Book Review - The International House of Dereliction

 

Title: The International House of Dereliction

Author: Jacqueline Davies

Genre: supernatural

Similar books: Ghosts, Toast, and other Hazards by Susan Tan

                     Almost There, Almost Not by Linda Urban

Rating:

 

A pleasant read

Summary (provided by publisher): Ten-year-old Alice is moving for the eleventh time.
She’s lived in so many houses, each more broken than the last, that home to Alice is nothing more than a place you fix and then a place you leave. After all, who needs a permanent home when you’re a whiz at fixing things?
But when Alice arrives at her new home, she can’t take her eyes off the house next door, the stately dark house that hulked in the dimming light. The once-grand mansion, now dilapidated and condemned, beckons Alice; it's the perfect new repair job!
As Alice begins to restore the House to its former splendor, she senses strange presences. Is there a heartbeat coming from the House’s walls? Is someone looking at her? Soon she realizes she’s not alone. Three ghosts have been watching, and they need Alice’s help to solve their unfinished business.
Will Alice be able to unravel the mysteries of the House and find her forever home . . . before it’s too late?

My opinion: It may seem odd at first, but there is certainly a place in middle grade fiction for books about ghosts that aren't scary. Her quest to help ghosts is a chance for Alice to act independently, to problem solve and discover her limits, but also to recognize when something is too big for a ten-year-old to handle on her own. This book presents us with four distinct reasons a person might become a ghost. It gives us rules for ghosts - where they can go, how much they can interact with the physical world, and how much they can remember. The quest has a clear set-up, a time frame limitation, and a solid complication. As one would expect from a ghost story, the messaging is primarily about living without regrets, finding a home, and being honest about your needs. It conveys these messages clearly but with finesse. An overall pleasant and engaging read.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley