What the hell? Who the hell is her mother? Seriously she solves the mystery of the key but not who the fk her mother is?

If you can ignore that, then this is an enjoyable well contained mystery. I liked the characters, the dialogue was funny and the mystery was exciting - even if somewhat predictable. There were a few hints at romance that didn't really seem to go anywhere. Would've been stronger without the hints between April and Tim. Or Colin and Sadie. But maybe I'm reading too much into it. April was kind of a contradiction - she was both street smart and stunningly naive. That was frustrating. And the characters were somewhat flat in parts. It's not a fantastic book but it was an easy enjoyable read. 3 stars. ( )

My favorite this year for a middle grade read for pure fun! ( )

A new book for younger readers by Ally Carter (author of the Gallagher Girls series), Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor is a delightful book described as "Little Orphan Annie meets Batman". April was abandoned as a baby with a mysterious key around her neck. When she discovers a chest at a museum with the same symbol, she decides to break into the museum to see if her key opens it. Unfortunately she accidentally starts a fire at the museum burning down priceless artifacts from the Winterborne family. Luckily the Winterbornes don't seem to mind, in fact they allow her to move into the Winterborne mansion as her next foster home. Along with four other orphans, April has finally found a home of her own and helps to unlock the mystery of what really happened to Gabriel Winterborne, the heir of the family who has been missing for a decade. ( )

Recommended Ages: Gr. 5-7

Plot Summary: April knows her mom is coming back for her. If only she could figure out what the key around her neck leads to. April thinks it may have something to do with the Winterbornes, the most famous and richest family around, after seeing how her key matched the crest in the museum. Determined to figure it out, she sneaks into the museum and tries the key with no luck, and accidentally knocks over the candelabra she was using for light. Somehow, she's dragged out, the key is returned to her neck, and she wakes up in the hospital. Ms. Nelson is there waiting for her, and convinces April to come with her to Winterborne, as if April has any other options. On the way, they stop and get Violet and Tim, too. Once they're in the ginormous castle, April tries to make a plan for how to solve the mystery of the key. Only every time she wanders around by herself, she feels someone else there. Who could it be? Will Gabriel Winterborne ever return home after being missing for 10 years?

Setting: stormy coastline

Characters:
April - orphan
Ms. Nelson - in charge of the Winterborne Estate, loving, warm and kind, makes it clear she hates liars
Tim - comes with Violet to Winterborne when he becomes protective of Violet
Violet - youngest and most naive
Sadie- already was living at Winterborne, father was the tutor, inventor although most fail
Colin - boy who was already living at Winterborne, places bets about where the fakes say Gabriel was hiding
Smithers - the butler, helpful and answers questions
Evert Winterborne - Gabriel's uncle, lives in the mini mansion a short distance away

Recurring Themes: belonging, family, friendship, orphan, determination, independence, death

Controversial Issues: the characters are in quite a few life or death situations

Personal Thoughts: This book was full of action and adventure and was well written with an interesting plot and great characters. The suspense made me read it a little too fast, not always picking up on details until they were better explained later. I think this book would be too stressful and too scary for younger than 5th grade.

Genre: unsure! takes place in present day with drones, and it has the fantasy feel, as if it's alternative world, yet it's not. But it certainly doesn't read like realistic fiction.

Pacing: fast
Characters: decently well developed
Frame: easy to understand
Storyline:

Activity:

Readalikes: The False Prince for the unclear genre, life or death situations, and the missing prince. ( )

When April's mother left her at the orphanage, the only thing she gave her was a mysterious key, and then told her that she would be back soon. April believed her mother and has not given up hope that she will one day show up to take her home. In the meantime, April has been in 12 different homes in 10 years, but after setting fire to a museum when she broke in after hours to try to open a small box with her key, Isabella Nelson takes April to Winterborne House. Along with Tim and Violet who are also going to Winterborne House, they arrive to find an energetic girl named Sadie who already lives there. Winterborne House is strange with many secrets, and April believes it has a connection with the key her mother gave her 10 years before.
In her debut middle grade novel, Ally Carter has taken the elements that make her YA books so enjoyable and applied them to this book. The characters are quirky and fun, but they all have secrets of their own. The mystery of the Winterborne Home leads to other questions about who is the last surviving member of the Winterborne family and what does April's mysterious key unlock. The story includes several sequences of fast-paced action and suspense. Overall, this is a very good middle grade novel and the beginning of a promising series. ( )