Book Review: “The International House of Dereliction” by Jacqueline Davies
“The International House of Dereliction” by Jacqueline Davies (2023)
Genre: Middle Grade, Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal
Page Length: 227 pages (hardcover edition)
Synopsis:
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?
Review:
If you’re looking for a cozy autumnal read with a whimsical plot and a touch of spookiness, this is the novel for you! The Cannoli-Potchnik family is a tight-knit eccentric crew that is always hungry for knowledge. Though their methods for learning and life philosophies are a bit nonsensical it gives their family a certain charm and makes for a very entertaining read. They care deeply for each other and I liked how they have a knack for tackling fixer-upper situations which has been passed onto the main character Alice.
Alice is most definitely a whiz kid and is very wise beyond her years which makes her such an intriguing character for readers. As she works to fix the house next door she starts a kindred friendship with the spirits that reside within it and the house itself (which reminds me a lot of the film Monster House). Forming a deeper connection with the house spurs her to help the ghosts trapped within it and in doing so takes her on an adventure through history, home repairs, and even her own family lineage.
I enjoyed the mystery aspects of this house and trying to uncover the ghost’s stories and why they can’t move on. Each chapter brings readers closer to solving the mystery and I found it hard to put the book down since I was so engaged with the story. This novel has a lot of heart and was a joy to read! A highly recommended read for the autumnal season!
Final Verdict:
