Wormwood Mire by Judith Rossell
A terrible accident haunts Wormwood Mire and no one will tell Stella anything about it…
An outstanding middle grade adventure with a ghostly, gothic flavour
Loved it. That is certain.
In great disgrace, orphan Stella Montgomery is sent by her miserable aunts to Wormwood Mire, a sprawling countryside estate haunted by a terrible secret. The house was a former residence of a great traveller and collector, and used to be a showcase of marvellous creatures and plants. But the house and gardens have been neglected and most of the animals are gone. The terrible secret, however, lives on, striking fear into the close-lipped locals.
Stella is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, especially as it appears to be connected with her own mysterious origins. Had she lived at Wormwood Mire as a baby? What happened to her family?
Accompanied by cousins Strideforth and Hortense, Stella sets out to uncover the secrets of the house. But when one of the secrets turns out to be a monster, the lives of everyone are at stake.
I am such a fan of Judith Rossell’s prose. I love her dialogue, her descriptions, her Victorian diction, her peculiar details: a seagull that speaks Latin, the talking teeth, the glorious botany.
Five stars. This series is a personal favourite. Start with Withering-by-Sea.
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