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After her mother's sudden departure from the family, Elizabeth Murmur and her dour father Henry move back to his childhood home, or rather, the eerie and enormous Victorian manor where he grew up long ago, Witheringe House. The place is positively creepy, and possibly even haunted. Definitely haunted if you ask Zenobia, Elizabeth's imaginary (or is she?) friend, who is determined to make contact with the spirit presence she is sure is inhabiting the forbidden East wing of the manor. But Elizabeth isn't as brave or daring as Zenobia, and is petrified at the thought of seeing or communicating with a ghost.
That is until she stumbles across a tombstone on the sprawling grounds, which reads Tourmaline, aged seven years. Beloved daughter of Edward and Lydia. Adored sister of Henry. Does this mean Elizabeth had an aunt she never knew about? What could have happened to her? If her father won't give her any answers, she'll have to discover them for herself, even if spirits and spooks are involved. But what she uncovers will lead her to places--both tangible and other-worldly--she never imagined, and require more than a modicum of bravery, mettle, and heart.
Elizabeth and Zenobia by Jessica Miller is at turns droll and suspenseful, but always shrouded in the moodiest of mystery. Readers in fifth grade and up will be dying to find out what happens.
Tabitha, an unwanted child of two very selfish parents, is about to be left at the doorstep of the local orphanage, when she and five other children are invited to a spend the weekend at the mansion of a wealthy but reclusive countess. Strange things begin to happen as soon as they arrive. The maid dies right at the dinner table and the children begin to dissappear one by one.
Tabitha sets out to investigate the secrets she's sure is hiding in the mansion and with the seemingly more and more unstable countess. Nooks and Crannies by Jessica Lawson is a Dahlish gothic novel set in some nebulous Dickensian time period. It's a perfect read for those looking for something different to read.
For readers in 4th-6th grades.
