I quite enjoyed this book. Unfortunately I read it during the chaos of covid and lost or deleted my written review before I could post it anywhere. I do plan to re-read it and post a proper review in the future. ( )

Clara's mother died when she was born, and she has always lived with her cold, distant uncle, a series of governesses, the butler, and the cook in lonely, cold, Braithewaite manor. It's a lonely childhood, but it's all Clara knows. One day, the latest governess leaves -- and for the first time, she isn't replaced. Soon, the butler and Cook are dismissed, too -- and then Clara's uncle leaves, abandoning her in the village with nothing but some money. Determined to make it on her own, she tramps back to the manor, ignoring the new For Sale sign in front. But she's surprised when she meets a boy her own age waiting outside, Peter, who has apparently been sent to stay with Clara and her uncle while his grandmother is recuperating and is very frustrated to find no uncle. The two decide to stay by themselves for the moment and soon start discovering mysteries hidden in the manor -- like an old ballet slipper under the floorboards. Together with their new friends, the grandchildren of Clara's old Cook, Clara and Peter start to piece together the puzzle -- but before they get too far, they'll have to deal with some adults who seem determined to get in their way.

A fun middle grade mystery in the best tradition! Featuring plucky orphans, nefarious villains, and mysterious ballet dancers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended for fans of classic children's stories and more modern classics like [The Penderwicks]. 4.5 stars. ( )

This one didn't grab me in the way I hoped. I did enjoy the concept and the overall story, but didn't feel really connected with any of the characters, or super compelled by what was happening to them. I think it wasn't as dark as I was expecting. ( )

Clara Starling was a young girl who lived in a mansion but her life was not happy, bounded in as it was by strict rules with the only affection coming from the servants. Her guardian, her uncle, didn’t even seem to like her. Things went from bad to worse when her uncle tried to get rid of her and sell the house.
That’s when the story in "The Secret Starling", really came to life as Clara camped out in the mansion and other children came. Eventually she and her new friend Peter stumbled across a mystery to solve, one that brought them even closer together. It was a heartwarming tale about finding a place of belonging

Readers who enjoy books like Coraline or A Series of Unfortunate Events will likely enjoy this one. It has a little bit of spookiness (but not too much) and good twists to keep readers entertained.

In spite of some of the gloom and dark circumstances, it has a lot of heart and friendships. The characters deal with some of the best of human relationships--as long as some of the worst when things like greed and selfishness come into play.

This is a good middle-grade mystery for people who enjoy books with lots of clues rather than grisly moments. I think many readers will enjoy this story.