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The Matchstick Castle
The Matchstick Castle | Keir Graff
4 posts | 5 read | 7 to read
A wild and whimsical adventure story, perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncellos Library Brian can think of a few places he'd rather spend his summer than with his aunt and uncle in Boring, Illinois. Jail, for example. Or an earplug factory. Anything would be better than doing summer school on a computer while his scientist dad is stationed at the South Pole. Boring lives up to its name until Brian and his cousin Nora have a fight, get lost, and discover a huge, wooden house in the forest. With balconies, turrets, and windows seemingly stuck on at random, it looks ready to fall over in the next stiff breeze. To the madcap, eccentric family that lives inside, its not just a homeits a castle. Suddenly, summer gets a lot more exciting. With their new friends, Brian and Nora tangle with giant wasps, sharp-tusked wild boars, and a crazed bureaucrat intent on bringing the dangerously dilapidated old house down with a wrecking ball. This funny, fantastical story will resonate with any reader whos ever wished a little adventure would find them. From the Hardcover edition.
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review
thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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Mehso-so

This book had so many wonderful ingredients that I thought this was going to be a slam dunk... but - I think the story focused on the wrong things? Like, it would have been more interesting if they had spent more time looking for treasure or if Brian's Aunt and Uncle hadn't been quite to cookie cutter dull and uncaring.

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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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3 days into the month and yet to finish a book! 😱😏😱

Quite enjoying this, especially the descriptions of Matchstick Castle - especially the logic behind having a ship on the roof (in case of flood, they'll sail away to safety)

58 likes1 stack add
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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Set in Boring, Illinois... is that a real place?

The blurb gave me an 'if Enid Blyton did magical realism' vibe so obviously I had to buy it immediately...

saguarosally Boring, Illinois is like half the state. 😜(Note: I would say that about almost any state and I like boring.) 8y
Libby1 I might have to get that just because it's set in Boring, Illinois! I'm from Illinois originally and always tell my son that I don't know what it means to be bored because I always have a book with me. 8y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Libby1, that's as good a reason as any for buying a book... 8y
59 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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Rlweasley
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Pickpick

This was super cute! If you like wacky middle grade novels packed full of zany characters, then this one is for you!