School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-After Elizabeth's mother runs off, Elizabeth's botanically inclined father takes her along in a retreat to his childhood home of Witheringe House, a many-roomed mansion on a fog-shrouded green, with an atmosphere that emphasizes the "wither" in its name. Elizabeth's invisible friend, Zenobia, is excited by the change in location: she's always preferred dead trees in a landscape. The possibility that spirits may inhabit the house makes it more enticing to Zenobia, if not to Elizabeth. With Mrs. Purswell keeping house, and Miss Clemency for a tutor, Elizabeth, urged on by Zenobia, still finds time to explore for spirit presence. The story is delightfully creepy, with flickering candles, an amateur séance, a tumbledown gardener's shack, a missing aunt, and wallpaper with a mind of its own. Shiromi Arserio narrates with a gentle English accent, adding just enough petulance to Zenobia's tone when Elizabeth hesitates at entering Witheringe's forbidden East Wing. The black-and-white illustrations channel the spirit of Edward Gorey and are included as a PDF with the audiobook. VERDICT Just the right mix of mysterious and creepy for those not quite ready for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Consider for most middle school collections.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Actor Arserio's crisp narration of Miller's middle grade novel captures the moody atmosphere of its gothic setting and the endearing nature of the friendship between its two protagonists. Mixing elements of ghost story and coming-of-age tale, the story follows a young, timid girl named Elizabeth, who, after being abandoned by her mother, moves with her distracted scientist father into his childhood home, an empty mansion called Witheringe House. Lonely and unable to attract her dad's attention, Elizabeth finds companionship in Zenobia, a snarky friend who no one else can see. As Elizabeth and Zenobia roam the mansion, they detect ghosts and spirits that Elizabeth's father and the stoic housekeeper dismiss as figments of Elizabeth's imagination. Arserio reads the tale in low and mysterious tones that add intrigue and suspense. The book balances gruesome, spooky elements with the friendly banter between Elizabeth and Zenobia; Arserio's narration provides the right proportions of tension and humor. Ages 9-13. An Amulet hardcover. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
