Keeping the Castle

Gr 7 Up—Althea Crawley, 17, must marry a wealthy suitor in order to ensure her widowed mother and young brother do not end up among the impoverished. Their family castle, though unique in design and dear to their hearts, is poorly made and crumbling. Althea, by far the most attractive woman in Lesser Hoo, should be able to score a rich husband. However, her big mouth has a way of deterring potential proposals. Having run off several local bachelors already, Althea sets her sights on newcomer Lord Boring. She just might be able to secure this one, if only she can refrain from engaging with his obnoxious companion, Mr. Fredericks. Bianca Amato's narration of Kindl's novel ((Viking, 2012) is spot-on for the male roles, but a bit unconvincing when portraying the main character. Despite this drawback, the tale's humor shines through. This take on Pride and Prejudice is full of laughs and unexpected plot twists and a perfect choice for teens who love the romance of Jane Austen's classic but struggle with the language.—Jennifer Furuyama, Pendleton Public Library, OR