The Unseen Guest

Gr 4–6—Those incorrigible children of Ashton Place are back. The story is rife with colorful characters, catchy phrases, mad-cap adventure, and a touch of mystery. Tantalizing pieces of the puzzle concerning the children's origins and their connection to Miss Lumley and Ashton Place continue to be cleverly revealed throughout the story, creating just the right balance in this fast-paced, fun read. It begins with the appearance of a stray ostrich, soon followed by the Widow Ashton and Admiral Faucet, pronounced Faw-say, who plans on raising, racing, and marketing ostrich as a means to a fortune. His plans also include marrying wealthy Widow Ashton. Faucet is fascinated by the feral Incorrigible children, suggesting that they be used as exhibitions in a traveling show. He's mollified to have them lead the search for his missing ostrich, Bertha, in the nearby forest. Once back in the forest in which they were found, the children revert to many of their wolfish ways, much to Miss Lumley's chagrin. Bertha is found, but all of Faucet's schemes come crumbling down with the appearance of Judge Quinzy. Or is it really the Widow Ashton's late husband? Quinzy/Ashton doesn't stick around long enough for a definitive answer, but his widow is convinced of his identity and cancels her engagement to Faucet. He departs, and readers are left with an epilogue that only whets the appetite for the next installment in this wonderful series. A must-have.—Mary Beth Rassulo, Ridgefield Library, CT