Parents' Guide to Greenglass House

Book Kate Milford Mystery 2014
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Common Sense Media Review

Andrea Beach By Andrea Beach , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Delightful, engaging mystery with a twist.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 11+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 9+

Based on 11 kid reviews

Kids say this book features a captivating storyline set in an imaginative world with well-developed characters, making it enjoyable for readers. While some find the inclusion of ghost elements unsettling, the overall themes of identity and adventure resonate well, leading to high recommendations despite some minor content cautions.

  • imaginative world
  • relatable characters
  • mystery elements
  • reserved violence
  • engaging plot
  • adventure-filled
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

Milo's looking forward to a couple of weeks of quiet over winter break: The inn his family runs in a creaky, isolated house on top of a hill almost never has guests once the cold weather sets in. But when an unexpected guest is followed by another, and another, and more still, Milo's sure it can't be coincidence. When Milo finds one of the guests has dropped a mysterious map, he and his friend Meddy determine to decode the map's secrets and find out what's brought the strange visitors to Greenglass House.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 3 ):
Kids say ( 11 ):

GREENGLASS HOUSE is a mystery that will delight and intrigue readers of any age, from the first ring of the guest bell to the astonishing twist at the end. The colorful cast of characters, including Greenglass House itself, immediately draw the reader into a richly imagined and vividly detailed story of tremendous depth. At the center of it all is Milo, whose personality quirks, smarts, and kind heart endear him to the reader.

Imaginative stories within the story add just the right touch of humor and chills. Author Kate Milford deftly supports these wonderful aspects with writing that achieves a rare balance: Like the marvelous world she's created, it's wonderfully absurd and utterly believable at the same time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about adoption. Were you adopted, or do you know someone who was? Do you think Milo's feelings about being adopted are realistic?

  • Do you like the stories Milo reads or the stories the guests tell? Why do you think the author includes them? Do they get in the way of reading about Milo, or do they make Greenglass House more enjoyable?

  • Did you figure out who the villain was before Milo did? Whom did you suspect, and why?

Book Details

  • Author : Kate Milford
  • Illustrator : Jaime Zollars
  • Genre : Mystery
  • Topics : Fantasy
  • Book type : Fiction
  • Publisher : Clarion Books
  • Publication date : August 26, 2014
  • Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
  • Number of pages : 376
  • Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
  • Last updated : October 9, 2025

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