School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-When Trina's dad, Poppo, agrees to renovate Goldenrod, an abandoned mansion in New Royal, IA, over the course of a year, Trina hopes they can make a home for themselves. However, her new life doesn't go quite as planned. Trina finds out Poppo forgot to enroll her in school, a local bully targets her once she does get there, and a creepy presence at the house makes Trina wonder if Goldenrod is really a haunted magnet of bad luck. When Trina unexpectedly finds Augustine, a talking antique porcelain doll, her luck turns and life in New Royal may just become what she was hoping for. Though the slow start may dissuade some, those who keep reading will be rewarded by this unique twist on the traditional haunted house story. VERDICT A strong additional purchase for those who enjoyed Jennifer Chambliss Bertman's Book Scavenger and Tess Hilmo's With a Name Like Love.-Rebecca Quinones, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
"It was a hopeless old house, sitting in the middle of a yellow sea like a dried-up island." That's fifth-grader Trina's assessment of her father's latest renovation project, a crumbling and possibly haunted Queen Anne style mansion. Trina and Poppo have just made yet another cross-country move, this time from New Mexico to New Royal, Iowa, population 397. Poppo restores houses while Trina's mother travels the world, keeping in touch through postcards. But Trina has had her fill of moving and being the new kid in school, and she dreams of finding a friend. After she discovers an antique talking doll, Augustine-who tells Trina that she has lost her family, is waiting for a prince, and is lonely, too-Trina attempts to locate Augustine's missing family members in the house, a quest that drives O'Reilly gentle debut. O'Reilly gives Trina a rich inner life, and evocative descriptions paint a vivid picture of her new home. This is a memorable and complex tale about negotiating change and coming into one's own. Ages 8-12. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* New Royal, Iowa population of 397 is convinced that Goldenrod, the abandoned Victorian mansion outside of town, is haunted, because of its tragic history. Almost-11-year-old Trina Maxell is convinced, as well, when she and her handyman father arrive with a year-long contract to make the structure habitable again. However, to Trina, a year in a house is as close to having a permanent home as she's ever had. Poking around the upstairs rooms, she discovers a dollhouse and Augustine, a century-old talking porcelain doll who becomes her first friend, confidante, and mentor. Trina's desire to learn the history of Goldenrod helps her uncover the source of the legends and understand what Goldenrod has been trying to tell her. Trina vows to make things right again for Augustine, Goldenrod, New Royal, and Annie, the little girl who lived in Goldenrod in 1912. O'Reilly's debut integrates elements of spooky otherworldliness with beautiful writing to create a complex story of loss, longing, and hope that is populated by endearing characters. This wistful and superlative coming-of-age story highlights the discovery of friendship and belonging in an otherwise chaotic world. Perfect for readers who crave contemporary stories that feel like a classic, this is one to be reread and enjoyed many times over.--Fredriksen, Jeanne Copyright 2016 Booklist
