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Spendors and Glooms

Author	Laura Amy Schlitz
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Fantasy
Publisher	Candlewick Press
Publication date	2012
Media type	Print
Pages	400 pp
ISBN	0763669261

Splendors and Glooms is a 2012 children's novel written by Laura Amy Schlitz. The book was awarded a 2013 Newbery Honor for excellence in children's literature.

Plot

The master puppeteer, Gaspare Grisini, is so expert at manipulating his stringed puppets that they appear alive. Clara Wintermute, the only child of a wealthy doctor, is spellbound by Grisini's act and invites him to entertain at her birthday party. Seeing his chance to make a fortune, Grisini accepts and makes a splendidly gaudy entrance with caravan, puppets, and his two orphaned assistants. Lizzie Rose and Parsefall are dazzled by the Wintermute home. Clara seems to have everything they lack—adoring parents, warmth, and plenty to eat. In fact, Clara's life is shadowed by grief, guilt, and secrets. When Clara vanishes that night, suspicion of kidnapping falls upon the puppeteer and, by association, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall. As they seek to puzzle out Clara's whereabouts, Lizzie and Parse uncover Grisini's criminal past and wake up to his evil intentions. Fleeing London, they find themselves caught in a trap set by Grisini's ancient rival, a witch with a deadly inheritance to shed before it’s too late.

Characters

• Clara Wintermute- Is the only living Wintermute child, the rest (including twin brother), have died from a Cholera out break). She is unaware of this fact and goes to the graves of her siblings with her parents and often doesn't care for it.
• Professor Gaspare Grisini- Renown Puppeteer and Magician who kidnaps Clara for ransom money. Former Lover and rival of Casandra Sagredo.
• Lizze Rose- Orphaned Daughter of a famous stage actor and is one of two assistants to Grisini. Is considered the embodiment of ladylike behavior although her appearance says otherwise.
• Parsefall- Is the youngest living character and is the second assistant to Grissini. He can barley speak or read, is a liar and a thief, and was abused.Even thought he may not show it he cares deeply for Lizze like a sister.
• Cassandra Sagredo- Witch and former rival and lover to Grisini. She is dying and has a powerful jewel that she has to destroy but can't because of her own desires.

Critical reception

Critics have noted Schlitz's skillfully manages multiple narratives as the story makes its complex way forward, creating scenes of warmth and humor along with those of drama and horror. This novel offers a revealing, age-appropriate look at life on both sides of the fence in Victorian London . Heather Booth states that Schlitz's use of tone and character accents are put to great efforts.. On the audio book side critics rave about Porter's deliberate use of pacing and accents that bring more dept to the character and intensify the story. Kirkus Reviews regards The shifting perspective among these characters and cumulative narrative development create a pleasingly unsettling tension.

See also

• 2012 in literature
• Children's literature

References

Category:2012 American novels Category:American children's novels Category:American fantasy novels Category:Children's fantasy novels Category:Children's historical novels Category:Novels set in Victorian England Category:Newbery Honor-winning works Category:Puppetry