The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

Reviewed by Regina

Trying to manage three children raised by wolves is not easy. Especially when the lady of the house is a young, spoiled brat. Then, you have to prepare for a fancy Christmas dinner, not wanting to break the reputation of the family you’re working for.

In The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, Penelope Lumley is hired to become a governess for the Ashtons. She thinks that it’s young, innocent, and normal children, but is greeted by two boys and one girl with messy hair and clothes. Lady Ashton wants Penelope to teach the children manners so she won’t become embarrassed when the Ashton family holds the Annual Christmas Ball. However, the Incorrigibles can not take up human traits as easily as regular children, for they were raised by wolves.

One reason why I loved this book is that it shows the wolfish traits of the children. Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassandra like to bark and growl at each other, people, or objects they don’t like. They also chase after smaller animals, such as squirrels or birds. They do not know about human hygiene and clothes. Beowulf refuses to take a bath even if Penelope begs him to. The first time the two boys wore shirts and pants, the shirt was upside down for Beowulf, and Alexander’s pants were, too.

Another amazing trait of this book is that it kept me excited and wanting to keep reading until the end. Most books just have one climax, where the usual “battle” is, but almost all of this book is the climax. Most of the chapters end with a cliffhanger, and it’s hard to just put it down to rest or do something else. The protagonist, Penelope Lumley, has to face many challenges before the real climax of the book. This way, the reader will be able to last the whole book without becoming bored or unhappy about what they’re reading.

I would rate this book a 9 out of 10 because the ending is a cliffhanger. Most people like the book to end cleanly, with someone saving everyone from the “disaster” and everyone lives peacefully. However, this book leaves you on the edge of your seat, wanting to read the sequels all until the seventh book. I recommend this book for anyone who just wants a nice classic adventure to read curled up by a warm place. After reading this book, everyone should check out the whole series, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place! The author, Maryrose Wood, has also written the series The Poison Diaries, which you might enjoy after reading this series. I hope all of you have a good day and will pick up some time to check out The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling!

HarperCollins Publishers, 288 Pages