The Castle Family

by Rosalie K. Fry, Margery Gill (Illustrator)

A family-mystery-countryside story for girls, set in England in an old castle.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Fiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Rosalie K. Fry was born on Vancouver Island. She made her home in Swansea, South Wales. During World War II she was stationed in the Orkney Islands, where she was employed as a Cypher Officer in the Women’s Royal Service. She wrote many stories and executed many drawings for a variety of children’s magazines in Great Britain. She was also known as a maker of children’s toys.

Reviews

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Castle Family combines many of my childhood literary pleasures (old castles, happy families, miniatures/art, a light mystery) into one charming story. I was pleasantly reminded of some favorite books, namely Gone-Away Lake and A Room for Cathy. The adults are all wonderful and supportive and perspicacious. Richenda, our protagonist, is a dedicated introvert who learns to love the company of a few other people. She is a budding artist, too, and has a lovely little arc with her work. While she doesn't struggle much with the adjustment to a blended family, she does struggle with the arrival of a new sibling, only coming to terms with it on the last page. If this conflict had been worked into the plot earlier on, it would have given The Castle Family some structure, for other conflicts are resolved too quickly. However, it was such a light, pleasant read on a chilly spring evening that I can't complain. I missed Fry's own illustration style, but it wouldn't have fit this story as well as Margery Gill's. Her work was quite suited to the period and narrative, and her faces added a lot to the story. Hope to find a copy to tuck on my shelves soon.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only child of a baronet, Richenda was content with her mostly solitary life at their family castle, home of the Barlow family since 1373. But when her father hired a widowed mother of two as the new assistant for his Alpine nursery, and the entire Browning family moved into the adjacent lodge, Richenda soon found herself fast friends with the daughter, Annabel. As the two girls embarked upon a series of adventures, from restoring an old folly to searching for the legendary lost Barlow "treasure," a different kind of drama was unfolding between their parents...

This short novel offers a quiet but engaging family story, well-written and well-paced. The occasional moments of excitement are worked so seamlessly into the narrative, that the overall effect is somehow one of engaged tranquility. Fry's affection for her characters, particularly Richenda and her dog Andy, is quite clear, and the end-product is an endearing family story. Like Fry's September Island , this title is also illustrated by the wonderful Margery Gill, one of my favorite children's novel illustrators.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

very pleasant and soothing...