'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Monday 20 May 2013

Review: Tuesdays at the Castle

Sometimes, when Castle Glower gets bored, it grows a new room. A new turret here, an extra dining hall there. Some people find the constantly changing castle confusing, but Princess Celie wouldn’t have it any other way. She loves to map out the unexpected twists and turns of her enchanted home.

When the King and Queen of Sleyne are ambushed by bandits, Princess Celie, her brother Rolf and sister Lilah must protect each other as they try to find out what happened to their parents. Who ambushed the King and Queen and who can the young royals trust? Can their beloved castle keep them safe until the truth is discovered?

Tuesdays at the Castle is an exciting junior fiction adventure story. Celie is a fantastic central character full of energy, ideas, courage and a wonderful sense of fun. The conflict between good and evil (Celie and her family against those who want to take over the Kingdom when the King and Queen go missing) creates tension within the story without being too confronting or scary, making Tuesdays at the Castle a great choice for advanced younger readers.

Children will also appreciate the relationship between the three siblings, especially between the fun-loving, adventurous Celie and her sensible older sister Lilah. There are lots of great characters within the story and Castle Glower has so much personality that it can really be considered a character as well, and a very entertaining one at that.

A wonderful mix of plot, character, humour, enchantment and intrigue, I have already enthusiastically recommended Tuesdays at the Castle to friends for their children and I’m looking forward to seeing how the series develops in the future.

A sequel, Wednesdays in the Tower, is scheduled to be published later in 2013.


Title: Tuesdays at the Castle
Author: Jessica Day George
Publisher: Bloomsbury, $15.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 April 2013
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781408831984
For ages: 9-12
Type: Junior Fiction