REVIEW: NEVERSUCH HOUSE

Neversuch House

Author: Elliot Skell

UK Publisher: Simon and Schuster Childrens Books

UK Release date: February 2011

Genre: MG

Summary: Built hundreds of years ago after the very first Captain of the House arrived in the small town of Pettifog, Neversuch House is a warren of rambling buildings and home to the rather unusual Halibut family.

When the current Captain of the House dies and Omnia discovers that someone has been leaving the grounds, she becomes involved in a dangerous mystery that is bigger than the House and the Hailbuts.

Review: I honestly couldn’t wait to read this book - I love the magic, excitement and mystery that you get with children’s books. But I still don’t know what to make of the start of the story, which was filled with wonderful back-story but little action. Chapter seven is titled ‘The First Extraordinary Event (or Two)’, and it isn’t until this chapter that the plot really gets going.

I do however love the setting and the House with its maze of gardens, walkways and buildings, and hundreds of hidden rooms that have been undiscovered for decades. You just know that mystery lies behind every door.

Twelve year old Omnia, is stubborn, curious and very different to the rest of the Halibut family. Whilst every other Halibut is focused on their own strange hobby, like Everfine D Halibut who measures shadows, Omnia is off trying to find out who is behind the mysterious accidents and falling from towers.

The narration of Neversuch House reminds me of A Series of Unfortunate Events, with the mysterious and quirky narrator embellishing the story with little off the point ramblings. The style is friendly and inviting and you really feel like you’re listening to the story being told to you.

A great read for children – cloaked figures, mysterious accidents, hidden rooms, tall towers and one curious Halibut!

Rating: 4*