire hand now, as if a leaf had fallen onto it from a tree above. It had none of the heat of Bram’s hand, but warmth spread through her from it, as if a tide had turned in her blood, drawing it all toward that place with stronger and stronger waves.”
This charming ghost story, set in the roaring twenties, won’t scare anyone, but shines a light on the complications of the human condition within a lovely and mysterious book.
Clare has not been home in three years, not since shortly after her father died. Her mother took Clare and began to travel the world, to be anywhere but where Clare’s father wasn’t. They find themselves in another rented home near the seaside. Everyone else from their group has seaside summer homes, but not Clare and her mother. But they have some things no one else has: a glass house and a resident ghost. The glass house is locked and Tilda, the housekeeper, claims the key has been lost. Clare’s mother finds the key, but Tilda hides it away. Clare keeps watch and discovers where the key is and makes a wax duplicate. When she enters the glass house, a disembodied voice speaks to her. Over days, the ghost, Jack, comes to depend on Clare and even to love her. When Clare tries to have time with her own friends, a complicated group, jealousy rears its ugly head.
“A faint weight covered her entire hand now, as if a leaf had fallen onto it from a tree above. It had none of the heat of Bram’s hand, but warmth spread through her from it, as if a tide had turned in her blood, drawing it all toward that place with stronger and stronger waves.”
This charming ghost story, set in the roaring twenties, won’t scare anyone, but shines a light on the complications of the human condition within a lovely and mysterious book.
January 31, 2014
I obtained an ARC of this story, but from the cover I would have picked it up on my own. Ghost in a glass house set in the 1920's. Perfect. I'm ready.
It was different than I was expecting from the cover and jacket copy. The young girl moves to stay at a vacation home by the ocean with her free-spirited manic mother. Our heroine is a smart kid, and very good at reading people and herself, but the way adults and children relate to her is changing as she grows up, leaving her on uncertain footing.
The attraction in meeting with Jack the ghost and her fascination with him seems to have roots in her doubts about where she stands in between childhood and adulthood.
GHOST IN THE GLASS HOUSE had a Peter Pan vibe, not only in the thematically obvious way, but the prose itself reminds me of older classical children's stories like Peter Pan and The Secret Garden. It was a soft emotional story with an ending left to your interpretation. If received well it could be a modern classic, and I hope it is. It's not my usual read, as I tend to go for louder commercial fiction, but it was almost restful to read a book like this.
It was different than I was expecting from the cover and jacket copy. The young girl moves to stay at a vacation home by the ocean with her free-spirited manic mother. Our heroine is a smart kid, and very good at reading people and herself, but the way adults and children relate to her is changing as she grows up, leaving her on uncertain footing.
The attraction in meeting with Jack the ghost and her fascination with him seems to have roots in her doubts about where she stands in between childhood and adulthood.
GHOST IN THE GLASS HOUSE had a Peter Pan vibe, not only in the thematically obvious way, but the prose itself reminds me of older classical children's stories like Peter Pan and The Secret Garden. It was a soft emotional story with an ending left to your interpretation. If received well it could be a modern classic, and I hope it is. It's not my usual read, as I tend to go for louder commercial fiction, but it was almost restful to read a book like this.
December 11, 2014
Claire has been traveling around the world with her mother ever since her father died. Weary of travel, of unusual sights and new places and the luxury of rented homes and hotels, all she wants is to go home. Home to her house and her own rather plain little room. But that is not to be, and so Claire and her mother have followed the rest of their clique to an unnamed seaside resort town for the summer.
This rented house is different. The servants are different, and there's a beautiful and secretive glass house in the grounds. Claire runs out to explore it, but is thwarted by its locked door and missing key, not to mention the refusal of the housekeeper to be drawn into telling the history of the house and its owners. But the key comes to light and Claire resourcefully copies it, finding herself a refuge and a romance with the ghostly Jack.
Wallace's lovely prose and insight into the twelve year old heart make this quiet mystery - rather a DuMaurier for middle grade readers - a pleasure to read.
This rented house is different. The servants are different, and there's a beautiful and secretive glass house in the grounds. Claire runs out to explore it, but is thwarted by its locked door and missing key, not to mention the refusal of the housekeeper to be drawn into telling the history of the house and its owners. But the key comes to light and Claire resourcefully copies it, finding herself a refuge and a romance with the ghostly Jack.
Wallace's lovely prose and insight into the twelve year old heart make this quiet mystery - rather a DuMaurier for middle grade readers - a pleasure to read.
January 23, 2015
I have mixed feeling about this book. It defiantly wasn't what I expected, I thought this was going to be a child's ghost story. But what it really was about was the main character Claire finding out who she is during a summer that her and all of her friends turn for children into young adults.
It isn't until half way through the book we start to regularly visit the glass house and the ghost of Jack.
I loved Jack he was a charming and loveable character. The chapters with him were so beautifully written it had a fairy tale quality to them. I really wish we could have spend more time with him, I could have just sat in that glass house with Jack all day.
I did however feel that considering this was a middle grade book some of the issues that were hinted at would go over a child's head. Also the ending was very, very rushed it came out of no wear.
That being said it was a lovely book and one I shall read again.
It isn't until half way through the book we start to regularly visit the glass house and the ghost of Jack.
I loved Jack he was a charming and loveable character. The chapters with him were so beautifully written it had a fairy tale quality to them. I really wish we could have spend more time with him, I could have just sat in that glass house with Jack all day.
I did however feel that considering this was a middle grade book some of the issues that were hinted at would go over a child's head. Also the ending was very, very rushed it came out of no wear.
That being said it was a lovely book and one I shall read again.
November 7, 2013
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads. It is a coming-of-age story about 12-year-old Clare, who eloquently relates her observations of the people around her. Clare often sounds rather precocious, but the circumstances of her young life can easily be used to explain her wisdom beyond her years. It's actually very interesting to observe her as she observes everyone else and tries to figure them out, and she expresses many concerns that kids her age may also worry about. However, a great deal of the book feels like exposition as we hear Clare's thoughts and see her interactions with the other characters, and when things do start happening it feels like a mad rush to the end of the book. Also, while I may have liked that the ending is left rather vague so that the reader can choose to interpret it in a way that makes them comfortable, younger readers may be disappointed with such an ending.
August 5, 2016
Summary:
Clare is 12 and her father has passed away. In order to deal with some of this pain, her mother has been traveling. They have rented a home for the summer and Clare starts to make some friends. With her friends, she learns about the mystery of the glass house. After stealing a key, she discovers a ghost in that house. Now she had to figure out what happened to the ghost and how to help him move on.
My thoughts:
This is reminiscent of some classic ghost stories. There is a little romance, but mostly, Clare is attempting to find herself, deal with death, and become more comfortable with what is around her. Jack, her ghost, is used to help her deal with the passage of her father's death. While she is helping him move on, she learns a great deal about herself. There is a little mystery and suspense, but overall, this is a pretty straight forward coming-of-age young adult novel.
Clare is 12 and her father has passed away. In order to deal with some of this pain, her mother has been traveling. They have rented a home for the summer and Clare starts to make some friends. With her friends, she learns about the mystery of the glass house. After stealing a key, she discovers a ghost in that house. Now she had to figure out what happened to the ghost and how to help him move on.
My thoughts:
This is reminiscent of some classic ghost stories. There is a little romance, but mostly, Clare is attempting to find herself, deal with death, and become more comfortable with what is around her. Jack, her ghost, is used to help her deal with the passage of her father's death. While she is helping him move on, she learns a great deal about herself. There is a little mystery and suspense, but overall, this is a pretty straight forward coming-of-age young adult novel.
February 12, 2017
A very average read. Not sure if this work is classified as YA fiction but all the same, I've read far better. Characters seemed underdeveloped and the plot was like a short story stretched too thin.
January 18, 2014
This book started out strongly enough. The characters were interesting, I enjoyed the setting, and there was clear believable conflict. Fundamentally this should all equal a passable read, right? Wrong.
The plot centers on Clare, a little girl who is on perpetual holiday with her charming, though somewhat flighty, mother. On the property of their coastal rental Clair discovers a glass house in the garden and becomes acquainted with the ghost boy who lives inside.
The book deals with themes of loss, grief, coming of age – pretty basic stuff. Unfortunately, the plot is sluggish, meandering and the ultimate resolution is... Disappointing at best and renders all previous conflict irrelevant and pointless. The ending was moralizing and rather forced. Too bad!
I can't say I recommend this one.
The plot centers on Clare, a little girl who is on perpetual holiday with her charming, though somewhat flighty, mother. On the property of their coastal rental Clair discovers a glass house in the garden and becomes acquainted with the ghost boy who lives inside.
The book deals with themes of loss, grief, coming of age – pretty basic stuff. Unfortunately, the plot is sluggish, meandering and the ultimate resolution is... Disappointing at best and renders all previous conflict irrelevant and pointless. The ending was moralizing and rather forced. Too bad!
I can't say I recommend this one.
January 24, 2014
Twelve-year-old Clare Fitzgerald is tired of traveling about the world and simply wants to go home. As she and her mother settle into one more charming house for the summer, Clare stumbles upon a glass house and a ghost who calls himself Jack. The two of them are drawn to each other even as Bram, the object of her friend Bridget's affections, is drawn to Clare. Bridget can't wait to embrace her adolescence and has schemes designed to entice Bram into running away with her. Meanwhile, it is clear that Bridget's mother and father no longer love each other, and he has eyes for someone else, probably Clare's mother. The author evokes a strong sense of place as well as a surety that the supernatural does exist in this coming of age story. The cover may attract a younger audience than the book is intended for.
April 1, 2015
I think a lot of people will love this book more than I did but there are things that this book says it is and it's not
YA- no it is not. Goodreads also says middle grade but library did not
Paranormal- Not really at all
1920's- Yes, but it didn't feel it
And very much not dark.
Granted it had some nice things. The writing was descriptive and long but very old fashioned and nice. The ghosts were interesting enough. The whole feel was very old fashioned and cool.
But...it's not paranormal. It doesn't have the paranormal atmosphere I wanted. And 12 year olds. Not YA. I think this is great for younger kids but not for me. For what it was, I did like it, hence the three star rating. I just wish I'd known what to expect before reading it. Very much not for everyone, and not for anyone expecting paranormal ghosts and creepy 1920's glory
YA- no it is not. Goodreads also says middle grade but library did not
Paranormal- Not really at all
1920's- Yes, but it didn't feel it
And very much not dark.
Granted it had some nice things. The writing was descriptive and long but very old fashioned and nice. The ghosts were interesting enough. The whole feel was very old fashioned and cool.
But...it's not paranormal. It doesn't have the paranormal atmosphere I wanted. And 12 year olds. Not YA. I think this is great for younger kids but not for me. For what it was, I did like it, hence the three star rating. I just wish I'd known what to expect before reading it. Very much not for everyone, and not for anyone expecting paranormal ghosts and creepy 1920's glory
March 18, 2016
Clare is visiting with her mother on an estate. A Gardener, Max and Maid, Tilda have been there since the original owners. Clare finds a key in the bottom of a vase and gives it to Tilda. She is adamant in hiding it. Clare steals the key and as exploring the grounds realizes it unlocks the glass house which has not been used for years. She goes inside to find it occupied by a ghost, Jack Cunningham. Each day they spend time together, getting to know each other and fall in love. Finally Clare gets enough nerves to ask Tilda about the ghost and Tilda tells her the story of how He is not who He says He is. He was Nathaniel and came from the old county dying of the fever. Clare goes and tells Nathaniel his true identity and helps him go to the light.
October 17, 2015
Clare is a 12 year old girl who has been traveling with her mother all around the world but would just like to go back home. At the new summer home she makes friends with Bridget and Teddy but they act so much older than just 12 years old. But Clare also is so much older than her years in experience with her mother. She is still a kid but she is growing up and much more aware of her surroundings. There is certainly a ghost story and a good story for anyone; child, teen or adult will enjoy. Don't want to give too much away but read this, it was enjoyable. I won this as a giveaway.
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