From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5 When Roddy Hall's mom tells him that Princess will be visiting, he assumes that a dog is coming. Upon her arrival, he is horrified to see that his guest is a girl, and a spunky, bossy girl to boot. Roddy plans to ignore her as much as possible but Princess is determined to investigate the supposedly haunted house in the neighborhood. When she starts sneaking out during the night, he feels compelled to keep her company and watch out for her. But Princess is fearless and Roddy is forced to do more investigating than he bargains for. In the end, the children discover stolen goods in the house and help the police capture the burglars. The story moves quickly and is excellently paced. Princess is as plucky and daring as Roddy is reluctant and thoughtful. The two make a believable team and Wright provides just the right amount of suspense and tension. The full-page illustrations add realism and depth to the story. This will be a great choice for kids looking for a fun summer read.
Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Gr. 3-5. In this short thriller by the author of
The Dollhouse Murders (1983) and many others, Wright calls into play the children's mystery trifecta: kids, ghosts, and a creepy old house. Just when Roddy is worried sick about his dad, a soldier in Afghanistan, his mother agrees to look after an extremely bossy girl, Princess. When the adventure-seeking guest notices suspicious activity at an abandoned house, Roddy wants to steer clear; his best friend's eccentric uncle Ring, who claims to see spirits, says the place harbors "the worst kind of ghost." Undaunted, Princess engineers stakeouts that lead to a scary climax, which involves flesh-and-blood thieves but doesn't completely rule out the possibility of ghostly doings. Despite a plot that feels dated, it's hard to argue with Wright's blend of shivery suspense and realism. Roddy's caution and Princess' bravado seem realistically rooted in their respective family situations. Occasional full-page illustrations capture the spooky moments better than the jacket artwork, which, like the humdrum title, gives little hint of the excitement within.
Jennifer MattsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
