The ghost of midnight lake

Set in England's Lake District in 1899, Strange's (Our Castle by the Sea) gripping riches-to-rags story hearkens back to Victorian classics, employing strong gothic elements alongside matters of inheritance and parenthood. Lady Agatha Asquith, 12, is cast out of her ancestral home when the father she's known, the Earl of Gosswater, dies, and the male heir--Agatha's cruel, recently arrived cousin Clarence--reveals her true lineage. Under the care of her newfound biological father at his small cottage, Agatha struggles to adapt to her new circumstances, tending geese and doing household chores. But she slowly recasts herself as Aggie and befriends orphan Bryn, with whom she sneaks out to explore nearby Skelter Island, where lies the Asquiths' cemetery. The plot thickens when a ghost girl appears and Aggie attempts to find the lost Queen Stone belonging to the Asquith line. Though Clarence proves predictably dastardly, he remains an effective foil throughout, while a spookily atmospheric historical setting; strong friendships among the appealing, presumed-white cast members; and a memorable heroine propel this ghostly mystery. Ages 8--12. (Sept.)

This quickly paced gothic tale takes us to England's Lake District, 1899. Twelve-year-old Lady Agatha Asquith's elderly father has just died, and the new Earl of Gosswater, her sleazy cousin Clarence, summarily boots Aggie from her home. Even more outrageously, Aggie is told that the old earl wasn't really her father; in his will he decreed that she now live with her birth father, Thomas, a farmer she has never met. And even as she struggles to adjust to her new status, and learns to respect and trust Thomas, she's pursued and tormented by Clarence. He's certain Aggie knows the whereabouts of the legendary Gosswater opals and will perform any cruelty to get them. The story is stuffed with wintry adventures in small boats, icy treks over mountain passes, rose-fragrant visitations from a ghostly maiden, and ill-advised schemes. Characters are sharp, extreme, and sometimes colorfully eccentric, and the action moves toward an explosive and unpredictable finish. At heart, though, this is the tale of Aggie finding a loving family and friends, at last. Deirdre F. Baker March/April 2022 p.(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When her life changes overnight, Agatha finds herself in the middle of a ghost story, bravely unraveling her family's hidden truths. It's the turn of the 20th century in England, and 12-year-old Agatha is forced into a new life. Upon her father's death, she is disinherited from Gosswater Hall after learning that she was secretly--and not entirely legally--adopted, and her greedy, malicious cousin, Clarence, is taking over the vast estate. Agatha is sent to live with her biological father in his modest farm cottage, but she's bent on undoing Clarence's evil and fighting for what has been bequeathed to her--the Queen Stone, a priceless family heirloom whose whereabouts are unknown--and discovering the truth about who she is. Strange's writing makes for a compelling read full of vivid descriptions and characters that are well imagined and richly drawn. Agatha is a strong and capable female lead, vulnerable enough to be believable and brave enough to remake her life. Others, like the midwife and mystic Moll Speedwell, a cantankerous goose named Susan, and Agatha's friend Bryn, are irresistible, lively, fully formed characters. The titular ghost and other atmospheric elements evoke Brontë-an imagery just enough to spook but not terrorize. The story hits the right note thanks to expert plotting and pacing, with each twist and turn setting up what's to come without being overly predictable. Characters are presumed White. A pitch-perfect page-turner. (Historical mystery. 9-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.