The Secret of Splint Hall

August 1, 2023

Gr 4-6-Set in the English countryside, this book follows the adventures of two girls recovering from wartime trauma. It's 1945 and Isobel and Flora, aged 10 and 13, have lost a great deal during the war-not only their home but their father, too. They move with their mother to live with Aunty Bea in a mysterious mansion called Splint Hall. There they struggle to adjust to life with their uncle, a nasty man with a ginger mustache and an old war injury. Soon clues begin to pile up suggesting that Splint Hall has an ancient secret: the Hellborn are coming, and the two girls must stop them before it's too late. Combining historical fiction and fantasy, this book recalls aspects of C.S. Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia." It uses common fantasy tropes to explore the trauma of World War II in a new, unique way. The clues are clever and engaging, and will no doubt keep the attention of young readers. VERDICT Recommended for readers who enjoy fantasy and adventure in an atmospheric, historical setting.-Talea Anderson

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2023
Realism and fantasy intertwine in this British import. Ten-year-old Isobel and 12-year-old Flora are sisters growing up in 1940s England. Daddy was a pilot who died in the war. When their house was bombed, the girls moved with their mother to Splint Hall, her childhood home in the country that is now owned by Aunty Bea, Mum's sister, and her husband, the detestable Mr. Godfrey. Exploring the house one day, the sisters discover a locked room and connive to get the key. Once inside, they find sketches of dragons done by their grandfather, as well as another drawing of a horrible creature that Isobel immediately knows is real--she has seen it in a cave near town, although no one believes her. Soon, the girls meet Simon, the son of Splint Hall's former gamekeeper, who was dismissed by Mr. Godfrey, ostensibly for stealing. Simon and his dad have a secret, and so, it seems, did Grandpa. To uncover it, the girls must face their greatest fears. Isobel and Flora's relationship is drawn with fine nuance--they very realistically squabble and get on each other's nerves, but they are also heartbreakingly attached. The book superbly renders the traumas of war, especially on children, without hyperbole, for example in the way it ably relates Isobel's deep fear of being underground, her general insecurities connected to the loss of her father, and her recurring headaches. Deep truths and children's resilience grace this well-told story. (Historical fantasy. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 15, 2023
Grades 4-8 WWII has ended, but sisters Isobel and Flora are grieving the loss of their beloved father and bombed-out London home. Thankfully, their mother has arranged for the little family to live with her sister, Bea, who has remained in residence at the ancient family manor with her husband, Mr. Godfrey. Though Mr. Godfrey rules the mysterious mansion with a quiet menace, the girls thrill in exploring their new surroundings. However, it quickly becomes clear that something is amiss. Blue sparks shoot from fields, the villagers are spiteful, and there's an old family obsession with dragons. The girls realize there may be more at stake than just their family's happiness: they may have to save the world as well. It's a terrifically tantalizing premise, and what starts as a seemingly simple manor-house mystery (sullen housekeepers, strict masters, hidden rooms) turns into a sprawling and somewhat supernatural undertaking. Cotton conjures an eerie and elegant world with an action-packed second half that ramps up the stakes and suspense. A terrific trip to the English countryside with surprises to spare.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.