Many thanks to NetGalley and HMH for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This isn’t a book I would normally pick up for myself, but it’s the sort of book that the patrons in my library just can’t get enough of. So look at me, reading outside my comfort zone, for the love of my job and my patrons. I deserve a cape. And a medal. And maybe a cookie? Is that pushing it?

Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor lives up to its comp of Annie meets Batman, as these group of orphans will steal your heart, solve the mystery, and save the day.

This book is packed full of action and adventure (some a little beyond belief, but hey, that’s part of the fun of it, right?). I didn’t know what to expect going in, because these aren’t books I generally read, but I enjoyed it! The mystery was easy for me to solve (at my age), but I imagine would be a fun challenge for the target audience.

My Thoughts:

- April makes for an entertaining narrator. Her voice is quirky and engaging. Reading from her point of view, with her light sarcasm and jokes, made for a really nice experience. Even when the story itself was a bit slower, I enjoyed her humor and voice. There’s so much more to her than the jokes, though, so she didn’t come off as a one-dimensional character. April was left as a baby with a key and a note saying that her mother would return, and she clings to that hope, knowing that someone out there wants her and will come back for her. Which … gosh is that a heartbreaking way to live.

- The main mystery was a bit easy for me to solve, but the way it unfolded was fun to tag along with. There was waaaay more action than I thought there would be. When I picked up the book, I thought surely it was just more of a mystery to be solved, but that definitely wasn’t the case. The way the mystery ends is a bit obvious, but it’s clear from pretty early on that the stakes are high, and they just keep rising. There’s danger and lies and scheming. You know, all the things that make action good and exciting.

- There’s a diverse cast of characters, and they all offer a little something to the plot. I actually really enjoyed the diversity in abilities and histories, especially, which led to them all having a little something to add. When they all come together, not only are there a lot of surprises at what these kids can do, but it’s often pretty funny. Because not only are we getting to know them, but they’re getting to know each other. And also themselves and what they’re capable of. There were a lot of fun little surprises and growing into themselves.

- These orphans have been through a lot, and their backgrounds are all a little different, but they’ll all for sure tug at your heart strings. Even April’s story, waiting on a mother who abandoned her to return, is really just the tip of the iceberg (as if that’s not enough). I don’t want to go into too much detail, because learning about the characters’ histories is a big part of getting to know them and understanding who they are. Suffice it to say, though, that I enjoyed all the little details as they came up, and I really felt for their tragic stories. The biggest thing that struck me while reading this is how, despite everything, they’ve all found something to cling to. The found family vibes are strong with this one, and I just absolutely love it. I’m a sucker for the trope, and it never fails to deliver. It’s not that easy, though. Being in the system is rough, and these kids have been in not-so-great houses (careful never to use the word home, of course) and have missed out on a lot that many of us might take for granted from our upbringing. I think it really makes you reflect on your own blessings.

- The adults in this all have secrets (you know, as adults do) and I don’t think we’ve even scratched the surface yet. We definitely learn more about them as the story unfolds, but there’s still more to learn, and I’m so eager to do so! I’m a big fan of secrets and hidden things, and Winterborne house, as well as the family, have plenty of skeletons in their closet. Probably not literally. But I’m also not ruling anything out. The ending even opens one more secret the family was hiding, and I really look forward to seeing how that might play out in another book, now that they sort of know maybe half of the truth of the family. Maybe even less. Who knows? More secrets for everyone!

- I can’t find anywhere confirming this is a series … but it obviously should be? I mean, it’s written as a series. The way it’s left, I would be extremely annoyed (and consequently, my rating would probably drop to, like, a two) if this were not a series. First, the big main question about April is left unanswered, but heavily hinted at. The obvious thoughts and implications that I thought should have been raised throughout the book connected to April’s true identity … weren’t. So that was a bit disappointing. But also, the ending leaves it where it feels like it’s definitely setting up a second book. So I’m really hoping there will be more from Winterborne House to come.

Sticking Points:

- There’s a really slow build in the beginning that almost feels like the start of a different book. I had some misgivings when I started this, because it took me so long to get into the action. I mean, I understand that a book has to work its way up to the action and mystery, but I think this could have definitely used with a little more hook and pull in the beginning. There’s a little mystery and the fire mentioned in the blurb in the first 10%, so I’m not saying nothing was happening. But most of it was introducing characters and situations that are immediately then left behind. There’s some introductions of people and concepts that become more important in the rest of the book, so I understand its necessity, and I powered through that part, but it just didn’t feel like it had the spark that the rest of the book had.

- April is very singularly focused on her mother, which was endearing at first, but gets a little old as the story goes on. I mean, what could possibly tug at your heartstrings more than an orphan who’s been waiting a decade for her mother to return to take her home? Very little. And yet … this was the singular thing about April’s character, until it became like a mantra. On the one hand, I understood April clinging to this idea, but it really annoyed me how almost until the very end, she believes this to the detriment of everyone else. For her, everything revolves around the idea of her mother, including other people’s actions. Will this frustrate the target audience? I suspect probably not. But I wanted to shake her and be like, “Not everything is about you!”

Ally Carter, long beloved of teens, proves herself equally adept at the middle reader. The Winterborne Home for Vengence and Valor is an exciting page-turner that children will devour. Their is enough suspense to keep the reader on edge without becoming too frightening. This is a great book full of adventure and mystery. Even adults will enjoy this masterfully-written tale.

Posted to Goodreads: April's whole life she has been waiting. She waited for her mother to come back. She's been waiting to find out the mystery of the key she was found with when she was abandoned when she was three years old. However, after she accidentally starts a fire in a museum after hours April is done waiting. She has been recruited to attend the Winterborne School where she makes new friends and may just solve a decade old mystery.

This book felt very much like an Ally Carter book and I mean that in the best way. The characters are smart and the adventure is fast-paced while the mystery was twisty enough to keep a reader interested but not so twisty that it was unbelievable. This is Carter's first book in a new series and I look forward to revisiting the characters and this world.

April and two orphans are rescued by a mysterious woman who brings them to the Winterborne house. It is a home for special children who have suffered loss. The house belongs to a man who has been missing for years.

This is how you write middle grade. The characters are in-depth explorations and feel real. The plot is tight and well-paced. There is enough action and intrigue to keep even reluctant readers engrossed. Ally Carter is a masterful weaver of mysteries.

If you’ve ever read any of Ally Carter’s books, then you already have an inkling on how Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor is going to play out. The New York Times best-selling author’s middle-grade novel is full of mystery and adventure.

Carter’s writing is cinematic, making you feel as if you are crawling through a fire or stepping on glass with April. It’s like you’re watching things unfold directly in front of your eyes while you’re simultaneously reading them on the page.

The best part of Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor, though, is Ally’s characters. April and the other orphans are all intriguing and really offer something for all kinds of readers. The interplay between children and adults is also a highlight. Here, it’s less about telling someone what to do and more about them living up to their potential.

Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor is a fast-paced novel with plenty of twists and a doozy of a finale that will have you binge reading for sure. The end is satisfying but leaves room for more books in this world.

(Link will go live 2/12/20)

A wonderful middle grade novel from from YA Queen Ally Carter. Ally writes compelling stories that are unputdownable. She has such a range of characters in her YA books and brings us a unique new cast of in Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor. I've loved her Embassy Row, Gallagher Girls, & Heist Society series and I really hope this one will be made into a series for younger readers. This is a great mystery driven novel that includes elements from her earlier works. Suspense, adventure, intrigue, billionaires, and orphans come together to tell a truly unique story. Middle grade students will love this one and it's a great way to introduce them to an author they will grow to love.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

An adorable delight, great for fans of mystery, plucky orphans, and ramshackle mansions with secret passageways. Slightly formulaic, but well-written and charming. Definitely wide open for a continuing series, and I would gleefully read the rest!

There's a lot of love at my school for the Mysterious Benedict Society books, and this will fit right into that love. Starting with April, and her conviction that her mother was coming back for her, and moving through Violet, Tim, Sadie and Colin to Uncle Evert (among others) there is someone for everyone. How these orphans, shunted through the system, overcome their natural distancing behaviors and become a team will thrill them. And Sadie's Rube Goldbergian inventions are delightful. The only thing that could have made this even better for me would have been greater description of Winterborne House. Oh wait - hearing that this is the start of a series (and seriously, with that ending, how can it <i>not</i> be?).

eARC provided by publisher.

This is a great mystery book that keeps you guessing and engaged the whole time. Ally Carter does it again!

Orphaned April goes to live at Winterborne House while she searches for clues about the mysterious key left to her by her mother... and stumbles across an even bigger secret. The storyline reminded me a lot of a superhero origin story (think Batman or Green Arrow) but pitched perfectly for a middle-grade reader.

I loved this book and cannot wait to read the next in the series!

April is a foster kid invited to live at a fancy mansion with other orphans. There. she notices that the symbol on the key her mom left her looks like it belongs. Could the lock that fits the key be in this house? She finds the home's long lost missing heir who wants to remain hidden. She and her new friends realize their home is about to be taken away by a nefarious relative of the heir and are determined to solve the mystery of why the heir doesn’t want to be found. It's exciting and heartwarming, a fantastic venture into middle-grade audience for the amazing Ally Carter!

April lives in an orphanage, and on a class trip to the Winterbourne Museum, she has a disastrous experience and ends up in the hospital after causing a fire that takes out much of the collection. She doesn't get in trouble, however; she is spirited away from the hospital by Ms. Nelson and told that she will live at the Winterbourne house with fellow orphans Colin, Sadie, Tim and Violet. There is a big problem with the Winterbourne estate. Gabriel, who was orphaned when his parents' boat capsized and he was the only survivor, has been missing for ten years. An uncle, Evert, seeks to inherit, but Gabriel has not yet been declared dead. In the meantime, the house is run by the butler, Smithers, and is home to this small group of children who have tangential relationships with the family. April herself has a key with the Winterbourne crest on a necklace that is the only thing she has left from her mother, who abandoned her. Because she is naturally curious and impulsive, April takes it upon herself to investigate the house to try to find a box with treasure that her key will open. She doesn't find it, but she does find a mysterious man living in a hidden room in the mansion. Will she and the other children be able to solve the mystery, despite the many dangers, and settle the matter of the Winterbourne inheritance once and for all? (I don't want to spoil this mystery!)

Strengths: April is a feisty, engaging character with a mystery she doesn't know how to begin to solve. The other students, especially the inventive Sadie, are fun as well. The Winterbourne house is one that readers will wish they could run off to in order to explore its secret passageways, and the mystery is nicely convoluted, but not too difficult to follow. I suspect there will be other books in the series, since this ended with suspicious characters with swords running off into the night.
Weaknesses: There seems to be a trend towards having characters who are orphaned, in foster care, and then approached by some sort of secret organization to work. I know that it helps to get parents out of the way so that middle grade characters can have adventures, but since I do have students who are in foster care, I wish that the portrayal of the system were more realistic.
What I really think: For the sake of my own collection, I wish this were more like I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, (the very first ARC I ever saw, and one of my most favorite books!) instead of more like Lemony Snicket or the similarly named Winterhouse, but Carter is a fantastic writer, and this would span the elementary-middle school age range instead of the middle school-high school one. I love that the cover incorporates plaid uniforms similar to the ones on the cover of the Gallagher Girls books. (Which are still available in library bindings through Follett.)

April has spent all of her memorable years shuffled from foster home to foster home waiting for her mother to come back for her. During a field trip to a museum, April is entranced by a locked box decorated with the Winterborne Crest...the same Crest that is on the key that was left with her when she was abandoned by her mother and that she now wears around her neck. After the fire (unintentionally set by April) she wakes up to find Ms. Nelson from Winterborne home offering her the chance to move to Winterborne Home. At the home, April meets several other orphans and stumbles upon Gabriel Winterborne himself (the heir to the great Winterborne fortune) who disappeared a decade ago. Convincing Gabriel to reveal himself, thwarting the evil Everet's plans to declare Gabriel legally dead so he can inherit the fortune, and holding out hope for her mother's return keep April busy as she begins to find true friendship and a place of belonging.

Ally Carter's new series opener jumps straight into the action and suspense and hooks the reader from the beginning. The ending leaves the reader hoping Carter is writing fast so the next installment will helpfully reunite Ms. Nelson with the orphans!

A fun mystery/adventure story for middle grade readers (or anyone who enjoys a Batman-esque origin story), this book is a great start to what I really hope will be a series following the main characters. Although much of the focus of this book is on April, Ally Carter gives us just enough information on the other orphans in the Winterborne Home to whet the reader's appetite for more. Especially with that last chapter! This seems like it will be a good fit for many reluctant readers, who will be drawn in by the relatable characters, the capers and antics, and the looming mystery of the Winterbornes.

As a fan of Ally Carter, I was excited to try out this new book. I was not disappointed. Full of mystery, intrigue, and action, this book is a winner.

The YA Queen of Mystery and Adventure--Ally Carter--makes a spectacular debut into the world of Middle Grade!

April is an orphan girl, bouncing from foster house to group house and back again. April insists that her 12-year long situation is temporary. After all, her mother is coming back for her. It says so in the note that was left with baby April at the fire-station, along with a mysterious key on a necklace. When April breaks into the museum, trying to see if her key will fit into a box belonging to the Winterbourne family, it ends up changing her life in many ways. To begin with, a mysterious woman named Ms. Nelson takes her in and brings her to live in the actual Winterbourne mansion with four other orphans--inventor Sadie, artist Violet, con artist Colin, and Tim, who is Violet's "guard dog" and has a massive chip on his shoulder. Any day now, the occupants of the Winterbourne mansion wait with bated breath for the owner and heir--and fellow orphan--Gabriel Winterbourne to be declared dead after being missing for ten years. But is he actually missing? What if he was a little closer than everyone thinks? And, if so, why is he hiding in plain sight?

With Carter's signature masterful writing--blending humor and high-stakes, with her usual fantastic cast of characters--readers familiar with her work and new readers will be delighted with this page-turner of a tale! I personally am eager to see what will come next for the Winterbourne crew in the future, for I know from experience that it will be quite a wild--and fun--ride!

I absolutely loved this book! The first chapter grabbed my attention and I couldn't put it down. This is going to be a great book for reluctant readers. It's action-packed, has a mystery, and leaves you wanting more. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

If you enjoyed Victoria Schwab's City of Ghosts or Neil Patrick Harris' The Magic Misfits, you will absolutely adore Ally Carter's new middle grade mystery thriller. It is adorable and perfect and she has pitched it as "if orphan Annie were adopted by Batman," and that is an extremely accurate description of this lovely story.

April is a smart young girl trying to figure out the mystery of the mother who left her behind and promised to come back for her. The only clue she has is a key with the Winterborne family crest on it. When she's taken in by the Winterborne caretaker, she finds the perfect opportunity to figure out her past. Along the way, she finds the missing heir to the Winterborne legacy, who disappeared years ago and is soon to be declared dead, his wealth handed over to the uncle who's had his eyes on the fortune for years.

Along with Sadie, an enthusiastic inventor, Colin, the British son of a grifter who left him behind, Tim, the son of a criminal, and little Violet, the girl Tim has taken under his wing, April works to save Gabriel and bring to light the conspiracy behind why he ran away in the first place.

This story is just adorable and the perfect middle grade mystery and I really hope we get to see more of these kids, because they're all so great and amazing <3

April is an orphan who bounces from orphanage to orphanage, but is convinced her mother is coming back for her. She has a key her mother has given to her, but what does it unlock? A series of events leads her to be taken in at the Winterborne House, where she meets fellow orphans Colin, Sadie, Tim, and Violet. (The inventive Sadie whose contraptions always end in disaster is the most interesting of the group.) The house is owned by presumed-dead billionaire Gabriel Winterborne, but April finds that he is not only not dead, but living right in the house.

Filled with mystery and action, this will have readers on the edge of their seats. April and her friends make a great team, and April's bravery makes her an inspiring heroine. Carter's clever wordplay makes this an especially enjoyable read.

Allie Carter is one of my favorite YA authors. Her stories are exciting, smart, and fun. Her first middle grade book is no exception. April possesses all the characteristics of a great heroine: empathy, strength, mysterious background, and a mismatched cohort of friends, when she is taken in by Isabella Nelson she is just glad to be out of yet another foster home. She never questions why she was taken in. When she finds Gabriel, who is supposed to be dead, in the basement, hiding from his family, her first thoughts are to help,him. What comes next is an adventure .that she and the other foster kids pursue with skills no child should have! I can only hope there is more to this story! April has some unanswered questions.