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The Mystery of the Old Castle
Who's in the tower?
Fourteen-year-old Gail Albright accepts a summer job babysitting in a grand old castle on the Columbia River. All at once she enters a Victorian world--a duchess, her son Lance, two grandchildren, and a gruff handyman.
Gail's summer is un unusual medly of picnics...suspicious accidents...the unhappiness of the frightened grandson...the pranks of his rowdy sister...the friendship of tall, amiable Wade Richards...and the mysterious sobbing in the night. Then Gail notices red drops on the tower stairway...!
Miles away from her family and home in Idaho, Gail relies on her faith, wits, and common sense to protect her and the children through a summer of intrigue and excitement.
Fourteen-year-old Gail Albright accepts a summer job babysitting in a grand old castle on the Columbia River. All at once she enters a Victorian world--a duchess, her son Lance, two grandchildren, and a gruff handyman.
Gail's summer is un unusual medly of picnics...suspicious accidents...the unhappiness of the frightened grandson...the pranks of his rowdy sister...the friendship of tall, amiable Wade Richards...and the mysterious sobbing in the night. Then Gail notices red drops on the tower stairway...!
Miles away from her family and home in Idaho, Gail relies on her faith, wits, and common sense to protect her and the children through a summer of intrigue and excitement.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 23, 2019
I think I remember enjoying this book as a girl, but it's not one I'll be keeping on my shelves for my children. Yes, there's a mild mystery, but it's handled in a somewhat creepy fashion with some very mean characters. There are also some undertones with comments the uncle makes to/about the teen who's nannying that seem inappropriate. In addition, the grandmother is very unkind/inappropriate in her discipline of her grandchildren. Overall, a definite disappointment.
March 14, 2021
it has my academy stars 4.I am copy my book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2013
What is an old castle without a ghost? This cute story about a 14 year-old girl who is quite sensible and mature for her age is from a religious publisher. The theme is Courage, but I'd perhaps call it more something like Steadiness.
Gail travels from her home in Idaho to Washington state for a summer of baby-sitting the grandchildren of her grandmother's old school friend. She finds the family living in a castle, although I don't see how it could be a very old one. Seven year-old Kevin is very timid and shy; his sister Becky is a few years older. The children's grandmother is called "The Duchess" by everyone and she acts like one. I didn't find her very warm and fuzzy; nor is she grandmotherly. The children's mother is dead and their father often away. Their Uncle Lance lives in the castle also but he is irresponsible and I held my breath every time the kids were with him. So the mystery: At night Gail hears sobbing coming from the tower and this terrorizes Kevin. The housekeeper is seen going into the tower but Gail and the children are forbidden to go near it.
This story has a mystery with a real culprit, although it's fairly easy to figure it out.
Gail travels from her home in Idaho to Washington state for a summer of baby-sitting the grandchildren of her grandmother's old school friend. She finds the family living in a castle, although I don't see how it could be a very old one. Seven year-old Kevin is very timid and shy; his sister Becky is a few years older. The children's grandmother is called "The Duchess" by everyone and she acts like one. I didn't find her very warm and fuzzy; nor is she grandmotherly. The children's mother is dead and their father often away. Their Uncle Lance lives in the castle also but he is irresponsible and I held my breath every time the kids were with him. So the mystery: At night Gail hears sobbing coming from the tower and this terrorizes Kevin. The housekeeper is seen going into the tower but Gail and the children are forbidden to go near it.
This story has a mystery with a real culprit, although it's fairly easy to figure it out.
August 21, 2018
The Mystery of the Old Castle
Zimmerman, Marjorie
this book is an early mystery written for elementary school children.
Zimmerman, Marjorie
this book is an early mystery written for elementary school children.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews