Elizabeth and Zenobia

Elizabeth and Zenobia
Jessica Miller
Amulet/Abrams, 2017 198 pages
Grades 4-6
Horror

Elizabeth, a young girl whose mother has recently deserted the family with an opera singer, travels with her distant father to his childhood home in the dreary British countryside of the early previous century. Aptly named, Witheringe House, is decidedly creepy and desolate, but Elizabeth is not alone. She has her imaginary companion, Zenobia, to keep her company. Zenobia is Elizabeth's "evil twin". She at times behaves badly and likes dark things. Presently, Zenobia is interested in summoning spirits of which there seem to be a lot of in their new home. The only other inhabitant of the house is the housekeeper Mrs. Purswell, whose strange and cold personality seem to match the dwelling in which she serves. After many days of exploring on her own with Zenobia, Elizabeth encounters a gardener, who appears to be conducting some less than savory experiments with his plants. After discovering that the gardener does not really exist, Father becomes even more concerned with Elizabeth's sanity and hires a governess. Miss Clemency. Miss Clemency brings with her a breath of fresh air and some much needed sunshine to Elizabeth's life, making Zenobia jealous and resulting in some evil pranks that prove dangerous. Meanwhile, Elizabeth discovers that Father had a sister whom he was very close to who died when she was a little girl. After uncovering this previously unknown relation, Elizabeth starts reading stories about a mysterious Plant Kingdom that begin to appear on the nursery wallpaper. Could her deceased aunt be trapped in the Plant Kingdom?

This was a great story to read the week before Halloween. It is deliciously creepy and atmospheric. The striking cover that looks like old-fashioned dolls, which I personally find creepy, will draw in readers looking for chills. Full page illustrations, contributed by Yelena Bryksenkova, do not necessarily add to the plot, but help to place the story within its Gothic setting. Zenobia serves as Elizabeth's evil subconscious and acts out the impulses that she cannot express herself. It is not always clear that Zenobia is imaginary, except for the fact that only Elizabeth can see her, and readers might wonder if she is actually a spirit presence herself. At the end of the story Zenobia is still firmly entrenched in Elizabeth's life, not offering closure on that score. We do get closure on the fate of the deceased aunt, who gets a happy ending. This may seem a little unrealistic to the reader, yet this is a work of fantasy. Or is it? It is never really clear if the spooky mysterious happenings are really going on or just a figment of a lonely little girl's imagination. Father also gets a happy ending and it looks like Elizabeth's life will be a bit more cheerful. She finally receives the reassurance that Father loves her and her family increases three fold, yet Zenobia remains. Possibly the author is considering more adventures for the two friends. At any rate, kids who appreciate sinister happenings and bumps in the night will love this book and be glad that the interesting character of Zenobia remains and is possibly real. Too scary for sensitive readers, this title is just right for middle grade readers who want a shivery tale in the Gothic tradition.