Book Review: Thursdays With the Crown by Jessica Day George

Thursdays With the Crown by Jessica Day George is the third book in the Tuesdays at the Castle series.  The story picks up right where Wednesdays in the Tower leaves off, so I would suggest reading the story in order for the most enjoyment. Castle Glower has been acting weird, so it's no surprise when two towers transport Celie, her siblings, and friends to an unknown land. The kids and Celie's pet griffin Rufus set out through the forest to figure out where they are and what has happened to their beloved Castle. Instead, they discover two wizards and an entire lost people, the oldest inhabitants of Castle Glower. And it seems they may know more of the Castle's secrets than Celie. But who is telling the truth and how will they get home?

Thursdays With the Crown continues with the same balance of adventure, fantasy, and character development that I expect from Day. Celie is still growing, and despite being the youngest of the group is a smart and independent young lady. I like the relationships that continue to grow and change, and the individual character growth in the core group of characters. I think that the adventure in this installation is very important. Readers discover more about the Castle’s origins and the conflicts in the land it was originally sent from. Like most disagreements the clashes of the past linger, and each side has their own version of events, each with a grain of truth. I think that this is a good lesson to help kids understand large conflicts, as well as making the story exciting.

Thursdays With the Crown is a perfect continuation of the story, but it really does need the foundation of the previous books to be enjoyed. I felt like it took be a chapter or two to get back into the world, but once I was there I had trouble leaving it behind. A fun and quick read for middle grade readers that like a read that has a little bit of everything.