Peppermints in the Parlor

This children's story was first read aloud to me by my 4th grade teacher. She had a tendency to stop reading right when the best parts were coming up. I remember praying that she wouldn't stop reading and leave us in suspense. As I was reading it many memories came flooding back to me. I found that I could not put it down until I had finished it. My memories of this book have not changed since 4th grade.

The story starts with Emily Loccock, a young girl, traveling on a train to live with her beloved Aunt and Uncle Twice because she had lost her parents in a terrible accident. She is very excited to live in beautiful Sugar Hill Hall, a huge mansion that she had visited once when she was a very little girl. When she arrives she discovers that the once beautiful mansion has been taken over by two horrible women. The mansion had been turned into a home for unwanted old people. Emily is forced to be a slave trapped and lonley. She desprately needs to find answers to many agonizing questions- Where was Uncle Twice? Why were the peppermints put in the parlor to tempt everyone? What happens in the Remembrance Room where you go if you steal a peppermint?

This is an awesome book that is great for 3rd graders all the way up to college students. I greatly enjoyed this book in 4th grade and I think I enjoyed reading it even more now. It has a gread story line and will not let you put it down! Reading aloud to your students is a great time for them to relax and enjoy a story. I will definitely be reading this story to my students! Maybe I'll even hand out peppermints at the end!