Tuesdays at the Castle

Tuesdays at the Castle, originally published in 2011, is the first book in the series of the same name by author Jessica Day George. Other titles in the series include Wednesdays in the Tower (2013), Thursdays with the Crown (2014), Fridays with the Wizards (2016), and Saturdays at Sea (2017). The series is categorized as children’s fantasy fiction suitable for grades 4-6 and above.

George is a New York Times bestselling author who pens multiple series. In addition to the Tuesdays at the Castle series, she writes the Rose Legacy series, the Twelve Dancing Princesses series, and the Dragon Slippers trilogy. Standalone titles include Silver in the Blood and Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow.

Tuesdays at the Castle takes place in a medieval European fantasy realm. The timeframe spans approximately one month with no specific mention of the time of year during which the action occurs, though it is presumably the summer season. The limited third-person narrative is told from the perspective of eleven-year-old Princess Celie who possesses a strong emotional tie to a magical castle that can change its shape at will. The tone of the novel is generally light and hopeful though the story describes dark events, including an assassination plot against the royal family of the kingdom of Sleyne. As Celie and her siblings try to defend their realm from invaders, the book explores the magical nature of Castle Glower, what happens when children are forced to assume adult roles, and the covert tactics that the young must employ to defeat corrupt authority figures.

Plot Summary

The novel begins by disclosing the startling fact that Castle Glower can change the number, size, and arrangement of its rooms whenever it feels like doing so. This reshuffling typically occurs on Tuesdays. The only castle inhabitant who can successfully navigate the confusing structure is eleven-year-old Princess Celie. She is the youngest of four royal children but has assigned herself the grown-up task of creating an atlas of the castle’s floorplan. Her manuscript is now 300 pages long and continues to grow just as the castle does.

In addition to the castle’s magical ability to change its shape, it also possesses a mind and will of its own. The king consults it on important questions and even takes its advice about whom to name as his successor. Castle Glower feels a particular affection for Celie, and she returns its devotion by trying to understand it better than anyone else.

On the morning when Celie’s parents depart to attend their son Bran’s graduation ceremony from the College of Wizardry, Celie stumbles upon a new tower room that the castle has just created. It contains four windows, each equipped with a spyglass, as well as a compass, a book, a coil of rope, and a tin of stale biscuits. Celie has no idea what these objects are doing there, but she incorporates a sketch of the room into her atlas.

Two weeks later, when Celie’s parents are due to return from their journey, their carriage is attacked by bandits. Only the king and queen’s rings can be found, so the royals are presumed to be dead. Celie, her brother Rolf, and her sister Lilah are all devastated by the news. They declare a mourning ceremony to be held even as soldiers continue their search for the king, queen, and Bran.

Princes Khelsh and Lulath arrive to attend the service along with their numerous retainers. It soon becomes clear that Khelsh has designs on the throne and that he has the support of the Royal Council. The council immediately establishes a regency, subjecting crown prince Rolf to their supervision until he comes of age. Celie learns that Khelsh intends to assassinate Rolf and seize control of the kingdom for himself. Rolf, Lilah, and Celie unite to wage a covert war on the invaders. Using the odd collection of objects in the tower, they successfully defeat Khelsh’s scheme and reunite with the missing members of their family. Celie proves herself the heroine of the tale by rescuing not only her family and kingdom but the castle itself.