mrs_mander_reads
Written on Sep 11, 2017
Eleven-year-old Tabitha Crum, whose parents were just about to abandon her, is invited to the country estate of a wealthy countess along with five other children and told that one of them will become her heir.
- ISBN10 1481419218
- ISBN13 9781481419215
- Publish Date 2 June 2015
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Simon & Schuster
- Imprint Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 336
- Language English
Reviews
Briana @ Pages Unbound
Written on Mar 26, 2016
In many ways, the book was not quite what I was expecting, which was refreshing. Though parts of the mystery are easy to figure out, others are not, which will keep even adult readers entertained. I was also surprised by the roles of the other children. I was anticipating the children pooling their talents in the manner of The Mysterious Benedict Society to solve the mystery, but the book really is more in the mode of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Some of the children are simply there to be annoying.
However, there is a fantastic range of characters, from the varied children themselves to the hired help at the manor to the Countess and the parents. There's also Pemberley the mouse who, while not a magical talking companion, is quite endearing. He's also very brave and a lovely addition to the book for anyone who can't help but fall in love with literary animals.
I will say I'm starting to become concerned about the number of abusive parents portrayed in middle grade--not because such parents don't exist or because I think children need to be protected from the idea, but because in middle grade abuse is so often portrayed as humorous. It's as if characterizing the parents as really, really bad and making ridiculous demands of their child and stuffing them away in a corner of the attic somehow makes the situation comically absurd rather than disturbing. While I don't want to burden Nooks & Crannies with all the responsibilities for this, I do wish authors would do something more with child abuse. A way out for the child that doesn't involve a crazy adventure, serendipity, and a kindly stranger adopting them might be a start, as the trope usually goes.
Otherwise, however, Nooks & Crannies is a thoroughly engrossing tale. I'll stop short of calling it "charming" because it's too caught up in details of murders and other grisly mysteries, and it's not always shy of representing humans at their worst. Both children and adults can be quite nasty in this book. Yet the story is ultimately hopeful and has positive messages about what spunk, careful observance, and bravery can do for a girl.