Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Faber & Faber (2019), Edition: Main, 240 pages
Description
Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Mystery. HTML: A tattered ballet slipper found under the floorboards of Braithwaite Manor may be the key to Clara's sinister family secrets in this delightful, lightly Gothic mystery for fans of Maryrose Wood and Claire Legrand. Clara Starling lives a life of dull rules, deadly routine, and flavorless meals under her cold uncle's strict regime�??until the day Uncle disappears, leaving Clara alone in his old mansion. When streetwise orphan Peter and his rescue cat arrive unexpectedly, the children seize the chance to live by their own rules. But when the pair's wild romps through the halls of Braithwaite Manor reveal a single, worn ballet slipper, they are hurled into a mystery that will lead to London's glittering Royal Opera House and the unraveling of twisted Starling family secrets of poison, passion, and murder. Diabolical villains, plucky orphans, and glamorous ballet stars populate this absorbing adventure with a classic feel.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member curioussquared
Clara's mother died when she was born, and she has always lived with her cold, distant uncle, a series of governesses, the butler, and the cook in lonely, cold, Braithewaite manor. It's a lonely childhood, but it's all Clara knows. One day, the latest governess leaves -- and for the first time, she
A fun middle grade mystery in the best tradition! Featuring plucky orphans, nefarious villains, and mysterious ballet dancers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended for fans of classic children's stories and more modern classics like [The Penderwicks]. 4.5 stars.
Show More
isn't replaced. Soon, the butler and Cook are dismissed, too -- and then Clara's uncle leaves, abandoning her in the village with nothing but some money. Determined to make it on her own, she tramps back to the manor, ignoring the new For Sale sign in front. But she's surprised when she meets a boy her own age waiting outside, Peter, who has apparently been sent to stay with Clara and her uncle while his grandmother is recuperating and is very frustrated to find no uncle. The two decide to stay by themselves for the moment and soon start discovering mysteries hidden in the manor -- like an old ballet slipper under the floorboards. Together with their new friends, the grandchildren of Clara's old Cook, Clara and Peter start to piece together the puzzle -- but before they get too far, they'll have to deal with some adults who seem determined to get in their way. A fun middle grade mystery in the best tradition! Featuring plucky orphans, nefarious villains, and mysterious ballet dancers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended for fans of classic children's stories and more modern classics like [The Penderwicks]. 4.5 stars.
Show Less
LibraryThing member LongDogMom
I received this book through Library Thing Early Reviewers and finally got to it last night. I loved it! In fact, I couldn't put it down, and ended up finishing it in one sitting.
This book reminded me of the mysteries I used to read when I was a young girl. Who doesn't love a mystery that starts
When the boring routine of Clara's world is suddenly turned upside down, Clara is first stunned, but then decides that she is going to take things into her own hands for a change. When she unexpectedly finds a young boy who had arrived to stay during his granny's illness, the two put their heads together and decide that they need to get to the bottom of what is going on with Clara's uncle, who has vanished, abandoning Clara, and putting the only home she knows up for sale.
Along the way they find new friendships, trust, loyalty and their own bravery and strength, doing things they never thought they could. But they also learn about jealousy, greed, and the lengths some people will go to in order to get what they believe they deserve. Overcoming their fears together, Clara and Peter embark on their dangerous adventure, following clue after clue, until the truth is uncovered.
Full of surprises, some humour, and suspensefuil events that will keep readers wanting to know what will happen, this book is a delight! Highly recommended.
This book reminded me of the mysteries I used to read when I was a young girl. Who doesn't love a mystery that starts
Show More
with a creepy old house full of secrets, a mean and stingy uncle, with secrets of his own, and strange clues turning up that seem to contradict the only things Clara knows about her parents. And who did the ballet slipper Clara found under the floorboards at the Manor belong to?When the boring routine of Clara's world is suddenly turned upside down, Clara is first stunned, but then decides that she is going to take things into her own hands for a change. When she unexpectedly finds a young boy who had arrived to stay during his granny's illness, the two put their heads together and decide that they need to get to the bottom of what is going on with Clara's uncle, who has vanished, abandoning Clara, and putting the only home she knows up for sale.
Along the way they find new friendships, trust, loyalty and their own bravery and strength, doing things they never thought they could. But they also learn about jealousy, greed, and the lengths some people will go to in order to get what they believe they deserve. Overcoming their fears together, Clara and Peter embark on their dangerous adventure, following clue after clue, until the truth is uncovered.
Full of surprises, some humour, and suspensefuil events that will keep readers wanting to know what will happen, this book is a delight! Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ad_astra
A beautiful little story about friendship and finding home. Clara Starling's harsh daily routine is interrupted when her uncle --and caregiver-- sacks the staff and leaves her alone. With the help of new friends, she embarks on a journey to discover what really happened to her parents and finds
The Secret Starling is full of wonderful characters, adventures, and friendship. The mystery is impressive, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the end. The villains were also well-written and I was rooting for Clara and Peter the whole way. I received an ARC through LibraryThing Early Reviewers and enjoyed this title immensely!
Show More
much more than she ever dreamed of. The Secret Starling is full of wonderful characters, adventures, and friendship. The mystery is impressive, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up until the end. The villains were also well-written and I was rooting for Clara and Peter the whole way. I received an ARC through LibraryThing Early Reviewers and enjoyed this title immensely!
Show Less
LibraryThing member jennparm
This was a solid middle grade book with plenty to keep readers surprised and interested. I enjoyed the story, and as so often is the case, it was the cover art that drew me in at the first.
LibraryThing member aya.herron
From the moment Clara Starling was taken in by her Uncle, her life has been full of routine and gloom. Nothing ever exciting ever happened until the day her uncle dropped her off at a cafe and disappeared. With no other options, Clara heads home to Braithwaite Manor only find an orphan named Peter
The Bottom Line: Although the beginning was a bit of a slow read for me, the pace picked up to reveal family secrets and twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. Although the final interior images were not available in the advance reading copy, the preliminary sketches were charming. An enjoyable treat for middle grade readers who favor historical fiction about dance and friendship.
Show More
and his cat. With no adults around to spoil the fun, the children can do whatever they want. Soon their games uncover a worn ballet slipper that takes them on an adventure to London and the Royal Opera House. As Clara begins to uncover information about her parents the duo are chased by villains and uncover a tale of glamour, romance, and murder. With time of the essence, it's up to Clara and Peter to unravel the secrets of the Starling family.The Bottom Line: Although the beginning was a bit of a slow read for me, the pace picked up to reveal family secrets and twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. Although the final interior images were not available in the advance reading copy, the preliminary sketches were charming. An enjoyable treat for middle grade readers who favor historical fiction about dance and friendship.
Show Less
LibraryThing member punkypower
The Vanishing Trick + Coraline
Clara Starling has only known solitude and coldness, being raised by her uncle after her mother's mysterious death. One day Uncle takes her for a day on the town...however, unlike other days that included cake, this one involves her uncle speeding away and leaving her
I thought this was a great read!! The Vanishing Trick is one of my favorite MGs of all time. The only thing that keeps me from giving it a five is that I could not connect to the main characters. I get that as children (and adults) we're very self-centered, but some of the things the kids got up to (including stealing multiple times) just took me out of the story.
I will definitely read more Judith Eagle, though!
Clara Starling has only known solitude and coldness, being raised by her uncle after her mother's mysterious death. One day Uncle takes her for a day on the town...however, unlike other days that included cake, this one involves her uncle speeding away and leaving her
Show More
on her own. Whie most children (and adults!) would be paralyzed with fear, the world has opened up for Clara!! She returns home to Braithwaite Manor to a strange boy that turns into her first friend. Together, they vow to keep the manor to themselves and FOR themselves! When they discover an old ballet shoe, Clara finds a connection to the past that will change her future forever...I thought this was a great read!! The Vanishing Trick is one of my favorite MGs of all time. The only thing that keeps me from giving it a five is that I could not connect to the main characters. I get that as children (and adults) we're very self-centered, but some of the things the kids got up to (including stealing multiple times) just took me out of the story.
I will definitely read more Judith Eagle, though!
Show Less
LibraryThing member vivirielle
Readers who enjoy books like Coraline or A Series of Unfortunate Events will likely enjoy this one. It has a little bit of spookiness (but not too much) and good twists to keep readers entertained.
In spite of some of the gloom and dark circumstances, it has a lot of heart and friendships. The
This is a good middle-grade mystery for people who enjoy books with lots of clues rather than grisly moments. I think many readers will enjoy this story.
In spite of some of the gloom and dark circumstances, it has a lot of heart and friendships. The
Show More
characters deal with some of the best of human relationships--as long as some of the worst when things like greed and selfishness come into play. This is a good middle-grade mystery for people who enjoy books with lots of clues rather than grisly moments. I think many readers will enjoy this story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Familyhistorian
Clara Starling was a young girl who lived in a mansion but her life was not happy, bounded in as it was by strict rules with the only affection coming from the servants. Her guardian, her uncle, didn’t even seem to like her. Things went from bad to worse when her uncle tried to get rid of her and
That’s when the story in "The Secret Starling", really came to life as Clara camped out in the mansion and other children came. Eventually she and her new friend Peter stumbled across a mystery to solve, one that brought them even closer together. It was a heartwarming tale about finding a place of belonging
Show More
sell the house. That’s when the story in "The Secret Starling", really came to life as Clara camped out in the mansion and other children came. Eventually she and her new friend Peter stumbled across a mystery to solve, one that brought them even closer together. It was a heartwarming tale about finding a place of belonging
Show Less
LibraryThing member MillieHennessy
This one didn't grab me in the way I hoped. I did enjoy the concept and the overall story, but didn't feel really connected with any of the characters, or super compelled by what was happening to them. I think it wasn't as dark as I was expecting.
LibraryThing member pussreboots
I quite enjoyed this book. Unfortunately I read it during the chaos of covid and lost or deleted my written review before I could post it anywhere. I do plan to re-read it and post a proper review in the future.
Awards
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Children's — 2023)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
7.8 inches
ISBN
0571346308 / 9780571346301
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 823.92 |