The Mysterious Howling | 
“You see, it is a governess‘s job to bring order where once there was chaos, civility where once there was savagery, and knowledge where once there was ignorance.”
“You see, it is a governess‘s job to bring order where once there was chaos, civility where once there was savagery, and knowledge where once there was ignorance.”
so-soIn The Mysterious Howling, Maryrose Wood explores the “what if” question of what would happen if children were raised outside of society. The story makes readers think about what truly makes someone human, nature or nurture, and how kindness and understanding can change people. It also questions how society treats those who are different, showing that acceptance matters more than manners or status.
The Mysterious Howling is a great novel to use for teaching character development, inference, and theme. Students can analyze how Miss Penelope Lumley helps the children adapt to society while uncovering the mystery of their past. The story also opens up discussions about acceptance, empathy, and what makes a family.
pickI normally don't do historical fiction much because it just feels kind of boring sometimes but this was a nice mix of historical with the narrator relating things to modern sensibilities. I liked that we get a kind of subtle mystery with clues that are fairly obvious to my adult perception but may be more subtle to the target audience. I found the characters engaging and the open ending made me want to pick up the next one immediately.
#BookReport
I‘m behind on reviews but fairly good reading week as I enjoyed the first two in the Ashton Place series. They are not really standalone so I keep reading on to see what happens.
#WeeklyForecast
My goal this week is to try and make more progress in station 11 but knowing me it will probably be all Ashton Place next week lol.
so-soSet in Victorian England, this is the first in a middle grade series featuring governess Penelope Lumley & her charges, known as the Incorrigibles. Much of the narration I think is to mimic Lemony Snicket‘s narrator for the Series of Unfortunate Events; it falls flat on that mark. I‘m also a bit horrified by the kids‘ treatment from a few adults. Nevertheless, I want to keep reading the series. Book 1 in #BBRC #CoverChangeMidSeries #MiddleGrade .
