June 1, 2011
This enjoyable romp turns mischief into political action and a stone palace into a cunning character.
Castle Glower always chooses its own king, and its current is Celie's father. Celie's family knows the castle's rules—for example, no matter where you are, "if you turned left three times and climbed through the next window, you'd end up in the kitchens"—so they navigate fine, even when Castle Glower gets bored of a Tuesday and grows a new room or hallway. When disaster strikes, the castle's protective love becomes paramount. Celie's parents and eldest brother Bran are reported killed in an ambush, leaving three siblings at home to fend off a foreign prince who's trying to assassinate Celie's brother Rolf and steal the crown. Pranks such as spreading manure on the soles of shoes and snipping threads so the baddies' clothes fall off make the siblings (and readers) giggle, but underneath the capers lies a bit of deftly written grief and fear. Luckily there are comforting clues: If King Glower were really dead, wouldn't this sentient, active castle have adapted heir Rolf's bedroom into a king's room? Instead, the foreign prince's rooms become ever smaller and bleaker, proving the castle's disapproval; but Celie and sibs still need to win the day. Never fear: These kids are clever, as is George's lively adventure.
May pique castle envy. (Fantasy. 8-11)
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November 1, 2011
Gr 4-8-Princess Celie has been trying to map out the rooms in her beloved Castle Glower. The difficulty is that it whimsically manufactures, alters, and moves its rooms around whenever it deems necessary. It has chosen the kings of Sleyne, including Celie's father, King Glower the 79th, and his heir, Celie's brother Rolf. Everyone finds the meddling castle delightful and proper until the king and queen are ambushed and presumed dead. Now it seems that the Royal Council has treason in mind as it threatens Rolf, Celie, and their sister, Lilah. Celie relies on Castle Glower's affectionate interference to help them quash the cabal and reinstate the rightful rulers. Castle Glower is the true star of this charming story of court intrigue and magic. A satisfying mix of Hogwarts and Howl's Moving Castle (Greenwillow, 1986), Castle Glower helps its true citizens, but never at the expense of plot or character development. Celie and her siblings have to display courage in order to deserve its help. Celie's escapades keep the action moving briskly. Adventure stories fans will enjoy this as much as children who wear their wizard cloaks proudly. It is a good for those not quite ready for Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted (HarperCollins, 1997) or Shannon Hale's Princess Academy (Bloomsbury, 2005). Most libraries will want to add Tuesdays to their fantasy collections. While the story stands alone, it is the first in a new series.-Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT
Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
August 1, 2014
Gr 3-6-Castle Glower is no ordinary castle, and on Tuesdays, it changes. Sometimes it adds a new turret, secret passage, or staircase; other times, the castle removes a room or hallway. Nobody understands how the Castle does what it does, but 11-year-old Princess Celie knows the castle better than anybody, since she spends her free time exploring its depths and mapping her discoveries in her atlas. When the king and queen disappear and are presumed dead, power-hungry regents and foreign kingdoms invade and plot to dethrone Celie's brother, Rolf, the newly crowned king. Along with their sister, Lilah, the Glower children must band together and use their wits to hold on to their beloved home and kingdom. George's magic-infused adventure has a solid plot, an enchanting setting, and memorable characters. Narrator Suzy Jackson brings this spellbinding world to life, making the extraordinary sound believable. With her varied accents and menacing undertones, Jackson's depictions of the foreign dignitaries and treasonous councillors keeps the dialogue fresh and satisfying, but it's her portrayal of the feisty Celie that really stands out. Jackson imbues her with a youthful exuberance that can be heard in her quick-witted responses and her fierce declarations that her parents are still alive. Underlying it all is Celie's affection for the castle and her sense of wonder at what it can do, which Jackson deftly voices with tenderness. A highly recommended addition to libraries' middle grade collections.-"Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH"
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.