Book Review: The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Clair Legrand

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  Victoria hates nonsense. There is no need for it when your life is perfect. The only smudge on her pristine life is her best friend Lawrence. He is a disaster—lazy and dreamy, shirt always untucked, obsessed with his silly piano. Victoria often wonders why she ever bothered being his friend. (Lawrence does too.)

But then Lawrence goes missing. And he’s not the only one. Victoria soon discovers that The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls is not what it appears to be. Kids go in but come out…different. Or they don’t come out at all.

If anyone can sort this out, it’s Victoria—even if it means getting a little messy.

My Thoughts:  This book is the perfect book to read before Halloween!  It is a creepy book that is guaranteed to give you the shivers! 

Victoria is the perfect child.  She is obedient and very smart and ambitious.  She doesn't put up with silliness at all and because of this, Victoria really has no friends.  Victoria decides to become friends with Lawrence to "fix" him.  She doesn't realize that she is actually coming to care for Lawrence until the day Lawrence disappears.  

As Victoria tries to find out what happened to Lawrence and some of the other kids that have mysteriously disappeared from  her school, she starts to discover the mysteries of the Cavendish House for Boys and Girls.  The House is at the end of the road and although it is an orphanage, no one ever sees the children out and about.   Now Victoria has to figure out how to save Lawrence and the other children.

This book had me hooked from the very first page.  I could relate a lot to Victoria as I have the same personality (although not quite to her level).  I loved the creepy old house with its mistress and her gardner and all her creepy puppets and birds.  

Mrs.Cavendish was perfectly creepy and her house was so mysterious.  It took me a long time to figure out if her house was helping Mrs. Cavendish or helping the children.  The beetles were a great touch and the little goblin creatures were horrifying.  

If you enjoy spooky books you will honestly love this one.  The book's ending will have you wanting to find out more and leaves you with a slightly unsettled feeling.