Cousins in the Castle

by Barbara Brooks Wallace

Book Overview

"How," Amelia wonders, "could four short months have such a wonderful beginning and such a grim and terrible ending?" Why must she now find herself riding to the docks of London en route to a strange... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 068980637X
• ISBN13: 9780689806377
• Release Date: April 1996
• Publisher: Atheneum Books
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Jaclynn Soranno

Imagine if you had no mother, and you thought your father died? Then you are forced to live with the closest relative to your name, who doesn't want you there anymore than you want to be there. In Cousins In The Castle, Amelia had to go through this. Cousins in the Castle is a fictional story by Barbara Brooks Wallace, who also wrote Peppermints In The Parlor, and The Twin In The Tavern. Amelia Fairwick, who lives in London, had recently lost her father, and is forced to move in with her distant cousin, Basil Desmond, who lives in New York. To get there, she has to take a boat trip. Since Basil couldn't make it there to pick her up, he sent his sister, Amelia's other cousin, Charlotte. She was very dull and quiet, and there was always something suspicious about her. She gave Amelia specific orders to follow while she was on the ship. She was to talk to no one unless spoken to, and most importantly, she could not make any new friends. Amelia did however, make a friend. Her name was Primrose, and she was a performer at Castle Theater in NYC. After the boat trip, she was secretly abandoned by her cousin Charlotte, and picked up by a lady named Mrs. Dobbins, who ended up kidnapping her. Amelia managed to escape and make her way to Castle Theater to see if Primrose could help her. Even though they eventually got caught and she was returned to her cousin Basil's house where she faces the biggest problem and solves the biggest mystery of all. I enjoyed reading this book because it was very mysterious. It was like the characters were walking right off the pages! I recommend it to people who like mysteries, and good plots.

Twists and turns keep you on edge

Very enjoyable kids book with enough twists and turns to keep you on edge and guessing. Really felt the anxiety of the main character who was in what felt like a helpless situation. All around just a good fun read that kids 5th-7th grade would enjoy.

TOTALLY COOL!!

This book is GREAT! its sooo full of twists and turns that if you were to (try) and tell about it to someone you would be talking for hours!! The ending is soo cool!! VERY unexpected! Anyone who loves a good book would like this one! When eleven yr old Amelia finds out her dad died in a fire she thinks nothing could be worse, but when she finds out that she can't live with her soon to be stepmom (who is really nice) she is Very disapointed, but things get worse, she has to live with her cousin basil (in New york soo faraway from london)(her real moms cousin) whom she has never met! but its not cousin basil himself who comes to acompany her on the ship from london its his sister, who barely ever talks and is about as MEAN as you can get, but things get worse when they finally get to NY, the lady abandons her (cousin basils sister) and her new friend that she made on the ship has already left, primrose. so a kindly old lady takes her in so she can be fead and finally get some sleep, but nothing is as it seems she is now a prisoner again! Tricked Again! But this time by an old lady! This book has a suprising ending! I love it!

Twists and Turns!

Amelia Fairwick is a rich, eleven-year-old girl from London. She only has her father and he goes away on a business trip and she stays at Mrs. Draper's Select Academy for Girls as a boarding student. A letter comes and apparently Mr. Fairwick has been killed in a hotel fire. Amelia is to go live in New York with Cousin Basil, her closest living relative. He is a distant cousin of her mother. She wants to stay and live with Aunt Felicia, who is not really her aunt; she is going to marry her father, but she cannot.She sets sail on the SS Sylvania with Cousin Charlotte, who is Cousin Basil's sister. Cousin Charlotte is a cruel, dark dressing, icy person. She barely speaks to Amelia, let alone anyone else. On the dock, Amelia sees a young girl who she suspects is a princess. When the ship docks in New York, Cousin Charlotte deserts Amelia. A kind old lady named Mrs. Dobbins and her son Elmo help Amelia and take her to their home. But in the morning, this are not as they seemed. Amelia realizes she is being held a prisoner, but why? This book is filled with adventure and suspense. It was difficult to put down and is filled with twists and turns. The setting and character description makes the book even more exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all those who enjoy mysteries and suspense.

A completely excellent book!

This was an excellent book. I couldn't put it down. Ameila, the main character, has gone through some very depressing times lately, and when she must go with spookily quiet and strict cousin Charolette, It just makes matters worse. No one turns out to be who they seem, and sometimes, it's for the better. Everyone is betraying her, but this fabulous storie has a wonderful outcome. RL: 10-13