5/8/2023 0 Comments Across the pond joy mcculloughMeanwhile, at the castle, Callie’s attempts to befriend Sid, the gardener’s granddaughter, are met with limited success Callie thinks the girl is distant and unfriendly, but redoubles her efforts at friendship when she learns that Sid’s inattentiveness is actually due to absence seizure epilepsy. She does make friends with club member Raj, and develops a sincere interest in birds, but is ultimately asked to leave the club. Taken under the wing of Esme, the town’s librarian, Callie joins a birdwatching club, but is soon frustrated to learn that ‘twitching’ is a male-dominated activity in Scotland (they don’t even appreciate female birds). Her parents agree to an experiment in homeschooling, provided she join some sort of social group. It’s not as simple as she hoped, of course: she adores the scenery, but the castle is cold and mouse-ridden, and a visit to her potential new school gives her anxiety about fitting in. Having recently been shut out of her social circle by her lifelong best friend, Callie decides a move to a new country is just what she needs to reinvent herself. What did you like about the book? When 12-year-old Callie learns that her parents have inherited a castle in Scotland and plan to move there and renovate it, she embraces the opportunity for a fresh start. Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4
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