In the Stone Circle (Hardcover)

by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel (Author) "My life could not, under any circumstances, be worse..." (more)
Key Phrases: King Edward, Owain Glyndwr, Little League

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Kimmel's debut novel is a fast-paced contemporary tale?interlaced with a historical mystery?set in Wales and featuring a cast of well-rounded characters. A young female ghost, searching for a prized possession bequeathed by her beloved father, haunts the 16th-century stone house where 14-year-old Cristyn Stone and her father, a professor of medieval studies, are staying for the summer. Another professor, Mrs. Dunham, and her two children?a lonely boy and his rebellious older sister?join them. Both families are trying to cope with traumatic family situations. Cristyn's mother died when she was three, and although she and her father have a solid relationship, he rarely mentions the loss, leaving Cristyn hungry for details and memories. The Dunham children are coping not only with their parents' recent divorce, but with an intermittently appearing father who almost kidnapped eight-year-old Dennis. Kimmel packs into her tale a satisfying amount of interpersonal strife and reconciliation that may well resonate with readers. The author's ability to show her characters at their best and worst while they grapple with their own inner turmoil (particularly Dennis's prickly sister) makes up for a few predictable plot elements, and the brisk pace and moody Welsh setting will draw readers deep into the mystery. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9?Cristyn, 14, is horrified at the prospect of spending the summer in Wales while her professor father does research in medieval studies. Even when he reveals that her mother, who died when she was three, was born in Wales and that her own name is Welsh, Cristyn doesn't want to face an entire summer away from home. In spite of her misgivings, she feels an affinity for the centuries-old cottage they rent along with her father's colleague, Erica Dunham, and her two children, Miranda and Dennis. Miranda is angry and hurt over her parents' divorce and her absent father's lack of attention. The children become involved in trying to make sense of strange happenings around the cottage?coins dropping out of the air, pieces being moved around on a Scrabble board, etc.?and are drawn into Welsh history and legend. Interwoven into the ghost story are the issues and conflicts being worked out in both families. The characters are well developed and the plot has plenty of twists to keep readers turning the pages. The easy, yet complex, relationship between Cristyn and her father is especially well drawn in contrast to Miranda's difficult relationship with her mother. Most importantly, this book is accessible to kids who read a lot of contemporary realistic stories, but it offers them much more than the usual problem novel because of its supernatural elements and its glimpse into the rich history of another part of the world.?Connie C. Rockman, Stratford Library Association, CT
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 225 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic; 1 edition (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590213083
• ISBN-13: 978-0590213080
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #918,166 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling read, May 9, 2000

By	High Priestess Morgaine (Avalon) - See all my reviews

This book was an amazing tlae, taking several themes, and incorporating them into one carefully spun story. This is the story of a girl who has grown up without a mother, and now must go with her father to the distant and remote country of Wales. Also, it is a story of another family, one filled with the horrors of divorce, and an awful secret. Last. but certainly not least, is the tale of Carwen, the ghost. Her story is heartwarming, but also heartbreaking. Kimmel does an excellent job of tying the themes together. Also, she does an excellent job of developing her characters. I love and hate Dennis and Miranda- sometimes at the same time. Miranda in particular is an intriguing character. I also love the backdrop of Wales. It was a great place to set this story. I would suggest this story to anyone who enjoys ghost stories, mysteries, or family dramas. Happy Reading!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book in the whole entire world!, January 23, 2000

By	Sarah (USA) - See all my reviews

I absolutely loved In The Stone Circle! It is the best book ever! It made me scared to death but made me want to cry at the same time. Especially at the end. Touching and scary, I reccomend it to everyone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A hair-raising tale from the USA to Wales, May 24, 2002

By	Erika Soeterik (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Stone Circle (Paperback)

Cristyn has traveled to Wales to spend the summer with her dad while he does research for a book about Owain Glyndwr. Not only does she loose her summer to a country that she has never seen before, she also has to share the house with Erica Dunham and her two children Miranda and Dennis. It's worse than Christyn thought though because Miranda is moody and Dennis is a pain. Then spooky things start to happen in the house and Christyn feels as though she is being watched. Then she discovers the secret of the cellar.

This book was inspired by a trip to Wales by the author. It is an amazing book that brings the beauty of Wales to life - even though it is somewhat soggy as the author has it raining just about every day. Cristyn didn't want to go to Wales at all, but she became curious when her father told her that her mother was from Wales. That curiosity grows when she discovers the secret of the cellar and who has been haunting her.

This is a brillaintly written novel that flowed from page to page, keeping you firmly locked up in the sotry along the way. Miranda is probably one of the most annoying people I have ever come across in a book, but as the story unfolds you learn why she is the way she is (and her story is pretty sad). I read this in one sitting because I didn't want to put the book down, and I spent a very enjoyable afternoon lost in it's pages.