Growing into their true natures amid revelations and marked physical changes, the two spark escalating rivalry between the wings of the school. Gradually-too gradually, as the author strings out hundreds of pages of Hogwarts-style pranks, classroom mishaps and competitions both academic and romantic-it becomes clear that the placement wasn’t a mistake at all. When it happens to sweet, Disney princess–like Sophie and her friend Agatha, plain of features, sour of disposition and low of self-esteem, they are both horrified to discover that they’ve been dropped not where they expect but at Evil and at Good respectively. Those who survive to graduate become major or minor characters in fairy tales. Adopted Milo, who has become conscious of the ways the world assumes things about him and his Chinese heritage, takes on a new hero persona that offers him confidence and insight into his emotions and strengths.Ī brainy, satisfying assemblage of puzzles with an immensely likable protagonist.Ĭhainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied.Įvery four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school. Milford’s clever, complex plot is full of humor, tantalizing clues, and stories within the story. Milo and his parents invite the carolers in, but a ceremonial chimney cleaning results in an overnight stay-and the game is afoot.
And then a troupe of midwinter revelers arrives in a kind of Morris-dancing tradition, singing carols and traveling with the horned skull of a hobby horse and a chimney sweep. They hoped to find Cross’ derrotero, an incalculably valuable nautical map of the impossible, changing River Skidwrack.
They’ve recently pulled off a caper, recovering a stash belonging to legendary smuggler Violet Cross. A young man who claims to be an art student, studying the famous stained-glass windows of the house, is the sole guest until Georgie and Clem, young women who met the year before at Greenglass House, arrive. Just before Christmas Greenglass House is filled with unexpected visitors. Winter in the inn above the River Skidwrack finds Milo and his parents hosting several guests who are not what they seem-and a mystery to be solved.
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