The Secret of Castle Cant

Rating:
Summary: Funny and fantastic!
Review: K. P. Bath's The Secret of Castle Cant is a wonderfully witty and intelligent book. One of the most delightful exeperiences for the reader is revelling in Bath's language; clearly, he had fun while writing this, his first novel (I hope it won't be his last!). His playfulness and plot twists keep the reader engaged from the opening scene, where we find two young girls preparing to fling a load of wet bloomers into a solemn crowd of grownups via catapult. Bath tells the tale of Lucy Wickwright, an orphaned girl who serves in the Castle of Cant as a maid to the Baron's daughter, Pauline. The friendship which develops between the two girls is touching, even as we see that Lucy in many ways is much the more mature of the two. Yet, Pauline surprises us, too--she is not a merely the stock character of a shallow, spoiled brat. The two are involved in a complex plot which includes murder, gum-chewing, political intrigue, youthful crushes, and the line of succession. The fast-moving action and humor keep the reader turning pages. This would be a great choice for young people who enjoy a challenging book, and works well as a family read-aloud. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A Magical creation of eccentric characters and places
Review: Lucy Wickwright, an orphan whose parents mysteriously died, is sent to Castle Cant after living with her uncle for a very long time. While at the castle, she is assigned to be the servant of the Baron's very spoiled daughter Pauline. She proves to be too perfect for the job. She never lies, always performs her duties, and takes the blame for her mistress.

Through her curiosity and detective work, Lucy quickly discovers that Castle Cant isn't the peaceful place it appears to be. She learns that Vladmir Orloff, the Commissioner of The Posts, is cooking up a scheme that could place everyone in danger. She also discovers that the people who mysteriously died were her adoptive parents. Will Lucy be able to stop Orloff's deadly plan before it's too late? Will she ever discover the truth about her real parents, or will that secret remain in their graves forever?

H.P. Bath brings THE SECRET OF CASTLE CANT to life by magically creating eccentric characters and places, while at the same time making readers realize that motivation, courage and friendship aren't created through a writer's imagination.

--- Reviewed by Ashley Hartlaub

Rating:
Summary: clever, funny, goodhearted -- and surprisingly literary
Review: This is a rare treat, a well-written book for kids that they won't even notice is "literary." I give it 5 stars because it succeeds so completely at what it does. Of course it's not really intended for adults, and most older readers will see the big plot twists coming a mile away, but it's still hugely enjoyable: exciting adventures, likeable characters (except for the villains, of course!), amusing repartee, and clever juxtaposition of a "medieval" culture with the modern world. It reminded me of Sesame Street, in the best way -- younger kids may enjoy it just for its face value, while older kids and adults appreciate the more subtle jokes, insightful character studies, and sneaky vocabulary lessons.

Rating:
Summary: Extroardinairy Impact!
Review: This story was unpredictable! You can not miss out on this! I got the book a month before it came out as a prize at school(It is paperback.), and now I'm doing a book report on it, and a puppet show for my favorite scene!

Rating:
Summary: An adventure for all ages
Review: What an exceptionally articulate work of literature! The author combines a well-paced action adventure story for younger readers with a tutorial in the finest expressions of the English language for adults. Children will race through the book following its delightful heroine Lucy Wickwright, and her mistress Pauline Cant, first in line for succession to the Barony, as they dodge and duck those in the adult world who try to manipulate them for their own gain. And as with all good adventures, almost no one, it seems, is quite who they start out to be. The fun never stops even as the intrigue continues to grow. Adults readers who cherish great literature will turn the pages slowly, enjoying K.P. Bath's delightful literary finesse, and will savor each homespun turn of phrase. Just like an old-fashioned hand-made candy must be rolled slowly around your mouth to be truly savored, this book must be reflected upon page after wonderful page. It has been quite a long time since I deliberated over such skillfully layered metaphor. Original and fresh; this book makes me hope a sequel will soon follow.

Rating:
Summary: Engrossing New Fiction for Middle/Older Readers
Review: Young Lucy Wickwright led a wonderfully happy life with her candle-making parents and younger brother, until one fateful day when they were murdered in cold blood in a carriage accident, leaving her an orphan. Since that day, Lucy has been the hardworking maidservant to Pauline, the daughter of the Baron of Cant. Yet she is a bit too hardworking, for she never lies, always does what she's told, and takes the blame for everything that her mistress does. However, her eagerness to please all puts her smack dab in the middle of a sneaky rebellion, one that threatens to destroy the foundations of the Barony, and change her life at Castle Cant forever as she knows it. But when Lucy finds the shocking secret that will easily bring power to the rebels, she must choose to either betray the mistress whom she loves so dearly, or join the rebellion.

In K.P. Bath's first novel, he has shown that he has innumerable talent in writing fantasy and historical fiction, for that is what THE SECRET OF CASTLE CANT holds within it's pages. Lucy Wickwright is a wonderful character who is smart, hardworking, determined, and kind. Her witty remarks to Pauline, and other characters in the book are wonderfully enjoyable to read, and her many adventures are filled with excitement, yet many close-calls at the same time. Her mistress Pauline, is equally adventurous, yet instead of bravery, she is filled more with whining. However, she is still an interesting character, whose quirky personality will please readers greatly. Overall this is a spectacular book that will be enjoyed by even the pickiest reader.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper