School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Young Ada Goth lives at Ghastly-Gorm Hall with her father, a famous poet. Lord Goth appears to have it all-everything except a close relationship with Ada, who reminds him of her deceased mother. Ada doesn't fret; she loves exploring the sprawling grounds surrounding her home and is always finding something new. Late one night, she encounters the ghost of a recently deceased mouse named Ishmael. Ishmael and Ada go looking for the mousetrap that ended Ishmael's corporeal life, only to discover some very strange activities afoot in the Goth household. Ada pursues her suspicions of her father's gamekeeper. She soon realizes that lives may be at stake and is determined to stop the gamekeeper's sinister plans. This title is the winner of the 2013 Costa Book Awards category for children's books, appearing in the United States for the first time. Gorgeous, intricately penned illustrations appear on almost every page, bursting with the characters' quirky personalities. The text is light, though packed with punny literary, cultural, and historical allusions. Readers with an appreciation for absurdity will devour the humorously frivolous details that abound, but those craving plot may grow fatigued by them. The narrative is quite simple; the real joys for readers here are a highly likable protagonist and the witty, exaggerated secondary character sketches. The suspense is authentic, and the sequels will surely continue to develop some of the secondary characters. A miniature book (Ishmael's memoirs) is included in a pocket on the back inside cover. VERDICT This title and its sequels will be snapped up by fans of quirky, atmospheric fantasy.-Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Lonely Ada Goth, the heroine of this beautifully designed Gothic tribute, shares the enormous Ghastly-Gorm Hall and its magnificent grounds with her father, Lord Goth, and countless servants, yet she has no one to talk to. After befriending the ghost of a mouse who needs her help, Ada begins boldly exploring her home, discovering new rooms, gardens, and friends while learning of a sinister plot being hatched by Maltravers, the creepy gamekeeper charged with organizing an annual indoor hunt inside the massive estate. Riddell's detailed illustrations demand and deserve attention, and the novel is delightful to thumb through, though the motley cast of characters can feel a bit like a Victorian menagerie, prizing oddity over depth. Laced with humorous 19th-century literary references sure to entertain older readers (a novelist named Mary Shellfish, an albatross named Coleridge) and plenty of quirky nonsense (including a vampire governess committed to cruelty-free eating), this series opener may be a bit light on plot but gamely sets the stage for more drolly dark fun to come. Ages 7-11. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Britain's children's laureate offers up another clever series bursting with charm and intrigue, as well as a number of playful jabs at gothic literature, in this Costa Book Award-winning title. Skull-embossed endpapers usher readers into Ghastly-Gorm Hall, where Ada Goth can generally be found exploring in loud, clumpy boots, as her father, Lord Goth, insists that children should be heard and not seen. Late one night, she is awoken by the wistful sighs of Ishmael, a ghost mouse, who asks Ada to help rid the house of its deadly mousetraps. Concerned but unperturbed ghosts are fairly common at the Hall Ada slips out of bed, and as the two wander the mansion's corridors, a mystery begins to take shape. Riddell stocks his narrative with storytelling's best bits an old house full of surprises, secret gardens, mythical creatures, mystery, absurdity, suspense, unexpected friendships and readers can't help but be delighted. Wonderful ink-pen illustrations adorn the chapters, adding detail and drama to the scenes, including an ingenious depiction of Lord Goth's Metaphorical Bicycle Race and footnotes written by a human foot. Most of the literary allusions will zip over young readers' heads, such as appearances by Tristram Shandygentleman and author Mary Shellfish, but just think of that as bonus content. Matching quality writing with pure entertainment, this series starter is a treat.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist
