I first read this book in 2009 when it was nominated for the OLA's Red Maple award. I remember loving it, but A Way Lies North was also nominated that year, and that was the one my friends and I voted for. However, I still think about it over the years, not quite remembering how the story went.
The novel turned out to be about loss and grief and the things we do when we're looking for something to hold on to. This follows a family in the 50s who've lost their mother. They play a Knight of the Round Table game, but for Corrie's eldest sibling, Sebastian, it's more an anchor then a game. It follows Corrie as she, alongside her family, has to pick up and put the pieces back together after their mother's death.
I'm not sure how well this would do now, there are a lot of references that kids now wouldn't understand without some help from parents (or grandparents) and some googling. I actually don't remember having any trouble with it myself, proof that the words many parents might deem too difficult for their child might jus be them underestimating them.
Anyways, I loved it, but ironically like the Bell children discover within the novel, the magic and excitement was lost in this novel for me 9 years later. Instead, I read a book about sad children, which may have a hit a bit too close to home at times.
3.5/5 stars.