Even reading this as an adult in my 30’s, this reminded me quite a bit of the mystery books that I would often read as a child. It is a little over 100 pages, so it wasn’t a long read at all. I can definitely tell that other books are meant to follow this one, as it ends very abruptly. However, that just made me want to read the rest of the books in the series. It was well-written and I think that it would appeal to curious children who are looking for a good mystery involving peers of their own age group. ( )

I have finally received and read this book - and enjoyed it! Obviously as an adult it is tricky reading books for children but having been a teaching assistant and having children of my own a while back I am able to compare it quite well. As an adult it was a bit strange reading a book for the American market but set in England with all the word and cultural changes and that jarred a bit with me but I am sure it wouldn't bother children so much! I was also a bit confused about what time in history this book was set in? It seemed to be maybe 50s, 60s or 70s but then a family, with mum and dad both teachers, had a cook and a maid! Maybe this wouldn't bother a child reading it either. I really think its strengths lie in the observations of friendships and it took me back to my time being that age. I am sure children reading it would identify with this aspect of it very well and enjoy it very much. The suspense and the general storyline was good and it did leave you wanting to read the sequel and find more answers. ( )

I received a complimentary copy of Moore Field School and the Mystery by Liam Moiser.
I had to tell myself this was on a different reading level than an adult book. It was a short book and the chapters were not long so attention span for the young readers works. I did like the book and the characters. I also liked the English language and words such as whilst. I will have to check on the following books of the series: Incident at Moore Field School and Trouble at Moore Field School. I gave it a 5 star rating. These books would be great gifts for the young readers in the family. (less) ( )

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#1 Moore Field School and the Mystery - ★



Moore Field School and the Mystery by Liam Moiser is the first book of the Moore Field School series. We follow the main character Samantha, whose parents are teachers at her school, Moore Field School.

When Moore Field School is about to close down, the headmistress, Miss Moore, moves the school to Lakeview to start again. And Samantha and her parents move too.

Before the first term, the students go to a camp, where they hear about a haunted house. Samantha and her best friend, Jessica, somehow end up in the middle of this mystery.

My first thoughts of this book were that I find this little school cute, and the mystery of the haunted house quite interesting.

However, other than that, I am afraid not many things really appealed to me.

First of all, Samantha doesn’t look like or act like a little girl. She has conversations with her parents in a very unusual way. Who talks to their parents in such a way, in a middle grade book for children?

“Okay, since you are both insisting, I’ll go and get my musical sheets whilst you settle yourselves down in the living room.” Samantha smiled; she really did want her father and mother to listen to her music.

Aside from the characters and their language, there are a lot of scenes and acts in the book that I cannot find the logic of:

Miss Moore, the headmistress, is closing the school down because of the lack of pupils going into the private school. She is then moving the school into another town, which is a few hundred miles away. And she wants the old students to keep going to this school. Why would I want my child to keep going to a school that will now be hundreds of miles away? And yet, parents agree to this…

Both parents and teachers don’t seem to care too much about their pupils. Samatha and Jessica wander off, almost drown, get lost twice, and when they return, they are simply greeted as if nothing major happened. Also, the teacher that was supposed to be guarding them and fell asleep and lost them twice gets out of the whole mess without being in any trouble.

I really wish I enjoyed this book, but it made me cringe and wince all the way through on how pompous and unrealistic it was. Luckily, it is quite short, so I got through it quite fast. Whew.

I don't think I will be reading the rest of the series unfortunately.

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This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaway

Moore Field School and the mystery begins when Miss Moore informs the school that it will be closing and it's building sold to be turned into office space. The next day, she changes her mind and the school will reopen at a new location many miles away. The heroine Samantha, whose parents teach at the school, and her friend Jessica will attend the new school but Laura will not. The beginning of the new term will be a week-long campout at a facility near the school. Things get out of hand quickly. Is the house across from the lake haunted or is the new school? Are the trophies at the old Moore School moved to the new school or are there trophies hidden in the new school? Why doesn't Samantha recognize her own mother? When Laura goes missing along with a teacher at the public school, why don't the police act? And why did that teacher get hired as he is a criminal and could not possibly have passed a background check? Why do Samantha and her friends constantly wander off? And most strangely, why do Samantha's parents seem unaware of her progress in the piano? Don't they seem to live in the same house? Nothing seems to be resolved and the mysteries are just questions that the author doesn't answer.

From page 1, the dialog was stilted and artificial. No young person speaks in that way, nor do most adults. And why keep using the archaic "whilst" for "while"? Only very old folks use the term. Many of the sentences are entirely too long, especially for the intended audience (which should be the upper elementary grades). I know the book wouldn't have passed the "Holt Grandchildren Believability and Readability Test."

Since this is purported to be a mystery, readers would be well advised to read the tried and true examples: Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown, the Boxcar Children and the mysteries of R. L. Stine. Pass on this one. ( )