  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 09/01/2015 Gr 6–8—Orphaned at the age of 16, Josie Ferguson is sent to live with a mysterious aunt and uncle in accordance with her parents' wishes. Upon her arrival at her relatives' home on the coast of Scotland, she is plagued with an unease that only intensifies as she learns more about her family's dark secrets and the town they inhabit. Bunting's latest is written in the tradition of the classic gothic novel, featuring a charming heroine thrust into a stormy, foreboding setting. The gloomy mood, established from the very moment Josie arrives at the estate, is sustained throughout, infusing each scene with a creeping dread. The appearance of a mysteriously forbidden local boy transcends cliché and provides a wonderfully eerie twist ending to the tale. Fans of Gary Blackwood's Curiosity (Dial, 2014) and Laura Amy Schlitz's A Drowned Maiden's Hair (Candlewick, 2006) will enjoy this atmospheric work. VERDICT An excellent introduction to the gothic genre and a satisfyingly eerie read.—Erinn Black Salge, Saint Peter's Prep, Jersey City, NJ - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 11/15/2015 On a cold, stormy night in northern Scotland, 16-year-old Josie arrives at her aunt and uncle’s home, where she is to live for the next two years. It looks none too inviting. Having just lost her parents to influenza (not uncommon in 1807), her relatives’ curt manner and the hostile looks from the townsfolk do nothing to assuage her grief. It is immediately apparent that something is “off” in Brindle. Though she is forbidden from asking questions, Josie’s curious nature leads her into danger as she seeks to discover what dark, mysterious business her aunt and uncle are a part of. Then there is the handsome and enigmatic Eli, who repeatedly assists Josie, only to leave her with more questions and discomfited emotions. The only thing she knows for certain is that he is forbidden. Bunting has written a taut page-turner full of an eeriness that would be at home in any piece of gothic literature. The result is an atmospheric, otherworldly mystery best absorbed in one sitting. - Copyright 2015 Booklist. Loading...
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