Friday, October 1, 2010

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book One: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood (2010)


Plot Summary:  A very interesting story, combining a Mary Poppins type governess with Matilda like parents (or guardians in this case) and three children: Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia who have been raised by wolves in the woods. The children were found by Lord Ashton on his property while he was on one of his hunting expeditions.  He captures the children and brings them back to his home where he puts them to live in the stables.  Enter Miss Penelope Lumley, a 15 year old girl who is a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy.  Miss Lumley becomes governess to the children & teaches and loves them.  These children are seen by the rest of society as incorrigible and savage. The lady of Ashton Place, Lady Constance, is a whiny and uncaring woman who simply sees these "children" as a burden.  Lucky for them, they have "Lumaroo," (aka Miss Lumley) to love and care for them.  The reader on the audiobook has an English accent, which makes the story quite charming. Some of the mysterious happenings at Ashton Place are left unsolved at the end of the story, leaving a trail to the next book in the series.

Awards & Reviews: This book was reviewed by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and received a *Starred Review* from Booklist.

Genre:  Mystery

Subjects/Themes: Orphans, governesses, hunting, wolves.

Age Group:  Grades 5-8, although I believe that younger children would enjoy this audiobook, since it is read with such zest and imagination!

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