Ghosts of Greenglass House

Greenglass House #2

by Kate Milford

Welcome back to the irresistible world of Greenglass House where thirteen-year-old Milo is, once again, spending the winter holidays stuck in a house full of strange guests who are not what they seem. There are fresh clues to uncover as friends old and new join in his search for a mysterious map and a famous smuggler’s lost haul.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Christmas, Young Adult, Audiobook

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2017

About the author

Kate is the author of THE THIEF KNOT, GREENGLASS HOUSE, GHOSTS OF GREENGLASS HOUSE, BLUECROWNE, THE LEFT-HANDED FATE, THE BONESHAKER, THE BROKEN LANDS, THE KAIROS MECHANISM, and the forthcoming THE RACONTEUR'S COMMONPLACE BOOK (February 2021).

Originally from Annapolis, MD, Kate now lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Nathan and son Griffin and their dogs, Ed and Sprocket. She has written for stage and screen and is a frequent travel columnist for the Nagspeake Board of Tourism and Culture (www.nagspeake.com).

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a friend who didn't like Greenglass House - in fact, she wondered what I saw in it. (I loved it.) After reading this, its sequel, I'm left wondering if this is the reading experience she had: one where too many details never quite gel together, the setting stretches belief, and the genre is slippery and unreliable in a way that makes the story feel ungrounded.

Somehow the magic is gone in this one.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book utterly frustrated me. I wanted to love it and it has many likable aspects. I really enjoy Milford’s writing style and her main characters are engaging and endearing. But the actual mystery was a letdown. For me, it felt like style over substance. I would find myself enjoying most of the chapters as I read, only to feel annoyed or cheated as I pondered them after the fact. Much of what happens actually has nothing to do with the overall plot or any meaningful character development. When all was said and done, I didn’t feel that anything really important had actually happened. I didn't feel that what played out had a significant affect on Milo or on the community of Nagspeake. The key bits could have been played out in a much shorter and tidier story.

The smoke and mirrors stuff frustrated me. I don’t mind some red herrings, but I like to finish a mystery and look back and feel that I *could* have solved it had I simply altered my perspective. I didn’t feel that way here. With a good mystery, all the elements are there for you to solve it if you’d simply noticed them. The goods have to be hidden in there somewhere. Here, I feel that key elements were intentionally vague, misleading or missing. Moreover, so many aspects of the plot made no logical sense. I’m not talking here about the supernatural elements, mind you, I’m talking about things that don’t make sense in terms of how the real world characters acted. Had I read this on my own, I probably would have wondered what I was missing but I read this as part of a small book group and the other members of the group came up with similar points so I know I am not alone. Perhaps, since we were reading it as a group, we were more critical in our analysis of the mystery than the casual reader would have been. (But, speaking of the supernatural elements, if one is going to employ them then one should see it all the way through – for example, there was a completely easy solution to catching the thief if one actually capitalized on Meddy’s ghostly abilities. However, this was never addressed. I know why it wasn’t done – because then there would have been no reason for about ½ the book to exist, but, it always annoys me when there are problematic elements in books that authors just hope we don’t notice.) Also, it bothered me that we had supposedly brilliant criminals making stupid mistakes. I love it when kid protagonists outsmart the adults – but the adults have to be smart, too, otherwise it just feels like an empty success.

My biggest quibbles were with the meandering pacing, the random tidbits, and the lack of a solid mystery and, yes, the employment of some Deus ex Machina this time around, too. However, I do have a few other minor issues:

I don’t mind morally ambiguous characters or endearing “bad guys” but here that we are really given no concrete evidence for why we should be cheering for certain thieves or smugglers while we boo others. Also, while I really applaud Milford for including loving parents throughout the book (and such a positive parent-child relationship is portrayed), I am reminded why so often in children’s literature the parent/mentor figures must be dispatched before the hero can complete his quest. What parent in their right mind would allow their child to remain in a house filled with criminals who have shown they are violent and may have even tried to kill someone? Let alone permit the child to explore the house independently at will, and even interact one-one-one with some of these questionable characters? Did they learn nothing from the events at the end of the last book? Sigh.

Finally, if you are thinking of sharing this with an adopted child, I strongly urge you to preview the chapter in which Milo and Owen discuss being adopted. I fully believe that Milford intends this chapter to be helpful and encouraging to adopted children, but I also feel that it might be the opposite, depending on the individual child. If your child is facing similar concerns and situations as Milo then they might have a kindred spirit experience and find it cathartic. However, if your child is not facing these issues, the chapter might make them more anxious or awaken a new sensitivity where they might look for problems that they previously hadn’t considered.

For a more favorable perspective on the book, I refer you to my friend Abigail's excellent review. She does point out another element in the book that gave me pause, and explains it better than I could so I am linking her review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Greenglass House has been inundated at Christmas time, just as it was the previous year. Thirteen-year-old Milo Pine has been struggling with being the odd kid at school, a Chinese adoptee in an insensitive, mostly white, world. He was hoping to nurse his wounds over Christmas break, alone with his innkeeper parents at the 200-year-old Greenglass House; instead, visitors — some cherished friends and some odd newcomers — make their way to the inn. And, clearly from the title, it’s no spoiler to say that there a couple of ghosts, too.

Author Kate Milford had no problem with the much-vaunted sophomore slump: I enjoyed her sequel just as much as the original. Charming characters, plenty of suspense and some lessons that are subtle enough to go down easy. I can’t recommend this series enough to both its target audience and adults who love a fabulous tale.

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great paranormal mysteries are rare in which spirits are not evil. I want emotional meetings that entail speaking with spirits. My wish is granted. This is a youth novel, with fictional rules limiting spirits to regions of death but the mood is compelling. The novelty of the first book cannot be duplicated. A guest no one trusts is carbon-copied. However, a gargantuan complexity of storylines fit this book so thoroughly, I salute Kate Milford. She does not propose history or mysticism halfway; she works it out!

I did not know if I would feel as enthralled by “Ghosts Of Greenglass House”, 2017, as its predecessor but three delicious ingredients made it possible! You know you will have fun with a family whose friends are professional thieves. Milo learned lock-picking at their feet. It is funny that Georgie & Clem “fangirl” over legendary smuggler, Violet Cross, unseen for decades.

Violet’s most mysterious feat was inventing such a remarkable tool, few are certain it exists: a derrotero of Skidwrack river. Their river shifts so unreliably that no map could accurately chart its shoals and inlets. Georgie & Clem think it is in their heist haul in a hidden guise. Stories of family secrets are the most moving.

Eerie Christmas carollers with a magical “hobby horse” enter, the most unusual tradition I have heard of. It is unclear if Nagspeake is real, or if Kate is coy in her profile, calling herself a travel columnist for it!

At walking distance comes the most fantastical terrain imaginable: a bizarre, more puzzling community. It is a labyrinthine walled city that sounds so thrillingly surreal, I am ecstatic Kate wrote a whole novel for it! It is called “The Thief Knot” and thank God, the fun and wonderment are current: not set in some historical past!!!!!!!!

[Resh (The Book Satchel) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a LOVELY read! Yes, I did love Book 1 more. There were many points in the the novel where I felt the pacing dipped, or it could've been less complicated or it needed some trimmings etc but STILL, HOW FANTASTIC! Many times I thought 'ok, this will be a four star read' but now that I have finished I would be a complete grinch if I gave this book that gave me endless entertainment anything short of a five. Kate Milford is one genius of a writer. Not many writers can make the story very 'story-ish' and engaging. Book 1 is a nicer book for me but the loveable Milo, secrets, mystery solving, glowing, warm cosy story telling sessions, conmen and thieves, plucky dialogue (love me a writer any day who writes dialogues well), the supernatural brushes, (ALSO lovely folklore, and songs, and coffee and hot chocolate and games!!). I loved it! I hope to own physical copies of both these books one day and read it over wintertime. Greenglass House is precious!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milo Pine, his family, and a number of his friends return in this marvelous follow-up to Greenglass House , one which is every bit as atmospheric, every bit as mysterious, and every bit as involving as its predecessor. It is Christimas-time again, and Milo, still smarting from some recent experiences at school with an insensitive teacher, is attempting in vain to get into the holiday spirit. Missing Meddy, who hasn't shown herself since the previous year, Milo is excited when Clem and Georgie return to the inn, this time on the lam from some shady confederates. Having attempted a heist involving artefacts that once belonged to Violet Cross - Nagspeake's most famous runner (i.e.: smuggler) - the girls come to Greenglass House to hide out, when things go wrong. No sooner have they arrived however, than an odd assortment of strangers once again descends upon the inn, this time in the form of the Waits - a group of Christmas carolers who preserve the ancient traditions of the season. Now the Pines once again have a packed house, and Milo must solve a number of different mysteries. Is Cantlebone - a legendary thief admired by both Georgie and Clem - also after the Violet Cross haul, and has he come to Greenglass House? Is there an agent of Gilawfer, the unscrupulous fence who is tracking Clem and Georgie, in the mix? Who is Emmett Syebuck, the overly enthusiastic art student who never seems to want to leave? Will Milo be able to answer these and other questions, and will he be able to reunite the two eponymous ghosts of Greenglass House - Meddy, and her father, Doc Holystone...?

It's quite rare that I enjoy a sequel more than the original book, but Ghosts of Greenglass House is such a delightful, charming tale, one that I found appealing on so many different levels, that I think it safe to say that it is one of those deviations from the rule. With one small exception (more on that later), I loved everything about this book, from the front cover - artwork here is provided by the talented Jaime Zollars, who also worked on the first book - to the final page. I loved the Christmas-time setting, and found Greenglass House itself just as much of a character in its own right, as in the first book. I always appreciate authors who can make you feel invested in place, who can create such an engrossing locale/environment, that you feel that the story simply wouldn't be the same, without that setting. Kate Milford certainly has done that here, and I am eager to jump into the third Greenglass House book, Bluecrowne ! I also loved the Christmas doings and customs introduced by the band of Waits, all of which are based on some very ancient real-world folklore and beliefs. The figures of the sweep and the hobby horse, and the details about the latter in particular, are just fascinating. Milford captures the eldritch charm and beauty of this ghostly equine figure, both in the scene in which the Waits come to Greenglass House, and in the inset story related by Lucy, later on in the book. The role played by the hobby horse, toward the conclusion of the book, is both spine-chilling and (oddly) heartwarming. I loved the deepening sense of Nagspeake and the Skidwrack as places here, and the greater knowledge we are given of them in the story. It's clear that Nagspeake is some kind of independent political entity, located (I believe) somewhere in the Middle Atlantic region of the United States. The importance of story itself, something also touched upon in Greenglass House , is expanded upon here, and the tales told by some of the Waits, addressing the history and nature of the Liberty of Gammerbund - a semi-autonumous area within Nagspeake - were intensely involving, and absolutely amazing. I love the story within a story structure, one that is well established in world literature (everything from Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales to Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ), and can't wait for the publication of The Raconteur's Commonplace Book , a collection mentioned in both novels, which sets out some of the tales told in Milford's fictional world of Nagspeake. The characters all felt vibrantly alive, and I enjoyed returning to those of them who also appeared in the first book, and meeting those that were debuting here. Clem and George were more appealing than ever, as were Meddy and Milo. As for Marzana and her parents, I hope to see more of them in the future! Finally, I loved the resolution of this second mystery, precisely because I thought I saw everything coming, after the surprises at the conclusion of the first book, but was proved wrong. I felt sure I was prepared, but there were reveals that I didn't expect at all - well done, Kate Milford, in pulling that off a second time!

As should be apparent, I enjoyed Ghosts of Greenglass House immensely, and it really would have been one of my rare five-star books, were it not for a single discordant note (the aforementioned exception). Although I do appreciate the sensitive way that Milford dealt with Milo's mixed feelings about being a Chinese adoptee of a white couple, both here and in the previous book, I thought there was something of a lack of clarity, in the way she handled the issue of Milo's teacher, and how one should approach a situation in which people have competing ideas and perceptions about history and/or culture. It's clear that the teacher is a bit arrogant and "know-it-all-ish" (as Milo would put it), as he refuses to listen to Milo, when he tries to mention the partial Chinese heritage of the builders of Greenglass House. Mr. Chancelor thinks he knows the history of Nagspeake better, and Milo is so distraught about the situation that he never presents any evidence or aguments to back up his counter-claim. It's worth noting that Mr. Chancelor is insensitive and a little clueless, as evidenced by his assumption that Milo will be able to understand Chinese, just because of his ethnic identity. I liked how these issues were discussed, both between Milo and his father, and between Milo and Owen, Clem's fiancee, who is (like Milo) also a Chinese adoptee of a white couple. Where it all broke down for me was in the scene in which Milo realizes that he has hurt Marzana, with his story about Violet Cross, and his further realization that he, in his subsequent discussion with her, is inadvertently playing the role of Mr. Chancelor. I thought that this provided the perfect opportunity for him to gain a little insight into his own situation, and to grow a little in wisdom, at it concerns how we communicate with one another, and what to do when we disagree. After all, here's someone (Marzana) who is distraught at the fact that he has presented a historical narrative (a story about Violet Cross) that is (in her view) wrong. Although her hurt is apparent, and is addressed by Milo immediately (to his credit), its cause is not (at least, until much later), and she refuses to elaborate. Like Milo himself, she refuses to present an argument more extensive than "you're wrong." Rather than leading him to a moment of understanding of his own situation, a moment in which he realizes that if he wants Mr. Chancelor to acknowledge his point (about Greenglass House specifically, and about Nagspeake in general), he will have to provide something more than his feelings - he will have to make a compelling argument, and present evidence to back it up - he instead is simply horrified about the emotional aspect of it all, and his role in hurting another. Now this is a very minor scene, in an otherwise outstanding novel, but it highlights a wider social problem that has really been bothering me recently, which is this idea that emotion trumps reason, and that argument and evidence are irrelevant, in the face of that emotion. I believe that this is an immensely harmful outlook, one that is becoming increasingly dominant in our current cultural zeitgeist, and one that can lead us to very dark places. Does this one scene ruin the book? By no means, this is still a high 4.5-star title for me. Do I think it is a "mistake?" No, but I do think it reveals a philosophical difference between myself and the author, one that, given the strength of my belief on the subject, detracted from my enjoyment.

No doubt others will perceive this matter differently, and it is (as I have acknowledged) a minor scene within the story, so I would not hesitate to recommend this one to other readers who enjoyed Greenglass House . After all, the positives here far, far outweigh this one negative. Marvelously written, intricately constructed, wonderfully conceived - this is an outstanding children's novel. I hope that Milford will bring us more of Milo and all his friends, and much more from Nagspeake, the Skidwrack, and the Liberty...

[Maryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too long!

[Jordan Henrichs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know how badly I wanted a sequel to Greenglass House until I started reading Ghosts of Greenglass House. Milford wrote in her Author’s Note that this story just sort of came to her on a car ride home from Thanksgiving. This surely feels like an ending to these characters but I really really hope another story just comes to her on another car ride. I’m not sure I’m ready to be done with them!

It’s very cliche to say, but this is the type of book that I didn’t want to end. Each clue that I picked up on made me sad because it just made me realize the mystery was wrapping up. Milo’s realizations are well explained and Milford’s attention to detail is impeccable. The twists and turns of the narrative are fun. These truly unique characters are all well developed and genuinely authentic in Milford’s Nagspeake universe.

A must read if you’ve read its predecessor and enjoyed it.

[Aleshanee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rezension folgt...

[Zyra]

can't get in to this book. read the first one long back. all I remember is that I liked it. but now I can't follow the story have totally forgotten what it was about.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was just as good as the 1st book, if not better. I LOVED this book. What I’m noticing the most about this author, is that she knows how to do an epic ending. She wraps up the book, & has the big final scenes so perfectly done that it blows me away. With both books I’ve been shocked, emotional(in a good way), & just gotten goosebumps. It’s hard to say ANYTHING without spoiling the 1st book. So I’ll keep it short. Milo is still amazing. He’s such a great kid. He’s still learning how to deal w/his emotions & dealing with how to handle other people who hurt his feelings on certain things. Important things. We have some familiar characters from the 1st book that I loved, & some new cast of characters for this new mystery adventure. It was set at Christmas again, so perfect read for that too. So atmospheric, everything described so well, a great mystery, & another grand adventure. I’m so in love w/these books. Highly recommend. Another beautiful cover by Jaime Zollars too of course. Just started the 3rd book. It takes a different turn, but loving it still.💜

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Milo and his adoptive parents are planning for a quiet Christmas, with a single guest about to leave when Georgie and Clem seek sanctuary. Then, a group of carolers show up from the nearby asylum and some property is stolen, including a mysterious map. Once again, Milo conjures up an alter ago (Tenjin), when joined by his friend Meddy/Sirin to solve the crime, and identify the guilty. There is a lot of Nagspeake folklore. I thought the book was too much like the first book in the series. One of the highlights was the life advice given to Milo by Clem's fiancée, who was also adopted and of Asian heritage.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of the first Greenglass House book will be happy to see most of their favorite characters return here. In a many ways the plot rehashes a lot of what was done in the first book. I found myself not quite as into it as I was expecting. There are a lot of extraneous details, and at times the plot feels confused and jumbled. Milford's descriptive prose is in evidence throughout the book and it does have a very grounded sense of place.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year after the events of Greenglass House, Milo was looking forward to a quiet family Christmas, yet wistfully thinking of the new friends he made last Christmas. He had a bad week at school and just wants to be left alone to mope. His anxiety is kicked into high gear when the only guest at the inn decides to extend his visit-indefinitely as it seems to Milo. Then Georgie and Clem show up in trouble and they seem to think Emmett isn't who he says he is. When a mysterious group of carolers arrives chaos ensues. In the midst of the chaos, Georgie and Clem are robbed! Who would steal from a professional thief and how? If there ever was a time to play Odd Tails, it is now, but Sirin/Meddy hasn't been seen in a year. Where is she? Can Negret solve the mystery on his own or will Milo need to summon his inner warrior? Will Meddy ever show up again?

I couldn't put this book down. The mystery was very engaging right from the beginning. I wasn't able to figure anything out but I did draw a few conclusions from some of the same clues Milo picked up on. The history and folklore of Nakespeake is fascinating. I loved the Waits though I did find them a bit creepy. I remembered The Liberty from Lucy's visit in The Left-Handed Fate but it was fun to learn more about what it is and how it came to be. I was a bit surprised that the book title didn't really match the plot and disappointed not to learn more about the Bluecrowne family.

Milo has matured a bit since last Christmas. He still feels conflicting emotions about being adopted but he talked it over with his parents and they're sympathetic. They're all learning Mandarin in an effort to get in touch with Milo's heritage but Milo still feels uncomfortable meeting strangers who are bound to ask embarrassing questions. These questions make him anxious. Milo also recognizes when he's about to have a meltdown and knows it will upset his already frazzled parents so he takes steps to prevent it. This is not something he was capable of a year earlier. Playing Odd Trails has done a lot for him and his self-confidence even if I don't understand one word of it. Mr. and Mrs. Pine are warm-hearted, generous and kind. Maybe a little too kind sometimes!

It was so much fun to get to know Clem and Georgie better. They add drama and humor to the story. However, it is hard to tell them apart. Their speech pattern is pretty much the same and they're both very good at what they do. Only Clem can move like a cat though. I like their personality quirks and how they have set aside their differences for the sake of one they love. Their "job" sounds amazing and naturally they were drawn to such a cache.

The Waits are an odd bunch of people from Liberty Gammerbund or Saint Whit's home for the Mentally Chaotic. Mentally chaotic can be a good thing... There's Lucia "Lucky" Julnissen, possibly the most impossible name for someone of Scandinavian heritage to have but perfectly Christmasy. She is a bit tart tongued at times but her story is spellbinding and a lot of fun. Rob, the hapless chimney sweep is a newcomer who can't remember the traditions. He is the one who is mentally chaotic! There's Sylvester, a bit of a flirt but kind underneath; Mr. Larven who doesn't have much personality but seems kind of shady; Mrs. Kirkegrim who doesn't seem very kind; Mr. Hakelbarend who keeps himself to himself and Marzana, a mysterious girl who seems a bit standoffish but in whom Milo recognizes his own social anxiety. I really like Marzana and was curious what her story would be. I was surprised that it didn't turn out to be what I thought. They also come with the hobbyhorse, who is a character in it's own right. Mysterious, creepy and otherwordly, this creature seems to have a life of its own and a mind of its own. Very weird.

Addie/Meddy/Sirin is such a colorful, quirky character. I keep forgetting she's different because she seems normal. Her love for her father is so special and so heartbreaking. For all he broke the law, her father was a loving father who tried to do his best for his daughter and worried about her safety. He was a complicated man.

Emmett, the art student staying at Greenglass House is a bit young and awkward. He is kind of endearing in a puppyish sort of way. His story really surprised me.

This book would be a good read for kids 10+ or adults. There's some mild peril at the end and some paranormal elements that seem a bit spooky.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't quite have the magic that I found in reading Greenglass House last Christmas season. What was new, glittering, and magical in the first book seemed to be old hat in this one. Milford is a talented author and her prose and plot were detailed and comprehensive. But the sparkle has worn off in Ghosts of Greenglass House and I'm not invested enough in this series to continue reading.

[Almira · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Christmas break again, and Milo and family are looking forward to a quiet holiday with no visitors. That "ain't" gonna happen!
Milo has had a bad couple of weeks at school, due to a teacher who is insensitive to Milo's feelings about being adopted, and that the teacher expects him to be able to read and translate Chinese...…..

He is anxiously awaiting to see Meddy again, well, that MIGHT happen.

The difference a year can make, is that this Christmas there is NO snow like last year, just a crust of frost on the ground. Right now, there is just one unusual visitor at the "inn", who seems TOO interested in the stained glass throughout the house, he's supposed to be leaving tomorrow, but has asked if he can extend his stay.

As usual when "THE BELL" rings it can only mean one thing, visitors, and this time they are fleeing the authorities, we've met them before.... Wait, what's all that noise, excuse me, music.....?

And, so another wild capped adventure begins...…..

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

LOTS of skimming and frowning... LOTS.
could be a two-star for the fact Milford is insistent and proud of using sensitivity readers (love that), but i seriously did not enjoy this book in the slightest... i think she tried to incorporate too many things into this tale, and it was just so thematically similar to the first book...worked wondrously there, but even the best ideas get tired when repeated... i hazard a guess the rave reviews are BECAUSE it is so similar to book #1 and people loves them some sequels in 'Murica... i think the idea of the house and its origins could be a great multi-book thing (NOT a trilogy, i HATE the overuse of trilogies to triplicate a mundane idea across three basically similar books) where each book takes an element of the history and ties that part to the other parts... but a successive game of Clue! with many repeat characters in the same house just snoozed me... sad face...

[MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. I wish I could have read these as a kid, but I’m just as blown out of the water now. This installment definitely started slower than the first, but the second half really did nail it.

[ainsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt exactly like the stained glass that is so central to its narrative— an intriguing concept from afar, and a mess of unrefined and ill placed ideas up close

[Kim Dyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love this one as much as the first but still a very sweet middle grade story and I absolutely love the setting of Greenglass House!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at Log Cabin Library
E ARC from Edelweiss Above the TreeLine

Opening lines: "Frost was pretty much the worst. It was like a promise with nothing behind it. It was like not enough icing on a cookie, not enough butter on toast."

Milo is once again getting ready to spend his winter vacation at Greenglass House, but his holiday gets off to a rocky start. Not only is he cranky about the lack of snow, he's also distressed over an incident that occurred at school with his History teacher, and his friend Meddy has mysteriously been missing since last year. Plus Emmett Syebuck, a guest of the Inn has overstayed his welcome sketching their stained glass windows. Things do begin to brighten up when Clem and Georgie show up using a girls bachelorette weekend as a cover for a heist they did that went wrong leading them to need a safe place to hide from their double-crossing partner and a rival thief. Things take an unexpected turn for the worse when a group of carolers from Liberty of Gammerbund, a Rest Home for the Mentally Chaotic or asylum near Nagspeake show up, and some of the singers are involved in accidents resulting in everyone spending the night. When Clem and Georgie's loot from their heist also goes missing, we once again have an Inn full of guest's who are not who they seem. Someone among them is Gilawfer the fence and another is Canlebone, the famous thief.

Ghosts of Greenglass House is the perfect setting for a mystery with its long staircases, stained glass windows and the cold air of Winter blowing outside. The one thing I found myself missing initially as much as Milo was Meddy, I really wanted the two of them to get started on another campaign to help Georgie and Clem recover their loot. At first, Milo thinks he can tackle the mystery, but playing the campaign on his own isn't half as fun and all the skills that he previously had with his character don't seem to be working for him in the same way. Despite this, there were plenty of new characters to sort through and the setup of the new mystery linked to the legendary smuggler Violet Cross to keep me entertained. Meddy does eventually return after sensing that something is wrong with Milo and together the two begin a new campaign. Maybe it's the Dungeons and Dragons lover in me, but I really enjoy this aspect of the story. Kids being creative in setting up all the details about their characters and skills and especially the way that Milo creates a character of the person he would like to be, complete with a backstory that helps him to understand some of his own history. As a side note, in the first story, Milford explained the spark for Greenglass House was her own plans to adopt a Chinese boy and a desire to incorporate these themes into a story that one day he could read himself. Within Ghosts of Greenglass House, Milford continues Milo's struggles over his feelings about being adopted as well as highlighting how making assumptions about people are wrong. I was also pleasantly surprised with the historical details about the history and traditions of Liberty or the Rest Home near Nagspeake, details on Milo picking locks, as well as how cartography and maps were an important part of the story. Oh and the continuation of each of the guests telling a story helping to piece together the mystery, just love it. Now I know I haven't mentioned anything about the Ghosts in the title, and I'm really hesitant to do that now. Suffice it to say, I liked the clever way in which things were resolved for Meddy and happy the ending leaves room for future mysteries for Milo and Meddy.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounding up a 4.5. Milo is back, it's the next Christmas break, and there's new people with new mysteries to unravel--plus some old friends. This wasn't quite as atmospheric and amazing as the first, but it was a very worthy follow up. I loved seeing Georgie and Clem again, and Milo's parents remain relatable and awesome. I really appreciated seeing Milo struggle with well meaning adults who ultimately make him feel like "actual Chinese person" doesn't refer to him, and how the adults around him help him work through solutions and the big feelings. The many ghosts and holiday folk tales with tiny nuggets of truth in them were fascinating, and the mystery was appropriately tangled and twisty and delightfully fascinating. I really like how the author works hard to create characters sensitive to other people's feelings and reactions, highlighting the importance of words and how the stories told about others can affect them, and shows exactly why it's the right thing to do. Beautiful writing, beautiful storytelling, I would love a third title.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Another excellent Christmas book. I meant to finish it in 2025, but kind of got sidetracked over these past few weeks. Oops.

I'm not one for worldbuilding, but I really loved the worldbuilding here. The architecture of the Greenglass House and the history of Nagspeake are both so whimsical and inventive. I love how the setting plays such an integral role in the overarching story.

The plot is kind of all over the place. Some of the mysteries I figured out long before the characters, and some of them I wouldn't have figured out in a million years due to the stretches in logic they require to solve. Needless to say, the book was suspenseful and I was invested. Although, I refuse to believe that Milo was tricked by the fake Doc Holystone ghost. It's the most outlandish and outrageous plan I've ever heard of.

I'm actually fairly impressed with how Milo's racial identity struggle is handled. I think the author really did her research (she cites Grace Lin among others as some of her advisors in the acknowledgments), which I respect. However, I don't think that the Violet Cross story inaccuracy is entirely comparable to Milo's school incident, as he seems to think.

Question for the Chinese speakers - wouldn't it have made more sense for the Bluecrowne family to use Cantonese instead of Mandarin?

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up.

This sequel is just as cozy, mysterious, and heartwarming as the first one. I rated it so highly because I admire it when an author creates a fully-fleshed out fictional location, complete with folklore and history. Additionally, embedded stories are the way to my bookish heart.

I look forward to continuing the series.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, and I am so glad that Meddy came back! Like I said in the first book, I think that some things were a bit convenient, but Kate Milford definitely did a better job of not making things too convenient in this book. I love all the twists in this book, and it’s awesome that Marzana, Mrs. Kirkegrim, and Mr. Hakelbarend are all related. It’s so cool that Mrs. Kirkegrim turns out to be Violet Cross! It brings out a whole knew side to her! So we’re Mrs. Kirkegrim, Violet Cross, and Cantlebone all the same person, or was Cantlebone not involved in Georgie and Clem’s heist at all? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Well, I liked this book, and I’m enjoying reading this light-hearted series!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in a middle grade Christmas mystery series.

Features an adopted, Chinese boy named Milo who likes to play pretend with his friend, Meddy. They both live in the coolest B&B called Greenglass House which doubles as a famous sanctuary for thieves.

I mostly read these during the holiday season as a palate cleanser from all of the darker books, but I plan on reading them to my kids once they’re a little older.

If you enjoy stained glass, ghosts, locked door mysteries, and a cozy Christmas scene, give it a try! It’s been one of the more unique and memorable middle grades I’ve come across. I’m slowly making my way through the entire series.

[T.J. Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 10-year-old daughter and I loved Ghosts of Greenglass House even more than the first book in this series, Greenglass House, which we absolutely loved! We were glad, along with Milo and his parents, to welcome back Georgie and Clem and especially Meddie. We also enjoyed meeting a whole slew of new and interesting characters and delving deeply into their histories and motivations.

New mysteries engaged and enthralled us and, as with the first book, we enjoyed guessing, second-guessing, and guessing again (is that called third-guessing? ;) ).

On the philosophical level, I valued how the lines in these stories are blurred between what is considered "right" and "wrong," "good" and "bad," "crazy" and "normal." These unclear, blurry lines force the young reader to take a critical look at who is making the value judgements and what their interests are. Can thieves, smugglers, and ghosts be "the good guys"? Can customs agents be "the bad guys"? Can some thieves act honorably, while others act dishonorably? Can the same question be asked of customs agents? Who is "crazy" and what does it mean to be "normal," and who gets to decide?

I enjoyed reading and discussing this book with my daughter to gauge her interpretations and analyze her reactions. She clearly didn't delve as deeply into such philosophical topics as I did, but she also didn't feel upset by such inconsistencies and had no problem identifying with and liking characters in which "society" may deem as "criminals" or "undesirables."

As an educator and a parent, I also especially loved how Milo, like in the first book, takes on an alter-ego to engage in activities he himself feels too shy to attempt, to take on tasks that he feels incapable of accomplishing, and to use skills and talents that he doesn't feel he has. Since a different set of skills and talents are needed in his current challenge, he creates a new alter-ego to respond to the new obstacles and challenges that present themselves. I think this is a fantastic idea and can engage young readers to look inside themselves to see what skills, talents, ideas, and abilities they actually have, but never never thought that they did.

I can highly recommend this creative series and am looking forward to reading a new Greenglass House adventure as soon as possible!

I received a copy of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't make it through the book. After 100 pages, nothing had happened so I gave up. I literally can sum up the first 100 pages by saying: company came over. I figured if the rest of the book was like that, I would go insane. It's too bad because I loved the first book.

[Darlene]

I won this from GoodReads! Yay! Thank you!!!!

[Mimi 'Pans' Herondale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing, just as good as the first book!