by Rumer Godden
Tremendous. I loved this book. I was so sorry when I finished it. It was an old-fashioned exciting novel. I guess it’s something of a classic (1958) young adult coming-of-age novel, but I had never heard of it – I came across a mini-review, I think in the NYT, which intrigued me and lent me to borrow it.
Five siblings and their mom take a trip to France, from Britain; but mom gets sick on the way and has to be hospitalized. The four sisters and one brother range in age from 16 to 4. They find themselves on their own in a hotel seemingly filled with enemies, and one ally, a mysterious Englishman who takes responsibility for them, but hides deep dark secrets.
Tytania 