I am an Avi fan and I love a good ghost story so I was intrigued to read this story. The ideas were solid and the writing was there and for the age group it was a geared for, I think it did an okay job for being a scarey book. It gave the reader something to think about and it wasn't too creepy but for other books in this genre in this age group it definitely is not at the top. Avi is a great writer and I have found that he can write excellent drama and he leaves the reader wrapped up inside the pages of the book without knowing the world outside exists. In this novel, the drama is all about power and money and then Avi introduces the innocence of the children this brings about the mystery of the shadows. But who can actually face the shadows? Is it worth power and money? Young Horace struggles with rationality, superiority, and compassion as he struggles to become an apprentice but soon realizes that his own morals are the playing card he must deal but who loses. Strange twists in this tale from long ago which only Pegg, the black servant girl can fill you in on.
