The Secret of Castle Cant

by K.P. Bath

Book Overview

When twelve-toed orphan Lucy Wickwright is brought to Castle Cant to be serving girl to the Baron's daughter, the Adorable & Honorable Pauline, she becomes involved with revolutionaries and uncovers surprising palace intrigues.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316108480
• ISBN13: 9780316108485
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 291 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Much more than your everyday princess-in-a-castle tale

The Secret of Castle Cant is charming in its use of names, words and anachronism. But most charming of all is its main character Lucy Wickwright. The author has created a Cinderella-esque girl that doesn't depend on a Prince Charming to save the day. She is a practical, no-nonsense maidservant to the heiress to the Barony of Cant, Pauline. Although Pauline's mishaps always end up getting Lucy in trouble, Lucy steadfastly remains loyal. Then when the questioning of the line of ascension and a rebellion against the royal addiction to chewing gum coincide to throw the whole barony into a tizzy, Lucy manages to keep her head and save the day. Within the mystery of the secret of Castle Cant, the land itself is a mystery - where does it exist, in what time and in what land are questions never answered. In fact, it's a place where "time stands still" (as the opening describes it.) It further says that The Barony of Cant is a land "lost in the creases of maps." PK Bath shows a clever genius in not giving this piece a set time or place. Another genius of the author is his naming of characters. I am most impressed with Uncle Hock Tooey. But Luigi Lemonjello is of similar genius as are Gil Blemesch and Blaise Delagaisse. Finally while I was most impressed with the tools and techniques used to craft this book, I am less impressed with the actual story. While I loved the characters and the land, I had hoped for a different ending. Perhaps something more striking. I will, of course, read the sequel Escape from Castle Cant and see if that satisfies my hope for the outcome. This book is well-done. I highly recommend it if you like a girl-does-well-by-following-her-heart type story. Also recommended if you like clever conversation among characters. Not recommended for those who prefer straight-arrow stories with pretty princesses in crisp dresses, where this happened and that and they all lived happily ever after.

great book

Cody Godwin Language Arts Mrs. Reid September 28, 2005 A Review of The Secret of Castle Cant The Secret of Castle Cant by K.P. Bath is a very good book. It's about a girl named Lucy. She loses her parents while wrapping candles for a woman. She becomes an orphan, then she becomes a servant that works for the Baron's daughter. Lucy has to do what she tells her to do. This book is a good book to read if you like to read adventure books. It isn't a boring book to read. It is a very interesting book. Its not that hard to read. It's a very funny book. Lucy and the Baron's daughter put wet clothes in a catapult. They pulled the trigger and the wet clothes hit everybody below them in the face. They saw the guards coming after them and they started running, as they went down the steps they blew out all the lamps. This book is a great book to read.

The Secret of Castle Cant

GREAT BOOK! I Would give it a 1000 star rating if it existed. The plot is fairly simple,a lowdown nobody turns out to be the next Baroness,but the book was spun with great humor and wit. An interesting book for the younger age with deeper plot lines for more advanced readers.And you can not forget the grammer lesons jamed into hiding! i give it ********************************************* that many stars!

clever, funny, goodhearted -- and surprisingly literary

This is a rare treat, a well-written book for kids that they won't even notice is "literary." I give it 5 stars because it succeeds so completely at what it does. Of course it's not really intended for adults, and most older readers will see the big plot twists coming a mile away, but it's still hugely enjoyable: exciting adventures, likeable characters (except for the villains, of course!), amusing repartee, and clever juxtaposition of a "medieval" culture with the modern world. It reminded me of Sesame Street, in the best way -- younger kids may enjoy it just for its face value, while older kids and adults appreciate the more subtle jokes, insightful character studies, and sneaky vocabulary lessons.

An adventure for all ages

What an exceptionally articulate work of literature! The author combines a well-paced action adventure story for younger readers with a tutorial in the finest expressions of the English language for adults. Children will race through the book following its delightful heroine Lucy Wickwright, and her mistress Pauline Cant, first in line for succession to the Barony, as they dodge and duck those in the adult world who try to manipulate them for their own gain. And as with all good adventures, almost no one, it seems, is quite who they start out to be. The fun never stops even as the intrigue continues to grow. Adults readers who cherish great literature will turn the pages slowly, enjoying K.P. Bath's delightful literary finesse, and will savor each homespun turn of phrase. Just like an old-fashioned hand-made candy must be rolled slowly around your mouth to be truly savored, this book must be reflected upon page after wonderful page. It has been quite a long time since I deliberated over such skillfully layered metaphor. Original and fresh; this book makes me hope a sequel will soon follow.