Starred Review Robbie is thrilled at the prospect of going to school in a Scottish castle, an escape from London's Blitz during WWII. His older sister, Katherine, takes a more measured view, suspicious of what lies ahead: their father plays an undercover role in MI6, Britain's intelligence service, and has trained Kat in his clock-repair business ("You've a mind for patterns and a careful, patient hand"). Kat's suspicions only increase when her great-aunt Margaret hands over her odd-looking chatelaine, an antique belt with charms attached ch supposed to be suffused with magic should Kat need it. Sure enough, a dark and perilous challenge lies ahead, and Kat is destined to take it on, though the level of malice she faces may be greater than she expected. Lady Eleanor, ostensibly in charge of the castle and school, is a malevolent force straight out of horror tales, and the children will need to fight for their lives d souls. This wonderfully written gothic fairy tale pairs the horror elements with a steampunk witch and mysterious staff, all while telling a war-espionage tale. Embedded lessons en including Plato's cave allegory om a pair of sympathetic castle teachers provide clues to defeating the evil witch. Readers will curl up and keep the lights on with this chilling page-turner.

Gr 6 Up-The Nazis have begun bombing London. Katherine Bateson's father is sent off on a highly secret mission, and her mother decides that Katherine and her siblings should go to the Scottish highlands to escape the dangers of the German bombers. Before she goes, Katherine's great-aunt Margaret gives her a farewell gift: Margaret's chatelaine, an ornament worn by women. As the Batesons and other children arrive in Scotland at Lord Gregor's manor, recently converted to a school by the lady of the house, Katherine immediately realizes something is amiss. She and the others fear that a Nazi spy has infiltrated the castle, and they decide that he must be stopped. Then Lady Eleanor turns out to be more than she seems, and the lady's chatelaine is revealed to be magical. Katherine also learns that she and the other children are in grave danger. Fox presents readers with a wonderfully paced, exciting story with enough twists to keep the pages turning. VERDICT The strong female lead and adventure on every page will keep any reader entertained from the first page to the last. Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston, TX

Set in London in 1940, Katherine "Kat" Bateson and her siblings are sent to boarding school as their father is off in the midst of the war and London continues to suffer bombings. Before their departure, Kat's Great Aunt Margaret gives her a chatelaine with supposed magical powers. It is only upon arrival at the new castle in Scotland, where the children will attend school with a witchy and bewitching Lady Eleanor, that Kat realizes that the magic may not be foolish child's play after all.Fox's story of intrigue and magic is enticing from page one. Chapters about Kat's time in the castle (and the curious things that happen there) alternate with chapters that provide background on the ghost-like children haunting the castle and the devilish Lady Eleanor, once Lady Lenore. As far as villains go, Lady Eleanor is terrifying, cold, and wicked, everything one could desire from such a character. The story is thoughtfully constructed and the description of the Lady in the moonlight is enough to induce nightmares similar to those poor Kat experiences. There are a number of characters and the jumping in time can be slightly confusing at times, but all around, it is a fascinating and wonderful read. This would be a great addition to any collection, particularly for fans of Ransom Riggs's Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children or Madeleine Roux's Asylum. Kaitlin Malixi.