The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Series #1)

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The Mysterious Howling (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Series #1)

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Overview

The first book in the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place—the acclaimed and hilarious Victorian mystery series by Maryrose Wood, perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and Trenton Lee Stewart—has a brand-new look.

Discovered in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children. Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. A recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must eliminate their canine tendencies.

But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to civilize the Incorrigibles in time for Lady Constance's holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061791055
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/23/2010
Series:	Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place Series , #1
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	1000L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Maryrose Wood is a former Broadway actor, comedian, and playwright. She has written young-adult novels and most recently wrote her first middle-grade novel, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place.

What People are Saying About This

Adam Rex

Every newspaper and website in America is going to tell you that The Mysterious Howling will leave you HOWLING FOR MORE! So I’m not going to say that. But it’s really good.

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Editorial Reviews

"How hearty and delicious...Smartly written with a middle-grade audience in mind, this is both fun and funny and sprinkled with dollops of wisdom (thank you, Agatha Swanburne). How will it all turn out? Appetites whetted."

Booklist

How hearty and delicious...Smartly written with a middle-grade audience in mind, this is both fun and funny and sprinkled with dollops of wisdom (thank you, Agatha Swanburne). How will it all turn out? Appetites whetted.

Booklist (starred review)

In the tradition of Lemony Snicket's Baudelaire children, who live in a time and place where children are ignored and mistreated, villains lurk around every corner and teamwork proves to be a truly favorable trait, the Incorrigible Children enter the literary world. Three unidentified children have been discovered living in the woods within the vast grounds of Ashton Place. Upon their discovery and "capture," the Lord of this vast estate and his young bride engage a governess. Miss Lumley is a recent graduate of the Swanburne School for Poor Bright Females, and she is fully prepared to accept the challenge of teaching these children to behave in this very social world. The children, named Alexander, Beowulf and Cassiopeia by their discoverer, struggle to learn to speak and to display perfect manners. They are constantly watched by the senior gardener and the housekeeper. The fifteen-year-old governess uses all of her training to prepare these children for their public appearance at the estate's Christmas Ball, as demanded by Lord Frederick and Lady Constance. However, unknown sources are at work to undermine all of Miss Lumley's efforts and create chaos at the great Christmas Ball. Unexpected events at the Ball will cause Lady Constance to question her own control of her household and will bring new respect for Miss Lumley. This is Book 1 of a promised series about the "Incorrigible Children at Ashton Place." It will be an excellent series addition to middle school media centers and reading curriculums. Reviewer: Joyce Rice

Children's Literature - Joyce Rice

Gr 5–8—Jane Eyre meets Lemony Snicket in this smart, surprising satire of a 19th-century English governess story. A witty omniscient narrator speaks directly to modern readers and follows 15-year-old Penelope, recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, to British country manor Ashton Place, where conniving Lord Fredrick has discovered three wild children apparently raised by wolves while hunting in his vast forest property. To Lord Fredrick, who's named them Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia Incorrigible, the children are trophies and property ("Finder's keepers, what?"); to young Lady Constance they're savage nuisances who howl, chase squirrels, and gnaw on shoes. Enter Penelope Lumley, charged with taming them in time for a Christmas party, and bolstered by her top-notch classical education and an endless supply of platitudes from Agatha Swanburne. She also comes armed with a cherished book of poetry and her favorite fiction series, "Giddy-Yap, Rainbow!" There are stock characters, and there are mysteries. Most of all, without taking itself too seriously, there is commentary on writing itself, the dangers and the benefits of relying on books for moral courage, and the perils of drawing false expectations of the world from literature. Penelope shows growth, confronting issues of social class and expectation versus reality, and eventually realizing her own capacity for insight. Humorous antics and a climactic cliff-hanger ending will keep children turning pages and clamoring for the next volume, while more sophisticated readers will take away much more. Frequent plate-sized illustrations add wit and period flair.—Riva Pollard, Prospect Sierra Middle School, El Cerrito, CA

School Library Journal

Every newspaper and website in America is going to tell you that The Mysterious Howling will leave you HOWLING FOR MORE! So I’m not going to say that. But it’s really good.

Adam Rex