George, Jessica Day.
TUESDAYS AT THE CASTLE
New York : Bloomsbury, 2011
IL 3-6, RL 6.4
ISBN  1599906449

(3 booktalks)

“Whenever Castle Glower became bored, it would grow a new room or two. This usually happened on Tuesdays…” Princess Celie loved it when the castle sprouted a turret, a passageway, or even an entire wing, although it was sure to confuse visitors seeking an audience with the king. The castle always chose its own king, in this case benevolent King Glower the 79th and his beloved queen, and it set an affectionate watch over the royal family.
When Celie’s parents and eldest brother Bran were ambushed while traveling and reported killed, the castle was flooded with dignitaries from abroad, ostensibly there to offer their condolences and proffer assistance to Celie and her brother Rolf.  The Royal Council was behaving very suspiciously however, and with the castle’s help, the children learned that there was a plot afoot to overthrow Rolf, the king’s next eldest son and heir apparent.
But were the king and queen really dead? The castle suspected otherwise…
A delightful romp! (Booktalk written by Luci Albertson- GSF Committee/Bedford Public Library)

Booktalk #2

Princess Celie’s favorite day is Tuesday – that’s the day that the Castle Glower adds a new room, moves a room, or redecorates.  Celie’s family has always had a special relationship with the Castle, but Celie seems to have an even closer bond.  Disaster strikes.  The king and queen’s entourage are attacked while they are on their way to their oldest son’s graduation from Wizard School and now they are missing, presumed dead.  The Councilors are pushing Prince Rolf to declare himself King.  Will the Castle protect the family or declare allegiance to a new king?  Will Celie’s maps of the castle help her save the family and the Castle?  If you like action and adventure, you’ll want to read this book!  (Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Program Booktalks 2012-2013)

Booktalk #3

Princess Celie is the Castle favorite. That’s Castle with a capital C, for not only do all the inhabitants of the royal castle of Sleyne love Celie, the youngest daughter of King Glower the Seventy-ninth and his queen, but Castle Glower loves her, too. The castle is much more than a residence and seat of power. It is a mysterious, living entity that selects the heir to the throne. Therefore, every king of Sleyne assumes the name Glower. The castle makes its intentions and will known by adding and subtracting, moving and rearranging rooms, usually on Tuesdays. Celie loves Tuesdays at the castle and the changes the day often brings. She spends hour after hour mapping the castle and knows it better than almost anyone. She loves life in Castle Glower and the surprises it offers.

Nevertheless, she is disappointed when she, her older sister Lilah and her 14-year-old brother, Crown Prince Rolf, are forced to remain behind while their parents travel to the distant School of Wizardry to attend her oldest brother’s graduation. The royal entourage is attacked on the return journey, and the king, queen and Prince Bran are presumed dead though their bodies are not recovered. As neighboring kingdoms send emissaries for the memorial service it quickly becomes evident that someone is plotting to take over the throne. The royal children are unsure who to trust, but Celie knows they can rely on Castle Glower to help save themselves and the kingdom. 
(Booktalk by the Sequoya Youth Book Award committee, 2014)