Welcome back to the Kid Lit Blog Hop #39
Today I have a very cool chapter book to review for you.
The Secret Of Grim Hill by Linda DeMeulemeester
Description from Amazon:
In the first book of the Grim Hill series,Cat Peters is desperate to get out of dreary Darkmont High,
but her mom can’t afford the tuition at Grimoire, the private
school nearby. So when she hears that Grimoire is offering
a full scholarship to the winners of a Halloween soccer match,
Cat jumps at the chance! She doesn’t pay much attention when
her little sister, Sookie, and their bookworm neighbor, Jasper,
try to tell her there’s something ... just not right about the old
school on the hill. Could something truly wicked be at work
inside the walls of Grimoire?
but her mom can’t afford the tuition at Grimoire, the private
school nearby. So when she hears that Grimoire is offering
a full scholarship to the winners of a Halloween soccer match,
Cat jumps at the chance! She doesn’t pay much attention when
her little sister, Sookie, and their bookworm neighbor, Jasper,
try to tell her there’s something ... just not right about the old
school on the hill. Could something truly wicked be at work
inside the walls of Grimoire?
I found this book in my Amazon suggestions, and I have to say, I just loved the cover and that is what drew me in. I am a big fan of a middle grade mystery, and I was not disappointed by this one.
Written in first person narrative, I found myself swept up by Cat's conundrums. She moves to a new town after her parents split. I felt Cat's pain, as everything and everyone in the new school seemed against her. That is until she tries out for the soccer team. Suddenly, things start to swing her way. Cat enjoys her new found popularity, just a little too much at the expense of her one and only loyal friend Jasper, and her younger sister Sookie. Soon, Cat can think of nothing but soccer, and suddenly she is not the only one. The whole town has soccer fever. Except Sookie. She doesn't like soccer at all and is even less impressed by Grimoire school.
Poor Sookie keeps getting dragged to soccer training, and while Cat and her friends are on the field, Sookie befriends and odd girl. The girl seems to know an awful lot about Grimoire school, and she does her best to convince Sookie to stop Cat from playing in the soccer match.
Cat of course, is so focused on her game, she will not listen to any of Sookie's warnings. That is until
some awful coincidences begin to happen, that even Cat can't deny are strange.
Cat swallows her pride and enlists the help of Jasper. What they find, will expose a sinister secret, one that you will be itching to discover.
This was a fast paced read, with just enough hint of the mystery along the way to keep you guessing. I believe children aged 8-12 will enjoy this short chapter book, and will be left wanting more.
I am usually not a fan of first person narrative, but I loved the author's writing style.
Upon further investigation, Grim Hill was the winner of the 2008 Silver Birch Award in Ontario (Over 200,000 children vote in this readers choice award)
Upon further investigation, Grim Hill was the winner of the 2008 Silver Birch Award in Ontario (Over 200,000 children vote in this readers choice award)
I was also delighted to find there are actually about 6 books in the series and I just purchased the next one.
Welcome to the 39th Kid Lit Blog Hop where twice per month (the 1st and 3rd Wednesday) we continue to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists. So, you are always more than welcome to join us by popping in a post and hopping around to meet some of your fellow Kid Lit bloggers and authors!
Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!
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What a fun book! I like those covers, too. They remind me of my old 3D Viewmaster cartoon reel (and yes, that's a good thing!)
ReplyDeleteRebecca at The Ninja Librarian
Ooh, this looks like so much fun! I think my girls (and their mom!) would really enjoy this. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteTina
My daughters play soccer and there are very few soccer chapter books with GIRLS who play soccer. I think they would like this one! Thanks for linking up to the Kid Lit Blog Hop!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun book and I love that you found it via Amazon suggestions - I always wondered if people took their suggestions. ;) Thanks for hosting the Kid Lit Blog Hop!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what possessed you to read this one! lol Well, it sounds like a great little mystery. Thanks for sharing it in the Kid Lit Blog Hop! :-)
ReplyDelete