Book Reviews

Book Review: The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall

When twelve-year-old Florence boards the crowded horse-drawn coach in London, she looks forward to a new life with her great uncle and aunt at Crutchfield Hall, an old manor house in the English countryside. Anything will be better, she thinks, than the grim London orphanage where she has lived since her parents’ death.

But Florence doesn’t expect the ghost of her cousin Sophia, who haunts the cavernous rooms and dimly lit hallways of Crutchfield and concocts a plan to use Florence to help her achieve her murderous goals. Will Florence be able to convince the others in the household of the imminent danger and stop Sophia before it’s too late? 


(From Goodreads)

Title: The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall
Publisher: Clarion Books
Pages: Hardcover; 160
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: September 6, 2010

Why I chose this:
I’m always on the lookout for up and coming Middle Grade novels! I work with young children, so I look for things that will interest them.

My Thoughts:

A perfect middle grade novel for students who love mystery and suspense, but have moved out of the Goosebumps phase! I have been looking for one of these for a while.

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall is the chilling story of a young girl’s untimely death, and the vengeance she seeks against her brother. Set in London, the story follows Florence, who has just come to live with her Uncle after being rescued from an orphanage. Florence, James and Sophia all come to life on the pages so very well. It will amaze you how easily you fall into step with them in their drafty house on the English Countryside.

I was smitten with this book from the end of the first chapter! The pacing is perfection, always giving the reader enough to keep them interested but never bogging them down with details. This story is perfect for helping readers transition to higher level books. Overall opinion? The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall is a masterful piece of literature for younger readers.


Final Rating: 5 Keys to My Heart

[+/-] Click to see Rating.