Shadow Castle: Expanded Edition

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Summary: Shadow Castle
Review: I first bought this book in 1963 for 45 cents through Scholastic Books. I read it, treasured it and took good care of it. I read it to my little sister, to the children I babysat, and years later to my niece. When my daughter was born, she became a fan of this wonderful tale. Her cousin wanted a copy to badly that I actually typed the entire book on my computer and mailed it to her. I am thrilled to find it available again. Though I still have my well-worn original copy, I am buying copies for children I know who would love this book. Don't miss out on the adventure. Share it with your children.

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Summary: my sister's gift
Review: My older sister received Shadow Castle for Christmas about thirty yeears ago. She was a real book-worm and she, as so many other reviews have mentioned, read it over and over again, until it fell apart. I read it, as well, when I got old enough, but by then it had no cover and the pages were falling out of the binding. The wonder of discovering a cave that led to a previously unknown world, the mystery of the shadows of absent loved ones flickering on the walls, the captured goblins who had to serve as door-knobs, the silent mis-treated servant of the astonishing princess, and the goblin dust concealed in the prince's ring... these were the things that enchanted my sister and so many others. But, I was never as devoted to reading as my sister and even though I greatly enjoyed the book, I did not love it as she did. Then, when she got married and moved away, she never thought to take any of her old books with her. A few years ago, she started looking for Shadow Castle again, for her daughters. No one in my family could remember the last time it had been seen and she began searching used book-stores and libraries, but to no avail. Again, like so many others have mentioned doing. Recently, my husband has been searching for computer books on the internet, and as a kind of test of the comprehensiveness of the cataloguing system, I typed in Shadow Castle. I was so surprised to find it. I had to order it right then and send it to my sister's address. I can't wait to hear from her. (I ordered a copy for myself, also.) As I read the reviews that others have written, I had to cry, because their love of this book is so like my sister's. I wonder if Marian Cockrell is aware of this book's significance in the lives of her readers and the wonderful gift she has given, twice, now, to my sister?

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Summary: A 25 year search rewarded!
Review: I first read Shadow Castle nearly 45 years ago, as a young girl. Like other reviewers have noted, it was an instant favorite which I read again and again. It had everything: love, gentleness, and integrity, as well as suspense, revenge, and human stupidity and preconceptions. When I had a child of my own, I started searching for this book to share both the story and a piece of my own childhood. It was as if the book had vanished like the Shadows on a rainy day! For 25 years, I checked in every used bookstore, every children's library section, to no avail. Then, just before Christmas, I typed in the name and found it was back in print! I included a copy with my Christmas order, and I sat down and read it cover to cover the afternoon it arrived. The magic is still there, right along side the goblin dust. Now it will wait patiently in my bookcase until I have a grandchild to share it with. And I am thinking about re-naming the dog Flumpdoria.

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Summary: The best children's book ever
Review: I am so happy to see this back in print. Like many, I have the Scholastic editiion with the gorgeous cover picture of Gloria in pink and Mica under a tree. Even the description of the book in the Scholastic Books catalogs was memorable! I read and read this book so many times that finally a teacher gave it to me. I too had a ring with a little green stone, and a "cave" (really just a funny growing bush) in the backyard. But the stories lose nothing with age-- there is subtle, quaint humor and truth of human behavior throughout. As I approach my mid thirties I often think of Gloria looking in the mirror... and the story of Bluebell and the goblins really sticks with me. How Robin said that that goblin hadn't looked one little bit like his Bluebell! All the choices made throughout are as rich as those in the Harry Potter books-- characters are tested for loyalty, must choose whether or not to be mortal-- and the "framing story" is as good as the individual tales. This is my all-time number one favorite.

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Summary: The best ever fairy tale
Review: I first read Shadow Castle when I was in the 4th grade, in 1948. It was my favorite book. In one of our many moves my copy was lost and I was devastated. My next encounter with it was when my daughters were in the first and third grade. We were at the Marin county library and there it was. They too fell in love with all the wonderful characters. They begged me to copy the beautiful drawings onto their bedroom walls. So we wound up with fairies and castles on the walls for the next five years until we moved. Since the book was from the library we were not able to keep it but we made a photocopy and read it until it was so worn you couldn't make it out. I then spent 30 years looking for another copy and was so delighted to find it on your website. Now my granddaughters each own a copy and it is becoming a favorite with yet another generation. The drawings now adorn several other little girls' bedrooms and are favorites with everyone who sees them. The story is so beautiful and the characters so believable. It is by far the all time best fairy tale and I hope it goes on for many generations to come. I want to read it to my great grandaughters some day.

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Summary: A Gem Of Fairytales
Review: I was so happy to see that this booked touched so many other reviewers lives the way it did mine when I was just a little child. Just as the castle in the story, this book simply vanished for awhile with only the shadows of my dearest memories recalling the magical events of the classic tale. Then one day I inquired about the title and magically it appeared again. I read the story to my wife and must say it has not lost any of it's child like fascination. Also there were a few of the stories lines that whether intentional or not had me laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face. Every child should have a story to read and reread like this one, and every adult should have a cherished copy of a childhood story, that sets their imaginations soaring into the netherworlds of childhood dreams.

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Summary: Shadow Castle
Review: I have been looking for this book on and off for close to 35 years. At times I wondered whether I had only been dreaming about Mika and Gloria and Robin and the shadows. The book seemed to never have existed. Yesterday a friend was mentioning that she had recently ordered a long out-of-print book from Amazon.com, so I decided to type in the name to see what would happen. I am so happy I could cry! I can't wait to read it again, and to share it with all of the children in my life as well as some adult friends of mine who have never even heard of it. This is truly a prayer answered; a miracle come true.

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Summary: Not Just for Little Girls
Review: Well, I thought I'd chime in. Like many others, I read this book umpteen years ago. Unfortunately, the copy I read didn't belong to me but to my best friend, so I didn't have the chance to re-read it over and over again. Later in life when I tried to locate it for interlibrary loan, of course it was out of print and I didn't remember the author's name. I happened to see the title in the "other works by" list on the back of one of Marian Cockrell's books, and I couldn't believe that the same person who wrote "Mixed Blessings" and "The Revolt of Sarah Perkins" had written it. Imagine finding out that two of your favorite authors are the same person! Anyway, I was so thrilled to finally own it but didn't want to keep it to myself that I began reading it to my 10-year-old son as a ritual before bedtime. A ritual that didn't last long, I must say. Not because he didn't like having a female narrator or not liking "fairies" but because he decided to finish the book himself one afternoon after school. Now I suppose I have to wait for my toddler to grow up...

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Summary: I loved this book also
Review: I also read this book years ago over and over again. Thought I would go online tonight to see if would be listed. Thought I would search the library of congress, but guess what? After reading the reviews I know that this wonderful book is still available. It is a wonderful sad, but beautiful book for any girl getting ready to go through puberty and loves a sappy romance.

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Summary: The Book I Could Never Forget or Find
Review: Thirty years ago I read a wonderful paperback called Shadow Castle-over and over and over again. It was everything a good fairy tale was supposed to be: funny, suspenseful, fanciful, and with the forces of good and evil battling it out in true storybook fashion. I remember that the heroines were much more resourceful than in many of the old fairy tales I had read; none of that standing about and screaming for them when the dragon came. No, they often were the ones who came up with innovative solutions. I loved it! When I gave the book away in a fit of childish largesse, I almost instantly regretted it. But short of resorting to bully tactics, I wasn't getting it back. So, for thirty years, I have been looking for this treasure and am beyond excited to find it in hardback! It will go proudly next to all of my Harry Potter books, and I think it can hold its own.