What do you think?
Rate this book
The Children of Castle Rock
Like many girls, Alice Mistlethwaite idolises her father, Byron. He is a hero: brave, kind and impossibly funny. It's just a shame that he's always in and out of prison... After a particularly naughty outing, Alice's Aunt Patience decides to take action. Alice is to be sent to St Cuthbert's School for Winners - where competition runs deep, and being 'outdoorsy' is not optional.
Much to her own surprise, Alice fits in far better than she ever has before, swiftly making friends and enjoying running wild in the Scottish countryside. But then Byron disappears - or rather his letters stop - and Alice becomes convinced something has happened to him. Aunt Patience is much less sure (and worse, seems to think he has something to do with a robbery that's making the news), but Alice is undeterred. Armed with her new friends, and a handy opportunity to escape from school, she sets off on an epic quest to find her father, prove everyone wrong about him - and perhaps discover some home truths about herself and her family along the way.
Both hilarious and heartfelt, this is a classic adventure story brought bang up to date, and told in Natasha's inimitably perfect voice.
Much to her own surprise, Alice fits in far better than she ever has before, swiftly making friends and enjoying running wild in the Scottish countryside. But then Byron disappears - or rather his letters stop - and Alice becomes convinced something has happened to him. Aunt Patience is much less sure (and worse, seems to think he has something to do with a robbery that's making the news), but Alice is undeterred. Armed with her new friends, and a handy opportunity to escape from school, she sets off on an epic quest to find her father, prove everyone wrong about him - and perhaps discover some home truths about herself and her family along the way.
Both hilarious and heartfelt, this is a classic adventure story brought bang up to date, and told in Natasha's inimitably perfect voice.
312 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2018
45 people are currently reading
857 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Farrant
27 books118 followersNatasha Farrant grew up in the heart of London's French community, and currently combines writing with her career as a Literary Scout. She is the author of two successful novels for adults, Diving Into Light and Some Other Eden, both published by Transworld. She lives in West London with her husband, two daughters and a large tortoiseshell cat.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
May 10, 2019
This was an enjoyable adventure following a young girl called Alice who loves to write stories. Alice is looked after by her aunt who is an artist, Alice's mum has died and her dad isn't around much.
Alice gets sent to a boarding school in Scotland and here she finds friends, adventure and a place to belong. Although we enjoyed this story a lot, we loved the humour, the friendship, the Scottish setting and even the narration, it did feel that perhaps it is the first book of a series although it doesn't appear to be. The conclusion felt slightly unresolved with regards to Barney, Alice's dad and the school which seemed like an interesting an unusual one wasn't in much of the book, we would like to have heard more about this place and it's unusual headmaster.
An enjoyable time spent with some great characters in a beautiful setting.
Alice gets sent to a boarding school in Scotland and here she finds friends, adventure and a place to belong. Although we enjoyed this story a lot, we loved the humour, the friendship, the Scottish setting and even the narration, it did feel that perhaps it is the first book of a series although it doesn't appear to be. The conclusion felt slightly unresolved with regards to Barney, Alice's dad and the school which seemed like an interesting an unusual one wasn't in much of the book, we would like to have heard more about this place and it's unusual headmaster.
An enjoyable time spent with some great characters in a beautiful setting.
December 1, 2018
From the moment I caught sight of David Dean`s breathtaking cover, to when I turned the final page, I enjoyed every single bit of this book. It focuses on Alice Mistlethwaite, a girl still grieving for her mum who died a few years prior to when the book begins, as she is sent to an eccentric Scottish boarding school, and just as she is settling down and navigating new friendships, she receives a letter from her father asking her to meet him at a castle. Of course, she decides to use the school`s Great Orienteering Challenge as an opportunity to achieve this, and well, you`ll just have to read it to see what wonderful events unfold from there. The characters were so well drawn and realistic I felt like I could know them, and I love how complicated the friendship between Alice, Jesse and Fergus was. Each one felt so distinct, and I love the humour their actions and dialogue provide (there is one scene especially that made me howl with laughter). The 3rd person narrative style, which is like a person telling you a story, adds to both this humour and also the mystery of the incredibly intriguing plot, as we`re shown events elsewhere and are clued in on things the characters are oblivious to. Finally, I must mention the setting of Stormy Loch, which is a truly excellent piece of non-fantasy worldbuilding, as you really get such a vivid, three dimensional picture of the school (and I adore the wise major) This is like a cross of all my favourite bits of Blyton, but has its own fresh feeling and it`s become one of my top two favourite books of the year thus far. I`m desperately hoping for more MG in this vein from the author. 5/5
December 28, 2017
A simply brilliant adventure story, full of friendship, excitement and mystery. It's set in a Scottish boarding school, and reads like a cross between Enid Blyton's books and Eva Ibbotson's - I absolutely loved it, and I know you will too! (8+)
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*
March 15, 2019
I recently finished this kid’s book for #middlegrademarch and I really liked it. Naturally, the mother is dead, mortality of mothers in kid’s fiction is something else. Alice is sent to boarding school in Scotland. Not a completely normal school and adventure ensues. It’s a book about friendship and the family we make ourselves rather than the one we are born into. Set in Scotland, so winner. Would recommend for readers age 8 and over
April 12, 2018
This book is a real adventure! I had a lot of fun reading and I looked forward to picking it up whenever I could. I loved Alice and her two friends Jesse and Fergus, and the setting of the book in the wild in Scotland was very exciting. I love a good boarding school book and even though most of this isn’t in the school (woops) it didn’t disappoint.
Full review to come soon.
Full review to come soon.
June 9, 2018
A good solid adventure story.
July 15, 2024
Je suis plus que ravie de vous présenter ce roman que j'ai lu complètement par hasard et qui m'a fait passer un excellent moment.
Déjà, arrêt sur image, la couverture est superbe (la photo ne rend pas justice aux couleurs de l'illustration).
D'emblée, j'ai aimé le style de Natasha Farrant qui s'adresse directement au lecteur et vient régulièrement le titiller en lui annonçant ce qui va arriver prochainement aux personnages. L'effet de teasing est maîtrisé et ajoute une touche de dynamisme au récit pourtant déjà bien vivant.
L'aventure de Castle Rock est un vrai roman d'aventure à l'image des Club des cinq que je lisais enfant. Plonger dans ce livre, c'est entrer dans un univers génial et intriguant, suivre les pérégrinations d'Alice dans son pensionnat, rencontrer ses nouveaux amis, visiter l'Ecosse, prendre le bateau, affronter une météo capricieuse, respirer le grand air. Cet ouvrage est un bain de jouvence, une bulle de détente et un moment d'ivresse délicieuse.
Un pur régal, j'ai adoré !
Déjà, arrêt sur image, la couverture est superbe (la photo ne rend pas justice aux couleurs de l'illustration).
D'emblée, j'ai aimé le style de Natasha Farrant qui s'adresse directement au lecteur et vient régulièrement le titiller en lui annonçant ce qui va arriver prochainement aux personnages. L'effet de teasing est maîtrisé et ajoute une touche de dynamisme au récit pourtant déjà bien vivant.
L'aventure de Castle Rock est un vrai roman d'aventure à l'image des Club des cinq que je lisais enfant. Plonger dans ce livre, c'est entrer dans un univers génial et intriguant, suivre les pérégrinations d'Alice dans son pensionnat, rencontrer ses nouveaux amis, visiter l'Ecosse, prendre le bateau, affronter une météo capricieuse, respirer le grand air. Cet ouvrage est un bain de jouvence, une bulle de détente et un moment d'ivresse délicieuse.
Un pur régal, j'ai adoré !
July 8, 2023
Just as it is meant to, this book made me feel vividly as if I was there. It has a lovely sense of wilderness and freedom, and comfort, and love. Every time I read it, these emotions are evoked again. The re-readability is off the charts.
I’m not sure what it is - the compelling, beautiful setting, the wonderful description, the delightfully real characters, but this book is so good and if I could give it more than five stars I would.
Alice Mistlethwaite is an eleven-year-old girl living in England who loves to write stories and is still reeling from her mother’s death four years prior. She lives with her absentee father Barney whom she worships and her aunt Patience who just wants what’s best for Alice. Patience sells their family home and ships Alice off to an eccentric boarding school in Scotland.
Now, Alice isn’t the only main character. Introduced second is Jesse Okuyo, my personal favourite character. He’s a lonely, shy, sensitive boy who feels overshadowed by his family of overachievers with a talent for running (a talent he finds useless and hates). Then there’s Fergus Mackenzie, a genius and a prankster whose parents are divorced, and because of this he views parents in general as rubbish. They all go to a boarding school called Stormy Loch, famous for its Great Orienteering Challenge. The three fall into a complicated and tumultuous friendship, and when the Great Orienteering Challenge comes they are placed in a team together. Alice sees this as her chance to run away across the Scottish highlands to find an island and find her father, if only she can convince her teammates to follow her. And a mysterious package may get in the way...
This book is so beautiful. The school of Stormy Loch is an amazing example of a storybook boarding school. The description is magical -
“Three seals swam into the bay as they were eating, three sleek black heads bobbing in the quiet waves just offshore, with silvery whiskers and bright, curious eyes. They put on a show as the children watched, diving and bobbing back up, turning lazily in the water then disappeared as suddenly as they came into the waves turned indigo and gold by the endlessly setting summer sun.”
“He was probably by some quay right now, getting into a boat, sailing surrounded by seals across a star-strewn sea towards the purple islands to wait for her.”
I love this description so much. Star-strewn sea? Waves turned indigo and gold? The Children of Castle Rock is a middle grade novel, and it takes a special skill to write prose so evocative and poetic but still comprehensible to young readers.
But that’s not the best part of this book. The characters are so realistic that it wouldn’t be hard to believe that the author copied real children’s behaviour and dialogue word-for-word. Their friendship is astoundingly real. The kids are petty, they’re deep, they’re shallow, they’re jealous, they’re angry, they’re happy, they have desires and wishes and fears and motives. They’re complex, like people are. They’re different and each have their own diverse personalities.
I can't pick a favourite aspect of this book because the plot, the description, the setting, the theme, the prose, and the characters and their interpersonal dynamics all come together wonderfully to make it the excellent example of middle grade that it is.
I’m not sure what it is - the compelling, beautiful setting, the wonderful description, the delightfully real characters, but this book is so good and if I could give it more than five stars I would.
Alice Mistlethwaite is an eleven-year-old girl living in England who loves to write stories and is still reeling from her mother’s death four years prior. She lives with her absentee father Barney whom she worships and her aunt Patience who just wants what’s best for Alice. Patience sells their family home and ships Alice off to an eccentric boarding school in Scotland.
Now, Alice isn’t the only main character. Introduced second is Jesse Okuyo, my personal favourite character. He’s a lonely, shy, sensitive boy who feels overshadowed by his family of overachievers with a talent for running (a talent he finds useless and hates). Then there’s Fergus Mackenzie, a genius and a prankster whose parents are divorced, and because of this he views parents in general as rubbish. They all go to a boarding school called Stormy Loch, famous for its Great Orienteering Challenge. The three fall into a complicated and tumultuous friendship, and when the Great Orienteering Challenge comes they are placed in a team together. Alice sees this as her chance to run away across the Scottish highlands to find an island and find her father, if only she can convince her teammates to follow her. And a mysterious package may get in the way...
This book is so beautiful. The school of Stormy Loch is an amazing example of a storybook boarding school. The description is magical -
“Three seals swam into the bay as they were eating, three sleek black heads bobbing in the quiet waves just offshore, with silvery whiskers and bright, curious eyes. They put on a show as the children watched, diving and bobbing back up, turning lazily in the water then disappeared as suddenly as they came into the waves turned indigo and gold by the endlessly setting summer sun.”
“He was probably by some quay right now, getting into a boat, sailing surrounded by seals across a star-strewn sea towards the purple islands to wait for her.”
I love this description so much. Star-strewn sea? Waves turned indigo and gold? The Children of Castle Rock is a middle grade novel, and it takes a special skill to write prose so evocative and poetic but still comprehensible to young readers.
But that’s not the best part of this book. The characters are so realistic that it wouldn’t be hard to believe that the author copied real children’s behaviour and dialogue word-for-word. Their friendship is astoundingly real. The kids are petty, they’re deep, they’re shallow, they’re jealous, they’re angry, they’re happy, they have desires and wishes and fears and motives. They’re complex, like people are. They’re different and each have their own diverse personalities.
I can't pick a favourite aspect of this book because the plot, the description, the setting, the theme, the prose, and the characters and their interpersonal dynamics all come together wonderfully to make it the excellent example of middle grade that it is.
December 23, 2024
J'ai adoré ce roman d'aventure pour préados qui mêle des éléments des classiques des bibliothèques roses et vertes (un pensionnat anglais avec des règles absurdes, des élèves qui ont une liberté folle, des aventures pleines de rebondissements avec des gangsters façon club des 5) avec des portraits psychologiques fins et touchants.
J'ai particulièrement aimé l'histoire d'amitié au centre du livre (pas l'ombre d'une romance entre les trois personnages), qui est profonde et forte (le livre parle d'amour à plusieurs reprises), mais parcourue de jalousies, de trahisons, de malentendus.
Lea narrateurice prend le lecteur à témoin, annonce, commente, fait des blagues, ce qui ajoute un charme fou et une vraie complicité avec le lecteur.
J'ai particulièrement aimé l'histoire d'amitié au centre du livre (pas l'ombre d'une romance entre les trois personnages), qui est profonde et forte (le livre parle d'amour à plusieurs reprises), mais parcourue de jalousies, de trahisons, de malentendus.
Lea narrateurice prend le lecteur à témoin, annonce, commente, fait des blagues, ce qui ajoute un charme fou et une vraie complicité avec le lecteur.
June 30, 2023
I love: how the differences and similarities of the three are perfect for a great team and friendship... Handling fears is really fearful and liberating... Mother Nature theme- birds, rocks, sea...
Not so comfortable with : too much freedom for kids their age
Not so comfortable with : too much freedom for kids their age
January 10, 2021
Great children's story. The writing style gives a great sense of suspense and adventure making you not want to put the book down. The ending was the perfect way to finish the story and was completely unexpected; based on the earlier clues given at the beginning.
May 13, 2018
A strange (yet entertaining) book which seems not to be able to decide whether it belongs in the 21st century or the 1950s. It does a wonderful job of exploring friendships and family relations, but is less convincing in the details which allow the children to be unsupervised. Perhaps in Enid Blyton times 12yos would have been allowed to wander off alone into the wilderness, but you'd have Ofsted shutting you down for negligence at that age, no matter how "free" your school is. As an adult reading the book, I found that quite jarring.
The book seems to have been written in 3rd cinematic with occasional breaking of the 4th wall, which is an uncomfortable mix if you want to get in and make connections with the characters.
I'm curious to see what our children make of it; I suspect it will be a marmite "love-it-or-hate-it" read.
The book seems to have been written in 3rd cinematic with occasional breaking of the 4th wall, which is an uncomfortable mix if you want to get in and make connections with the characters.
I'm curious to see what our children make of it; I suspect it will be a marmite "love-it-or-hate-it" read.
January 10, 2019
My most formative reading years (8-10 years old) were a blend of Elizabeth Goudge, Joan Aiken, and Enid Blyton, which primed me just beautifully to enjoy this one!
For Elizabeth Goudge--the vivid descriptions and sense of place, and the times the characters live deeply in moments of wonder.
For Joan Aiken--the over-the-top international thieves sub-plot (although this is much less remarkable than Aiken's plots!)
Enid Blyton--the plucky school kids on adventures (though with less emphasis on food....)
too many authorial intrusions for my personal taste, but I enjoyed this school friendship adventure story very much!
For Elizabeth Goudge--the vivid descriptions and sense of place, and the times the characters live deeply in moments of wonder.
For Joan Aiken--the over-the-top international thieves sub-plot (although this is much less remarkable than Aiken's plots!)
Enid Blyton--the plucky school kids on adventures (though with less emphasis on food....)
too many authorial intrusions for my personal taste, but I enjoyed this school friendship adventure story very much!
June 19, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book. Eleven year old Alice has lost her mother and is sent to a remote boarding school in Scotland where she starts a new life and makes new friends. The novel is very evocative of the place, I could smell the cherry trees, the rose bush and could picture the beautiful Scottish countryside, the lakes and mountains and hills and it made me want to go to Scotland in a sleeper train. It's not only a page turning adventure story but also about yearning for what is lost, how to find friendship and to face up to reality.
February 19, 2021
Adventure-y, kind of kooky with this weird boarding school thing, likable characters. I appreciated the range of families--highlighting the crappiness of some parents.
February 8, 2019
Cette lecture est extraordinaire, elle a le goût de l'enfance, des rêves et des escapades palpitantes, perdues au milieu de nulle part. J'ai beaucoup aimé ce rendez-vous, riche en émotions et véritable promesse d'évasion. On tombe fou amoureux de ce coin de paradis écossais, battu par les vents et les tempêtes, mais tellement romantique et magique. On sent le souffle de la liberté nous transporter très loin, et pour notre plus grand bonheur. Il y a certes un certain charme vintage derrière tout ça... irrésistible et réjouissant. J'ai adoré.
http://blogclarabel.canalblog.com/arc...
http://blogclarabel.canalblog.com/arc...
February 10, 2019
Since Alice's mother died, she has withdrawn into herself, becoming quiet and fearful. Her aunt convinces her father to send Alice away to a boarding school in the wilds of Scotland. There Alice meets, and makes friends with, Jesse - known as Mr Fussypot who never breaks any rules - and Fergus - who is always up to some prank or other.
When Alice receives a mysterious parcel from her father with instructions to meet him at a remote island, she convinces Jesse and Fergus to abandon the school's orienteering competition and join her.
Wonderful adventure story about friendship, families, trust and betrayal. Great characterisation with both strong female and sensitive male role models. It's also very amusing with a touch of menace and I love the slight quirkiness to it all!
When Alice receives a mysterious parcel from her father with instructions to meet him at a remote island, she convinces Jesse and Fergus to abandon the school's orienteering competition and join her.
Wonderful adventure story about friendship, families, trust and betrayal. Great characterisation with both strong female and sensitive male role models. It's also very amusing with a touch of menace and I love the slight quirkiness to it all!
July 10, 2021
Closer to 3.5 stars for me-- exciting, winsome, with some great life lessons. The end was a bit startling and at first I didn't like it, but after some thought, I appreciate the author's willingness to approach such a potentially sensitive subject and see how it could be positive for young readers. I think.
Anyways, an enjoyable palate cleanser!
Anyways, an enjoyable palate cleanser!
March 27, 2021
This was the perfect palate cleanser after a heavier book for me. Orienteering, a school in a castle in the Highlands of Scotland, and an adventure. It hit all the beats of a classic childhood adventure story.
December 29, 2018
A really exciting adventure. Perfect if you love Enid Blyton and boarding school stories.
May 16, 2021
Whoops! I finished reading this ages ago! I really loved it and I thought it was so cute!!
October 26, 2024
Okay, I admit it. I cried reading this. It made me think about everything a school could be, or should be.
November 14, 2024
Loved this, I was gripped and read this pretty quickly. Adventure from a new school where a wonderful principal makes sure everyone finds friends, takes risks and pushes themselves. Adventure and friendship for age 9+.
December 16, 2023
Bardzo fajna książka, polecam
March 10, 2018
Modern day setting with an old time feel to the narration. Curious mix, but in this story it works.
May 24, 2018
A lively and spirited boarding school adventure - lots of fun but a little spoilt by segments where the author speaks directly to the reader. This can be a brilliant technique (see C S Lewis!!) but in this instance I didn't think it served a purpose and simply kept revealing what was going to happen next! Fans of this type of story should also read the excellent, School for Skylarks by Sam Angus.
July 7, 2018
This is book feels very like an Enid Blyton read from my childhood. A lovely story of a child whose family is uprooted from the familiarity of home and sent away to boarding school in the wilds of Scotland. Making new friends, adjusting to a new school and discovering that not everyone is as they seem lends a perfect background to an exciting adventure. Very enjoyable.
July 18, 2021
A fun adventure story with engaging characters and a real underlying threat that twisted and turned all the way along. I enjoyed the setting of this, both time and place, and thought the character development was great throughout.
September 11, 2021
This book was so predictable. I mean, it might be because I’ve read so many books, but still. I got no anticipation or or suspense. It was a very easy read and somewhat enjoyable. But over all it would be pretty good for other kids who like short mysteries.
April 14, 2018
Fun story, but why does kids book have starred out **** words??
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews