Tuesdays at the Castle (Castle Glower, #1) in 100+ Books in 2025

Mar 21, 2011 Misty rated it really liked it

Shelves: folklore-myth-fable-fairy-tall-tale, signed, juvenile-ya, sci_fi-fantasy, own, gift, excited-for, read-in-2011

I am a fan of Jessica Day George. There is no denying that. But most of what I've read by her has been more on the YA side than the middle grade side, so even though I was super excited for Tuesdays at the Castle, there was still the question of whether I would like her MG stuff. I'm not sure why I was worried. It flowed along so well and kept me going. Two sittings and I pretty much engulfed it all, continuously telling myself "I should stop after X, I should stop after Y..." and I just cou I am a fan of Jessica Day George. There is no denying that. But most of what I've read by her has been more on the YA side than the middle grade side, so even though I was super excited for Tuesdays at the Castle, there was still the question of whether I would like her MG stuff. I'm not sure why I was worried. It flowed along so well and kept me going. Two sittings and I pretty much engulfed it all, continuously telling myself "I should stop after X, I should stop after Y..." and I just couldn't seem to do it.

Tuesdays at the Castle is absolutely darling. I don't know how to make that not sound like a creepy old aunt who wants to pinch people's cheeks, but it's true, it was darling. There is an...effervescence to George's characters that I just love, and Celie was no exception. [I guess if I'm being honest, I kinda did want to pinch her cheeks...] George has a talent for writing books that are wholesome without being boring or saccharine, and are just plain fun to boot. Parents will find little that is objectionable in Tuesdays at the Castle - for the most part. I mean, an assassination attempt on a 14 year old might be a little harder to explain to someone on the younger side of the scale, but generally it is very clean and handles delicate situations without being too adult or inappropriate, but ALSO without making light and taking away the tension. And even though it will get the parent approval stamp, it's never in that way that it ends up being off-putting for kids (mom said I can read it and now I don't want to...). It's a great adventure story with kids at the helm, and because of that, it is delightful.

I think so many kids are going to read this and root for the children of Castle Glower as they outsmart and one-up the scheming adults in the story. I think this is one that will capture a lot of hearts and imaginations. The added fantastical element of the living Castle Glower and Celie's relationship with it lends a great magic to the story. It feels so companionable, and the Castle really becomes a character of its own, and you care about it just as much as you do its inhabitants. The relationship amongst the siblings was nice, too, with good dynamics and distinct personalities. They each have their thing that sets them apart, and their take on the situation and what to do, and they work together and play off of each other nicely. But it's the the relationship between Celie and the Castle that really stands out and sets the book apart. It's such a fun fantastic take on a story, and to give a place such personality will really appeal to young readers (and old readers. and those in between). It's just this great adventure story, without ever having left home.

I think what I like the most though is that even though it's a series, it makes a great stand-alone. It's so rare to get any book that functions as a complete story in and of itself these dayss. This is the beginning to a series (of course), but George understands the need for completion and she doesn't leave the reader hanging as so many do, or toss in some cliff-hanger or hook for the next book. She (and her publishers, thank god) seem to realize that if you just do the book well people will read the rest. No gimmick required. It's so nice to get a self contained story where everything is wrapped up nicely, there is a beginning/middle/end, etc - a clear cut everything, settled and whole, that leaves you feeling as if it's complete. I appreciate that, I really do, even if I do intend to read the next book (and I do).

This one hits stores in about 1 month, and if you're a teacher or have kids in this in-between age where they need something that will hold their attention without being too adult, this is definitely one for the to-get list. :)
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Sep 07, 2012 Dolly rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade, childrens, scifi-fantasy, 2012

We discovered this book at our local library months ago, during a summer reading program highlighting a selection of books. Our oldest borrowed it and was immediately enthralled. But somehow she never got around to finishing the book and we had to return it, as it was quite popular and many people had holds on it.

We put it back on hold and finally we were able to borrow it again (after waiting quite a long time.) Our oldest eagerly continued reading and kept me up to date on parts of the plot. ...more

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Aug 01, 2013 Megan rated it really liked it

Tuesdays at the Castle is a fun, funny and fantastical story that will suit eager readers of fantasy and fairy tales. It has a clever and somewhat relatable protagonist (Celia IS a princess in some vague kingdom or another, but past that she is a pretty normal kid), mustache-twirling villians, kind dandy princes and a magic castle that reinvents its interior to suit the needs of its favorite inhabitants-like some enormous Room of Requirement. What's not to like? ...more

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