The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop: Book Cover

    The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop, Stoddard (Illustrator), Trina Schart Hyman (Illustrator)

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    (Hardcover - 1st ed)

    • Age Range: 9 to 11
    • Pub. Date: September 1985
    • 192pp
    • Sales Rank: 123,160
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      Reader Rating: (30 ratings)

      Detailed Rating: "Writing" See All

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      Paperback - Reprint$6.99
      Compact Disc - Unabridged, 3 CDs, 3hrs., 32 mins.$14.24
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      • Overview
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      Product Details

      • Pub. Date: September 1985
      • Publisher: Holiday House, Inc.
      • Format: Hardcover, 192pp
      • Sales Rank: 123,160
      • Age Range: 9 to 11

      Synopsis

      William has just received the best present of his life. It's an old, real-looking stone and wooden model of a castle, with a drawbridge, moat, and a about the castle. And sure enough, when he picks up the tiny silver knight, it comes alive in his hand!

      finger-high knight to guard the gates. It's the mysterious castle his housekeeper has told him about, and even though William is sad she's leaving, now the castle is his!

      William can't wait to play with it--he's certain there's something magical
      Sir Simon tells William a mighty story of wild sorcery, wizards, and magic. And suddenly William is off on a fantastic quest to another land and another time--where a fiery dragon and an evil wizard are waiting to do battle . . . .


      From the Paperback edition.

      Annotation

      A gift of a toy castle, complete with silver knight, introduces William to an adventure involving magic and a personal quest.

      Publishers Weekly

      When Mrs. Phillips, who has taken care of William for years, prepares to return to England, she gives the boy a medieval castle with one knight. The knight comes to life, and William is drawn into a battle to release the kingdom from a wizard's spell. PW admired Winthrop's ``absorbing fantasy. Suspense and colorful details, as well as a gentle moral precept, make the story special.'' (8-12)

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      Biography

      Elizabeth Winthrop is the highly acclaimed author of more than forty books for children of all ages.  She speaks at schools and libraries all over the country.  The Castle in the Attic has been nominated for tewnty-three state book awards, and won both the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award (Vermont) and the California Young Readers Award.

      Customer Reviews

      Springs from real kids' feelingsby Book_loving_mom_of_3

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      October 28, 2009: Good book for 5 to 9 years of age. I thought it might be too similar to Indian in the Cupboard, but there are different lessons to be learned here and different relationships explored. I used this as a read-aloud book with my 5-year-old twins, and they were absorbed, though I would guess a bit older child would understand more of the relationships between child and nanny, child and parents, etc. I liked that the boy did gymnastics and that the writer explored this a bit. Writing was descriptive enough to let you see and feel what is happening without bogging down. Great adventure!

      I Also Recommend: Indian in the Cupboard.

      good character traits representedby storiesforchildren

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      November 10, 2008: This book was recommended to us by a friend. Ten-year-old William, whose parents both work, is losing his beloved governess, Mrs. Phillips, who is moving back to England. As a going-away present, she gives him an old, real-looking model of a castle made out of stone and wood and a finger-high lead knight to guard it. William is certain that there must be something magical about it, and sure enough, when he holds the tiny knight, it comes alive in his hand. Sir Simon tells William that a sorcerer had used magic to steal his kingdom and turn him into lead. In fact, just before he became completely leaden, he grabbed part of the sorcerer's necklace which can make things small. William uses it to make Mrs. Phillips small so he can keep her, but after he sees how sad she is, he agrees to be made small so that he can help Sir Simon defeat the sorcerer and get the other part of the necklace that can make Mrs. Phillips normal sized again. Those who do not like books with any "magic" in them will want to avoid this one, but otherwise, besides a reference or two to drinking ale, there is nothing objectionable in this book, and there are several good character traits represented, including loyalty to friends, overcoming fears, and being sorry enough for one's mistakes to do whatever is needed to correct them. Both twelve-year-old Jeremy, to whom I read it aloud before bedtime, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is a sequel, The Battle for the Castle.


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