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14th out of 286 books
—
198 voters
Peppermints in the Parlor
Emily Luccock is looking forward to living at Sugar Hill Hall...She remembers her aunt and uncle's grand old mansion well. But this time things are different. Her aunt's once bright and lively home is now dead with silence. Evil lurks in every corner and the dark, shadowed walls watch and whisper late at night. Emily is desperate to uncover the truth about what is happenin...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
April 26th 2005
by Aladdin
(first published July 1st 1980)
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Cute alliterative title! Cute Blanche Sims cover!
I was expecting something like a cross between A Little Princess and John Bellairs (um, his books, that is). This is a lot darker than that. Have you read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase? Imagine if the entire book were like the middle section, when Bonnie and Sylvia are sent to the horrible "orphanage" workhouse, where all the girls work their fingers to the bone while cold and hungry and afraid. Anyone would bare tales for a morsel of food, so t...more
I was expecting something like a cross between A Little Princess and John Bellairs (um, his books, that is). This is a lot darker than that. Have you read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase? Imagine if the entire book were like the middle section, when Bonnie and Sylvia are sent to the horrible "orphanage" workhouse, where all the girls work their fingers to the bone while cold and hungry and afraid. Anyone would bare tales for a morsel of food, so t...more
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Jun 11, 2007
Emily
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fans of the boxcar children and oppressed orphans
Shelves:
childrensbooks
In combination with the [much better-crafted] A Little Princess of Frances Hodgson Burnett, this book shaped many years of my pretending to be an overworked starving orphan at the mercy of a cruel mistress who made me do chores. Any resemblance to my actual mother is probably exaggerated and not really fair, but I can't help what I thought. Other reasons I liked this book, which is entertaining and tolerably suspenseful the first time through although it's not by any means a masterpiece, include...more
I picked this book off the shelf based on its title, which I really like. It was an enjoyable book, although not exactly my favorite book ever. Emily is a likable and sympathetic protagonist, and the story is written effectively so that the reader discovers things at the same time as Emily. I was kind of amused to discover that it is considered "horror." Nothing really scary happens in the book. I hated scary things when I was younger (actually, I still do), and I would have been fine with this...more
I read this book because a few of my students told me they loved it when their fourth grade teacher read it to them. So I picked it up at the school library expecting it to be a quick read. However, it took me a lot longer than I expected to read the book. I didn't really get into the book till about page 140 and then the last 50 pages were the best part of the book. I think the author spent too much time trying to set up the characters and in the end confused me on pretty much everything. The t...more
Mar 22, 2009
Caitlyn
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Caitlyn by:
my 5th grade teacher
For so long I had a vague memory of this book from when I read it in 5th grade. I knew it had something to do with a parlor and I could almost picture the front cover... but beyond that I couldn't remember a thing. A couple of weeks ago, out of nowhere, the name Peppermints in the Parlor popped in my head and within 10 minutes I had purchased the book on amazon. I just finished it this morning and it was every bit as good as it was when I was 10. I was on the edge of my seat during the entire bo...more
It's really a shame that Goodreads doesn't display the original Atheneum hardcover because the art is exquisite, and it's what drew me to the book in the first place. The characters are instantly recognizable and oozing with personality, while the rich colors and patterns of the parlor and old-fashioned curlicues woven into the type offer a visual feast. In contrast, the various reissues appear somewhat garish and fail utterly to capture the spirit of the book.
At any rate, the story had it's ups...more
At any rate, the story had it's ups...more
Interesting little mystery story. Lots of questions to ask. I enjoyed the ending. Best of all, we met the author! This was for a book club for William and his friend, Brian. We'll do some peppermint activities, explore aspects of mysteries. We had a fun visit with Mrs. Wallace. She was happy to see that the boys enjoyed her book and signed a copy for each of them. She talked about the challenges of being an author and also the excitement at having received some awards for her writing and answere...more
When I was in the library The Perils of the Peppermints caught my eye. Knowing my personal history of reading books out of order, I decided to check first before grabbing it. Sure enough, it's a sequel. I opted to read the original first, Peppermints in the Parlor by Barbara Brooks Wallace.
A young well to do girl, Emily Luccock, is sent to live at Sugar Hill Hall in San Francisco after the untimely death of her family. She remembers happy times there with her aunt and uncle and is shocked to see...more
A young well to do girl, Emily Luccock, is sent to live at Sugar Hill Hall in San Francisco after the untimely death of her family. She remembers happy times there with her aunt and uncle and is shocked to see...more
I remember the feel of the chair I was sitting in and how my mom had the living room layed out and that there was hot cocoa in my hand and a fire in the fire place when i read this. It was sometime in the late 80's and this book was such a wonderful adventure that I never forgot it. I have given this book to so many kids who still have the adventure with this little girl who is trying to find out where her uncle went and bring joy to eveyone who live in this depressing home. Grades 4+
Aug 23, 2010
rabbitprincess
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to rabbitprincess by:
great-great aunt
Shelves:
cadeau,
elementary-school
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I was always a sucker for a good orphan-faces-adversity story (especially if the villain is well-done...and she is), and this is one of my favorites. Wallace always delivers. If you like this one, also try the sequel, The Perils of Peppermints, and Wallace's other orphan tales, including Cousins in the Castle (1996); Ghosts in the Gallery (2000); Secret in St. Something (2001); Sparrows in the Scullery (1997); and The Twin in the Tavern (1993).
Feb 18, 2009
Lisa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Frances Hodgson Burnett fans, mystery lovers
Orphaned heiress (now penniless), strange dwelling, evil villainess... the markings of more than one literary classic.
While this is no "A Little Princess" it is still a worthwhile read. The heroine is a likable child and they mystery is well told with some great twists. I had fun reading it and Mrs. Meeching is truly one of the most despicable villains in children's literature.
While this is no "A Little Princess" it is still a worthwhile read. The heroine is a likable child and they mystery is well told with some great twists. I had fun reading it and Mrs. Meeching is truly one of the most despicable villains in children's literature.
I absolutely LOVED this book when I read it as a young'un. I was dying to re-read it, then, as an adult. I barely remembered any of it, however - it was pretty much all new to me. All I could recall was that there was a mystery involved. I do believe I enjoyed it better when I was younger, but it is still well-written, and now I simply must read the sequel...
PS: There's a cute kitten scene!
PS: There's a cute kitten scene!
Emily is sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle after her parents death. She had visited them once before when she was much younger; she remembers a huge mansion and that her Aunt and Uncle were fun and happy and very much in love. However, an old women in rags meets her at the train station. And she is shocked to discover that is is her Aunt. What's even more frightning is that her Aunt tells her to "be brave" no matter what happens". Why does she need to be brave and what happened to her Uncle?
I was excited to read this again after coming across my first edition copy of this book while searching through a storage box at my folk's house. It's such a fun little mystery and how could it not be with characters such as the sea faring Cap’n Scurlock, the deceptively kind Aunty Plum and the slithering snakelike Mrs. Meeching. Dingus! Nothing a little fish syrup can’t cure. Fun read.
I enjoyed re-reading this one. I remember it fondly as one of the first books I really liked. Not quite as good as I remembered, but still enjoyable. I tried reading it out loud to my kids, and they weren't impressed and left me to finish it on my own. The ending was a little too abrupt and wasn't completely realistic. I'd still recommend it.
What a fun way to introduce children to the mystery genre! I loved this book each year my 4th grade class read it. And looked forward to the month that we were reading mystery books to see the pleasure in the eyes of my students as we discussed the book. You really need to read this charming book!
I read this when I was little and thought it was terrifying. Reading it this time, I thought it was kind of like Jamaica Inn for children, but with slightly less sadism and a more child-like ending. Still a scary, entertaining read, especially good for kids.
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!! My teacher read it to my class in fourth grade and i can still picture the peppermints and the mean old lady. This book is such a good mystery. I dont remember the whole book because I read it years ago but i just remember enough to know i loved it!
I love the Dickensian aura Wallace establishes here. Emily Luccock and her friend Kipper are appealing protagonists, and the old people stranded in Sugar Hill Hall add tenderness to the mystery.
Apr 02, 2009
Ashley (mac&chip)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2009-books
This was one of my favorite childhood books. In fact, this was the first chapter book I ever read, and checked it out at my elementary school library multiple times.
I read it again for the Spring Book Club Challenge on The Nest, and it was so wonderful reading it again. I forgot the ending and only remembered bits and pieces of the book, so it was like I was reading the mystery book for the first time.
I read it again for the Spring Book Club Challenge on The Nest, and it was so wonderful reading it again. I forgot the ending and only remembered bits and pieces of the book, so it was like I was reading the mystery book for the first time.
Classic story of an orphaned girl sent to live in terrible conditions. She helps solve the mystery of why her aunt is virtually held hostage by the women running a home for the elderly.
My imagination as a child really developed from this book. I love to re read it every few years and I still get drawn into the mystery and you can't help but hope there is a happy ending.
I will never forget reading this in fifth grade English. I always read ahead because I couldn't stand the suspense. I almost always got caught, but I'd do it again in a heart beat!
I read this book when I was in sixth grade and it is one that I have good memories of. I plan on reading it to my girls and hope that I find the re-read as good as my memories.
I read this book twice as a child and once as an adult. Haunting, creepy, vivid, sort of Dahl-esque...for some reason this book conjures up imagery that just stays with me.
I read this so long ago, and I thought Nicole might like it. I remember not liking the beginning, but choosing to finish the book anyway, and ending up loving it.
Emily Luccock is looking forward to living in the bright, huge, sunny mansion called, Sugar Hill Hall. When she gets to San Francisco she gets to Sugar Hill Hall and it was the complete opposite then what she was expecting. There is the malicious Mrs.Meeching, the sweet Mrs. Plumly, the demanding Tilly, the fishmongers boy Kipper, all the shadows in other words the old people, and poor terrified little emily. Emily has to solve all of the mysterious mysteries going around in the strange and pecu...more
This is a cute, clean book. But that is mostly because it is written for children. There is a sequel as well, though I don't remember much about it.
Awesome mystery. Great characters, fantastic mood setting-- very dark and creepy. Kids will love hearing it. Great vocabulary and sentence structure.
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Award-winning American children's writer. Has received, among others, the NLAPW Children's Book Award and International Youth Library "Best of the Best" for 'Claudia' (2001), as well as the William Allen White Children's Book Award for 'Peppermints in the Parlor' (1983).
Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China, but then moved to the United States. San Francisco was often a port of entry f...more
More about Barbara Brooks Wallace...
Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China, but then moved to the United States. San Francisco was often a port of entry f...more
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