I Capture the Castle
By Dodie Smith

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin

Summary: Cassandra Mortmain is a 17-year-old girl living with her family in an abandoned, decrepit castle in 1930's England. She is an aspiring writer keeping a journal of life with her brother, a restless sister, eccentric stepmother, and a father who was once an acclaimed novelist but can't seem to pick up a pen again. While trying to become accustomed to the non-conventional life they now lead filled with poverty and creatively making ends meet, two very wealthy (and very single) young American men move in nearby....


Personal Review: This is one of my favorite coming-of-age stories. The characters are so innocent, quirky, and honest. Cassandra "captures" them all in this perfectly detailed, analytic narrative.