The Haunting of Falcon House by Eugene Yelchin

A ghost story for middle-graders by Eugene Yelchin offers an atmospheric portrait of Czarist Russia.

The Haunting of Falcon House by Eugene Yelchin.  Henry Holt, 2016, 299 pages.

haunting-of-falcon-house

Reading Level: Middle grades, 8-10

Recommended for: ages 8-12

“I was the last of an ancient lineage, so when the invitation arrived from Falcon House for me to take up my noble duties, I knew the time had come for me to cut my mother’s apron strings.”   Thus Prince Lev Lvov, age eleven, sets out for St. Petersburg and the family estate of his late grandfather.  Now the huge mansion is ruled by his elderly, wheelchair-bound aunt Olga and a staff of creaky retainers.  Aunt Olga finds Lev a promising heir, especially as he looks exactly like photographs of her sainted father when he was that age.  But why does she want him to spend his first night in his grandfather’s spooky study?  And why doesn’t she acknowledge the peasant boy who befriends Lev (and gets him into trouble)?

Yelchin is an interesting writer (see Breaking Stalin’s Nose and Arcady’s Goal) and a scary one when he’s sharing the experiences of his own family in Soviet Russia.  For this story he goes back to the days of Czar Alexander II and packs in another type of scare.  It’s a ghost story, supposedly based on a handwritten manuscript the author found as a schoolboy and later translated into English.  Yelchin is economical with words but eloquent in the line drawings scattered throughout the text.  By word and line a picture emerges of Czarist Russia, haunted by past sins and teetering, like Aunt Olga, on the verge of collapse As the Author’s Note reminds us, “If he had remained in Russia, it would have taken a miracle for Lev to survive the calamities that followed [World War I].”  A young reader doesn’t need to know all this to enjoy the story for its rather moderate scares, but the setting and atmosphere will contribute to a general knowledge of world history.

Cautions: Supernatural (It’s a ghost story!)

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 5)

  • Worldview/moral value: 3.5
  • Artistic value: 4.5

Stay Up to Date!

Get the information you need to make wise choices about books for your children and teens.

Our weekly newsletter includes our latest reviews, related links from around the web, a featured book list, book trivia, and more. We never sell your information. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

Support our writers and help keep Redeemed Reader ad-free by joining the Redeemed Reader Fellowship.

Stay Up to Date!

Get the information you need to make wise choices about books for your children and teens.

Our weekly newsletter includes our latest reviews, related links from around the web, a featured book list, book trivia, and more. We never sell your information. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.

FREE Bible Guide!

Get a guide to the Best Bibles for Children and Teens. Perfect for an Easter gift.

Janie Cheaney

Janie is the VERY senior staff writer for Redeemed Reader, as well as a long-time contributor to WORLD Magazine and an author of nine books for children. The rest of the time she's long-distance smooching on her four grandchildren (not an easy task). She lives with her equally senior husband of almost-fifty years in the Ozarks of Missouri.

We'd love to hear from you!

Our comments are now limited to our members (both Silver and Golden Key). Members, you just need to log in with your normal log-in credentials!

Not a member yet? You can join the Silver Key ($2.99/month) for a free 2-week trial. Cancel at any time. Find out more about membership here.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.