Book Title:

Splendors and Glooms

Author: Laura Amy Schlitz

Book details: 384 pages Published August 28th 2012 by Candlewick

My review: This is a fantastic children's book with very dark subject matter that make reading it as an adult all the more amazing. Clara Wintermute  the daughter of a wealthy family is the only remaining child of a wealthy doctor and his wife. Originally there were at least 4 more kids but I believe they were accidentally given something to eat that was poison.  But I can't recall of the top of my head because I don't actually own the book. I borrowed it from the Library. Clara wants a puppet show to perform at her birthday party. So she invites  Gaspare Grisini and there two young assistants  Lizzie Rose and Parsefall. When Gaspare Grisini shows up after the performance is over and Clara goes missing. Her parents are struck with grief and  are desperate to find her at any cost.  Only for Parsefall to later discover that she had been turned into a puppet that resembles her. Heres the creepy part, she can not move on her own. Someone most pull the strings.
Lizzie Rose and Parsefall go on  journey to find a witch who promises them a fortune on her death bed and free Clara from her puppet body. With incredibly  dark subject matter and hints at things like pedophilia child abuse child abduction and child labor this is a fantastic edge of your seat. Heart pounding chiller of a book and I highly recommend it!