Book Review: Greenglass House by Kate Milford

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. This week I read Greenglass House, a middle-grade novel by Kate Milford, and I can't wait to share it with you!

It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.

Greenglass House is a whimsical, heartwarming, and altogether enthralling novel. It's a story about mysterious guests, shared and unknown history, personal growth, and a house that draws people together--acquaintances and strangers alike.

I have to start by pulling some quotes from the novel: “The flashlight’s beam pierced the pool of shadow, which flickered and melted into butter-gold,” “Milo turned and saw only the stained-glass window and the snowy night beyond, tinged in shades of pale, pale greens: celery and celadon and tones like old bottle glass.”...Isn't it just beautiful? Milford’s writing is so melodic and descriptive it's almost poetic, and at the same time it's sharp, creating a cozy yet mysterious atmosphere. This novel as a whole is full of detail, from the storytelling revealing the backgrounds of each of the guests to the game Milo and Meddy play that guides them through their investigations and brings Milo self-acceptance as he reflects upon his identity.

And I love this novel especially for its unconventional elements and unexpected plot twists. There’s so much more than meets the eye in the Greenglass House, and that goes for its people too. An adventure of sleuthing, secrets, and storytelling unfolds as Milo and Meddy inch closer and closer to the underlying "wrongness."

I absolutely adore the writing, characters, and stories in Greenglass House, and I highly recommend it to fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society.

Until next time, 

Amy

Find Greenglass House in the Monroe County Library System (Overdrive here), Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.