Clue in the Castle Tower: A Samantha Mystery (American Girl Mysteries Series)

by Sarah Masters Buckey, Sergio Giovine (Illustrator)

Overview

When Samantha and Nellie travel to England with Grandmary and the Admiral, they visit an old friend of the Admiral's--an English knight who lives in an ancient manor house, next to castle ruins that are rumored to be haunted. They glimpse strange sights in the castle tower at night--and learn that valuable old books are disappearing from the manor's library. Samantha and Nellie join forces with the knight's mischievous twin nephews to find out who--or what--is behind the strange goings-on.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781593697518
Publisher:	American Girl Publishing
Publication date:	03/28/2011
Series:	American Girl Mysteries Series
Pages:	172
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

Editorial Reviews

When young Samantha and Nellie visit some family friends in England, they expect to find unusual cultures, food, and customs. But they don't expect to find themselves ensnared in a mystery that will have a large impact on the lives of the people around them. Set in the early 1900's, this book concerns alarming events at run-down castle. A ghost seems to be roaming about, but equally distressing is the fact that some rare and valuable first-edition books have turned up missing. The two girls, with the help of some mischievous boys, try to figure out who is stealing the books. The list of suspects is long, and includes a poor maid, a young lady pursuing a career as a newspaperwoman, and a grumpy housekeeper, among others. When Samantha and Nellie solve the mystery, however, they find that the answer provides some surprising and welcome news for everyone—including the erstwhile ghost. This new "Samantha Mystery" has all of the hallmarks of the "American Girl" series: good writing, characters that readers care about, and wholesome values. At the back of the book are photographs of 20th-century England, along with explanations of some of the ideas and customs described in the novel. Girls who already have and love their "Samantha" doll from the American Girl Company will enjoy this novel, but even those who aren't familiar with the popular franchise are likely to be entertained as well. Reviewer: Leona Illig

Children's Literature - Leona Illig