The Secret Starling

Clara's mother died when she was born, and she has always lived with her cold, distant uncle, a series of governesses, the butler, and the cook in lonely, cold, Braithewaite manor. It's a lonely childhood, but it's all Clara knows. One day, the latest governess leaves -- and for the first time, she isn't replaced. Soon, the butler and Cook are dismissed, too -- and then Clara's uncle leaves, abandoning her in the village with nothing but some money. Determined to make it on her own, she tramps back to the manor, ignoring the new For Sale sign in front. But she's surprised when she meets a boy her own age waiting outside, Peter, who has apparently been sent to stay with Clara and her uncle while his grandmother is recuperating and is show more very frustrated to find no uncle. The two decide to stay by themselves for the moment and soon start discovering mysteries hidden in the manor -- like an old ballet slipper under the floorboards. Together with their new friends, the grandchildren of Clara's old Cook, Clara and Peter start to piece together the puzzle -- but before they get too far, they'll have to deal with some adults who seem determined to get in their way.

A fun middle grade mystery in the best tradition! Featuring plucky orphans, nefarious villains, and mysterious ballet dancers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended for fans of classic children's stories and more modern classics like [The Penderwicks]. 4.5 stars. show less

This one didn't grab me in the way I hoped. I did enjoy the concept and the overall story, but didn't feel really connected with any of the characters, or super compelled by what was happening to them. I think it wasn't as dark as I was expecting.

The only reason I didn't apply the Pearl Rule to this one is that I got it as an Early Review book and felt an obligation toward the LT Early Review program to finish it. I"m giving it 3***, though, because it did improve starting around page 100.

I'm not sure kids are going to work their way through to page 100. The plot seems terribly strained until you realize that it's set in 1974, well prior to our current age of helicopter parenting. These kids — and adults as well — behave in ways that could have happened during my own days as a twelve-year-old back in the early 60s.

One caution, and it's a big one, for teachers planning on using this in the classroom. It makes rather light of juvenile shoplifting. Be prepared for some parental show more complaints about this, and hope you have a good strong union shop steward in the event you get a summons from your principal. show less

Clara Starling lives a dull, lonely life in the decaying Braithwaite Manor with her unfriendly uncle. She longs for friendship and adventure until one day, Uncle abandons her and Clara makes an unexpected friend in Peter, an orphaned boy who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. Together, Clara and Peter must solve a mystery that may hold the clues to the Starling family's past.

The Secret Starling, set in 1970's England, has a feel reminiscent of classic children's literature, complete with mysterious mansions, dreary moors, possible orphans, and villainous grown-ups. If you like those kinds of books, I think it is likely that you will enjoy The Secret Starling. Clara and Peter were both strong, interesting characters and the pace of the show more book was fast. Most adult readers will probably find the resolution of the mystery to be fairly predictable, but I think if I had been reading this book when I was, say, 10 years old, it would have been a real page-turner for me and I would have been thrilled by the ending. With its old-fashioned feel and intrepid characters, The Secret Starling is almost exactly the kind of book that I loved at that age.

That said, there were a few false notes. The shoplifting incident seemed unnecessary to the plot and some incidents didn't make sense to me (if Uncle intended for Clara to become a resident of Mordens' Home for Unwanted Children, why did he abandon her in the village?). The ending came very quickly and I would have a liked a bit more time with the characters (perhaps an epilogue that was more than just a newspaper clipping?).

Overall, The Secret Starling was an entertaining but not a particularly memorable read - probably a book that I would have enjoyed more as a child than I did now. show less

I received this book through Library Thing Early Reviewers and finally got to it last night. I loved it! In fact, I couldn't put it down, and ended up finishing it in one sitting.

This book reminded me of the mysteries I used to read when I was a young girl. Who doesn't love a mystery that starts with a creepy old house full of secrets, a mean and stingy uncle, with secrets of his own, and strange clues turning up that seem to contradict the only things Clara knows about her parents. And who did the ballet slipper Clara found under the floorboards at the Manor belong to?

When the boring routine of Clara's world is suddenly turned upside down, Clara is first stunned, but then decides that she is going to take things into her own hands for show more a change. When she unexpectedly finds a young boy who had arrived to stay during his granny's illness, the two put their heads together and decide that they need to get to the bottom of what is going on with Clara's uncle, who has vanished, abandoning Clara, and putting the only home she knows up for sale.

Along the way they find new friendships, trust, loyalty and their own bravery and strength, doing things they never thought they could. But they also learn about jealousy, greed, and the lengths some people will go to in order to get what they believe they deserve. Overcoming their fears together, Clara and Peter embark on their dangerous adventure, following clue after clue, until the truth is uncovered.

Full of surprises, some humour, and suspensefuil events that will keep readers wanting to know what will happen, this book is a delight! Highly recommended. show less

Clara Starling was a young girl who lived in a mansion but her life was not happy, bounded in as it was by strict rules with the only affection coming from the servants. Her guardian, her uncle, didn’t even seem to like her. Things went from bad to worse when her uncle tried to get rid of her and sell the house.
That’s when the story in "The Secret Starling", really came to life as Clara camped out in the mansion and other children came. Eventually she and her new friend Peter stumbled across a mystery to solve, one that brought them even closer together. It was a heartwarming tale about finding a place of belonging

From the moment Clara Starling was taken in by her Uncle, her life has been full of routine and gloom. Nothing ever exciting ever happened until the day her uncle dropped her off at a cafe and disappeared. With no other options, Clara heads home to Braithwaite Manor only find an orphan named Peter and his cat. With no adults around to spoil the fun, the children can do whatever they want. Soon their games uncover a worn ballet slipper that takes them on an adventure to London and the Royal Opera House. As Clara begins to uncover information about her parents the duo are chased by villains and uncover a tale of glamour, romance, and murder. With time of the essence, it's up to Clara and Peter to unravel the secrets of the Starling show more family.

The Bottom Line: Although the beginning was a bit of a slow read for me, the pace picked up to reveal family secrets and twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. Although the final interior images were not available in the advance reading copy, the preliminary sketches were charming. An enjoyable treat for middle grade readers who favor historical fiction about dance and friendship. show less