Book Review: "The Beasts of Clawstone Castle" by Eva Ibbotson

SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY

When their parents get a job overseas, Madlyn and Rollo are sent to live with their great uncle at Clawstone Castle. But the castle is old and falling apart and when the kids find out the real reason why it's being taken care of, they promise to help grow the business.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Madlyn is the eldest of the siblings. She is pretty and popular. She is more outgoing than her brother.

Rollo prefers animals over people and he is more quiet than his sister.

Sir George is an elderly man and the kids' great uncle, who runs the castle.

Miss Emily is an elderly woman who tries to make souvenirs for the castle, but she isn't very good at it. She is very sweet and does her job the best she can.

Mr. Howard is an older man who happens to be the kids' cousan. He keeps himself hidden away, as he is rather shy. He has a secret and the kids come to him when they need help saving the castle.

Lord Trembellow is the wealthy owner of a huge, nice castle. He doesn't' much take notice of the Clawstone Castle as it barely makes any profit and is no competition.

PACING

The story is not an action orientated plot. Although it's not overly slow, as we learn about the cows rather fast, by chapter four (and the chapters are small).

HUMOR

Ibbotson has her usual sense of humor throughout. The only time where I felt it wasn't quite funny was when it came to the villains. They just seemed very two dimensional.

THE COWS

Turns out (If you can't tell by the cover of the book) that white cows are the reasons that the castle is operating. They are a rare breed that need to be looked after. Rollo, loving animals, becomes happy to help the castle after finding out the truth.

GETTING GHOSTS

After finding out why their uncle and aunt run the castle, the kids turn to Howard. They ask him to help find some ghosts that would be willing to help out. This leads to a funny segment where we get to meet some ghosts.

A MYSTERY

Trouble is caused, thanks to Lord Trembellow. And the cows are taken. But instead of it being quite clear cut, the truth ends up being a mystery that leads the kids and ghosts on a trip in search of them.

BANSHEES-SPOILERS

One of the ghosts says the cows were not killed, and not buried where they were supposed to be. But it's not until the banshee's show up and reveal this that the kids finally realize the truth.

THE HOGGART

In the beginning we learn about something called the Hoggart (no one knows what it is). And it comes back into the story near the end in a surprising way.

THE KING

There is a story about a king from a far away land, who gets his own little backstory. I felt it kind of pulled me out of the story. I didn't need a specific reason as to why animals were being abused. It was obviously to make money.

THE MUNDANIANS-VAGUE SPOILERS

When the kids go to see the cows, they realize it was all a misunderstanding. Then they meet the workers on the island, a group of refugees. They find out the violence in their country has ended and their finally going home. They celebrate going home and tell the kids an important truth about the island.

LADY TREMBELLOW

The wife of lord Trembellow isn't treated very well and is unhappy throughout the book. But she is barely in it and like I said, the villains are shallow. Even so, it was nice to see her doing good in the end.

CLIMAX

The kids learn the truth about the cows and attempt a rescue mission. With the help of the ghosts, they succeed. Aunt Emily and Uncle George finally show up.

CONCLUSION

The story is silly and funny but the characters don't have much depth, although they do have personalities. The strength lies in Ibbotson's humorous narration, as well as the mystery regarding the cows. I give “The Beasts of Clawstone Castle” three stars.