Finch House written by Ciera Burch is a well-told story about an old, dilapidated Victorian house that has always been “off limits” for eleven- year-old Micah. Micah has been living with her mother at her grandfather’s place. This off-limits rule put forth by her grandfather, lovingly known as Poppop, has always been followed by Micah---until now!
As the story begins, Micah has been helping her mother pack for their upcoming move to a new city. Bored with packing she decides to go out for a bike ride. At this point she notices that the old Victorian house has been cleaned up and there is a new boy out front! This is where Micah meets Theo and realizes that a new family has indeed purchased Finch House. But when a worried Poppop finds her outside Finch House he is upset and orders her to immediately get in the car. “Theo lifted his hand in a wave. She lifted hers back. Finch House watched them go.”
The pull of the house is so great that Micah decides to undertake an investigation of the children who have gone missing there over the years. And what she finds is unbelievable and involves Poppop!
When Theo invites Micah into the house she discovers stairs in the walls with secret doors, a heavy darkness and eventually people! Could they be the people who have gone missing? What will Micah and Theo do? Who will Micah meet next? What about Poppop?
Finch House, a well told tale by Ciera Burch, is a lively and spooky story for readers 9-12 years of age who enjoy a good ghost story now and then. (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing) 2023.
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Activity Questions for Finch House
Finch House itself can talk. If you could hear the house actually talk what would it sound like? Think about how it physically looks, the role it plays in this story, the fact that it is an old structure, has many windows and a tower to make-up the voice. Try out many sounds while you develop the Finch House voice. Have fun!
Draw a picture of Finch House as it is described in this book on page 9. Be sure to get all the details into your picture as Finch House is one of the most important characters in this story.
Have you ever seen something that is being thrown out by someone as Micah did in the opening of this story that you wanted? Write a paragraph or two about the item----include what it looked like, why you wanted it and if you were able to get it as Micah was after she talked the Garbage Women into letting her have a beautiful purple bookshelf that was thrown out as trash.
