Is cozy horror a thing? If so, this would be solidly part of that genre. You get a fuzzy blanket-esque story with a touch of horror/ghost story aspects without the night terror hangover. Considering this book's expected release is smack dead in the center of summer vacation, I feel it's campfire read potential is absolute chef's kiss.

You get a story of young Alice, an extraordinary girl with extraordinary adventures ahead of her. Her family moves for the umpteenth time [insert gags and icks from those who moved around alot during childhood and know the struggle well], landing them squarely in paranormal territory. With a much less scary variation of the Monster House story you might remember from the movie, the house is alive and due to our MCs kindness decides she's worthy of an amazing gift. Now Alice can see the ghosts that haunt it's halls. Queue the slight character development (they've passed so they have kind of already reached their final evolutions aside from crossing over fully) and backstories of these characters that tug at all the heartstrings.

This would be a great addition to any Cozy Horror sections of your library, especially if it's going to be shared and enjoyed by the family.

The Cannoli’s and the Potchnik’s are both exceptional families, so Alice Cannoli-Potchnik is quite an extraordinary girl, with all the best traits of both her parents. And it is a good thing too, because she is going to need all those traits when she discovers the International House of Dereliction, the condemned and haunted house next door to the Cannoli-Potchnik family’s new home.

When the college that Alice’s mother teaches at decide that the Cannoli-Potchnik family must move once again, they end up living next door to an old, condemned campus building. The Cannoli’s are extremely curious, so of course Alice must go inside to explore the old house, and the Potchnik’s are fixers through and through, the itch to fix a broken thing is unbearable for a Potchnik, so when Alice discovers the foyer of the home in deplorable condition, of course she must begin the long restoration process, beginning with the hearth tiles around the fireplace (she’s always been taught the fireplace is the heart of a home). It turns out the house sentient, and in return for Alice’s selfless work fixing the hearth, the house blesses her, giving Alice the ability to see the ghosts of the house, six-year old Ivy, heartbroken college student Danny, revolutionary war veteran Mugwort, and the Fury.

Every single character in the story is a delight. There maybe wasn’t the greatest character development, but it felt like all of the characters were already well developed at their introduction, with everyone having unique and intriguing traits, even the smallest background characters. The Cannoli-Potchnik family were the perfect centerpiece for the story, with their strangeness feeling just right rather than over the top. Even the house is an interesting character, one who is very protective of its inhabitants.

The ghosts here are not the scary sort, rather they are quirky and endearing (things that could be said for the book itself as well), making this a great choice for middle grade readers interested in ghosts, but who aren’t quite ready for spookier options. And, with a beautiful message about finding a home, and doing your best to help others, even when it makes you sad, this story will certainly find an audience. Davies hits it out of the park with this lovely story, featuring a wonderful cast of characters, and an enjoyable and fast-paced writing style.

The International House of Dereliction is a wholesome ghost story, filled with lovable characters, right down to the house itself. Perfect for readers of all ages, especially if you need a dose of warm fuzzies.

All right, friends, get your pre-order buttons ready. Today I’m reviewing a soon-to-be-released middle grade book which jumped right onto my “Top 10” and “Better at least get a Newbery Honor” lists.

Here’s what the publisher had to say about Jacqueline Kelly’s The International House of Dereliction:

"In this not-so-scary ghost story from Jacqueline Davies, bestselling author of the Lemonade War series, quirky, tool-wielding Alice Cannoli-Potchnik begins to repair the dilapidated mansion next door—only to discover the old house is home to ghosts, and they need mending, too!
Home is where the heart is. But can a house have a heart of its own.
​
Ten-year-old Alice is moving for the eleventh time.
She’s lived in so many houses, each more broken than the last, that home to Alice is nothing more than a place you fix and then a place you leave. After all, who needs a permanent home when you’re a whiz at fixing things
But when Alice arrives at her new home, she can’t take her eyes off the house next door, the stately dark house that hulked in the dimming light. The once-grand mansion, now dilapidated and condemned, beckons Alice; it's the perfect new repair job!
As Alice begins to restore the House to its former splendor, she senses strange presences. Is there a heartbeat coming from the House’s walls? Is someone looking at her? Soon she realizes she’s not alone. Three ghosts have been watching, and they need Alice’s help to solve their unfinished business.
Will Alice be able to unravel the mysteries of the House and find her forever home ... before it’s too late."

Quirky is the right word! I loved Alice and her eccentric Cannoli-Potchnik family. I loved the lighthearted touch with the ghosts. I love the crazy, old house, and the interesting neighbors. It’s all very eccentric and quirky and lighthearted—and yet. The International House of Dereliction is somehow the most believable portrayal of homeschooling I’ve recently come across in a work of fiction. Alice’s education is clearly well-rounded, but she has immense amounts of freedom to pursue her passions. She repairs the International House by herself, and quite capably—and if this sounds unbelievable to you, I invite you to meet some ten-year-old homeschoolers. Admittedly, I only know a couple who’d be capable of home repair (I do have a few nephews who probably could have accomplished this when they were ten), but I know many who have achieved incredible levels of proficiency at the things they are passionate about.

I’m not saying all homeschoolers are like this. Guess what? There’s some totally average and completely below average homeschoolers, too—just like students you’d find in school. But what makes me excited is to finally see this side of homeschooling represented in a work of fiction. It feels like for many years we’ve been bombarded in fiction with the idea that homeschoolers need to be saved from their social ineptitude by a timely entrance into public school. Are there socially inept homeschoolers? Sure. Are they the majority? Let’s just say I know more homeschoolers who can capably put up drywall at age ten than homeschoolers who are socially inept.

I won’t devote all my review to the positive homeschooling rep, much as I could. But Jacqueline Davies deserves mention of her spectacular characterization, her deftly-handled descriptions, and her perfectly-timed and developed humor. I will never use this comparison lightly: at moments, the humor reminded me of P. G. Wodehouse. And I really can’t give any higher praise.

The International House of Dereliction releases in July, but is available for pre-order now. Be sure to add it to your TBR lists!

I will definitely be buying this for my library. I loved everything about this book!! It had a wonderful family depiction, sweet main characters, ghosts, and a whole lot of fun!! The climax was non stop action and I couldn't put it down! Recommend this for everyone middle grade and up. It might be a little scary for a younger crowd.

This was a pretty solid middle-grade ghost story, and I really enjoyed it. It wasn't too over-the-top with the ghost stuff, and the characters were all likable and sympathetic.

Alice is a very bright and curious child who lives on a college campus with her parents. Her mother is a Professor, and her father is a building inspector who loves fixing up old houses. Her family life was so beautifully drawn, and you could tell just how much this little family loves one another.

The story of the derelict house next door unravels slowly, and some young readers may become bored with the lack of excitement in some places, but I thought it was well done and believable.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and would absolutely recommend it to young readers who are into ghosts and history. I'm glad I gave this shot.

I thought this book had a slightly slow start but as I kept reading I got really involved in the story. Alice is a likable character who it's easy to root for, and there are some very heartfelt moments during the story.
The end of the book is a bit different than I had hoped, but I still think it was fitting. I would recommend this to children who like an ghost story that isn't scary and who likes a plucky heroine.

Fun and quirky story with characters that readers will grow attached to. I like that this was a ghost story, but a warm and fuzzy one. I can see lots of middle grade readers enjoying it!

Davies captures the reader's attention from the first page, with clever writing and interesting characters. We learn so much about them through their interactions with each other and the world around them, without having to be told directly. There is just enough mystery and intrigue around the abandoned house to capture the attention of students who love mysteries and ghosts, but with a more coming of age, finding your place feel for our realistic fiction fans. The writing style reminds me a bit of Lemony Snicker in some ways, which is always awesome.

Alice loves delving into history, repairing houses, and learning about various subjects. Her parents, a college professor and a building inspector, believe in letting Alice learn as she will in the theory of unschooling. When they move into a new house on the college campus, the house next door condemed and haunted. Alice decides to repair the "heart of the house" and help the ghosts become Settled instead of maybe becoming Forgotten. Alice is intellegent, precocious, determined, and stubborn. She does whatever she has to do to try to help the ghosts with their unfinished business - their history, decoding 1970's computer punch card poems, learning her own family history. Her parents take good care of her and clearly love her, but allow her to do whatever she liked all day without supervision and do not know that she is reparing the condemed home. An intresting look at ghosts and hauntings, well drawn characters. Worth the read.

The story was ok, more recommended for young readers who aren't looking for anything really scary. There wasn't enough suspense or quirkiness to keep me really entertained. While I started to care what happened to the ghosts and Alice, I was more concerned about the fate of the reupholstered sofa.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for review.

Alice's mother owned a podium. This was not the strangest thing She owned but it was by far the most aye-catching.

The opening sentences really drew me in. I enjoyed the quirky-ness of the family members.I also loved all the bits of good advice from the characters. Alice is a strong female character who is very determined to help her friends in need.

I will definitly be recommending this book to my students who love a good mystery.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Alice and her father have the shared hobby of home repair. This hobby has created beautiful homes for them in the past, but has also forced them to move often. Eleven times in ten years to be exact. When the family learns that the college will be relocating them to another part of the campus, Alice's mother declares that they will not be renovating another house. At least not until the college provides them with a forever home. For Alice and her father, not fixing broken items is an impossible feat. Yet despite the leaky roof, rotten floors, a non-working oven, Alice's mom is firm. No renovations.

While the ban is hard at first, it is not the current house that has Alice's attention, but the house next door. Alice cannot explain it, but she feels drawn to the house and decides that she will renovate it. Once inside, she learns that it is not only the house that needs help, but the ghosts inside need her help as well. There are four reasons why ghosts cannot move on. Will Alice discover those reasons and help the ghosts make amends in time?

This story is full of whimsy and suspense. The Connoli-Potchnik family is so cute and quirky. What I especially loved about this story is that Alice is unschooled, a homeschooling methodology where the student decides what they will study. Usually the depiction of homeschooling leans heavy on the stereotypes of the awkward homeschooler with no friends. Alice is very smart, very capable, and is very loved among most of the professors at the college campus where she has free-reign.

I did not want this story to end and I cannot wait to share this story with my daughter during the spooky season! She loves ghost stories but does not love being afraid. This book will be in our home library the moment it is published!

Intriguing book in the beginning. Catchy opening. Quirky family. Endless possibilities. When the plot finally emerges, it stalls.

Alice's mother is a college professor. Her father is a building inspector. She's inquisitive like her mother, a fixer like her father. She especially loves fixing houses, which works out well since the college is constantly moving them from one run-down property to another. And since her parents have decided to unschool her, she has plenty of time to explore the run-down International House of Dereliction next door.

It begins with a little exploring. A heartbeat. A basement entry. A little fixing here. A little fixing there. And finally, an unexpected encounter with the spirits stuck in the house. Ivy. Mugwort. Dandelion. They are Past Dues, spirits who have unfinished business which prevents them from moving on. Since the house is condemned, time is of the essence. It's up to Alice to help these spirits recall their past so they can finish their unfinished business and move on.

The unique build-up in the beginning falls flat when Alice's parents fade into the background. I found them to be the most interesting characters in the book. The spirits are ho-hum, the in and out college staff even more so. The plot is nothing new. The interesting cover may garner some takers, but overall, not a stand out book.

Ten-year-old Alice is moving, again. She's lived in so many houses, she can't keep track! But that's ok, when you are a Cannoli-Potchnik, fixing things is what you do. When her newest residence takes her next door to a once-grand mansion named the International House, Alice can't help but feel drawn to it. Using all her skills, and a little help from some unlikely inhabitants, Alice will learn what love is all about.

I absolutely adored this book. It wasn't very long (for an adult) and younger me would have been head over heals with the story. There are ghosts in this story, but they are not scary. There is no discussion of an afterlife either, just a comment that ghosts disappear. I was put off a little at first when the story mentioned Alice unschools because yes, Alice is well read, smart and clearly capable, some things you need to go to school for. Just a point of contention but nothing to keep me from loving the overall story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital advanced copy. Alice is 10 years old and participates in unschooling, in which she chooses what she learns and reports back to her parents on it. In this book, her parents are moved to another dilapidated house in their small college town because that is a condition of her mother being a professor. Alice becomes curious about the house next door, and the opportunity to fix it up, as she has learned how to fix many things alongside her father. She discovers ghosts and sets about helping them make up for their unfinished business. This is not a super cutesy ghost book, but is still kid appropriate and I really enjoyed it. It has a happy ending, and I also appreciated the focus on family heritage and what we inherit and learn from the people we love.

What a cute not so scary story! Geared towards children I think the title is alot. But I think this will be enjoyable for elementary schoolers. A little girl who enjoys fixing things meets ghosts that live in the run down house next door to her new house. These ghosts need some "fixing" themselves. Cute little ghost adventure!!

I wanted to enjoy this but was overly unimpressed with the relationships, the dynamic, and the plot felt convoluted.

I enjoyed that this wasn't a scary ghost story but still had what I was looking for in a paranormal story. It was what I was hoping for and I enjoyed the journey. The characters were interesting and worked in the world and I was never bored when reading this. Jacqueline Davies has a great writing style and I was hooked from the first page.

"Ivy was in much worse shape. She was nearly fragmented, and the only feature of hers that was clearly visible was her right eye. The rest of her body was nothing more than mist, and when she turned one way or the other, she left pieces of herself behind."

A girl who loves fixing things finds herself on an unexpected journey when she discovers she can talk to ghosts in the house next door. Alice Cannoli-Potchnik is moving for the 11th time. Her mother is a professor for a college and in her contract, it enables the school to move her every time it suits them... and since Alice and her family keep fixing the houses they move into the school moves them out and sells those refurbished houses for a fortune. This is the last time according to Alice’s mother, she forbids them from fixing anything and from letting the school make money off of them and forcing them to move into another home. So now Alice decides to focus her attention on something else because she loves fixing thing... and what better adventure than the house next door that is a dilapidated and condemned mansion. Something about the house calls to her and soon she begins to sense/talk to the ghosts/presence residing in the house and makes it her job to help them. If she can’t fix a house at least she could fix the ghosts’s troubles. This was a cute ghost adventure story about one girl who is trying to unravel a mystery and make a home for herself! It also has really cute artwork in it! Definitely a fun cozy read.

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*