Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse (Goth Girl #1)

Young Ada Goth lives at Ghastly-Gorm Hall with her father, a famous poet. Lord Goth appears to have it all-everything except a close relationship with Ada, who reminds him of her deceased mother. Ada doesn't fret; she loves exploring the sprawling grounds surrounding her home and is always finding something new. Late one night, she encounters the ghost of a recently deceased mouse named Ishmael. Ishmael and Ada go looking for the mousetrap that ended Ishmael's corporeal life, only to discover some very strange activities afoot in the Goth household. Ada pursues her suspicions of her father's gamekeeper. She soon realizes that lives may be at stake and is determined to stop the gamekeeper's sinister plans. This title is the winner of the 2013 Costa Book Awards category for children's books, appearing in the United States for the first time. Gorgeous, intricately penned illustrations appear on almost every page, bursting with the characters' quirky personalities. The text is light, though packed with punny literary, cultural, and historical allusions. Readers with an appreciation for absurdity will devour the humorously frivolous details that abound, but those craving plot may grow fatigued by them. The narrative is quite simple; the real joys for readers here are a highly likable protagonist and the witty, exaggerated secondary character sketches. The suspense is authentic, and the sequels will surely continue to develop some of the secondary characters. A miniature book (Ishmael's memoirs) is included in a pocket on the back inside cover. VERDICT This title and its sequels will be snapped up by fans of quirky, atmospheric fantasy.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Lonely Ada Goth, the heroine of this beautifully designed Gothic tribute, shares the enormous Ghastly-Gorm Hall and its magnificent grounds with her father, Lord Goth, and countless servants, yet she has no one to talk to. After befriending the ghost of a mouse who needs her help, Ada begins boldly exploring her home, discovering new rooms, gardens, and friends while learning of a sinister plot being hatched by Maltravers, the creepy gamekeeper charged with organizing an annual indoor hunt inside the massive estate. Riddell's detailed illustrations demand and deserve attention, and the novel is delightful to thumb through, though the motley cast of characters can feel a bit like a Victorian menagerie, prizing oddity over depth. Laced with humorous 19th-century literary references sure to entertain older readers (a novelist named Mary Shellfish, an albatross named Coleridge) and plenty of quirky nonsense (including a vampire governess committed to cruelty-free eating), this series opener may be a bit light on plot but gamely sets the stage for more drolly dark fun to come. Ages 7-11.

Copyright 2016 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.