The Case of the Haunted Chapel

Sisters of the Last Straw #1

by Karen Kelly Boyce

The Sisters of the Last Straw and the Case of the Haunted Chapel is the first in a series of children’s books that convey the fun-filled story of a group of misfit nuns. These sisters and their madcap adventures teach the importance of tolerance and forgiveness. Each book focuses on the virtues of Gospel living and the frailties of human nature. While children delight in the humor and fast-paced exploits of this special group of nuns, they learn the need to be forgiving of the faults of others and to look for the good in all people. Children are enchanted and entertained with the humorous escapades of the characters while learning the importance of basic Christian values, growth, and love.
 

Genres: Mystery, Catholic, Fiction, Childrens, Christian, Religion, Humor

92 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Karen Kelly Boyce rediscovered her love of writing and reading when she retired from nursing. She has been published in Canticle and Soul magazines. Karen's written four novels and three children's books. She lives on a farm with her retired husband. Karen has two grown children and two grandchildren. She enjoys farming and raises Nigerian Dwarf goats, chickens, turkeys, and horses. Karen and her husband Mike love camping and road trips. She enjoys visiting her grandchildren and is the leader of the Jackson Writer's group, Co-chair of the CJCCWG, and a member of the Catholic Writer's Guild.

Reviews

[Fergus, Weaver of Autistic Webs · Rating 4 out of 5]

An utterly delightful laugh-fest! Crammed, too, with useful morals for the kids.

I would have LOVED to become a Franciscan Brother of the Last Straw, because I can’t obey rules, just like these sisters. But Franciscan?

“Maybe not, Fergus - you fly into sudden Aspie rages when thwarted, just like these Sisters’ Mother Superior, only much odder!

“Face it, you’re not even cut out to be Christian, let alone CATHOLIC!”

You’re right, alas.

And that’s why I’m HOOKED on this new offbeat collection of kids’ stories!

How often has a word or gesture from me launched my long-suffering family and friends into frosty silences that say: “OK. THAT’s the LAST STRAW. You’ve crossed one line too many!”

Oh, the legacy of having been born autistic. But I’m stuck still with its seismic shocks.

But the much more normal among YOU will enjoy these books Hugely...

If, like me, you're a kid at heart.

Why not? The first two are still going at 2 bucks a pop.

There's no time like the present, if you wanna lighten up fast!

Plus, you stand to regain your Hilariously Human side...

The Preschooler You Who could Never Get Life Right!

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Given all the positive reviews, maybe I missed something but I didn’t find this book funny at all. The haunted nature was barely part of the book. I found the names of the nuns super annoying. Why can’t they have actual nun names - Sister Shiny? I know the idea is that the nuns didn’t make it in other convents because of bad habits but having a nun talk about how much she loves smoking just seemed odd in a children’s book. The other nun just thinks she’s beautiful and has a hard time not admiring herself in the mirror.

I thought it looked so cute. I am so glad I didn’t buy it.

[Magen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this aloud with my daughters and we all enjoyed it! I appreciate the relatability of the sisters and the kids really love their names. They all have bad habits that got them dismissed from other orders, and we see how they are working to overcome them while showing mercy and grace to one another. Lots of giggles and adventures while also teaching lessons on faith and God’s love. We can’t wait to get started on the next one in this series!

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Late last year I read the fifth book in this series, The Case of the Christmas Tree Capers, a Christmas story. I enjoyed it and appreciated the concept. I stated that it reminded me of Tales of a Magic Monastery by Theophane the Monk. And that sense is even stronger after reading the first volume. It is a cute read, and I have picked up the rest of the books in the series. I am prereading them, and then reading them with my youngest two children. A fun story in a fun and entertaining series.

In this volume we find out how the Sisters of the Last Straw were formed, and from whence they got their name. We meet a grouchy neighbour, a family in need, and a kindly priest.

The sisters in this story are fun, and the tale is often funny.

Sister Krumbles
Sister Shiny
Sister Lovely
Sister Lacey
Mother Mercy

The black and white illustrations by Sue Anderson Gioulis add to the story. The book teaches us about human nature, about living the gospel, and about trusting God. It also teaches us about the different strengths and weakness in different characters, and how to live in community. The nuns seem to end up in a lot of pickles. And from the chapter titles you always have a preview of what is about to happen next:

In a Big Jam
Goats on the Run
Sheer Genius
Up In Smoke
Strange Visitors
Secret Passages
Hidden Housemates
Continuing Capers

They lessons they learn, and the work they do can serve as examples to us, especially living in larger families. There are great lessons for the young readers the series is written for, and also for us older folks who might read it with or to them. It is a fun story in an entertaining series. And we look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Karen Kelly Boyce and Sue Gioulis.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW BY: Angel, age 9 years, 11 months

SPOILER ALERT:

This story is about a group of nuns that live in a house that has a chapel inside of it. Some of the nuns have bad habits. One of the nuns has a habit of saying bad words (NO BAD WORDS ARE ACTUALLY SAID IN THE STORY). The two nuns that have bad habits go to the chapel to tell God they are sorry. While they are in the chapel, they start hearing voices, so they start running and screaming. The other nuns come to the chapel to see what is wrong. They hear voices, but cannot see where the voices are coming from so they start screaming and running too. When the nuns go back in to the chapel to get the nun that stayed, they see that the nun slipped and fell. They then see a hidden door that is opened, and there is something in there.

My favorite part was when one of the nuns opens the front door and a puppy comes inside. The nuns are all scared of the puppy and make a mess of the kitchen. It was very funny. I think anyone that likes books that are funny and mysterious would enjoy reading this one. It is best for 3rd-5th graders. I liked this book so much that I give it 5 out of 5 stars!!

[Dennis McGeehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

On page two I read, "Son of a a a Sea Cook", and I was hooked. My mother used that saying when she was exasperated.

Beyond that epithet, Sisters of the Last Straw - The Case of the Haunted Chapel is a delightful read.

I was taken away from my real life concerns for a time while I was privy to share the lives of these nutty, yet all too human nuns.

The humor in the book is wonderful but also punctuated with the serious individual trials of these habit wearing women as they try to control their bad habits.

Real life issues are dealt with along with a seemingly supernatural problem. Yet all is well as the sisters in the end help themselves by helping others.

A great read for children and adults alike.

Dennis P McGeehan
Author of The Diaries of Joseph and Mary

[Holly Walling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teeny tiny chapter book about an order of misfit nuns who aren’t accepted anywhere else because of their very real faults. The nuns learn the love of Jesus amidst their faults, and invite others into that love too. They’re bumbling and silly, and also smart and real. My only critique is that I felt like it jumped around plot wise. But overall? Big fan.

[Leslea Wahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful children's story that the whole family will enjoy reading together.

[J.J. Lair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun little story of a group of nuns living together. The author wrote so vivid and clear that I could visualize some of the slap-stick humor. The jokes worked because there wasn't too long descriptions, no talking down the humor, it was funny.
It had humor and ended with a touch of religion. This wasn't pound on the head religion preaching, the point was made and I got it.
Funny and the point made.
Short story but fun story.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute middle-grade story! Kids should find the characters endearing and funny. The situations can encourage positive behavior. The illustrations made the book all the more charming.

[Michelle Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 2nd and Kindergarten girls really enjoyed this story as a read aloud/read together. My older daughter read this series a few years ago and enjoyed it, and our next level of girls is enjoying it now!
The Sisters of the Last straw each have a problem they struggle with that has kept them from entering other orders, so they have formed the Sisters of the Last Straw order. It's a fun story with a mystery to solve. We look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Intended for ages 6 - 12. Short and fun story about bumbling (& humble) nuns who have silly accidents and solve small mysteries.

I came into this series backwards and started with book #2, which I LOVED. I got my hands on book #1 and was disappointed. My biggest complaint is that this is an explicitly catholic book that utilizes the generic Scoopy-Doo/Nancy Drew "ghost" trope. (Spoiler: it is a misunderstanding, there is not a real ghost). I'm disappointed this catholic book traffics in this area and even more disappointed that they don't use the opportunity to teach anything about the catholic beliefs regarding death, spirits or the afterlife. All the nuns seem to immediately believe that ghosts are haunting their chapel.

Also potentially troubling in this book are the multiple paragraphs discussing a nun sneaking around to smoke cigarettes. (She knows she shouldn't but can't break the habit.) There is a great lesson that follows about the importance of not developing bad habits as well as reaching out for help from God and others to break bad habits.

All the characters are introduced in this first book as well as the origin of their convent. I was confused by the layout and size of the mansion that they live in. How could they not realize that there was an apartment-size space (kitchen, living room and two large bedrooms) hidden behind their chapel?!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to recommend this book even to my non-Catholic friends. This book is truly hilarious. It is all kinds of capers and nonsense like you might expect to find in something out of sister act. However, at the heart of the story, we see true gospel virtues and a decent mystery. Warning: at one point, one of the nuns sneaks down to the basement to smoke cigarettes. I was very upset when I read this. However, I must say, that it is handled exactly as it should be. All of the trouble associated with that kind of vice is clearly explained inside the context of theology of the body. Mother Mercy handles it in a way that is authentically gospel like.

For my Catholic friends: it is produced by Chesterton press. What more of an endorsement does it need?

For my non-Catholic friends: it is a very humorous and endearing look at the inside of a convent. It is goofy and not accurate but it does hold true to the basic ideas of what the inside of a convent would look like.

It really is a love story! The love that we should have for each other despite our weaknesses and shortcomings. The love that we should have for our Savior and His eternal forgiveness. The love we should have for our vocation.

The book is a delight! If you are local, Cathedral Book and Gift stocks them.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know there's a market out there for silly, slapstick humour where kids can think, "Look how stupid these adults act." Everything from Amelia Bedelia to Mr Bean (ugh)--their popularity and big sales show that some people just love this kind of stuff. However even as a child I abhorred that kind of "humour". I remember watching the silly sitcoms of the sixties and being embarrassed for the actors, not amused.

The book is mercifully short, but packed far too full for me of people falling on their bottoms, yelling, running, screaming and getting filthy. I'm sure some kids would just love it, but my inner child could hardly sit through it. These are supposed to be adults. Grownups, ya know? Add the silly names (Sister Lovely, Sister Shiny and the big "what the heck"--Sister Krumbles??) and it was well on its way to a one-star rating from me. The only thing that saved it was the idea of turning to Jesus for answers.

We won't even go into the idea of two women starting their own order because they couldn't make it in the established orders--not because of odd theology but because one can't keep her temper and the other is such a klutz. Yeah, that would work. Not.

I was so disappointed. A star and a half.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful first book in the new series about a group of misfit nuns' adventures is a must read for families looking for good, solid, Catholic values and an entertaining and humorous story that will be enjoyed by the whole family... I don't have younger children anymore, but my 12 yo daughter read to me nightly from this book and we both enjoyed it quite a bit... I love how the Sisters' names all reflected their particular personality 'flaws'. I will be passing this along to all moms I know with little ones... We have been starving for good Catholic fiction for our kids!

[Danielle Sibarium · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisters Of The Last Sraw was such a charming and entertaining book! A group of misfit nuns get kicked out of their previous convents due to their bad habbits, such as being vain, loosing thier temoer, saying bad words and smoking ciggerettes. Karen Kelly Boyce shows a flawed and human side to these nuns, from chasing after their runaway goats to solving the mystery in the chapel. My daughter LOVED this book and said it should be on everyone's must read list. Can't wait for the next in the series.

[Peter Mongeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sister’s of the Last Straw is a very sweet children’s story about an order of nuns, each of whom has some flaw that caused them to be rejected by a previous order. (Mother Mercy has a temper, Sister Lovely smokes, Sister Lacey struggles not to swear, etc.—there is no profanity in the books however, and her substitutes tend to be quite funny.) One night, Sister Lovely begins hearing voices in the chapel and the mystery begins.

Read more: http://catholicfiction.net/book-revie...

[Paddy O'callaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let hope the PC thugs don't get this banned because it's somewhat irreverent,and is about nuns. Kids need to read this. Also, for anyone who's worried about the irreverence descending into disrespect; worry not because the The Catholic Writers (sic) Guild have granted it their seal of approval.

Get it for your KIDS NOW. Tell the headteacher at their school to get it for the school library. You have your orders so crack on, at the rush.

[MelAnnD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisters of the Last Straw is a book I recommend for young readers and for parents to read to their children.

* Won on Goodreads*

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've wondered about these books for a while and recently decided to borrow and read the first one. (I found it along with a ton of other books from TAN Books / St. Benedict Press through my library's subscription to Hoopla).

These nuns have been kicked out of other orders for their bad habits and have formed an order of their own with the permission of the bishop, who thinks the whole idea is rather funny.

I personally didn't think it was funny - but I do tend to be a stick in the mud. I tried, though. The nuns learn (and will continue to learn, I'm sure) to work on their faults with the help of Jesus through prayer. There are some good lessons incorporated in a didactic way. The book is written in a way that may be enjoyable to young kids, but it was not to me. There are plenty of children's books (even humorous & didactic ones) with great lessons that I do enjoy. Unfortunately this was not one of them.

[PR · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read to see..sent one of her books to a friend, a Nun, for Christmas...

Bought it for a friend who is a Nun because it is about Nuns with flaws...which we all need to know.We cannot all be saints! So very disappointed at the elementary writing and truly silly stories without much meaning. I guess I expected more inspiration and explanation of how nuns live and worship. I was simply disappointed. So sas...wish I had read the book Before I sent the book. I bought it for her,as a devoted School Sister of Notre Dame, who taught young children for years and must have so many truly inspiring stories of her own to share. I would truly love to hear hers so much more than this. So sad I did not send her something more uplifting.

[Theresa Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed with humor and beautiful messages, this fun-to-read story is sure to delight children of all ages. The Sisters of the Last Straw each have their faults, but their love for Our Lord motivates them to keep trying. In addition to finding the mystery quite a page-turner, I loved the message of turning to Jesus to overcome faults, not beginning bad habits so that you don’t have to break them later, and welcoming strangers as you would welcome the Holy Family.

I received a free copy of the book but was not asked to review it; however, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can’t wait to recommend this book to others.

[Jacquie Stricklind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to see if it would be good for my grandson to read. I really enjoyed the story of a group of nuns who none of the other orders wanted them, they each have an issue, from looking at herself in mirrors, to smoking cigarettes' whenever she has an opportunity, and a Mother Superior who has anger issues, these are just some of the nuns. One day, one of the nuns hears some people talking, and wonders if the chapel and house has ghosts. Read the book to find out. I think children will enjoy reading about people who are not perfect and how they are trying to live together, just like real life.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of this series -- but somehow missed reading the first one until now! You won't find picture-perfect nuns among the Sisters of the Last Straw: All of them had failed in other convents because of bad habits they just can't shake. Together, their best and worst qualities make for high comedy as they chase runaway goats and try to figure out what's causing the strange noises and voices they're hearing in the chapel. This book for readers in grades 2 and up would make a great read-aloud for primary grade students too.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a fun series for children! They make great read-aloud stories or can be read by elementary-age children.

The flawed and funny sisters are inspiring in their endless efforts to break their bad habits - not the kind they wear, but the kind many of us adults struggle with - anger, addiction, vanity, swearing, etc.

The sisters hear some mysterious sounds coming from the chapel - is it haunted? No spoilers here. You'll have to read to find out.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Sisters of the Order of the Last Straw start to hear voices in the chapel. Is it haunted?

Why I Read This: The Read Harder Challenge: A book published prior to January 1, 2019, with fewer than 100 reviews on Goodreads

Review: I found this book to be incredibly endearing. It could be my own experiences with religious orders, the names of the Sisters, or the amazing stories that they get involved in. It could just be that it's an endearing book.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sisters of the Last Straw are a group of nuns that have been rejected by other convents, but are determined to reform their bad habits so they can dedicate their lives to Jesus. In this adorable children's mystery, they have to figure out what is making the strange voices they keep hearing in their convent. It was a quick and cute little mystery with plenty of warmth and humor. I immediately passed it on to my daughter. I can see us reading through this series together.

[Jessie]

I've been wanting to read this ever since I hear of it! It was quite short, but charming. I like all the sisters and the fact that they each struggle so much with something that they created their own order so they wouldn't be kicked out. Gives hope for everyone! I do wish it was aimed more at all older kids. Maybe the author will write another series about nuns for older middle grade readers. I'm excited to read more stories about the Sisters of the Last Straw!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my kids and we all enjoyed it. Written for the younger crowd, it's about a group of misfit nuns and their bad habits, with shorter chapters and nice little illustrations throughout. It's a cute story with a lesson or two. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Alexandra Beckett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an unfortunate disappointment. I bought it to read aloud to my 6yo daughter and we didn’t finish it because the behavior and character flaws seemed too unbecoming for a religious sister. I know these books are meant to be silly, but it just wasn’t our cup of tea.