Splendors and Glooms

In 1860 London Lizzie Rose and Parsefall are assistants to puppet master Grisini. Clara seems to be a spoiled rich girl who gets everything she wants, and she asks to have the puppet show for her 12th birthday. When Clara disappears the night after the show it is apparent that all is not what it seems. The fates of all three children are irrevocably entwined, but who is holding the strings? Interestingly, I also recently recommended another book prominently featuring a traveling marionette theater, Goblin Secrets by William Alexander. It seems to be an unusual trend in children’s literature, but I have to admit it is a perfect setting for a story meant to shivers of fear up your spine. The challenging reading level and dark themes make this book best suited to older children, but the right reader will be rewarded with a complex story with depth and an interesting plot.