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Feb 20, 2011

Shana rated it:

If you see the date I finished this book, you may (or may not, who can say?) be surprised to know that I started it on July 22nd and only read on public transportation and a bit while walking down 7th Ave. in Manhattan on my way to work this morning. (That's dangerous, though, and I wouldn't recommend it even if you are rather experienced at reading and walking.)

I bought the book on a whim. I liked that it had the word "incorrigible" on the cover, and the illustration app More...

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Oct 05, 2010

Destinee rated it:

Another Lemony Snicket-y goody! Its only shortcoming as a book is that it's the first in a series and therefore a big tease. No revelations, just setup. But really funny, smart, enjoyable setup.

It's a fantastic audiobook--I dare say possibly better than reading it because the narrator does some awesome howling. Today I kept hearing "Lumawoo" and "Cassawoof" and "Nutsawoo" in my head. So great!

1 comment like (6 people liked it)

Jan 25, 2012

Mary rated it:

This is one of those books for children that is an enjoyable adult read. Lord Ashton, an avid hunter, apparently found in his woods three young children who had been abandoned to be raised by wolves. Lady Constance, his young and new wife hires Penelope Lumley to be their governess, though it isn't clear that anyone expects her to succeed in taming these wild children - let alone teach them Latin. Penelope, 15, is a graduate of Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, an optimist, and fond of More...

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Jan 07, 2012

Kiersten rated it:

I liked this book but was frustrated with it at the same time. There is a clear line between YA fiction and JF fiction (I guess the F there is redundant?), which is a good thing, but I hadn't read JF for a while, so that took a little bit of an adjustment. It was a fun book with a fun premise. It also had a good bit of mystery in it and was fun to read. I wish that there had been more, or, I guess, anything, from the children's point of view. I really liked Penelope, but I felt that it made More...

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Nov 06, 2011

Mara rated it:

First, I will reassure you that the "twist" in the end is not related to werewolves, as I was concerned at first. But that is all I will say concerning the end. Oh, and I am anxiously awaiting its sequel. Maryrose Wood's writing contains a flavor very, very similar to Lemony Snicket, and it is excessively amusing and a bit peculiar. The story, actually, is peculiar. With the three children displaying "doggy" attitudes, I was expecting to feel very close to them as characters, More...

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Jul 24, 2011

Alison rated it:

Imagine a cross between Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and Jane Eyre, and that would give you an idea of how engrossing and enjoyable the first book in Maryrose Wood's The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series is. Miss Penelope Lumley is 15 years old, and having completed her studies at Agatha Swanburne's Academy for Poor Bright Females, she is summoned to an interview at Ashton Place, the home of Lord and Lady Ashton. She is expecting a rigorous interview, and is instea More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 06, 2011

Sara rated it:

Just the title alone made me want to read this book. The premise, a young governess comes to take care of three children who were found in the woods and apparently have been raised by wolves, called to me in a way I have not been called in awhile. This book promised hilarity, adventure and perhaps a little more.
I got all that I expected from this book. Penelope is a recent graduate from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females and is hired at Ashton Place to care for the children. The More...

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Jul 01, 2011

Clover rated it:

I like the sensible governess in the story-- 15-year old Penelope, a graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, is a possible orphan (her teachers were a little vague when she asked them about that.) She is hired at Ashton Place to teach the three feral children the master found while hunting. Penelope teaches the children to talk, wear clothes, have good manners, etc. She is stood in good stead by her love of animals and her trove of Agatha Swanburne sayings (ex. "A well More...

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Feb 13, 2011

Charlyn rated it:

Hmmmm, take the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan. Then make Anne Sullivan a fifteen-year-old first-time nanny from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females and make Helen Keller three children raised by wolves and found by a wealthy landowner. Then set it in Victorian England and add large punches of Lemony Snicket-y humor and you've got a fair idea of this book. Oh, yes, make it a series, with the first one ending leaving the reader wanting more.

Alexander, Beowulf, an More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 28, 2010

Lj rated it:

This is a delightfully old-fashioned series about three children of unknown origin and their plucky governess, Miss Penelope Lumley, recent graduate of "The Swanburne Academey for Poor Bright Females." There are lots of similar tongue-in-cheek references that may go beyond the younger reader's head, but provide enjoyment for any adults who are reading along with their child. Lots of gothic touches abound: there's a spoiled young newlywed wife, a Lord who is obsessed with hunting, a cra More...

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Dec 03, 2010

Madeline rated it:

The Mysterous Howling by Maryrose Wood is a great book.It's about Miss Penolpe Lumly [lumawoo], graduate from swanburne school for poor girls who comes to apply for a job as a governess for three pupils. However when she meets them they in a barn howling and it turned out to be raised by wolves and lord ashton found them in the Ashton place woods. When Lady constance starts planning a christmas party all things go wrong.First of all Lord Ashton friends expect vial and visius creatures and [becau More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 01, 2010

Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it:

The Incorrigible's is a delightful, fun, brilliant read. With it's early 19th century historical setting, a narration that is both modern and fitting for the time period, and wonderful illustrations, made for a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

The story follows that of Miss Penelope Lumley, who's a 15 yr old graduate from the Swanburne Academy. She finds herself the governess at the Ashton Place and in charge of three children, whom Lord Ashton claimed he found and were raised by wolves in th More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 04, 2010

Keir rated it:

The Mysterious Howling is the first book in what promises to be an excellent new series. In the novel, 15-year-old Penelope Lumley becomes governess to three children who were literally raised by wolves. Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia Incorrigible became the wards of Lord Frederick Ashton after he discovered them in the woods of Ashton Place. The novel is playful, often laugh-out-loud funny, and mysterious in tone, raising more questions about its characters' pasts and motives than it answer More...

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Sep 16, 2010

Phillip rated it:

If the world has been waiting for new appraoch to the governess tale, it has finally arrived, and fifteen-year old Penelope Lumley fills the position quite well. Confident in the power of her education and upbringing as a Swanburne girl, newly graduated from Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females; as open hearted as Edith-Anne Pevington (the hero of Penelope's favorites series of pony stories, the "Giddy-Yap, Rainbow! stories; and, in the long run, as logical as that yet to be written More...

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Aug 20, 2010

Brittany rated it:

Well, it's official - someday in the future, I'll be the proud owner of a cat/guinea pig/small furry creature named Nutsawoo. And I'll definitely be picking up a copy of this book to read again and again.

Penelope Lumsey is 15-years-old and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females. With no family to speak of to return home to, Penelope takes up the first job offer she finds - an advertisement in the paper for a governess that is 'good with animals'. She trave More...

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Jul 27, 2010

M. rated it:

Miss Penelope Lumley, age 15 and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, has her first job-- governess to 3 children living at Ashton Place, a nobleman's manor. Note that the children live AT Ashton Place--not IN Ashton Place--as the children have been reared by wolves and are not considered fit for human company. Miss Lumley's first challenge is to convince Lady Constance that all children, regardless of their backgrounds, need to sleep in beds, communicate in Engl More...

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Jul 13, 2010

Callie rated it:

A great recommendation for kids who liked Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, or the few I can persuade to read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Might even appeal to Mysterious Benedict Society readers - the vocabulary is just as challenging but it isn't as action-packed. My favorite passage:

"My heavens!" Mrs. Clarke exclaimed. "I am sure I have never seen three such extraordinarily handsome and well-turned-out children!"
As you may know, complimenta More...

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Jul 04, 2010

David rated it:

The Mysterious Howling is a send up of Victorian society and gothic novels, with a heroine, Penelope Lumley, who at age 15 finds herself governess of three children, the Incorrigible's, apparently reaised by wolves. This will probably be a book you will either love or tolerate for its strong narrator's voice, often quoting Agatha Swanburne, founder of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females. Penelope, the main focus of most of this book, is so bright and so capable it strained my credibilt More...

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Jun 04, 2010

Barky rated it:

Miss Penelope Lumley (15 years old and a graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females) has just secured her first position as governess to the 3 children of Ashton Place. When she meets her new charges, however, she discovers that they are practically feral. Lord Ashton found them in the forest while he was hunting and decided to take them in on a whim. As far as Penelope can tell, the children’s prior caregivers were wolves – the children bark and howl and behave much as wolves More...

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May 25, 2010

Rebecca rated it:

Miss Penelope Lumley, a 15-year-old graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, is hired, suspiciously fast, as a governess for three unseen children living at Ashton Place. Ashton Place is owned and run by the mysterious and rarely seen, Lord Frederick Ashton and his new wife, the over-privileged, silly Lady Constance. I liked it very much that when Miss Lumley does meet the children she instantly knows the perfect way to react and manages the situation brillantly. And the sit More...

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May 24, 2010

Margo rated it:

In her first novel for middle-grade readers, author Maryrose Wood seems to channel both Lemony Snicket and Jane Eyre in this wickedly amusing tale of a naive 15-year old governess whose first job entails educating three children who have literally been raised by wolves. OK, it's not exactly historical fiction, but it does take place some time in the second half of the 19th century!

Our indomitable governess, educated at the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, is undaunted by the More...

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Jan 09, 2010

Paula rated it:

There are some serious problems with this book. I will present them in a list:

1. The sub-title, "The Mysterious Howling." This "mysterious howling" is only mentioned in the last chapter and never revealed. It is a weak attempt at drawing readers into committing to reading the next book in the series.

2. There is absolutely no reason for this book to become a series. There is not enough meat to it. It could have been a good one-off book, if the auth More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Oct 05, 2011

Amy rated it:

Miss Penelope Lumley has received her first job after graduating from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females. She is to be the governess of three children who reside at the wealthy Ashton manor. Thrilled by her good luck, Penelope endeavors to teach the children everything she can. But she quickly realizes that these children are different than most. Not only are they orphans, they were raised by wolves and are more canine than human. Undaunted, Penelope gets to work. But strange occurren More...

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Jun 23, 2011

Antonia rated it:

well. i was truly unsure how many stars to give. on a basic level it amused and entertained me. it was crafted well and if you suspend disbelief it all made sense in a way. however, what i thought it was: mills and boon romance for kids (which is not bad, i like a [mainly vampire related] romance once in a while). this was some cheap history related romance.
the style seemed a bit forced - it was forcefully cheerful. and alas, i am not fond of american spellings for a book supposedly set i More...

5 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 02, 2010

Tessa rated it:

I was afraid this would be gimmicky in some way, but it was really delightful. Very similar in tone to Lemony Snicket, too, with funny asides! For example:

p. 29:"When People experience a sudden, happy change of fortune, it often comes as a great shock to the system. Reckless personalities may do foolish and extravagent things, such as buying a yacht even if they are prone to seasickness and do not know their port side from their aft, while more cautious souls might busy thems More...

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Jun 05, 2010

Mt. Kisco Library rated it:

Have you been looking for a worthy successor of Joan Aiken or Diana Wynne Jones? If so, look no further! "The Mysterious Howling" is quirky, beautifully written, action packed, mysterious and hilarious! Reviewers have compared it to both "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and "Jane Eyre," but that comparison can give only the smallest hint of the book's flavor, which is delicious!
"The Mysterious Howling" centers on a 15 year old governess who has been More...

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May 28, 2010

Sarah rated it:

Miss Penelope Lumley, having graduated from Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, interviews for a position as governess at Ashton Place. Strangely, Lady Ashton doesn’t provide much information about the children during the interview; in fact, she seems to avoid talking about them at all. But before she knows it, Penelope is signing the (very generous) contract and is hired!

During the interview and while she’s getting situated in her new room, Penelope hears a strange sort of More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 04, 2010

Liza rated it:

Penelope, age 15, becomes the governess for three children who have been raised by wolves. Literally kept in a barn, Penelope coaxes them inside and introduces them to food, clothing, and general hygiene.

There are lots of moments for humor (what would you, for example, do with pants if you had never seen them before?) but some of it just plain seems offensive. Children running around on all fours, licking and biting people, and asking for their bellies to be rubbed is a bit much More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 01, 2012

Rebecca rated it:

I just love vacations, because I can spend days on end in the midst of a good book. This book is no exception. Penelope Lumley has recently acquired a governess position at the illustrious Ashton Place. Having just finished her schooling at the Swanburne Academy For Poor Bright Females, she feels as though she is perfect for the job. The only problem is, the three children seem to have been raised by wolves. They are, in the opinion of their adopted step-mother, incorrigible. They were found in More...

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Oct 28, 2010

Elaine rated it:

gr 3-5
Wow. Wow. Wow. This is such a fantastic books. And the first in a series called The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. It starts out oddly enough, with the narration being from the perspective of a 15 year old governess-to-be. There are so many things to like about this story - the voice, the way that the author slips in sophisticated words and concepts in a child-friendly way (even smoother than Lemony Snicket). It's smart, and funny, and mysterious, and though it seems tha More...

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