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    Brightwood
    Brightwood
    Brightwood
    Audiobook5 hours

    Brightwood

    Written by Tania Unsworth

    Narrated by Ann Marie Gideon

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    When Daisy Fitzjohn's mother leaves their crumbling Gothic home early one morning and doesn't return, Daisy, with no one to help her but her imaginary friends, must fight to save her home and her life from a dangerous and mysterious stranger. Daisy Fitzjohn knows there are two worlds: the outside world and the world of Brightwood Hall, her home--and the only place she's ever been. Daisy and her mother have everything they need within its magnificent, half-ruined walls. They may not have a computer or phone, but Daisy has all the friends she could want, including a mischievous talking rat named Tar and the ghostly presence of a long-ago explorer who calls herself Frank. When Daisy's mother leaves one morning, a strange visitor arrives on the estate, claiming to be a distant cousin, James Gritting. But as the days tick by and Daisy's mother doesn't return, Gritting becomes more and more menacing. He wants Brightwood for himself, and he will do anything to get it, unless Daisy, with only her imaginary companions to help her, can stop him. Tania Unsworth takes readers on a twisting, heart-pounding journey through dark corridors and wild, untamed gardens in this novel perfect for fans of Doll Bones and Coraline.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateSep 27, 2016
    ISBN9781501936678
    Brightwood
    Author

    Tania Unsworth

    Tania Unsworth spent her childhood in Cambridge before moving to America in her early twenties. She comes from a family of writers and lives in Boston, USA, with her husband and two sons. Find Tania @TaniaUnsworth1 on Twitter or her website taniaunsworth.com

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    Reviews for Brightwood

    3.5/5

    15 ratings2 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I received this book as an uncorrected digital proof from the publisher, via Edelweiss.

      Daisy Fitzjohn knows there are two worlds: the outside world and the world of her home, a secluded mansion called Brightwood Hall. But only Brightwood is real for Daisy--she’s never once set foot outside its grounds. Daisy and her mother have everything they need within Brightwood’s magnificent, half-ruined walls, including Daisy’s best friends: a talking rat named Tar and the ghost of a long-ago explorer who calls herself Frank.

      When Daisy’s mother leaves one morning, a peculiar visitor, James Gritting, arrives on the estate, claiming to be a distant cousin. But as the days tick by and Daisy’s mother doesn’t return, Gritting becomes more and more menacing. He wants Brightwood for himself, and he will do anything to get it.

      At its heart, Brightwood is a tale about mental illness and coming to terms with one’s past. Through no fault of her own, our main character, Daisy, finds herself isolated at Brightwood. She’s never had contact with a human being besides her mother, and her friends include a rat, a statue, and a topiary horse. When her mother disappears and a mysterious stranger shows up at the house, Daisy is forced to not only fight for her life, but to confront the fact that her life is not normal, and that her mother may have mental problems. Daisy’s internal monologue is smart, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking. The interactions with her “friends” depict Daisy’s frustration at having no one from her own peer group to communicate with. There are sections of the book that depict some dark topics, but not in a way that would be outside the understanding of a middle-grader. Some mysteries are allowed to remain mysterious, such as the identity of Daisy’s father, but I love a book that isn’t afraid to leave some strings untied. I would recommend this book to kids 8 and older, who enjoy an (at times dark) adventure.
    • 4/5
      Almost all of Daisy Fitzjohn's family are killed when the family yacht sinks. Only her mother survives. Daisy has spent her entire life never leaving the family estate Brightwood. One day her mother leaves to go to town but she never returns leaving Daisy alone (with her pet rat and ghost friend Frank). A mysterious relative shows up who becomes frequently threatening to her and she suspects fowl play with regard to her mother's disappearance.The mid portion of the book drags some but the ultimate conclusion should satisfy the young readers for which it is intended.