In the Stone Circle by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

I found it incredulous the children didn’t tell the adults of the ghost, when it was easy to prove and they were professors of that very history. I guess this is why writers seek 'beta readers'. The ghost supposedly didn't know who the girl was until later but her name had been spelled out earlier. Conclusions reached in various aspects are lovely but I wish we had built up to the major plot properly.

None are eerie and the author’s attempt at urgency with that mission was too late. The baggage of Miranda and Dennis, renting the cottage with them, was excessive. A connection at the end emerged too suddenly to enjoy. One family detracted from the ghost enough, not tied to the mother as much as the synopsis suggested. Surely there were visits or letters from relatives. That the protagonist didn't know she was Welsh her mother from there and singing in that language, is ridiculous. The survivor to the contrary, becomes frantic and dedicated to promoting memory. If a parent dies, the first fear is a tiny child forgetting them. Elizabeth Cody Kimmel could demonstrate “Cristyn’s” need to acquaint her mother, without her Dad clarifying the name Wales like she never heard of it. I don't buy anyone groaning about going to Europe and knowing nothing of a deceased parent. First, one wades through vocabulary featuring 'like' and 'whatever'. This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.Logistics didn't ring true but I liked this story. Ages 10-14.Ĭopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. 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. Kimmel packs into her tale a satisfying amount of interpersonal strife and reconciliation that may well resonate with readers. 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. 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. Both families are trying to cope with traumatic family situations. Dunham, and her two children?a lonely boy and his rebellious older sister?join them. 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. 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.

In the Stone Circle by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel