by Christyne Morrell
A Spirited Adventure in Winklevoss Manor
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
After twelve-year-old Charlie moves from New York City to sweaty, sticky Florida, she’ll do anything to get back home.
Even if it involves ghosts.
Winklevoss Manor, Charlie’s new house, is a towering Victorian mansion famous for one thing—it’s haunted. Three ghosts—Ada, Arthur, and Guff—live there, and not by choice. They’re trapped, cursed for stealing a dead man’s diamond. A diamond that, just like the ghosts, is still in the house. And this gets Charlie thinking. . .
Maybe if she can find the diamond and sell it, Charlie’s family could have enough money to move back to the city. But lifting the curse isn’t that simple, especially when she’s pitted against the school bully and three unruly spirits. It’s frightening to think about, but what if the only way to get rid of the ghosts and curses is by doing what Charlie fears the most—confronting the past that haunts her?See Less
- Publisher: Delacorte Press (September 17, 2024)
- Publication Date: English
- Paperback: 320 pages
- Reading Age: 10 – 12 years
While ghost stories don’t usually pique my interest, I couldn’t resist diving into this #gifted book. I was told it contains a little humor, family struggles, a treasure hunt, and ghosts roaming around in an interesting old house. The combination of these elements promised a delightful reading experience, and I couldn’t wait to get started.
Setting the Scene
The story begins with Charlotte Hess and her dad relocating from bustling New York City to the quaint town of Casaluna, Florida. Their new home, Winklevoss Manor, is not just another eerie estate; it’s a labyrinth of secrets and spectral residents. Torn apart by treasure hunters, the manor holds the legend of a cursed diamond, allegedly hidden by the original homeowners, who continue to haunt the premises. To say Charlotte is disappointed with this new home would be putting it mildly.
The Ghostly Residents
Arthur and Ada Winklevoss, the original owners, are indeed lingering spirits within the manor’s walls. However, they are not alone. A more sinister ghost, Leopold Guffman, also haunts the house. His demise was as mysterious as the diamond itself, having fallen down the stairs to his death while in pursuit of the gem.
Charlie’s Quest
Charlie, determined to escape the clutches of Casaluna and return to a life of good pizza and non-flying cockroaches, sees the diamond as her ticket to have the money to return to New York. She’s miserable in Florida and doesn’t hesitate to let her dad know her feelings. She enlists the help of her new friend, Sarah, a ghost enthusiast with plenty of knowledge about the house, and Madame Rayna, a local medium. Together, they embark on a quest to uncover the secrets of the Winklevosses, hoping to locate the elusive diamond. However, Charlie doesn’t share that she plans to sell the diamond and skedaddle home with her dad. She’s pretty sure that wouldn’t go over well with her new friends.
Humor and Heart
Despite the ghostly premise, the novel is peppered with humor. These amusing moments provide a lighthearted balance to the story’s deeper themes.
Emotional Depth
Emotion is the driving force of the narrative. I could feel Charlie’s heartache as she mourns her grandmother and struggles with new friendships. However, at times, her all-about-me attitude makes her quite unlikable. The alternating chapters between Charlie’s perspective and that of the ghosts offer a layered understanding of the characters and their motivations.
Conclusion
This novel is a wonderful blend of humor, mystery, family, and emotion. Even if you’re not a big fan of ghost stories like me, I suggest you try this book and then consider it as a gift for someone 10-12 years old. These ghosts were unlike any that I’ve read about. Both the humans and ghosts will touch your heart. And as a plus, there is a fun twist toward the end.
My thanks to Delacorte Press and Publicity Pros(e) for a #gifted copy. I was under no obligation to review the book or post a positive review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christyne’s earliest completed work, written at age 7, told the story of Kermit the Frog meeting Miss Piggy’s parents for the first time. Kermit the Hog was a cautionary tale about pretending to be something you’re not. She still thinks it has potential.
Today, Christyne writes middle-grade novels across a number of genres. Whether they take place in quirky seaside towns or fantastical, faraway kingdoms, her stories all have one thing in common: clever kids accomplishing extraordinary things, like conquering a curse, overthrowing a king, or taking down an evil, brain-hacking corporation. Christyne believes that middle-grade books should challenge, intrigue, and inspire young readers – but above all, never underestimate them.
Christyne is the author of the middle-grade novels Trex, The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond, and Kingdom of Secrets. Trex was named an Eleanor Cameron Notable Book for Excellence in Science Fiction by the American Library Association and has been included on several state reading lists. Christyne is also the author of the poetry book, The Fool Catcher (2021), and the picture book, Abra, Cadabra & Bob (2019), and her poems and stories have appeared in Highlights, Spider, and The School Magazine.
When Christyne isn’t writing for kids, she works as an attorney and loves reading, baking, drawing, and playing board games. She lives with her family in Decatur, Georgia.
I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links in this post. This helps support Pick a Good Book and allows us to continue bringing you great content.
