The House on Parchment Street

3.5 stars. The House on Parchment Street has major cozy vibes alongside its ghosts. It reminds me a little of The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs, but with older protagonists, a more contemporary setting, and with ghosts instead of magic. It's also a little bit Nancy Drew, with the mystery surrounding why the ghosts are appearing being at the forefront of the plot. This is definitely a book I would have enjoyed more when I was younger, especially because it features a secret passageway. (Discovering a secret passageway was my chief goal and ambition for the entire duration of my childhood.) It’s a bit uneven and meanders more than I would like, with some parts of the story being more compelling than others. Very show more different from McKillip's usual fantasy fare, but worth checking out if you're looking for a middle grade mystery that is slightly spooky as well as cozy! show less

This a children's ghost story, and a pretty mild one at that. It doesn't contain any of the fantasy elements that we expect in her books for adults, and is far less complex. But, wow, McKillip can write! I only meant to skim through it this time, but ended up getting sucked in for the evening.

A mystery, a ghost story, and an adolescent friendship tale. Some parts are not credible (American parents sending 14-year-old girl to England unaccompanied, with torn jeans and barefoot: not even in the seventies).
Suitable for the target audience, and adults will be okay with the subtle satire, but not the best of McKillip's work.

a young girl moves to England for a month to visit relatives. During that time, she and her cousin Bruce uncover and solve a 300 yearold mystery of a young girl's ghost. This novel was very much about self-discovery and finding out about other people. Enjoyable simply because they are completely different from her fantasy writings.

A nice ghost story with an interesting puzzle and realistic but engaging teen age protagonists.

Carol seems to be having an awful time visiting her aunt, uncle, and cousin, Bruce, in England. She's miserable and freaked out by all the ghosts she keeps seeing in the cellar. She discovers that Bruce is hiding secrets of his own- including the fact that he's seeing the ghosts, too. She and Bruce unravel the mystery of why these very real ghosts are haunting the basement and who they are- while forging a friendship and solving some of the problems Bruce is having adjusting.