The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.
The Fifth Grade reads this book early in the school year. This gothic mystery is set in Victorian England, an unlikely story of two young girls whose evil governess tries to steal the family's grand home and fortune. The girls, of course, thwart her plans. Students analyze the plot, tracing cause and effect, and write descriptive paragraphs, especially of the most evil events. The book's vocabulary and drama have been a delight for students for many years.
The Orphanage.
Why is the orphanage such a terrible place, especially for Bonnie and Sylvia?
The orphanage seemed very unwelcoming. It seemed gloomy and like there’s
always something bad going on. At the orphanage, the girls are called by numbers
and their hair is cut short. There’s strict rules, for example, no talking.
They sleep in uncomfortable cots with thin blankets and food with not much protein.
The orphanage is called a school when actually, the girls work all day.
It is a terrible place for Bonnie and Sylvia because they are not used to making
their own food or doing the laundry because they had servants doing it for them
at the Chase. Also, their food at the Chase was healthy and full of taste and
this food has no taste nor health. They are lonely because they were close friends
then separated under strict rules not to talk. The orphanage is also horrible
for Bonnie and Sylvia because they were used to a free life and a luxurious
home and come to the orphanage where they starve, work all day, eat horrible
food and go to sleep in a cold, uncomfortable cot. Under all that pressure,
Bonnie and Sylvia are finding away to escape while wondering about the Chase
and Pattern and how they are going along.