Surprising depth to this book. While it was definitely a young adult book (I read it in only a few hours), I was really happy to see it not tied up in too neat of a bow at the end. The subject matter (abuse) was approached with a lot of subtlety and I love the way that magic interacts with the rest of the world in this book.
I've loved everything I've read by this author. Fistful of Sky is one of my favorite books for the conviction of its magic. This one, though less complicated emotionally, is compelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed this unusual ghost story. Hoffman skillfully contrasted the elements of a haunting tale - a decaying old house, a resident ghost, strange rituals in the attic - with the real-life perils of a child growing up in an abusive home. My heart ached for Susan throughout the book, as she slowly learned to trust others and to hold onto her authentic self, despite her father's attempts to mold her into his perfect "Princess."
