Fun beginning to a new fantasy series. Looking forward to seeing where this story leads :) ( )

I can't believe I almost forgot to add this to my books for 2015! This book was the beginning of my realization that, if I want to be a librarian working with children and youth, I better start reading more books for children and youth, even if I'm bogged down in papers and course readings. Not a bad decision either 'cause YA and middle-grade literature is seriously some of the best stuff out there. This one was fun! Very Lemony-Snickett-ish, but with some delightful twists at the end. ( )

After Anastasia's parents die in a tragic vacuum cleaner accident, she is whisked away by her aunties who live in an abandoned asylum. They work her hard. She discovers many strange things included two other boys there. The three of them figure they should to run for their lives after the aunties are revealed to be not what they seem. It's campy. Slow at first, but it grew on me eventually. Not enough to continue on with the series, however. ( )

This is my first children’s book review ever and it’s also the first children’s book I’ve read in a long time. Overall I loved the story and the entire concept. It was a fun novel with just the right amount of spooky stuff, giving the book a mysterious aura.

Our main protagonist, Anastasia, is whisked away by sinister ladies claiming to be her aunts and soon she learns the old asylum she’s living in is full of terrible secrets that are unraveled throughout the story. There is a constant feeling suspense in the novel which will keep young readers on their toes, but is not so heavy or dark that it’s not enjoyable. Grant’s goal is to make the story eerie, but keeps it light and adventurous.

Anastasia learns that she must leave the mansion when she learns about the aunts’ evil intentions and she becomes motivated to create an elaborate escape plan inspired by her favorite heroine Francie Dewdrop (that is much like Nancy Drew) with the help of friends Ollie and Quentin. And as I was reading, I noticed that the book reads like a Nancy Drew novel, which was one of my favorite series growing up.

I liked the switch between Anastasia’s and the narrator’s point-of-view. I also appreciated the narrator’s voice being a huge part of the storytelling process. I felt like anytime he/she spoke it was part of the story rather than overshadowing everything that was happening. I think this book would also make an excellent audio book with the right voice actor since the narration is done so well.

The illustrations are also quite lovely too. They match up perfectly with the events in the story. The drawings are simple, but help readers with visualization and spark their imaginations even further. ( )

Received this is my November Lit-Cube. Not my style and it doesn't help that pages 23-54 are repeated where pages 247-278 should be so I'm missing a few chapters of story. ( )