this series is tHE. CUTEST. THING. EVER. and i'm so sad that it's over fnkjskdfjnsdkfj-
everything about this little series has been so adorable and cothis series is tHE. CUTEST. THING. EVER. and i'm so sad that it's over fnkjskdfjnsdkfj-
everything about this little series has been so adorable and comforting, from the characters to the art style to the tea dragons themselves. although there isn't a lot of plot, it's the characters who really make this story so enjoyable for me to read despite the way it's clearly targeting a younger audience.
ps: i still want a tea dragon of my own. asap.
pps: chamomile is the most relatable character in this entire series. there, i said it, and i knew we were all thinking it....more
This was my favorite mystery novel in second or third grade (I had a mystery books phase throughout most of elementary school where all I read (3.5/5)
This was my favorite mystery novel in second or third grade (I had a mystery books phase throughout most of elementary school where all I read were mysteries (no I am not joking but I wish I were) until I read Harry Potter in the winter break of fifth grade and became a fantasy lover; don't @ me), so to say that I was a little apprehensive to read this again after so long would be an understatement.
Thankfully, it held up (mostly).
The cringeworthy secondhand embarrassment was real but nevertheless I had a nice time and this book made for a quick yet enjoyable read. The mystery was well-developed but so were the characters and their interactions and behaviors, which is what I really think made this book so pleasant to read....more
This was pretty much as good as I remember it. I absolutely love the concept that this book is centered around, and it has just enough mystery (3.5/5)
This was pretty much as good as I remember it. I absolutely love the concept that this book is centered around, and it has just enough mystery and magic and adventure to keep things entertaining. It's a book that you can pick up and quickly finish, while also being completely absorbed in at the same time.
Eight-year-old me clearly had good taste in books ...more
Nevertell is interesting and not entirely what I expected. It follows Lina, a young girl who was born in a Soviet prison camp, her escape, as w(3.5/5)
Nevertell is interesting and not entirely what I expected. It follows Lina, a young girl who was born in a Soviet prison camp, her escape, as well as the magic that she experiences on her journey.
This book was definitely much, much more plot-based than it was character-based. While the main character and the side characters (in particular Natalya and Svetlana) were established and had backstories of their own, the focus was placed mostly on how Lina and Bogdan fared after leaving the camp, and the magical mishaps they encounter.
That being said, the characters are definitely endearing. They're courageous in a way only the protagonists of a middle-grade fantasy novel can be, and are clearly just doing their best to survive.
I absolutely loved the concept that this novel is centered around, mainly that of magic in a historical context that isn't the Elizabethan or Victorian eras. While the true horrors of the Soviet camp were somewhat toned down due to the younger target audience, and the plot felt a bit repetitive at times, it made for a quick but enjoyable reading experience.
The plot twist was excellent and I really should have expected it sooner. The ending, however, was fairly lukewarm, all things considered. I feel that it didn't truly do the book justice, but in a way, it was also realistic.
Overall, this is certainly a middle-grade historical fantasy that I would be willing to recommend to othres. I was definitely judging this book by the cover when I first picked it up at the library, and I don't regret my decision :D...more
Summerlost was,,, not entirely the book that I was expecting it be.
The synopsis made it out to be some sort of gut-wrenching yet uplifting novel aboutSummerlost was,,, not entirely the book that I was expecting it be.
The synopsis made it out to be some sort of gut-wrenching yet uplifting novel about a girl who finds herself following her brother's death.
That was a bit misleading, if you ask me.
Truthfully, Summerlost does follow Cedar after her younger brother, Ben, dies in a car accident along with her father. Her mother and her other brother, Miles, go to the town they visit every summer, and while they're there, Cedar comes to terms with their deaths while also finding herself.
Part of what made this book so interesting to me was the setting. The Summerlost festival was absolutely enchanting to have all of the scenes of the book set against, mostly because I love the idea of Renaissance fairs, but also because of the mystery of Lisette Chamberlain - an actress' mysterious death.
The side characters really helped this book be as enjoyable as it was. Leo in particular really added to the book and its events, and I loved the friendship that grew between him and Cedar as the book progressed. Cedar's brother, Miles, was a smaller character, but he was adorable nonetheless.
Cedar herself was... interesting. I liked the way that Condie discussed her grief and the way that it wasn't just a one-time thing but something that Cedar needed to deal with every time she something or experienced something that reminded her of her father or her brother. It felt realistic and it was heartbreaking, especially with the way Cedar eventually came to terms with her grief.
That being said, however, I felt that there was a bit of unbelievability to this book and its events?? I mean, I don't think it's very realistic that a parent literally let her twelve-year-old child run around and basically do whatever she wants, especially when the occasional crime is committed, which, I might add, she got off scot-free for.
Idk.
The ending felt a little rushed but other than that this book was actually pretty solid. I think that by the end of the book I was actually expecting something more, so when the ending was soft and somewhat unemotional, I was a bit let down.
Overall, however, this book made for a really fun reading experience. I actually had a lot of fun reading about everything that Cedar and Leo got up to with the festival, as well as the emotional journey that Cedar kind of goes on over the course of the book. It was a lovely middle-grade novel that I did end up enjoying, just perhaps not in the way I had first anticipated....more
If Counting Thyme failed to make you feel ✨emotions✨, fret not, you aren't an unfeeling monster! Melanie Conklin is back with another book that is (alIf Counting Thyme failed to make you feel ✨emotions✨, fret not, you aren't an unfeeling monster! Melanie Conklin is back with another book that is (almost) guaranteed to make you feel something!
Jokes aside, Every Missing Piece really was an emotionally compelling novel that has cemented Conklin as one of my favorite middle-grade authors. The book follows Maddie after a boy from a nearby town goes missing - and seemingly reappears in the woods. Maddie's been through a fair amount, with the death of her father leading her to anticipate danger everywhere, her mother's upcoming remarriage, and the way her best friend has been changing recently. No one believes Maddie when she says that the boy is Billy Holcombe, who went missing, but she's determined to uncover the truth.
First off, the characters were excellent. Just like with Counting Thyme, I absolutely adored the characters, and they were really the driving force behind the entire book. Again, while I did get the feeling that some of the characters existed solely for Maddie's development and growth as a character, they were still unique and made the book enjoyable.
Additionally, Maddie's backstory was extremely captivating, and it was interesting to see how more was revealed over the course of the story and as more things happened, as well as how Maddie eventually came to terms with a lot of these incidents.
The best thing about this book, however, is the way that Conklin writes about so many important topics in a way that's perfect for the target audience.
The first example of this is (view spoiler)[the abuse that Billy experiences (hide spoiler)]. It's never spoken of graphically or gone into in-depth, but it's nevertheless still present in the book, and rather than being brushed aside or only briefly touched on, it's pretty well-discussed, and in a way that doesn't romanticize it.
There's also (view spoiler)[Maddie's grief over her father's death and the anxiety that ensues because of it (hide spoiler)]. Again, it's never brushed aside or included in the book for the sake of giving Maddie a character quirk. Neither does it become her defining character trait. It's handled gently and in a genuinely heartwarming yet realistic manner.
And yet, even with such serious topics this book never becomes too dark. At the end of the day, it's still about kids helping and messing around with other kids, and it maintains that lighthearted feel at times, balanced with various serious moments as well.
Overall, this book was so, so, so well-crafted, and I truly wish that I had been able to read it when I was small. It's surprisingly wholesome and touching yet effortlessly middle-grade. It's certainly a book to enjoy, yet also a book that makes you feel....more
Honestly speaking, this book was a vast improvement from the previous one, even if it was a bit irritating at times.
Golden Gate follows the City SpiesHonestly speaking, this book was a vast improvement from the previous one, even if it was a bit irritating at times.
Golden Gate follows the City Spies after the events of the first book, this time telling the story from Sydney's perspective. Sydney and Brooklyn have been sent on an undercover mission on a marine research vessel, and things don't exactly as planned. To add to the situation, new intel comes in regarding the death of an agent in San Francisco who was looking into Magpie - a double agent in the agency. Once again, it's up to the City Spies to save the day.
My biggest problem with the last book was how seemingly perfect Brooklyn was at everything that she tried in regards to espionage, even more so than the other spies. I'm glad that this was addressed, even if a lot of drama came out of it. In a way, what happened was expected, but it was still,,, weird to read.
The plot, thankfully, is better and more substantial than the first book as well. There are actually quite a few plotlines being discussed as well as playing out this time, which made for a more interesting read.
Even so, the identity of the double agent was pretty easy to figure out. This time, however, I liked that there were clues regarding the true identity of Magpie, and everything sort of built up to the big reveal, rather than everything being out in the open since the very beginning.
There were more backstory reveals in this book, which I really liked, especially those of the City Spies that hadn't been given as much of the spotlight in the previous book. Again, same as the last book as well, I liked the friendships between the City Spies and how they grew in this book as well.
This book felt pretty short, but probably only because I didn't force myself to read it as much as the first one, which made for a short yet action-packed reading experience. It was definitely more enjoyable than the first book, to say the least. (Could this have something to do with the fact that it wasn't all about how pErFeCt Brooklyn was? Perhaps.)
Overall, this book was a vast improvement from the previous one. Even if the beginning was a bit weird, I liked how different plotlines that had only been touched upon in the previous book really began to come into play with this book, as well as how the character dynamics were clearer in this book. That, of course, isn't to mention all of the action that just felt more fun and characteristic of a middle-grade adventure novel that was included in this novel....more
As a fan of Stuart Gibbs' Spy School series, I came running when I heard that another author was w(2.5/5)
Welp, mark me down as disappointed and angry.
As a fan of Stuart Gibbs' Spy School series, I came running when I heard that another author was writing a book with a similar premise; namely a secret espionage task force made up of kids.
Naturally, my expectations were ridiculously high because the Spy School books happen to be some of my favorites, which might count for part of why I was so disappointed in City Spies. But personally? This book isn't all that good to begin with.
City Spies follows Sara Martinez (now known as Brooklyn, for the city that she's from), a child prodigy hacker, who ends up on the wrong side of the law for exposing her terrible foster parents. After being rescued by Mother, a spy who is technically 'dead', Brooklyn joins the City Spies, a group of precocious kids brought together by MI6 to undertake missions that adults couldn't. In particular, it appears that the next victim of Umbra, a global crime syndicate, will be Stavros Sinclair, a young genius, and his company, Sinclair Scientifica, at the Youth Summit for the Environment in Paris. It's up to the City Spies to save the day, and the world.
Brooklyn is like the quintessential middle-grade adventure novel protagonist, minus any meaningful character growth. While she does struggle occasionally, she eventually but very quickly overcomes it. She's perfect at the spy biz as soon as she begins, and is even better than the others?? Despite having just joined???
It just doesn't make sense.
My dislike of the characters would have been somewhat forgivable if the plot was any better.
Spoiler alert? It wasn't.
Now, I get that this is a middle-grade novel, so I can't expect the complexities of the plot that one could expect with an adult or even YA adventure novel. That being said, I think it says something about the book that I was able to figure out exactly how everything was going to go down, as well as the identity of the head of the evil organization, in the first few chapters. It's not that there were a lot of clues - it was simply too obvious, too cliche, almost to the point where rather than the twists being hinted at, they were just being avoided being said.
(Side note that my siblings, who do fall under the target audience of this novel, read this book before me and warned me beforehand that the plot was extremely predictable. I'm starting to regret not listening to them more often.)
That being said, this book wasn't entirely all bad.
I actually really liked the whole found-family concept and felt it to be really interesting, especially between the City Spies themselves. I liked seeing how their relationships with one another grew and they learned to accept one another, even if it did take some time. In particular, I liked reading about their backstories and how Mother brought them all together, which proved to be more interesting than I had anticipated.
The writing style was alright and actually worked quite well for the book, even if it was majorly told through Brooklyn's perspective. Even though I found her character to be quite infuriating at times, there weren't a lot of thought processes written out in detail, thankfully.
Overall, while I did have a lot of high expectations for this book, it didn't exactly meet all of them. I was disappointed, but that isn't to say there was no potential with the characters and the plot. I think to compare this book to the Spy School series would definitely be a stretch, because although the central concept is the same, the Spy School books execute this concept much more effectively. That being said, I'm probably going to continue with this series anyhow, because I really think that there's potential for an enjoyable, middle-grade adventure story here....more
The Crystal Ribbon tells the story of Li Jing, and how she finds her way back home after essentially being sold to another family as a bride.
Li Jing hThe Crystal Ribbon tells the story of Li Jing, and how she finds her way back home after essentially being sold to another family as a bride.
Li Jing has always been teased for her name, similar to the name of the deity that protects her village. However, over the course of the story, and after meeting many characters that provide some helpful insight, Jing comes to love and accept her name.
Upon being sold to a wealthy family as a bride, Jing is basically treated as a servant, and is bullied most of all by her young husband's sisters. She struggles a lot, but eventually comes to terms with her situation. Unfortunately, not much time passes before the family, undergoing financial issues, decides to sell her somewhere else.
The timing/pacing of the book was a little off for me, because while I'm pretty sure that multiple years pass between when Jing leaves her village and returns, it isn't always written like that.
Ultimately, this book is about the physical and emotional journey that Jing undergoes in order to find herself. She makes many friends along the way, and comes to terms with what her family had inadvertently done.
The ending was a little vague and open-ended, but I think it suited the book better than a clear "the end" would have. Overall, this story was magical and enchanting, especially with the era and location that it was set in. I absolutely loved reading about Jing and all the growth that she underwent over the course of the book....more
My feelings on this book do not bode well for the last one.
That doesn't stop me from being totally excited for it anyhow :'D
~~~~~~~
(3.5/5)
Given how muMy feelings on this book do not bode well for the last one.
That doesn't stop me from being totally excited for it anyhow :'D
~~~~~~~
(3.5/5)
Given how much I raved about this series in some of my reviews of the previous books, I'm actually embarrassed at how much this one let me down. I'm sure that part of it was just how high my expectations for it were, but the truth is that this one simply wasn't as good as the entire series was building it up to be.
[image]
For one thing, there's how rushed it was - multiple plotlines were concluding incredibly quickly. The Elf King's reveal regarding his identity as well as what he looked like under the mask, which was a major driving point of the entire series, along with the elf army and the threat that they posed, were issues that were easily resolved. Something that we had been waiting for since the very beginning of this series, especially since the elves and all that they represented, were initially the main antagonists, was resolved in an incredibly unsatisfying way: (view spoiler)[as it turns out, the Elf King really is dead, and his face has taken on the shape of the shadows' swirly symbol. As for the elves, Trellis has just been accepted as their ruler?? It all took about two seconds and made no logical sense. (hide spoiler)]
Then there's the whole matter of Emily and the phoenix form she took on when the amulet took control of her at the end of the previous book.
[image]
What I was expecting was something more along the lines of inner turmoil, in which Emily fought for control against the voice of her amulet, most likely ending with her conquering the voice, proving that she could retain control of her powers without giving up her values or character. Instead, what we got was (view spoiler)[basically the opposite. Emily was transported to the void and met... old Emily?? Who has a son??? Unfortunately, this created more questions than it answered, and was incredibly dissatisfying in showing how Emily had grown as a protagonist over the course of the series, seeing as to how the voice (who has a name I've already forgotten) basically accepted Emily taking back control without much hesitation. In other words, (hide spoiler)] a complete letdown.
While all of this was going down with Emily and her side of the story, Navin and Aly were sent to be pilots for the resistance, and are now carrying out their first mission: recovering some Gadoba tree saplings.
I'm going to be honest here and say that I definitely didn't see how their side of the story will ultimately impact the ending. I mean, yeah, sure, they're with the resistance, but the whole point of the resistance was to fight against the perceived threat of the Elf King, which has now been dealt with. The real problem now lies with the shadows and the impending doom they bring, which can only really be resolved by the stonekeepers???
[image]
So yeah. I'm not holding out for the next book, but I'm still reasonably excited. While I definitely hope that there won't be any ✨finale syndrome✨, I guess we're just going to have to see how it all plays out. At least the amazing art won't ever disappoint....more
Basically the entire backstory was revealed regarding the voices of the stones and what they really want. It was THIS WAS DEFINITELY THE BEST ONE YET.
Basically the entire backstory was revealed regarding the voices of the stones and what they really want. It was interesting to see Trellis' memories, as well as the dreams of her father that the amulet conjured (view spoiler)[in order to manipulate Emily. (hide spoiler)]
Navin and Aly were basically on their own adventure, and the book was told through both stories. In book six, it was also mentioned that the bots in the Charnon house had received the communication signal from Lucien, so I honestly can't wait to see how they all reunite.
bUT THAT ENDING. OH MY GOD. (view spoiler)[While I definitely saw it coming, I have to say that it was a major cliffhanger. I'm guessing that Trellis and Vigo break Emily's curse, or she'll break it herself. There's also the whole matter of the resistance regrouping to take down the elf king, and just thinking about it makes me excited, especially considering the impending arrival of the shadow beings, and all that they entail. (hide spoiler)]
Overall, the art was excellent, as always, and it was fascinating to see how all the plotlines are slowly being woven back together. Honestly speaking, this series has been getting better with every book....more
This book sees new characters being introduced, while the wrap-up of a different one's arc. It's definitely implied that the real danger lies with theThis book sees new characters being introduced, while the wrap-up of a different one's arc. It's definitely implied that the real danger lies with the voice of the stones, in how it's manipulated all the stonekeepers for its own devices, rather than the elf king, the more obvious threat
One of the biggest things that I noticed with this volume was how much the art had improved from the first till now. Not that it wasn't good to begin with, but it has seriously gotten better.
Navin and Emily's stories are starting to divulge a little, while the mother never really directly impacted the plot. I wouldn't say that the characters have changed so much as grown into themselves, especially considering the roles that they play. (Then again, this series has been far more plot-driven rather than character-driven, so it really shouldn't come as much of a surprise.)
Overall, while this book didn't feel as fast-paced as the fourth or fifth ones, it certainly brings a lot to the table and sets up nicely for the next book....more
You can really tell that things are starting to change in this book, and that it's setting up a lot for the rest of the series.
We're given a lot more You can really tell that things are starting to change in this book, and that it's setting up a lot for the rest of the series.
We're given a lot more insight as to Trellis' past, as well as the darker nature of the stones. There's a lot going on throughout the book, action-wise as well as character-wise. So much is left unanswered, but it's clear that we're slowly getting there.
The art is just wonderous. I'm not sure really what else to say, because it's so amazing to see the sheer amount of detail that goes into these books, especially the two-page spread pieces. Things are still pretty confusing, but hey, at least it looks good :D...more
THIS WAS EXCELLENT. AMAZING. MARVELOUS. OUTSTANDING. WONDERFUL. EXCEPTIONAL. And I say this for absolutely everything: characters, the plot, th(4.5/5)
THIS WAS EXCELLENT. AMAZING. MARVELOUS. OUTSTANDING. WONDERFUL. EXCEPTIONAL. And I say this for absolutely everything: characters, the plot, the twist, tHE ART (!!!) - everything....more
This volume saw a lot more backstory being revealed about the elf king and a certain plot twist regarding TrelAhh, I just absolutely LOVE this series.
This volume saw a lot more backstory being revealed about the elf king and a certain plot twist regarding Trellis, which should be interesting to see how it all plays out. Emily herself grapples a lot more with the 'dark side' to her stone, and the being that lurks beneath the surface.
Overall, not much has changed from the previous volumes to this one. The plot is still incredibly fast-moving, and the art is as detailed as ever, improving if anything. Everything is high-stakes and dramatic, which really only adds to the "ASDLASLKLSDKALK I NEED THE NEXT ONE" feeling you get at the end. ...more
Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
(actual rating: 3.5/5)
This was a really Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
(actual rating: 3.5/5)
This was a really charming retelling of an already enchanting tale, in graphic novel form.
The art style was actually really adorable, and while it isn't as intricate as some, it does its job well and gives certain parts of the story more childlike wonder.
The story stays almost entirely true to the original, the only major change being that instead of Mary's past being shown at the beginning of the book, it is occasionally flashbacked to throughout the story.
I think that this graphic novel works well as an adaption of the original story, even if it seems a bit rushed/disjointed at times. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoyed the original book, as a different way to experience the story....more
Thank you to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
'The Sun Will Come Out' is an interesting midThank you to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
'The Sun Will Come Out' is an interesting middle-grade coming-of-age novel about a young girl who goes to sleep-away camp, without her best friend. There, she encounters other kids, some of them kind, others not so much, as she learns more about what it means to be her own person.
Personally, I felt that this book was pretty much your basic coming-of-age novel featuring middle-grade characters. Bea, the main character, has to learn how to stand up for herself and others in the midst of dealing with The Mean Girls™, The Crush™, and The Traitorous Friend™, all while at summer camp. She came off as snobbish at first, but eventually grew as the book progressed.
Don't get me wrong - this book was relatively well-written, quick, and a blast to read. I just felt that it didn't bring anything new to the table (other than a certain character) - it followed the middle-grade realistic-fiction formula and didn't deviate much from it.
As someone who has read many books with similar or nearly the same plotlines, I wasn't captivated much by this book. While it certainly was a charming read, it didn't do much for me, although it's hard to tell whether this is because I'm not the target audience, or if I've simply read too many of these sorts of books.
Either way, I'd recommend this book to middle-grade readers who are fans of coming-of-age plotlines and all that it entails. Ultimately, this book, for me, was enjoyable, yet forgettable. It was good, but it could have been much better. That cover on the other hand? Amazing....more
Honestly speaking, this was amazing. Second book syndrome? We don't know her.
The second installment of the Amulet series was, in my opinion, gr(4.5/5)
Honestly speaking, this was amazing. Second book syndrome? We don't know her.
The second installment of the Amulet series was, in my opinion, greatly improved from the second one. For one, it's far more action-oriented while still introducing new characters, pulling loose multiple storylines, and including background information without seeming too info-dump-y.
It was interesting to see Emily grow as a stonekeeper, as well as the internal struggle brought about due to her role - the character development is believable and actually really good with this one. The art was amazing as always, and the ending of the book sets up nicely for the next one....more
LSKDJFLSJDSJDLFKJDASLDAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVED THIS ONE EVEN MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE.
This book was much better than its predecessor, in my opiLSKDJFLSJDSJDLFKJDASLDAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVED THIS ONE EVEN MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE.
This book was much better than its predecessor, in my opinion. The art was just as great as it was with the first book, and though there was less of an emphasis placed on the tea dragons, they were still just as cute.
What I really liked about this one was the way that the main character (and the story as a whole, really), was developed. There was a discernible plot that was moving the book forward, rather than it being reliant on how pretty the art was.
I loved how the friendships grew and were portrayed in this one, and the insight that we were given as to Erik and Hesekiel's relationship. While I was initially thinking that this book was going to follow the same characters of the first one (okay, I admit, I never read the synopsis for this one and just impulsively checked it out), I was pleasantly surprised with the new arc that this book undertook.
Overall, this book was cute and wholesome, and I actually ended up enjoying it way more than I thought I would....more
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