Goblins in the Castle (Minstrel Book) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Bruce Coville (Author)

Book Description

Series: Minstrel Book

What moans at midnight in Toad-in-a-Cage Castle?

Toad-in-a-Cage Castle was filled with secrets -- secrets such as the hidden passages that led to every room, the long stairway that wound down to the dungeon, and the weird creature named Igor who lived there. But it was the mysterious night noises that bothered William the most -- the strange moans that drifted through the halls of the castle where he was raised.

He wanted to know what caused them.

Then one night he found out....

Editorial Reviews

Review

ALA Booklist A shivery treat for readers, who will identify with the stalwart William as he ferrets out the castle's scary secrets and rights a long-existing wrong.

About the Author

Bruce Coville is the author of nearly ninety books for young readers, including the international best-seller My Teacher Is an Alien. He has been a teacher, a toy maker, a cookware salesman, and a grave digger. In addition to his work as an author, Bruce is much in demand as a speaker and as a storyteller. He is also the founder and president of Full Cast Audio, a company dedicated to producing unabridged recordings of children's books in a full-cast format. For more information about Bruce, check out www.brucecoville.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; later printing edition (October 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671727117
• ISBN-13: 978-0671727116
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Coville was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1950. His family lived in farm territory, about twenty miles north of Syracuse. Bruce grew up around the corner from his grandparents' dairy farm, where he spent a great deal of time as a child, dodging cows and chores to the best of his ability. As a young reader he loved Mary Poppins and Dr. Dolittle, and still has fond memories of rising ahead of the rest of his family so he could huddle in a chair and read THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE. He also read lots of things that people consider junk (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and zillions of comic books). His only real regret is the time he spent watching television, when he could have been reading instead. (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!)

His first book, THE FOOLISH GIANT, was published in 1978. It was illustrated by his wife, Katherine, whom he had married in 1969. This was followed in 1979 by SARAH'S UNICORN, also illustrated by Katherine. After a long period of working separately, the Covilles began collaborating again with SPACE BRAT and GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE, both published in 1992.

Before getting published Bruce earned his living as a toymaker, a gravedigger, a cookware salesman, an assembly line worker, and finally as an elementary school teacher (second and fourth grades). He left teaching in 1981 to devote himself to becoming a full time writer - though it took another five years to achieve that goal!)

Bruce has published nearly 100 books, which have appeared in over a dozen countries around the world and sold more than sixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, INTO THE LAND OF THE UNICORNS, and THE MONSTER'S RING. In 2001 he founded Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company dedicated to creating unabridged, full cast recordings of the best in children's and young adult literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goblins in the Castle, January 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Goblins in the Castle (Minstrel Book) (Paperback)

This is a great book. I have read it to my 4th and 5th grade students and to my own children and they have all loved it. It has just the right mix of "scary" and funny to keep the reader's (or listener's!) interest. This book is not one of Bruce Coville's best known stories, but once you read it, it WILL be one of your favorites!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb book, ESPECIALLY when read aloud!, August 25, 1999

By 

([e-mail]) A teacher (Southeast MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goblins in the Castle (Minstrel Book) (Paperback)

I am a 5th grade teacher, and I enjoy reading this book to my class every year. The students really seem to enjoy the book, especially when I "do the voices". I have just about read the cover off my copy (literally). Of course, I have had some help. Every year after I read it to the class, at least three of the students ask to read it themselves. (A definite plus!)

"Goblins" has all the elements of fantasy, so it works in nicely when discussing that type of book. Bruce Coville really did an outstanding job with this one. I really take a great deal of delight in "torturing" the students by reading only a chapter or two a day. Mr. Coville did an awesome job building suspense at the end of each chapter. It makes for GREAT cliffhangers!

If you teach upper elementary, or if you have children aged 8-12 that you read to, and you don't own this book, then SHAME ON YOU! This one is a must. I have yet to have a class that didn't enjoy this book (even when I taught 6th grade). However, if you don't "do the voices" you are missing half the fun.

I have heard a *rumor* that Bruce Coville is working on a prequel to _Goblins in the Castle_. One can only hope.

Mike Frazier

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 14 Year Later, Still A Great Tale, January 30, 2007

By 

Rosencrantz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goblins in the Castle (Minstrel Book) (Paperback)

I first purchased this book when I was seven years old at a school book fair because I was raised by my father on The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings and the cover, title and description looked cool.

I remember vividly being in second grade and being absolutely tantalized by the day or two it took for me to finish it. It was just a wonderful tale of charming adventure that immediately struck the right chord with me. I'm 21 years old now and I still find myself taking time every year or so to pick up the very copy of the book I purchased when I was 7 to re-aquaint myself with the characters and the adventure and the feeling of being so completely absorbed with a story that can't really be captured beyond grammar school levels that the rest of the world doesn't matter.

This book has stood the test of time for me. It served as a fantastical escape when I was a wee lad and can still provide that exact same charm now as I finish college that I don't believe I'll ever be able to find anywhere else.

Stellar book that will do nothing but encourage young people to read; it's something that's really needed today.