In a richly textured psychological ghost story set at the summer solstice and Christmas, New Zealand's two-time Carnegie-winner delivers another fascinating novel that defies summarization. When the Hamilton's large, extended family returns to their seaside house, Carnival's Hide, the younger children ritually report their arrival to Teddy Carnival, ghost of the builder's son, drowned three generations ago. A trio of brothers arrive claiming to be Carnival descendants; accepted at face value by most of the family, they are recognized by middle child and budding novelist Harry (Ariadne) as the ghosts of Teddy's multiple personalities—Ovid (mind, a master of metamorphoses); Hadfield (instinct—al one point he tries to rape Harry): and Felix (the heart, submerged in life but striving toward dominance in the course of the story; he and Harry fall in love). An array of other love relationships, both lifelong and transitory, are transformed during the tricksters' appearance: Harry, especially, moves from a childish romanticism to a more mature understanding, although she has always been the quiet observer who has understood the drama around her better than its participants. Mahy fills her stories with insights illumined by their contexts: "Have I made love with a ghost'?" . . ."It's what writers do, isn't it?" Her names are suggestive; her characters are as original and individual as any in print—bitchy eldest child Christobel Hamilton, manipulative charmer, is particularly vivid; it's she who learns that ". . .the real trick is to use the tricks, but never forget the truth"—because, in this spellbinding tapestry of people and ideas, mystery and concealed parentage, there are many more tricksters than the surprisingly corporeal ghosts.
Pub Date: March 1, 1989
ISBN: 0689829108
Page Count: 276
Publisher: Macmillan
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1987
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice.
A fall romance with a New England backdrop.
Autumn leaves aren’t the only stunning thing to hit the town of Briar Glen—so has good-looking new boy Jack Harper, and Lucy Kane is enamored with both. Her new crush is the perfect thing to take her mind off the fact that Java Junction, part of a global chain, is opening across the street from Cup o’ Jo, Lucy’s mother’s coffee shop, where they take pride in baking everything from scratch and avoiding artificial ingredients. But there’s more than coincidence in the timing of the arrivals of both Jack and Java Junction: The Harper family moved to Briar Glen specifically to open this franchise location, which will bring competition that threatens Cup o’ Jo. This scenario has the makings of a perfect autumnal adversaries-to-lovers romance, but the writing lacks charm and chemistry. Jack seems to be completely enamored with Lucy, but her character isn’t sufficiently developed to warrant his attention. Lucy’s friends are continually supportive of her but have few distinguishing characteristics, and the story is weakened by confusing timelines and repetitive elements. The resolution relies upon successes that come too easily and do not feel earned. Major characters are cued white.
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice. (Romance. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781339030753
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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