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The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book II: The Hidden Gallery
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book II: The Hidden Gallery
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book II: The Hidden Gallery
Audiobook5 hours

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book II: The Hidden Gallery

Written by Maryrose Wood

Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

The second book in the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place—the acclaimed and hilarious Victorian mystery series by Maryrose Wood, perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and Trenton Lee Stewart—has a brand-new look.

Thanks to their plucky governess, Miss Penelope Lumley, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia are much more like children than wolf cubs now. They are accustomed to wearing clothes. They hardly ever howl at the moon. And for the most part, they resist the urge to chase squirrels up trees.

Yet the Incorrigibles are not entirely civilized, and still managed to ruin Lady Constance's Christmas ball, nearly destroying the grand house. So while Ashton Place is being restored, Penelope, the Ashtons, and the children take up residence in London. As they explore the city, Penelope and the Incorrigibles discover more about themselves as clues about the children's—and Penelope's own—mysterious past crop up in the most unexpected ways....

LanguageEnglish
PublisherBalzer Bray
Release dateFeb 22, 2011
ISBN9780062012555
Author

Maryrose Wood

Maryrose Wood is the author of the first five books (so far!) in this series about the Incorrigible children and their governess. These books may be considered works of fiction, which is to say, the true bits and the untrue bits are so thoroughly mixed together that no one should be able to tell the difference. This process of fabrication is fully permitted under the terms of the author's Poetic License, which is one of her most prized possessions. Maryrose's other qualifications for writing these tales include a scandalous stint as a professional thespian, many years as a private governess to two curious and occasionally rambunctious pupils, and whatever literary insights she may have gleaned from living in close proximity to a clever but disobedient dog.

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Reviews for The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place

Rating: 4.225490180392157 out of 5 stars
4/5

408 ratings83 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a sweet little book about three young children who were found by a man and his young, new wife. The children had been living wildly and alone in the woods of their estate in England. The couple has no knowledge or evident ability to care for them although they have the money to provide care for them. They dub the children "The Incorrigibles".Penelope Lumley is a recent graduate of The Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females. She is 15 and has no place to go now upon graduation until she is hired by Lord Frederick and Lady Constance to work for them as governess to the children. The story is lighter than Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events but is written with a similarly advanced vocabulary. The language used does tend to be period language from the early to mid 1850s. Wood's style is gothic in nature. Romance and horror both abound; the story jumps easily back and forth between the two. Penelope's gentle awareness of the children's needs is quick to follow and avert any threat of horror. Word of warning: (possible spoiler)At one point in the story several men grab guns and head to the woods to hunt for the children. While this sounds very scary the story progresses well and quickly so that there is not a long amount of worry over what will happen.Due to the possible scare factor I would suggest that people consider a pre-read of this before allowing very young children to read it. Our 9 and 10 year olds could handle reading it. I am thinking back on it and think that I could read this to our 5 year old without her being upset by it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    DEEEEEEEEEEEEElightful!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The cover initially attracted me to this book as well as the title. Although not all the mysteries are solved by books end, it is listed as "book 1"...I am much anticipating the follow-up!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Really liked this book which has the elements of Nannie McPhee and The Series of Unfortunate Events. Children who were raised by wolves are given a home with the hunter who found them. A governess is hired to care for them. The audio book was spectacular with the actor giving voice to the children with a wolfish, howling accent. This first book leaves the reader in suspense and wanting more.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Such a fun and delightful book! I adored it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It takes a talented writer to craft the perfect MG book, and Wood has done just that. This hearkens back to those timeless children's books that everyone has read and fell in love with. And to make it even better, Katherine Kellgren has the perfect narration style.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great audio book for a road trip with children
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is such a clever book. The wolf children are funny and unpredictable. Their 15 year old, very clever, tutor also has a mysterious past that begins with her "meow" on page 4. I thoroughly enjoyed the details: Agatha Swainburn's Sayings, tiny pictures at the beginning of chapters that give clues, squirrel chases, and very funny asides. Then there I was at the end of the book with not enough pages left to answer the questions and mystery--to be continued (not soon enough)--"awooooo".
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Our local bookshop has a poster for this book (but not the book itself), and I was intrigued. A fun, imaginative book for children about eight to eleven, it is set in the 19th century and tells the story of fifteen-year-old Penelope Lumley, who has been hired as governess to the Incorrigibles, three young children who were raised by wolves and then found in the forest by Lord Ashton. The charm stems from the Incorrigibles' wolfy behaviour; from the narrator's fun, informative asides to modern-day readers; and from the amusing black-and-white illustrations. Certainly suitable for children to read on their own, but I think the most fun would be to read this one aloud. The end resolves the most pressing issues of the book but leaves plenty of questions unanswered for book two.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The 5th book of this series just came out, and I finally got around to reading the first one. I really enjoyed it; it is smart, funny, engaging and quirky. With a lexile level of 1000 and an AR level of 6.8, this is a great book for those middle grade students who need a higher reading level without some of the YA content. It contains many pearls of wisdom from the inimitable Agatha Swanburne, not to mention our young governess-heroine Penelope. There are quotes from literature, and even some Latin phrases thrown in for good measure. With that being said, you might assume this is one of those books that adults love but middle graders don't like. However, I have several students who love this series. This would be a good family read-aloud, or a road trip book. I understand the narrarator is fabulous. There are a lot of mysteries left unexplained, so be ready to start the next one quickly
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I thoroughly enjoyed this charming tale -- a little Anne of Green Gables, a little Jane Eyre, a whole lot of the Series of Unfortunate Events -- and am eagerly awaiting the next installment. I work in a school and half the kids there were raised by wolves too!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's perfect, I love it! I love the illustrations too and I am glad to say I recognized the illustrator in another book. I'm so proud :)
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Not bad, but the plot didn't contain too much detail, and it seemed that a lot of the humor came from literary references that an age-appropriate audience wouldn't understand/find funny if they did (in fact, a lot of adults probably wouldn't find the governess/Victorian humor all that amusing either, unless they have a soft spot for Austen and the Brontes).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This delightful cross between Jane Austen and Lemony Snickett may not appeal to all kids, but will certainly be appreciated by those who enjoy dry British humor (although author Maryrose Wood is actually a New Yorker and not a Brit). This opening story of 15-year-old governess Penelope Lumley and her three charges sets the stage for many further adventures. Although the three siblings in Miss Lumley's care have been raised by wolves and only recently brought into the "civilized" world, it quickly becomes clear that a mansion and nice clothes do not a civilized society make, and that the children are not the true beasts of this tale.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Discovered in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children: Alexander keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips; Cassiopeia has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite; and Beowulf is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels. Luckily, their governess is not ordinary either.This is the first addition to The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, and introduces it's characters and the mysterious findings of the children raised by wolves, captured and being civilized. The language in this book is pleasantly overachieving for children's literature: The setting, while set centuries ago, nicely references modern day to explain concepts from that period to children from this day. This book would be entertaining for both boys and girls, and is relatable and fun because the Incorrigible Children spark imaginative play in its readers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Thank you, Marla, for this wonderful birthday gift :)

    I am a fan of Klassen's art, which is why this book had attracted my attention in the first place. After reading Connie Willis's 1,200plus-page epic that revolves around two really insufferable incorrigible children, I figured, hey, why not keep it going? Though I must admit, the Incorrigibles are nothing compared to Alf and Binnie; in fact, we learn pretty quickly that they are smart, funny, and impressively obedient. Mysteries are galore in this little books. Some are more obvious than others, but all will have to wait until I read the next book in the series.

    Apart from some writing elements, I really do not think this book is anything like Lemony Snicket. The main character of this book is Penelope, a young governess fresh out of school, not the children (I would humbly propose...)

    A page turner for anyone who likes fast squirrel chases and hates wallpaper!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My 8 year old son began reading this and lost interest rather quickly. When I picked it up to read it I could understand why. It is written in period language. I am not sure even a girl of the same age would find this an easy read. Maybe it's the age. Maybe had my son been a bit older, say 10 or 12, it might have been more interesting. Aside from that, I really did enjoy the book.I rather enjoyed the language of the book. The author did a very good job with the style of the period. It was proper, as any refined and educated girl would be expected to be. The story is about a 15 year old girl who just graduated from Swanburne Academy. As governess, she quickly learns the truth about the "wild children" of Ashton Place and vows to treat them and educate them like children should be. She has a grand task ahead of her and shows just how exceptional a teacher she is by books end...but there is more to the story. I knew from the beginning that this was a series of books, but did not realize that the story itself would not be finished in the first book. So, be warned, you may want to get the second and third book lined up for when you are done with the first!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "All books are judged by their covers until they are read."A most appropriate quote from Agatha Swanburne, founder of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, from which our protagonist, 15-year-old Penelope Lumley, has recently graduated. An appropriate quote for it was the cover that initially drew me in to this story of Miss Lumley and the peculiar inhabitants of Ashton Place.Although only fifteen, Miss Penelope Lumley is an extremely capable young lady, in the mold of Mary Poppins or any number of similar governesses that one might find in mid-nineteenth century England - firm, but not inflexible; kind but not sentimental. Still, her rigorous training could hardly have been preparation for her new position at Ashton Place. Lord Ashton is a puzzling man with curious habits and a strange sense of humor, Lady Constance Ashton is a flighty, excitable woman, and the children (if one may call them children) are three siblings that have apparently been raised by wolves in the wild and forbidding Ashton Forest. Of course, this does not pose a problem for the capable Miss Lumley; however, there are many unexplained mysteries afoot. Who wishes to sabotoge the children's transition into civilized society? What secret is Mr. Ashton hiding? What secrets lie hidden with Ashton Place? What became of the children's parents (and for that matter, of Miss Lumley's parents as well!)? Consistently written in a style that evokes the sensibilities of England in the 1850s, Wood's writing is amusing as well and contains frequent helpful "asides" from the narrator."Now there is a scientific principle that states: Once a train has left the station and is going along at a good clip, it is often fiendishly difficult to slam on the brakes, even if you are clearly headed for trouble (the same holds true for horses that have already left their barns). This principle is Newton's very first law of motion and was considered old news even in Miss Penelope Lumley's day. Penelope had taken physics at Swanburne and, thus, knew all about Newton's laws of motion. Still, she felt that a final, desperate, and heroic attempt to change the course of events that now led inexorably and disatrously to the children attending Lady Constance's party seemed called for, and so she gave it her all. "Lady Constance, your plans for a holiday ball sound delightful, and I am sure the children would hate to miss it," she began, "but coincidentally, I was intending to ask you if I may take them on a ski holiday in France until after the New Year..." To give you an idea how final, desperate, and heroic this suggestion was, it should be noted that Penelope had never skied in her life, nor had she ever been to France that she could recall, nor did she know precisely where one might ski in France. However, she assumed that any country with so sterling a reputation must be equipped with mountains somewhere; the rest of the information she knew she could easily find in an encyclopedia."It's difficult not to admire Miss Lumley; and her young wolfish charges, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia, adore her. You will too.Finally, a word on series, as this is the first book in the new series, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place:I always approach a series with trepidation. There are so many outcomes possible - will I gain years of enjoyment and then a melancholy wistfulness as the series draws to a close as in Harry Potter? Will I invest time and enthusiasm only to be left waiting interminably, as in The Abarat? Will I be interested enough in the outcome but lack the ambition to keep up, as in The 39 Clues? Will I read only one installment and feel satisfied that I have enough feeling and understanding for the series to promote it as in Baby Mouse? The jury is still out on The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. The cover drew me in, but it is the confident Miss Penelope Lumley that may convince me to stay.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Very slow to pick up, but the mystery keeps the reader going and sets up well for the remainder of the series.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    After finding three children apparently raised by wolves on his property, Lord Ashton hires Penelope Lumley to be their governess. While the job is not exactly what she expected, 15 year old Penelope does her best to tutor her new charges in manners as well as academics. Where did the children come from? Who set up the terrible occurrences at the Christmans party, and what were they trying to cause?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I listened to this book and was surprised by how much I liked it. The story is cute, the characters are ridiculous, but lovely at the same time. The reader does a fantastic job of engaging the listener via different voices for the different characters. Her voices for the Incorrigibles are lovely and adorable, as are the characters themselves. I plan to listen to the second book in this series eventually.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Mysterious Howling was wickedly funny, whimsically amusing, and delightfully charming. Now that was an onslaught of adjectives that mean absolutely! Hopefully with the proper citations and enough batting of the eyelashes you’ll be swayed.The Mysterious Howling shows great promise and, like what many book critics have been saying, this promise is akin to Lemony Snicket. Their styles are very similar with their sympathetic, humorous tone and light-hearted mood set against a rather dark and twisted theme. Here is a [rather lengthy] quote of a passage from the book:‘“You,” she said, looking at the eldest boy, “are to be called Alexander. Can you say it? Alexander,” she prompted again, clearly.“Alawoooooo,” he repeated.“Very good!” She glanced at the card, “It says here, you are named after ‘Alexander the Great, the legendary commander who mercilessly conquered the Persian Empire and was said to drink too much wine.’ Hmm. That is an odd choice.”“Alawooooo!” he said, with feeling.“As for you,” she said, turning to the smaller boy, “you are to be called Beowulf. ‘Beowulf was a fearless warrior of old, who slew monsters and dragons until he met a bloody and violent end.’ A most unsavory namesake, in my opinion, but that is what Lord Ashton has written here. Can you say Beowulf?”“Beowoooooo,” the boy said proudly.“Excellent,” Penelope praised. “And now for our littlest pupil. Heavens! It appears that Lord Ashton has named you—well, let me read it. ‘Cassiopeia, after the vain and arrogant queen of the ancient Greeks who tried to sacrifice her own daughter to the sea gods.’ How dreadful! But it will have to do.” She was about to ask the little girl to repeat her name, but the clever child had been watching the other and beat Penelope to the task.“Cassawoof!” she yelped. “Woof! Woof!”’—excerpt from pages 54-55Yikes! I was not expecting to copy an entire page from the book. At any rate I realize that this passage is not a great example of the characterization in the book, my fault. In The Mysterious Howling each and every character shines; they are distinctive, charming (it their own special little way), and full of personality. Rather than grouping people together, which I have done countless times especially when concerning books that are similar, there is a sense of individuality that makes them who they are.However there are issues. Despite the recommended reading group for the novel to be for middle school students I believe that maybe some of the older generation will appreciate the book more. The Mysterious Howling is very appropriate to children don't worry, but how well it will hold their attention may be the issue. Some of the diction, motifs, and even the heaviness of the dialogues and narration at times may be troublesome for some students. (It's rare but it still occurs). There is even an issue of the protagonist being the age of 15—(older than the recommended age group). How well the children will relate to and understand the story will just depend on the child’s level of reading though.But! the illustration accompanying the novel was just splendid! If you like the artistic style of the cover then you’ll love the illustrations. It fits quite well with the quirkiness of the novel.Overall: So our class just had a guest speaker for Women’s Day today and she told us that when she hired, her employers called her “a delightful wack-job”. I feel as though this book is exactly that! It was a delightful, but strange all the while. I want need the next book in the series definitely!Cover A+It’s a very good representation of the novel with a color scheme I adore (I like the more earthy tones) that demonstrates the potential of the book nicely.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a book club pick chosen by our resident librarian! I personally enjoyed the book and am now committed to reading at least the next installment because I need to know who is up to what. I knew going in this was a children's book but as I was reading I kept wondering what age group was this targeted to. If I had that answer I think I might have quit thinking that some of the subject matter might be over the readers head. It does remind me of the Lemony Snicket series which I enjoyed reading when my girls were reading them. My one regret was I had to read this during a very busy time and could not commit to just sitting down and reading it in large doses, that made it a bit fragmented so I am inclined to think and nit pick more than just enjoy the story. Over all I would recommend it to literary minded young people.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Again, a great book! Loved the narrator, did a wonderful job of making each character real. I was flooded with a warm feeling at the end and I loved the children’s way of adding woo at the end of each sentence. A book too cute to resist indeed.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is a total delight, and practically begs to be read out loud to children--young enough to enjoy being read to, but old enough to get sly humor. There are also fantastic drawings scattered throughout. :)Penelope is a graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females and is on her way to see about a post as a governess. She accepts the job before learning anything about the children. Does that set off alarm bells for you? It should.You know the phrase "Raised by wolves"? These three kids were. So Penelope has to teach the three children (Alexander, Beowulf and Cassiopeia) how to be normal, polite children.This is the first in a series and I can't wait to read more. :)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Penelope Lumley has just left the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females and started her first job as governess to three children at Ashton Place. But these are no ordinary children. Alexander, Beowulf and Cassiopeia were found in the forest having been raised by wolves. Penelope is not daunted by their howling or their desire to chase squirrels but she is a bit apprehensive about the prospect of them appearing at Lady Constance’s Christmas Ball.This is a very witty book in the style of the Lemony Snicket Series and is obviously the start of a series as the ending is very inconclusive. Enjoyable reading for children aged 10 and up but also an excellent read-aloud as most adults will enjoy the sly humour
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great story with all the elements to keep kids reading. Loved the idea and the governess character.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    After completing her education at the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, 15-year-old Penelope Lumley accepts a post as governess at Ashton Place. The intrepid governess is not daunted upon learning that her three charges have just been captured in the woods where they have been living in the wild. Miss Lumley simply adds instruction in personal grooming, wearing clothing, and speaking to her curriculum of mathematics, geography, language, and literature (with occasional distractions from squirrels). Miss Lumley's skills will soon be put to the test when the lady of the house decides to host a Christmas party with the children in attendance.Katherine Kellgren's narration further enhances an already delightful fairytale-like story. All of her characterizations are outstanding, but I particularly enjoyed hearing the children's voices as they struggled with human speech. Readers should be forewarned that the story ends with a cliff-hanger. I'm eager to get my hands on the next book in the series, and it will have to be the audio version now I that I know how good it is in that format.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Now there was a good bit of fun! I'm not a frequent reader of YA novels, but I do enjoy them once in a while, and this one turned out to be a real treat. Fifteen year-old Penelope Lumley, just graduated from the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females sometime in the mid 19th century, is on her way to her first job interview as a potential governess. The employers had asked for someone who gets along with animals, and as it happens she is a great animal lover and is very much looking forward to finding out what sort of creatures she will find at her potential employers'. When she arrives at Ashton place with some trepidation, not being sure whether she will be able to call this place her home or be sent away, she is greeted with mysterious howling sounds, which everyone in the estate seems to be at pains not to hear. But inevitably, she is hired and comes face to face with her charges; three young siblings, two boys and a small girl, who have grown up wild in the local woods, seemingly having been raised by wolves. Her mandate of teaching them French and Latin and Geography and Mathematics, will also have to include teaching them first to start talking like human beings and (for the boys) how to properly put a pair of pants on. The children are very attached to her and she's delighted with their progress, though of course a big challenge is thrown her way; she must groom them to behave irreproachably and in very short order, to be the main attraction at a grand Christmas ball to which high dignitaries and the crème de la crème of society will be invited, and this when the children are still barely able to contain themselves from howling at the least provocation! Elements of Jane Eyre come into play when some of the mysterious howlings seemingly turn out to originate from a hidden portion of the attic. But the secret of this strange mystery will only be revealed in a further instalment in the series it seems, which is just as well because I will happily continue to follow along the adventures of Miss Lumley and the Incorrigibles.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    5Q 4PThis is a very well written book with suspenseful elements and likable characters. The "incorrigible" children have humorous adventures with their governess, but she keeps them on track in their education. I think that most children will enjoy this story, but some children may not enjoy the historical setting and with that historical language that is often used.