Name: Marloes's review of Greenglass House by Kate Milford
Item: Greenglass House
Rating: 4
Author: Marloes

Kate Milford

New York Times Bestseller National Book Award Nominee Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.

Greenglass House

Marloes

At Greenglass House, a smuggler's inn, 12-year-old Milo, the innkeepers' adopted son, plans to spend his winter holidays relaxing, but soon guests begin arriving with strange stories about the house, sending Milo and Meddy, the cook's daughter, on an adventure. Simultaneous eBook.

What a fun mystery filled story! lots of hidden messages and meanings. Which all unravel at the end. Some you don’t see coming, and most you have the joy of figuring out on your own and then being able to say “I KNEW IT!” When it’s finally revealed to be true. 

A not scary, meaningful, story. As someone with adopted family, this has a wonderful message to those who have two families. It’s not the main plot, and I loved that. It was just perfectly intertwined with the rest of the story. I nearly cried at the end. 

Caroline Rutledge 

What a fun mystery filled story! lots of hidden messages and meanings. Which all unravel at the end. Some you don’t see coming, and most you have the joy of figuring out on your own and then being able to say “I KNEW IT!” When it’s finally revealed to be true. 

A not scary, meaningful, story. As someone with adopted family, this has a wonderful message to those who have two families. It’s not the main plot, and I loved that. It was just perfectly intertwined with the rest of the story. I nearly cried at the end. 

Sonia Grgas

Loved this book. Recommended for those who discovered that they loved reading mysteries as children and never stopped. Extra star added because it reminds me of a favorite book that I read over and over as a child. Bonus: it takes place during the Christmas holidays.

Stephanie Denton

Great mystery, where the kids sometimes outsmart the adults. Lots of interesting characters, all of whom bring something mysterious to the story. All of their stories (both figurative, and literal - they tell stories within the story), intertwine, and add to the suspense. Great twists at the end. I'm looking forward to reading the second book.

chloe rae

An absolute gem of a book!
I just adored this story. I loved Milo and his wonderful family and their Inn's kooky guests. It was a mystery (which I had no idea going in) and just brimming with whimsy and heart. The Inn with its snowy landscape and stained glass windows had me transported to a dreamy, winter landscape in England. The perfect cold weather read.
This story helps you remember the magic of family and friendship; the power of courage and integrity. Can't wait to pick up more middle grade, it always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside (:

Krystyna 

I really adored this middle grade. I feel like the topic of adoption was presented so well. There are people in my family that are adopted so this one hit close to home for me. I think that this is a great book to read during the winter, especially in December. It's a great holiday read. I really enjoyed the coziness of this book: the family, the descriptions, the food, the hot cocoa, the crackling fire, the Christmas vibes, the reading, and the adventure/mystery. It's just so good! I also thought the website the author mentioned at the end was a nice, extra touch. If you read this and enjoyed it, check out the website that goes with it (www.nagspeake.com). I borrowed this from the library, but I definitely plan on buying my own copy and continuing with the series. Will I reread this? Probably. Do I recommend it? Definitely.

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A rambling old inn, a strange map, an attic packed with treasures, squabbling guests, theft, friendship, and an unusual haunting mark this smart middle grade mystery in the tradition of the Mysterious Benedict Society books and "The Westing Game."

Brittany Jenkins

This one is a new favorite for me! A middle grade mystery that felt like so much more and checked off so many boxes for me as a reader. I was excited to pick up the book and found myself getting lost in the pages as I followed Milo and Meddy on their adventure. And the plot twist! I love a good plot twist! I will definitely be picking up the next book at some point, because I very much would like to return for another visit to Greenglass House :)

Giulia Pianta

It was a cold November afternoon in London. I had just spent two fun days partying for my friend’s 30th birthday and I slept for two nights at 2 different friends’ places. I was not really hungover but a bit tired for sure, and in need of a couple of hours of alone time doing something sweet.

Since it is the month of Believathon Part IV, I decided to grab a middle-grade book, and this one was the latest purchase.
And I am so glad I bought this a few weeks ago so I could pick it when I did because it was more than I could ever hope for!

My only regret is reading this in November and not closer to Christmas as the story takes place during the Christmas holidays and the mood was so perfect, with the snow and the chimney and so much hot chocolate and socks and family time.

I was enthralled by the stories contained within this book. I am such a fan of stories that when I read a book, I love that we get a glimpse into another book that exists in that universe (by the way, is there really a The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book??? I need it). So getting to read bits and pieces from short stories is so lovely. To greatly incorporate another book in the book, you need to write really well, which I think this author does. I find her style simple but effective, which I like. There are additional points for making me visualise the spaces really well (very few authors can make creativeless-me make up images in my head).

There were so many tiny elements that I really enjoyed, like the use of RPG characters and adventure, the mystery, the way the inn is built with the colourful windows and the little machine that takes you up the mountain.

The Inn often hosts smugglers and I found it so funny how they were described, like the one who would work mostly in spring as it smuggles seedlings.

Despite being decidedly for a middle-grade audience, it was absolutely not dumbed down, making it very pleasant for an adult too. At the same time, the kids felt like 11-year-old kids, and not like weird short adults as sometimes happens in these books. Some important themes like family, death, identity and adoption were handled so well.

Needless to say, I want to read the sequels like right now!

Liv Rockwell

Listen. I read this because How to Train Your Gavin mentioned it, and I finally just could not say No. It sat on my sister's shelves, meaning it had to be decent because she has impeccable taste. 

Themes of being an insider-outsider in the world play a role as Milo comes to a deeper understand of his adoption. Also included is the overall love that parents have for their children, regardless of what society may believe about the parent and/ or child. 

Now this book is up there with the "Mysterious Benedict Society" for me: Impeccable blend of classic storytelling with a winter atmosphere and plain fun. Loved every minute of this read!

Charlotte Rayfield

This book was brilliant and mysterious and nostalgic and heartwarming all at the same time.

Lauren Kirsty Verity

Good festive read! Great story-telling, great for younger readers, it did take me a while to read it just cause I’m not used to middle grade, however, the writing was good and the story was solid! Would definitely recommend to younger readers

Hannah Alexander 

This book was so good. If you read the series called winter house and then you would love this book!

Emily S

Brief synopsis: Twelve-year-old Milo always looks forward to the restful Christmas holidays at his house (which also happens to be a gorgeous green-glass smuggler’s inn, see cover). However, one by one, a crazy cast of guests arrive, and they all seem to be searching for something... but what?

There was a lot to like about this book. I loved how the author wrote it when she was in the process of adoption, and wrote the main character as an adopted child. I also love the atmosphere and the original setting of the house and the smugglers town. The characters were also totally lovable.

I think maybe because the middle felt a bit slow or because certain clues felt a little rushed, but my enjoyment level for this one was ever-so-slightly below some of my recent middle grade reads, so we’re gonna go with 3.5 🌟.

I might get around to the other books in the world of Nagspeake, or maybe not, but if I do, I think it’ll be a welcome return to a gorgeous, cozy house with snowy grounds and mug upon mug of hot cocoa ☕️ ❄️

Mousumee

Melea Mullican

3.5 stars

This was a good, but not great middle grade in my opinion. I really enjoyed the characters and the atmosphere, but I found the writing style choppy and at times hard to follow. It just didn’t seem to flow well for me as an adult, so I imagine it would be harder for a middle grade reader. However, I still really enjoyed the book so I recommend if it sounds interesting giving it a try. I will likely give this author and her writing style another shot in the future.

K.J. Haakenson

This was good! Loved the aesthetic with stained glass and smugglers with secrets and a cozy inn and two kids role playing as adventurers. Had a better ending than I was expecting but I did have to push to keep reading through the middle of the book. Probably wouldn’t reread it but I would totally recommend as a good middle grade mystery.

Tania Joana da Silva Monteiro

Wonderful story, wonderful characters. Great atmosphere. I figured one of the plot twist almost from the beginning, but I still enjoyed it and everything made sense. But I think the best thing was the characters, i fell in love with some of them!

Stefie 

It was a good read, and perfect to read by the fireplace :)
It's a book that makes you feel cozy during the winter time. 

While the story itself is fun and seems like my kind of read. I can't help but felt bored in some parts. I had a high expectation for this one as so many people seems to love it. But, perhaps I set it too high, and that's okay :)

Marloes &
Greenglass House by Kate Milford

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Marloes &Greenglass House by Kate Milford

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Marloes &
Greenglass House by Kate Milford