The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox
Janet Fox . Unknown Year . English
An eerie gothic fairytale with a World War II setting and magic at its heart-- and the recipient of four starred reviews and multiple honors. Twelve-year-old Katherine Bateson believes in a logical explanation for everything. But even she can't make sense of the strange goings-on at Rookskill Castle, the drafty old Scottish castle-turned-school where she and her siblings have been sent to escape the London Blitz. What's making those mechanical shrieks at night? Why do the castle's walls seem to have a mind of their own? And who are the silent children who seem to haunt Rookskill's grounds? Kat believes Lady Eleanor, who rules the castle, is harboring a Nazi spy. But when her classmates begin to vanish, one by one, Kat must face the truth about what the castle actually harbors--and what Lady Eleanor is--before it's too late. Selected for the Spirit of Texas Reading Program, a finalist for the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award, and more, this tale of magic and power has charmed readers everywhere.
Categories: Fiction
About the Author
Janet S. Fox (Janet Fox) is a writer, mom, and former high school English teacher. She's the award-winning author of twelve books for young readers, including three YA novels, 4 middle grade novels, two picture books, and one middle grade non-fiction, with more books coming. Her most recent books include the middle grade CARRY ME HOME (Simon & Schuster 2021) about a pair of unhoused sisters, and picture book WINTERGARDEN (Neal Porter Books 2023, illustrated by Jasu Hu) which received four starred reviews. The middle grade THE MYSTERY OF MYSTIC MOUNTAIN (Simon & Schuster 2024) is a kid-driven hunt for a long-lost outlaw treasure set on an aging dude ranch in Montana and is a finalist in the Juvenile category for the 2025 Edgar Award from Mystery Writers of America and the 2025 youth selection for Great Reads from the State of Montana. Janet is a book coach and teacher and has an MFA in writing for children from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and lives with her husband and their friendly yellow Lab in the Montana mountains. Janet is also the publisher of her own imprint, OwlFox Press.
