Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2012), Hardcover, 352 pages
Description
Practically-perfect twelve-year-old Victoria Wright must lie, sneak, and break the rules when her investigation of the disappearance of her best--and only--friend, Lawrence, reveals dark secrets about her town and the orphanage run by the reclusive Mrs. Cavendish.
User reviews
LibraryThing member _Zoe_
I really wanted to love this book, like everyone else does. It's deliciously creepy (in the first couple of chapters, I even wondered whether it would be too creepy for me), with a protagonist who's somehow likeable and easy to relate to despite her obvious flaws, and a loveable best friend. The
So what went wrong? For me, it was the supernatural elements, which didn't seem to form any sort of coherent system. There was no sense of what was possible and what was impossible. There was no sense of how the various parts fit together. There basically seemed to be no logic behind anything; it felt like a jumbled mess of whatever disturbing elements the author could come up with. I ultimately felt that this detracted from the atmosphere of the story; instead of thinking "oh, that's disturbing," I often just thought "oh, that's random." It might have been enough to have a super-perfectionist trying to make everyone perfect. It might have been enough to have a super-perfectionist trying to make everyone perfect, and controlling them via puppets. But did we really need (spoiler warning!) a super-perfectionist who was actually some sort of insect, and her sidekick who was also made up of insects, trying to make everyone perfect, and controlling them via puppets, except for the ones that she converted into weird monstrosities by cutting out parts of their bodies and one of their eyes, which she then fed to everyone else, and except for the ones that somehow turned into plants that became part of the house, while retaining a sort of sentience that they could use to rearrange the house? And did I mention that she also had the power to remotely fetch people to her from other parts of town, using the powers of her cockroach swarms? And did I mention that one part of the house is inhabited by evil birds? And so on. There was just too much noise and distraction, and it didn't fit together in an entirely satisfactory way even in the end. I would have liked to read a pared-down version that focused more on the innate creepiness of the concept, with the judicious inclusion of a few supernatural elements, rather than trying to fit in everything at once.
Still, this was an enjoyable enough read, and one that will be easy enough to appreciate if you just let yourself get caught up in the moment and don't think too hard about why any given thing is happening. Since I liked the characters and the writing, I'll keep an eye out for this new author's next work. I think she has a lot of potential; I just hope she'll eventually realize that there are in fact cases when less can actually be more.
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writing is great, smooth and polished with that matter-of-fact children's book style that I adore: "When Victoria Wright was twelve years old, she had precisely one friend. In fact, he was the only friend she had ever had." The basic premise is intriguing and thought-provoking, if a bit familiar: how far would someone go to make everyone in town perfect and the same, and what would be lost in the process? We have a mysterious orphanage, and people behaving strangely, and a vanished friend. The pages go by quickly and it's never dull. Basically, there are all the makings of a great book.So what went wrong? For me, it was the supernatural elements, which didn't seem to form any sort of coherent system. There was no sense of what was possible and what was impossible. There was no sense of how the various parts fit together. There basically seemed to be no logic behind anything; it felt like a jumbled mess of whatever disturbing elements the author could come up with. I ultimately felt that this detracted from the atmosphere of the story; instead of thinking "oh, that's disturbing," I often just thought "oh, that's random." It might have been enough to have a super-perfectionist trying to make everyone perfect. It might have been enough to have a super-perfectionist trying to make everyone perfect, and controlling them via puppets. But did we really need (spoiler warning!) a super-perfectionist who was actually some sort of insect, and her sidekick who was also made up of insects, trying to make everyone perfect, and controlling them via puppets, except for the ones that she converted into weird monstrosities by cutting out parts of their bodies and one of their eyes, which she then fed to everyone else, and except for the ones that somehow turned into plants that became part of the house, while retaining a sort of sentience that they could use to rearrange the house? And did I mention that she also had the power to remotely fetch people to her from other parts of town, using the powers of her cockroach swarms? And did I mention that one part of the house is inhabited by evil birds? And so on. There was just too much noise and distraction, and it didn't fit together in an entirely satisfactory way even in the end. I would have liked to read a pared-down version that focused more on the innate creepiness of the concept, with the judicious inclusion of a few supernatural elements, rather than trying to fit in everything at once.
Still, this was an enjoyable enough read, and one that will be easy enough to appreciate if you just let yourself get caught up in the moment and don't think too hard about why any given thing is happening. Since I liked the characters and the writing, I'll keep an eye out for this new author's next work. I think she has a lot of potential; I just hope she'll eventually realize that there are in fact cases when less can actually be more.
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LibraryThing member rjmoir
Fastidious Victoria has a single friend, the sloppy and absent minded musician Lawrence. She considers him her personal project, and their friendship a sort of community service. But when Lawrence disappears, Victoria finds that she's the only one to care, the only one who finds something wrong
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with the silence ringing where Lawrence's piano music should be playing. She notices with mounting horror that all the children who don't quite fit the town's idea of normal have quietly gone missing, forgotten by their loved ones, secreted away amongst chittering insects and butterscotch candies to the paradoxical and unsettling Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. Haunting, clever, and unpredictable, this dark tale of friendship should appeal to fans of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and similar stories. Obviously flawed, ambitious, smart, and loyal despite herself, Victoria makes for a refreshingly atypical type-A heroine. Setting her protagonist against a villain made more chilling by her ultimate similarities to Victoria herself, Legrand weaves a suspenseful tale that culminates in an ending both satisfying and unsettling. Show Less
LibraryThing member TFS93
This one could have been So much better. There was good, the creepy house, the main characters, the secrets in the garden. There was the disgusting, the food, the candy, the gofers. There was the terrible, the roaches, the puppets. This could have been a short story and it would have packed more of
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a punch. Maybe it could have even been two books. I didn't like that the bugs were never really explained. I didn't like the ending at all. This book should appeal to some, but I am not sure I would let my child read it. I was grossed out about some of the parts myself, and those parts didn't advance the storyline. I realize this is the author's first novel. I have hopes that she will pare down and improve on her second try. The book wasn't terrible. There was much potential here, unfortunately there were too many distractions and the wrap up was disappointing. I was expecting more and the potential was there, but I was left wanting. Show Less
LibraryThing member theokester
The quick synopsis for this book states "At the Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, you will definitely learn your lesson." The cover art is young and simple yet filled with that creepy vibe of a mystery to be solved. Based on the simple description and artwork, I was expecting a Scooby Doo or Nancy
The narrative starts out focused on Victoria, a girl with a perfect life: perfect clothes, perfect school, perfect looks, perfect parents, perfect home, perfect everything. In an act of kindness, she has made a project of Lawrence, one of the least-perfect boys in her school. Victoria plans to force him to give up his slovenly, childish imperfect ways and become a natural part of her perfect life.
Early on the narrative hints that Lawrence is going to go missing. This foreshadowing also hints at some of the other strange problems that are happening around town. At first, Victoria isn't even aware of the oddities or if she is, she thinks nothing of them. She's too busy worrying about how she can repair the smudge on her Academic Report from the B she received in Music.
Once Lawrence vanishes though, Victoria searches for answers. At first, she doesn't feel particularly attached to imperfect Lawrence but his absence is a blemish on her otherwise perfectly normal life. Looking for answers she only finds more questions and more strangeness. Eventually she is led to the Cavendish Home, a large orphanage set at the end of the street. She meets the proprietress Mrs. Cavendish and the gardener/caretaker Mr. Alice. Both are pleasant enough but neither sets her questions at ease.
By this time, the story has layered on plenty of weird elements to let you know that this isn't your normal mystery story. As Victoria gets deeper and deeper into the mystery, the aspects become more and more strange. I found myself comparing this story in many ways to Neil Gaiman's Coraline. Like Coraline, this book is full of absolutely bizarre twists and turns and a heavy mix of magic, supernatural and just plain weird. And just to clarify, I found the comparison to Gaiman to be a high compliment rather than suggesting that this book is simply a rehash of elements and themes used elsewhere.
I felt like the author did a great job of taking a semi-normal missing-persons mystery and layering it with layer upon layer of the creepy and scary while still maintaining a manageable story that's believable and approachable by younger readers. I definitely wouldn't recommend reading it to a Kindergartener, but late grade school or middle graders will eat this story up and beg for more.
I loved the multi-faceted way the mystery was presented. Everything came along in quick but subtle bursts of events or information. Finally, our heroine seems to be flying along out of control headed for certain disaster. The resolution and eventual outcome are satisfying although the twist in the final couple of pages left me curious about the rules of the world as a whole.
To those who enjoy Neil Gaiman's youth fiction or had fun with R.L. Stein or other similar kids horror authors, this book will immediately appeal. To those looking for something lighthearted and fun, I can say that the writing is clever and there are some genuine heartfelt relationships and laughable humor, but it's definitely a darker story, so you should be warned.
Overall it's quite fun and I really liked the character and story development. This is only her debut novel, but I look forward to seeing more from Claire Legrand.
****
4 out of 5 stars
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Drew style kids mystery story. While that would have been entertaining, I was very pleased to find that The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls delivers so much more.The narrative starts out focused on Victoria, a girl with a perfect life: perfect clothes, perfect school, perfect looks, perfect parents, perfect home, perfect everything. In an act of kindness, she has made a project of Lawrence, one of the least-perfect boys in her school. Victoria plans to force him to give up his slovenly, childish imperfect ways and become a natural part of her perfect life.
Early on the narrative hints that Lawrence is going to go missing. This foreshadowing also hints at some of the other strange problems that are happening around town. At first, Victoria isn't even aware of the oddities or if she is, she thinks nothing of them. She's too busy worrying about how she can repair the smudge on her Academic Report from the B she received in Music.
Once Lawrence vanishes though, Victoria searches for answers. At first, she doesn't feel particularly attached to imperfect Lawrence but his absence is a blemish on her otherwise perfectly normal life. Looking for answers she only finds more questions and more strangeness. Eventually she is led to the Cavendish Home, a large orphanage set at the end of the street. She meets the proprietress Mrs. Cavendish and the gardener/caretaker Mr. Alice. Both are pleasant enough but neither sets her questions at ease.
By this time, the story has layered on plenty of weird elements to let you know that this isn't your normal mystery story. As Victoria gets deeper and deeper into the mystery, the aspects become more and more strange. I found myself comparing this story in many ways to Neil Gaiman's Coraline. Like Coraline, this book is full of absolutely bizarre twists and turns and a heavy mix of magic, supernatural and just plain weird. And just to clarify, I found the comparison to Gaiman to be a high compliment rather than suggesting that this book is simply a rehash of elements and themes used elsewhere.
I felt like the author did a great job of taking a semi-normal missing-persons mystery and layering it with layer upon layer of the creepy and scary while still maintaining a manageable story that's believable and approachable by younger readers. I definitely wouldn't recommend reading it to a Kindergartener, but late grade school or middle graders will eat this story up and beg for more.
I loved the multi-faceted way the mystery was presented. Everything came along in quick but subtle bursts of events or information. Finally, our heroine seems to be flying along out of control headed for certain disaster. The resolution and eventual outcome are satisfying although the twist in the final couple of pages left me curious about the rules of the world as a whole.
To those who enjoy Neil Gaiman's youth fiction or had fun with R.L. Stein or other similar kids horror authors, this book will immediately appeal. To those looking for something lighthearted and fun, I can say that the writing is clever and there are some genuine heartfelt relationships and laughable humor, but it's definitely a darker story, so you should be warned.
Overall it's quite fun and I really liked the character and story development. This is only her debut novel, but I look forward to seeing more from Claire Legrand.
****
4 out of 5 stars
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LibraryThing member ChristianR
A strange and creepy book, the Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls took a while for me to get into. Victoria is a high achiever, but has only one friend and she's only friends with him because she wants to improve him. But he disappears one day, and Victoria realizes that other children have been
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disappearing and everyone seems to forget about them once they are gone. The adults are behaving strangely, too. She somehow comes to the conclusion that the orphanage in town is responsible for the disappearances, and she investigates. Captured children, lots of roaches, an orphanage that changes shape, and even torture follow. There's a lot thrown in and not all of it makes sense, but Victoria manages to save the remaining children and additionally learn that people shouldn't be perfect. Show Less
LibraryThing member matamgirl
I am not sure what I was expecting when I went in but this book got a whole lot darker and creepier than I thought it was going to be. So much so that I had to start reading another much fluffier book after so I could sleep. Overall it was really quite good. Victoria is a great character and Mrs
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Cavendish and Mr Alice are delightfully creepy. Show Less
LibraryThing member Shelbya14
Victoria, a no-nonsense kind of person, is constantly exasperated with her friend Lawrence. He prefers music to math, daydreaming to homework, and he's sloppy. But when Lawrence disappears, Victoria goes to great lengths to save him. Her investigations lead her to the Cavendish Home for Boys and
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't expect to because the cover is pretty bland. But it was fantastic. The characters are very likable and interesting. The plot is full of twists and turns. Legrand weaves in aspects of growing up, being true to yourself, and falling in love into this engrossing mystery. It's a great read for students as young as 4th grade.
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Girls where the lovely Ms. Cavendish turns out to be quite the opposite. Victoria is sent there for asking too many questions, and soon leads a daring attempt to escape. Will she save Lawrence before he disappears for good?I really enjoyed this book. I didn't expect to because the cover is pretty bland. But it was fantastic. The characters are very likable and interesting. The plot is full of twists and turns. Legrand weaves in aspects of growing up, being true to yourself, and falling in love into this engrossing mystery. It's a great read for students as young as 4th grade.
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LibraryThing member SRaval
This was the best adventure book that gave me the chills. The suspense and the action of things that are not alive and teachers being pulled off their feet by a swarm of bugs. I recommend it to any mystery book lovers.
LibraryThing member Beammey
This book was pretty much as I expected. It didn't haven't any shocking twists and turns (though the epilogue was SPOT ON! I loved it!) I would recommend this book for someone in the middle grade reading level. It's a good story, I've just read it before, you know? Still good, still enjoyable, just
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not for me. 3.5 out of 5 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member roses7184
The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls Are you ready for something different? Ready for something deliciously creepy? Brace yourself and open the pages of Claire Legrand's The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls.
From the first page I was completely enamored with Miss Victoria Wright. Practically
Which is why it is so much fun to follow them on the eerie journey that they undertake. In the name of friendship, Victoria faces nightmarish rooms and horrific entities. Fiendish things go on behind the doors of the Cavendish home, and it is the slow buildup that set the mood. Mrs. Cavendish is a baddie of the highest caliber. The kind that sneaks under your skin and brings on goosebumps while you read. Perfect, yet deadly. In fact, the perfect nemesis for our heroine Victoria!
I don't generally like to compare books, but the highest compliment that I can give to Claire Legrand's book is that it is on par with Coraline. A gorgeous mix of a coming-of-age story and a shiver inducing, fiendish plot. If you aren't a fan of critters that scurry in the dark, beware the tiny illustrations that pepper this book! I honestly can't gush enough about how bewitching this book really is. What I can say is that it deserves a place at the tip-top of your reading list!
From the first page I was completely enamored with Miss Victoria Wright. Practically
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perfect in every way, Victoria is the epitome of order. A pristine room, impeccably clean clothing, and an eloquence far beyond her age. This is why it is so charming to see her paired with Lawrence. The exact opposite of her in every way, he brings out the best in her even when it seems that the two of them are incompatible.Which is why it is so much fun to follow them on the eerie journey that they undertake. In the name of friendship, Victoria faces nightmarish rooms and horrific entities. Fiendish things go on behind the doors of the Cavendish home, and it is the slow buildup that set the mood. Mrs. Cavendish is a baddie of the highest caliber. The kind that sneaks under your skin and brings on goosebumps while you read. Perfect, yet deadly. In fact, the perfect nemesis for our heroine Victoria!
I don't generally like to compare books, but the highest compliment that I can give to Claire Legrand's book is that it is on par with Coraline. A gorgeous mix of a coming-of-age story and a shiver inducing, fiendish plot. If you aren't a fan of critters that scurry in the dark, beware the tiny illustrations that pepper this book! I honestly can't gush enough about how bewitching this book really is. What I can say is that it deserves a place at the tip-top of your reading list!
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LibraryThing member amandabock
Delightfully creepy, and I don't really like creepy stories. I will be sure to recommend this to fans of Coraline. Both have creepy substitute parents (and others), as well as acid-trip horror scenes. I don't know if it's because I was rushing through the scary parts, but when things really got
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going at the end, I found it hard to follow exactly what was going on. Was that intentional? That the reader be as disoriented as Victoria? Or was it sloppy writing? Hard to tell. Show Less
LibraryThing member widdersyns
3.5 stars. I read this because I was planning to assign it for the kids’ book club at my library, but I’m afraid a few small elements might be too gruesome. I like the general creepy and spooky atmosphere and I think the 9-12 set could handle that without too much issue, but man. If only it
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weren’t for those little things. I’ll think about it. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookbrig
A creepy mystery with super gross details and a fantastic main character. I loved Victoria, and while it might not be the most original of storylines, it's so well written I didn't really care.
LibraryThing member standhenry
Based on the cover illustration, I wasn't expecting just how gruesome some of the detailed descriptions at the end of the book. It's a dark middle grade novel with a couple moral twists such as excepting others as they are, and living with the high standards of perfection. "You like things to be
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just so, no matter what the cost. So does she. So does everyone around here." The book gets a bit long in the middle, but recovers with high suspense. Show Less
Awards
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)
Mitten Award (Honor — 2013)
Original publication date
2012-08-28
Physical description
352 p.; 8.5 inches
ISBN
1442442913 / 9781442442917