Cousins in the Castle

by Barbara Brooks Wallace

How , Amelia wonders, could four short months have such a wonderful beginning and such a grim and terrible ending? Why must she now find herself riding to the docks of London en route to a strange new life in America, seated beside the stone-faced, bloodless, tight-lipped woman in the grim black hat?"The plot twists and turns at an alarming rate in the is story of dastardly crimes and firm friendships, and that's exactly what makes it so much fun..." says Booklist in its starred review. A Junior Library Guild book, and Mystery Writers of America EDGAR nominee .

Genres: Mystery, Historical, 19th Century, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Adventure

162 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

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

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

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

Reviews

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Vannessah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Barbara Brooks Wallace's books. They're so full of mysteries and secrets and plot turns. It's so satisfying to reach the end and see how the plot wraps itself up perfectly. As always, this one begins with a young child in terrible circumstances, who ends up on a journey out of her control, meeting characters both rough and sweet, including some who keep unusual secrets.

However, I found the plot of Cousins in the Castle takes longer to pick up, unlike the author's other books. I think this is because so much of the beginning of the book takes place on a ship, with limited possibilities for characters and plot developments. Honestly, it got boring for a while, which is something I've never said about any of B.B.W's books before. The book starts slow, which is why I rated it so low, but once Amelia arrives in New York, it picks up again and feels like a true Barbara Brooks Wallace book again.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a reread. I originally read this book in the 6th grade and one night I couldn’t get the book with the girl who was sent to live with her family but kidnapped out of my mind. With only that part of the plot and remembering the cover but not the title, I was able to locate the book but nowhere to read it.

Anyway, it’s currently free with an audible subscription.

So anyway, as a book I remembered almost 20 years later, it held up pretty well. Some parts felt over explaining but it is a children’s book. I was surprised how much of the plot I remembered once the story got going. Content wise I was pretty shocked at the concept of potential human trafficking in a kids book, but overall a very solid and interesting story. Might get it for my daughter to have one day since someone might try to ban it due to the kids in drag.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wallace has her own little niche in the world of literature for older children, a sort of modern Victorian, almost Dickensian storyteller with a penchant for orphaned protagonists. This book fits squarely into the niche. A tale of ocean voyage, mystery, hidden identity, long lost family members, and endangered family fortunes, the plot moves along quickly. The characters are life-like and the tale's telling is enjoyable. Some of the plot details simultaneously strain the suspension of disbelief, while at the same time being largely predictable (if not outright spilled in the book's title). This is not Wallace's best work (a better bet would definitely be Ghosts in the Gallery), but for a kid looking for a quick read on a summer's afternoon, you could do a lot worse.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reminded me of some of Shakespeare's comedic plays because of the very unlikely events and coincidences, plot twists and the hidden identities that string it together. I found this a bit unsatisfying because the twists really did seem to come from nowhere, with no foreshadowing or hints. I would feel that I had gotten to know a character and then find out they were not who I thought they were. Sometimes, it seemed quite unlikely that a person could seem so completely different from one scene to the next. That said, the story is engaging and certainly not overly predictable. There is some humor in the story, and the characters are all either likable or thoroughly despicable (except in the case of a few characters, who are both).

[Aerin Proffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second favorite Barbra Brooks Wallace book, that I ALSO must have read about 400 times in my youth. This one is actually about a young girl, so it makes a little more sense for me to love it. But I think I liked it more for her young friend, Rosie, who is just such a character.
All of Barbara Brooks Wallace's books have a theme of growing up, not necessarily in maturity or age, more of becoming who you are, and finding strength in that.

[Meg GlitteryOtters · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cousins in the Castle is a tale of losing and finding family, mixed up identities, and learning about life beyond the comfort of the familiar.
There are plenty of plot twists, but at the same time, the climax and resolution, while tidy, are less complex than what one finds in a book written for older readers. Overall, this is an enjoyable story and worth reading once, but the adult reader may find it a bit lacking in substance.

As a side note, while reading this book, I had the vague feeling that I had listened to this on audiobook several years ago, so that may influence how satisfying I found reading the story.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 4-6 152pgs

1800s, London / NYC. Orphaned, Amelia is sent to NYC away from London and everything she is familiar with. On the trip, she meets and befriends Primrose the singer. Amelia wishes her guardian Cousin Charlotte was more like Primrose and is sad to leave her new friend behind when they arrive in NYC. Suddenly, Amelia finds herself all alone. Cousin Charlotte is nowhere to be found. Kindly Mrs. Dobbs offers to take her to her house. At first, Amelia is relieved until she discovers that she is Mrs. Dobbs prisoner. Somehow, Amelia is determined to escape..

Interesting story. Not what I was expecting considering that the "castle" refers to the name of a theater and not an actual castle.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia, who has tragically lost her father, is being accompanied from England to America by her cousin, Charlotte, a very cold woman. Amelia meets Primrose on board the ship and strikes up a friendship though Cousin Charlotte forbids her to have anything to do with those "theater people." Once in America, Cousin Charlotte disappears leaving Amelia on the docks to be lead away by Mrs. Dobbins. Soon Amelia finds herself locked in a cellar. When she manages to escape, she tries to find her only friend, Primrose, at the theater. But there are many surprises in store for Amelia, including the true indentity of Primrose and Cousin Basil.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author writes such funny Gothic melodrama for children! It’s all gloomy and disastrous through every twist of the plot. This story is full of disguises, kidnappings, a mysterious princess, a dastardly butler , greasy porridge and stale bread for the orphans, and a hundred hilarious turns for the worst.

[Breeana Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I read when I was about 10 or 11 and it's a cute little story that I've never forgotten. I think I even read it twice because I liked it so much. Anyway, I just had to add it to my list of books. :)

[Nancy Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute! And it was a relaxing, quick read (it is written on a 5th/6th grade level...). Witty, good writing, good plot that kept me guessing, and good characters.