As someone who has also moved 11 times in her life, I feel Alice’s pain. You just wa t a permanent place to live and set down your roots for once. Especially as a kid. So when Alice falls in love with the quirky house her parents are put in as professors at their current college, she sets to work repairing it. Along the way, she notices some strange things, almost like the house is… alive. Turns out, Alice’s family isn’t the only people living there and they need Alice’s help. And she’s determined to help them along with helping herself. One of the best middle school stories I’ve read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

This starts out a bit quirky and I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it, but then it got better and wasn't as outrageous as I thought it was going to be and became a very nice ghost story. I really liked the main character and the ghost were a lot of fun as well. Great story about family.

A thoughtful and heartwarming book with a bit of a mystery and some not-so-creepy spirits. I highly recommend it to 4th-8th grade readers who enjoy magical realism or redemption stories with characters who learn lots of good life lessons.

It may seem odd at first, but there is certainly a place in middle grade fiction for books about ghosts that aren't scary. Her quest to help ghosts is a chance for Alice to act independently, to problem solve and discover her limits, but also to recognize when something is too big for a ten-year-old to handle on her own. This book presents us with four distinct reasons a person might become a ghost. It gives us rules for ghosts - where they can go, how much they can interact with the physical world, and how much they can remember. The quest has a clear set-up, a time frame limitation, and a solid complication. As one would expect from a ghost story, the messaging is primarily about living without regrets, finding a home, and being honest about your needs. It conveys these messages clearly but with finesse. An overall pleasant and engaging read.

We love Jacqueline Davies in this house! My son devoured her Lemonade Wars series, so we both were looking forward to hearing this unique story. It’s s a ghost story at heart, but with a twist - as these are helpful ghosts - but you don’t know that at first.

We first come to know the quirkiest of characters in a mom, dad and daughter and their unique relationships within the household. Alice Cannoli-Potchnik is a bright young girl (10) who can fix things. The family moves yet again, but this time its next door to a dilapidated mansion. It needs SO many repairs to even be livable and Alice wants to try her hand at giving it a 2nd life. What she discovers inside of the home is what is at the *heart* of this story — literally. As she begins to repair things here and there, she begins to hear noises…she’s not alone in there! Alice encounters 3 ghosts - and they need her help to be free and finally settled after decades upon decades of unrest.

There are so many unique stories within each of the ghost’s pasts - love and war, and even a forgotten library return! Lol. My rating is based on my son’s enjoyment in which he gave this 5 stars. He loved the paranormal aspects, the methods in which they came to life with Alice, and he loved the metaphor of the house having a beating heart.

We would love to read anything by Jacqueline again. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

While I enjoyed The International House of Dereliction, there was something missing for me. Maybe if it had been a little longer I would have cared about the characters more. I do recommend checking this one out and think children in upper elementary grades would enjoy it.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story! The characters are so lovable and quirky. The plot is one of a kind. I adored it. I'll recommend it to readers of all ages as often as I get the chance.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies. Upon seeing the cover and reading the synopsis of this kid's book, my interest was piqued. When I was approved to receive a copy for free in exchange for my honest review, I was delighted.

At first, I found this book to be a bit slow, and it reminded me ever so slightly of Leeva At Last by Sara Pennypacker because both of the main characters were kept home from school by their parents and were approximately the same age. Both of the main characters also got their education by learning on their own. However, that is where the similarities end. As I progressed through the storyline, it really picked up and became more interesting. I could even see this book being turned into a movie for kids. The characters were . . . well . . . quite quirky and endearing.

This ghost story was quite charming and not too scary. It's perfect for children between the ages of eight and twelve. I loved the lessons throughout the story, especially the one about remembering where you come from. Five out of five stars is what I give The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies.

As part of her benefits package as a professor at the local college, Alice's mother receives free housing. The homes they have been assigned have all need extensive repairs and updating, which 10 year old Alice and her father , a building inspector, have gladly tackled. However, this time when word came that they were being reassigned to yet another debacle of a home, they decided to fix anonthing. Alice is a curious student, and can't resist entering the condemned home next door to their new residence. It is in disrepair, but when Alice spies the heart tile in the area around the fireplace, she is enraptured with the idea of restoring the room herself---and she does. Early in the process she meets three resident ghosts--Mugwort, Ivy, and Danny. They all have unfinished business which they need to resolve before the last living person who knew them dies. With the house about to be torn down, Alice races against time to help each one, and then discovers a fourth ghost. Many good role models and voices and just enough tension to let mystery be the major plot, and not horror. Has a different tone than the authors previous middle grade books, but it is well done. #TheInternationalHouseofDereliction #NetGalley.
Thank you to Clarion, an imprint of HarperCollins , and Netgalley for the digital arc

Such a quirky read! It took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did...I found the story very enjoyable. Students will enjoy the mysterious almost spooky elements; I can definitely see students excitedly passing this book along to their friends.

There’s so much to like about The International House of Dereliction — bright prose, a delightful protagonist and a plot that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

This is a good ghost story that doesn’t get too spooky. And at the center of it is a message of kindness, ingenuity and courage.

Alice is a lovely main character and the supporting ones are just as delightful.

Author Jacqueline Davies writes with her audience in mind, giving them a clear, straightforward story with just enough quirk to keep them coming back for more.

This book is beautiful and haunting with just enough camp. I, an adult woman, stopped reading more than once to emote while reading, Alice is a fabulous character and there is so much story to uncover. The ending is not perfect, but it is just so fitting. I like that the ending is a little more complicated than lots of other middle grade fiction.
This book is great for both kids and adults!

This was an enormously sweet book. Jacqueline Davies' signature prose brings a lilting rhythm to this story that follows Alice, a fiercely loved and loving girl whose repair prowess helps her solve the mystery of the derelict house next door. I really enjoyed this story that's only slightly spooky and involves a ton of fun and memorable characters. Although the origins of the characters are a focal point of the book, they're never so specific as to alienate the audience - that said, it seems to assume that the reader will be white or understand European genealogical practices. This isn't a bad thing but is something to keep in mind when recommending to potential readers! In any case, this is a fun addition to the shelves and I'll look forward to recommending it to my patrons looking for mystery.

** “Libraries are sacred places. Think about it. A library gives everything and asks nothing in return. It gives to the rich and to the poor, to the young and to the old, to the healthy and the sick. Tell me another place on earth that does that?” **

When Alice Connoli-Potchnik and her parents move to their 12th home as part of her professor mother’s job agreement, she finds the next door house intriguing — a house called the International House of Dereliction.

With the fixer-upper skills picked up from her father, Alice decides to tackle the house’s decrepit state — and meets some intriguing beings along the way. Ivy, Mugwort and Danny are all Past Due spirits caught in the house, having Unfinished Business of the Heart before they can leave and settle in the afterlife.

As she works to save the house — and save it from demolition — she works to help the trio complete their unfinished business. Can she help them in their quests? And can she ever find her own sense of home?

“The International House of Dereliction,” which is due out July 18, is a sweet and inspiring story. Davies creates fun characters but also fills the stories with some great themes, like speak from your heart; don’t give up on love or anything else for that matter; show kindness and forgiveness; and, most importantly, the power of home.

Five stars out of five.

Clarion Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

This book has such a lovely message. I love that Alice can look at things and see how she can bring them back to life again. You don’t get to read many books with girls who know enough about construction that they feel confident enough to take one rebuilding a house. Books that portray girls in roles we don’t always see them in make my heart happy. Anyone can truly be anything if they have a passion for it. This book just touches my heart. Finding a house that is haunted and trying to do everything not only to bring the house back to life, but also figure out how to help all its ghostly residents. This is just a heart-warming tale. I think kids are really going to enjoy it, and I look forward to recommending it, especially with Halloween coming up. Though to be honest this book is one I could easily recommend year-round.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I loved this book! The perfect slightly spooky and mysterious story. Reading this was a breeze! Everything flowed so smoothly and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Middle school book about a homeschool child that talks to ghosts and tries to solve the mystery of the falling down house next door.

Ten-year-old Alice is a curious and vivacious child, always seeking to discover something new and to help her parents with their various endeavors. As an only child following an untraditional learning path, she often finds herself immersed in activities as they peak her interest. From rebuilding their house to reading in the library, Alice learns more every day. And when her family is relocated next to a condemned old building, Alice ventures beyond the barrier to explore the inside. But what she unearths is not what she expects, and she must use her bravery and intelligence to help resolve the unfinished business of the ghostly residents of the International House of Dereliction before the house is destroyed for good.

This curious middle grade title is anchored in magic realism and balances wholesome family dynamics with a heartwarming ghost story. Despite there being spirits inhabiting the International House of Dereliction, the novel does not include a dramatic sense of fright. Instead, the ghosts become Alice’s companions, and their troubles are another problem she feels qualified to resolve. Thanks to the ingenuity she has attained through her atypical education, Alice is not afraid to do the research and ask for help from the right people. And as this is her first significant problem solved without the aid of her parents, readers observe as Alice begins to come into her own through this experience.

Occasional illustrations pepper the text, and the writing is concise and accessible for middle grade readers. Though slow moving at times, the story has a strong beginning and is compelling enough overall to keep readers engaged throughout the majority of the novel. Themes of independence, courage, and perseverance are prevalent throughout this story, and the characters are unique and memorable. By the end, readers will have a strong sense of Alice’s interactions with the dead and an interpretation of the afterlife that will encourage readers to reflect even after the book ends. This is an intriguing novel to share with middle grade readers who enjoy emotion-centered storytelling with a just hint of spookiness.

This is a story about an unconventional family and Alice is hoping that they can stop moving! Alice and her dad are really great at fixing things, and the university that Alice's mom works for keeps moving them into terrible places that they fix, Once the house is fixed, they have to move to a new terrible place and the family has decided that they WILL NOT fix up the new place. Except that Alice REALLY wants to fix things, so she ends up at the house next door, which is also in terrible shape and ready to be knocked down. As Alice is fixing a few things, just to stay in practice, she meets the ghosts that live in the house of Dereliction and is intrigued to learn their stories. Alice tries to help each of the ghosts along on their own journeys. It's an interesting and fun story to read.