I am mostly saying no to review copies from independently published authors these days, because of feeling overwhelmed by books and life, but I'm realI am mostly saying no to review copies from independently published authors these days, because of feeling overwhelmed by books and life, but I'm really glad I took a chance on this one.
Chloe is sad--her busy parents are neglecting her, and her best friend is growing up faster than she is and has started leaving her behind. Then one rainy London afternoon, walking home from school through a curious little London street, she tries to shelter in a shop doorway. The rain comes down harder, and though the shop isn't open for business yet, she tries the door in desperation, and enters "The Extraordinary Curiosities of Ixworth and Maddox."
There she finds magic, for Ixworth and Maddox aren't just ordinary sellers of curious things. They are London magicians, creating, with the help of their resident brownies, magical marvels to sell to others such as themselves...and surprisingly, they welcome Chloe; after all, the door opened for her. She finds herself spending more and more time with them, and the two kindly magicians encourage her own potential for magic.
When Ixworth disappears with no warning or reason, Chloe is determined to help Maddox find him. They set off on a journey that takes Chloe deep into magical London, where dark and ancient magic is being worked in a struggle for power. It's not just Ixworth who needs saving (if saving him is even possible).....
I very much like interesting fantasy shops, and though some readers might find the first half of the book slow, I loved being introduced gently, with lots of details, to what the shop was selling and the workings of the magical city. And then when things got going plot wise, and there was a mystery to solve and bad people and dangerous magic to foil, I enjoyed that too. Chloe has both believable agency and believable emotional reactions.
In short, it doesn't break any particularly new ground, but it is does what it sets out to do very satisfactorily. And if, like me, you like middle grade fantasy shop keeping, it's a must! I hope there is a sequel. ...more
Nb--the jacket flap copy (which I copied verbatim when I added this to goodreads) not only has a bad comma, but is wrong--Julie is not homesick, she bNb--the jacket flap copy (which I copied verbatim when I added this to goodreads) not only has a bad comma, but is wrong--Julie is not homesick, she barely says five words to Ross, and the "dramatic mountain rescue" is only a few pages long. A more accurate description--a girl moves to New Zealand and her loneliness is alleviated by being dumped on a farm which she enjoys exploring. She likes the farm kids and is bothered by the tension between Ross and his dad. The kids are sad and angry that a pipeline will destroy the last bit of remaining undisturbed native vegetation, and try to get it moved.
A nice visit to New Zealand, but unfortunately the author didn't invest quite enough time or effort in either characters, setting, or story to make this a truly good read. We readers don't, for instance, get enough detail about the native bush to care for at it at anything more than an intellectual level.......more
An interesting vintage twist on middle grade treasure hunting The quest that is referenced is the heart of the book--two previous incarnations of the An interesting vintage twist on middle grade treasure hunting The quest that is referenced is the heart of the book--two previous incarnations of the House of Broom on the coast of Scotland were swallowed by the sands, and the quest is to find them and recover the carved wolf that guarded each one, so that all three can be united on the current house and bring back its luck (in the form of forestry tree plantings to hold back the sand). Paul, the neighbor enemy kid, gets wind of the quest and sets out to compete with the two boys visiting the House of Broom. The search for the houses is rather neat, and Paul is an interesting character. My main problem with the book is that I really don't like sand, especially when it blows everywhere and gets inside, so I found it all a little gritty....more
I didn't mind reading it, but can't actually recommend it except in a tepid --if you like vintage mysteries in which kids get unbelievably lucky with I didn't mind reading it, but can't actually recommend it except in a tepid --if you like vintage mysteries in which kids get unbelievably lucky with clues etc., you might enjoy it--sort of way....more
gave it three stars because it did what it set out to do, and makes the Netherlands sound tremendously appealing. The absence of plot and character degave it three stars because it did what it set out to do, and makes the Netherlands sound tremendously appealing. The absence of plot and character development, however, was noticeable....more
Rounded up to three because I liked the hut-household part of the story, but it stirred no particular emotion in me and didn't go quite far enough chaRounded up to three because I liked the hut-household part of the story, but it stirred no particular emotion in me and didn't go quite far enough characterization-wise to make me care much about what was happening....more
It's a pleasant set up and a nice visit to Yorkshire, but sadly lacking in characterization or any sort of emotional development, and the plot twist iIt's a pleasant set up and a nice visit to Yorkshire, but sadly lacking in characterization or any sort of emotional development, and the plot twist is pretty obvious. But still, good comfort reading if you want something soothing with lots of lovely landscape and some nice domestic details....more
I entered the text from the jacket flap just now (adding only that the secret is an empty old house), and it's pretty accurate, except that it doesn'tI entered the text from the jacket flap just now (adding only that the secret is an empty old house), and it's pretty accurate, except that it doesn't say how nice it is to clean up the kitchen of the old house to make it their den (Juliet takes the lead with this part) and to work in the garden (Clare's interested in horticulture as a possible future career. Like the two girls I was dismayed when this peaceful domestic retreat was disturbed by a sullen young man, and their interfering efforts to make everything ok were of less interest to me than the first half of the book, partly because disadvantaged urban youth of the UK in the 1960s is not really a favorite topic of mine to read about....Not a great book, and I'm not sure if I'll ever want to re-read it, but I read it in a single absorbed sitting and don't object to having bought it......more
Only read this if you are a die hard fan of vintage nursing school stories, and even then prepare to be disappointed. There is no character developmenOnly read this if you are a die hard fan of vintage nursing school stories, and even then prepare to be disappointed. There is no character development or story line. Re read Sue Barton instead....more
I just added this to Goodreads, and faithfully copied the jacket flap description. Here's what it's really about--Bernie is an orphan, 10 years old orI just added this to Goodreads, and faithfully copied the jacket flap description. Here's what it's really about--Bernie is an orphan, 10 years old or thereabouts, taken in by Dublin cousins as a baby and younger than their children. She's left out of things and thought to be plain and dull. When she gets the chance to go stay with other cousins in Rosquin a small town by the sea up near Galway, she's thrilled. She's there to be company for Gerry, injured in a bike accident, and at last she feels like she's wanted. She thrives in her new home, and does actually spur Gerry on to more exertion in getting better (Gerry really needed good physical therapy....), and Gerry's parents are kind to her and she feels altogether better about herself, and looks better too. She assumes she'll stay at Rosquin permanently. But then she overhears that she might have to go back to Dublin...and in desperation, she does something stupid that constitutes the "dangerous and thrilling adventures" of the jacket flap.
A charming, soothing read of a girl being tended to in a very pleasant setting after years of neglect, with an incidental injured cousin....more
a nice comfort read for those who like stories of families inheriting houses in English villages. In this case, the house isn't very nice, but they maa nice comfort read for those who like stories of families inheriting houses in English villages. In this case, the house isn't very nice, but they make it work, and the kids set to work to raise enough money to buy the bedridden girl who lives nearby a television set to brighten her life. I especially liked that Jenny, the acorn raising girl, gets a chance to get started on a career in horticulture....more
this had so many things that I enjoy--kids renovating old houses, and finding old paintings by the family's ancestor artist in the process, the main pthis had so many things that I enjoy--kids renovating old houses, and finding old paintings by the family's ancestor artist in the process, the main protagonist, Fern, being a sensitive girl who herself is on her way to being an artist who makes friends with a girl who's just moved to the area, an auction where Fern insists on acquiring a mixed lot that turns out to have great value, cats, Australian gardening and nature, etc.
I just added this book to Goodreads, but did not type out the blurb on the front cover because it is a blurb that makes me livid and which ruined my peaceful enjoyment of the book.
SPOILER:
from the cover: "she [Fern] is the one who is most dismayed by the unforeseen calamity that finally falls upon the house. But is it a calamity? Out of the tragedy springs hope and a new solution...The birds will continue to live unmolested on the wild hill....and the dignity of Cocky's Castle will live still in memory."
So I went into reading it knowing the house was doomed, and bang went my innocent pleasure in wall-papering etc. I am bitter....more
I just added this to Goodreads, and would like to make it clear that the description is what was on the book and so not my own bad writing.
This is an I just added this to Goodreads, and would like to make it clear that the description is what was on the book and so not my own bad writing.
This is an interesting twist on 1950s high school stories, because it's told from the point of view of an immigrant boy whose strict father has kept him so hard at work in the family greenhouses that he hasn't had a chance to have any social life at high school. Happily, he's good looking, a musical genius, brilliant, and lucky enough to meet a nice girl, and after the father starts feeling guilty for smashing his violin in a fit of temper, things improve and Jan gets his chance to belong. Seems to me that Jan could had least have tried to make friends at school in the halls or something, even if he couldn't take part in activities; I thought the isolation of his family felt a bit too exaggerated. I found it a pleasant enough book on the whole, and especially like the family flower growing business details, of which their were many. Also, it's unusual to find an accordion-playing mother. This is perhaps the only 1950s high school book written in which the mother is an accomplished accordion player....more
a very pleasant read, though it left me feeling very jealous. Except I would be the mother at this point, and I felt for the one in the book, when shea very pleasant read, though it left me feeling very jealous. Except I would be the mother at this point, and I felt for the one in the book, when she tried to make muffins with the wood stove for the first time. On the other hand, the children became less whiney and more helpful as they grew used to country living, and she did get a lovely garden, so there's that....more
If the parents had just matter-of-factly told the other kids about Kristin being adopted, a lot of the angsty middle part of the book could have been If the parents had just matter-of-factly told the other kids about Kristin being adopted, a lot of the angsty middle part of the book could have been avoided and it would have been a much better book....more
Join Timothy as he gets his archaeologist father's ideas about gender roles of the past hammered firmly home by a Stone Age time-slipping boy! Wonder Join Timothy as he gets his archaeologist father's ideas about gender roles of the past hammered firmly home by a Stone Age time-slipping boy! Wonder at the qualifications, which seem to be nil, of the archaeologist mother and father. Wonder as well what the jacket flap text, quoted above, meant by "adventures" becuase there are none to be found. Regret that the author could not make the characters more interesting. Think that joining the little sister, Susan (who is constantly sneered at by Stone Age boy) in making sand castles sounds rather nice....more
this is a collection of brief snippets of "funny" things that happened to the author and other flight attendants/pilots she knew. Sort of Reader's Digthis is a collection of brief snippets of "funny" things that happened to the author and other flight attendants/pilots she knew. Sort of Reader's Digest like. Not that funny. Most interesting as a look at commercial aviation in the mid 20th century.......more
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