4.5 stars In this second book, Kie is grieving for the losses her nation suffered during the chimerae war of the previous book. She has terrible nightm4.5 stars In this second book, Kie is grieving for the losses her nation suffered during the chimerae war of the previous book. She has terrible nightmares of the people she saw killed in the war, and her greatest fear is that she will again be placed in a position to relay more orders that send skysteeds and their riders to their deaths in battle. When she is asked to accompany the prince on a diplomatic mission to the wild skysteeds, Kie is hopeful that they will be able to convince the king of the wild skysteeds to help them defend their land against the chimerae. However, Kie's skysteed N'Rah disagrees with her. For the first time, they have a serious disagreement and they have to learn to navigate their delicate relationship in a new way.
I really loved that there are lasting consequences from the battles of the previous book. The characters don't just skip off into the sunset and go on more adventures. They are grieving. They are afraid. And because we see them dealing with these difficult emotions, the plot is really meaningful. We get to explore these deep themes along with the characters, and the writing has weight because the risks they take have real consequences for them. But there is also a message of hope and healing in the midst of their grief. I found it really inspiring!
I also loved the deeper exploration of the relationships between humans and skysteeds. Kie learns that N'Rah had a whole past life before they met. She never knew where he grew up or who his family was, and she begins to realize that she ought to be trusting N'Rah more and treating him as an equal. When they meet the Sky King who commands all the wild skysteeds, Kie and N'Rah have to work together to convince the wild skysteeds that they can trust humans again.
The magic and the legends get even more enchanting and beautiful in this second book! We learn more about how humans and skysteeds first bonded through magic that allowed them to hear each other's thoughts. Kie discovers that the original magic from the legends of hundreds of years ago is still lingering in some parts of the world, and still working to protect them from chimarae.
Kie has more wonderful character development as she learns to trust her friends with her inner fears. She has bottled up her grief, but the Sky King encourages her to express those feelings with her friends. Together they find comfort and healing by crying together and telling stories about their friends who have been killed in the wars. They strengthen each other through those difficult times and become closer as a team.
The best part of this book is discovering more about the wild skysteeds and the ancient legends! The world building is delightful, the writing is full of zest and mystery, and I loved all the new pegasi characters we meet!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone....more
In a land where human riders can communicate telepathically with their pegasus steeds, one man has made a special study of how the ancient peoples fouIn a land where human riders can communicate telepathically with their pegasus steeds, one man has made a special study of how the ancient peoples fought off a scourge of monsters called chimerae. When the chimerae return, he entrusts a book full of his research to his niece, Kie. She and her stysteed, N'Rah, must take the book to the capital city and somehow convince the emperor to use these ancient battle techniques. Kie has been practicing using special weapons that her uncle taught her about, and she is hoping to demonstrate how effective they are against the monsters.
The best part of this book is the strong bond between the humans and their skysteeds. These are complex relationships with hundreds of years of tradition and outdated laws governing how they communicate and work together; but at the end of the day, the relationship between rider and skysteed is very personal and intimate as they hear each other's thoughts. It was so interesting to explore the different aspects of these relationships, since every human and every skysteed is so different. They don't always communicate easily or understand each other, so there was a lot of room for the story to expand around these delicate and multi-layered connections between them.
I loved Kie's character! She is really smart, but doubts her intelligence because she has trouble reading due to dyslexia. She has some great character development as she gains confidence in herself and her own abilities. Every person she meets is impressed with her courage and practical good sense, and when they express their appreciation and show that they trust her, Kie finally begins to recognize these strengths in herself.
The plot is really well-constructed as different threads from different characters begin to come together and overlap. I really loved that the focus is on Kie, but we also see a lot of supporting characters with excellent arcs that dovetail beautifully with Kie's adventures.
There are lots of battles, and legends, and magical mysteries, and training, and more battles. Kie has to navigate the difficulties of politics and she confronts some high-born people. She makes some enemies, and makes some friends.
Overall, I enjoyed this book so much! The friendships, the magic, the legendary monsters, and all the beautiful world-building swept me away into a fantasy land that I can't wait to dive into again in the second book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone....more
Percy needs three recommendation letters from three gods in order to get into college with Annabeth next year. So he teams up with Annabeth and GroverPercy needs three recommendation letters from three gods in order to get into college with Annabeth next year. So he teams up with Annabeth and Grover for a few last quests to earn those godly recommendation letters. Their second task is to pet-sit a polecat and hellhound for the scary triple goddess, Hecate. These pets are terrifying and wild, and Hecate's home is a creepy mansion full of secrets and weird bathrooms. The pets do not look friendly, but Percy is determined to follow Hecate's instructions and keep the pets alive and well for the entire week. All while trying to pass his regular school classes and graduate senior year.
I loved this! It was everything that I wanted and more. I love Percy's sarcasm and sass. I love the group dynamic between Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. They make such a great team! I loved seeing more of Percy hanging out at home with his mom, just being a family. And of course, I loved the adventurous plot. The writing is wonderful, and I enjoyed learning about all the ancient legends of the gods. There is just something so delightfully charming and hilarious about Percy Jackson books. It tugs at your heart and makes you laugh at the same time.
I can't wait to read more books in this new PJ series!...more
The Queen will banish Prince Lir from the kingdom unless he can complete a quest and rescue a maiden from the dragon. His stepbrother, Prince DelbayneThe Queen will banish Prince Lir from the kingdom unless he can complete a quest and rescue a maiden from the dragon. His stepbrother, Prince Delbayne, encourages him to try the quest, even though Lir is more of a scholar than a warrior. Lir travels to the Isle of Salt where he finds the dragon sickly and weak in a damp and moldy cavern. The dragon has lost his fire and his wing is broken, but he could still kill a knight with one slash of his claws. The maiden Cethlenn used to be a servant girl in Lir's kingdom. Now she has to serve the dragon by treading on dark cherries in the wine press to make the dragon's cherry wine. So the scholarly knight, the humble maiden, and the old dragon meet for the first time. These three unlikely allies will discover that dark magic is hiding where they least expect it, so they must join together if they want to be free.
I loved this fairy tale! The plot takes a lot of twists and turns with unexpected surprises and clever schemes. I liked that the adventure doesn't quite follow the normal fairy tale plot. It feels fresh and new, but still has those classic elements of good fantasy.
The writing is enchanting in every way. Each paragraph pulls you into the magic of the story. I especially liked that there is a feeling of history in the worldbuilding. You can feel the weight of legend behind Lir's kingdom, and the past glories of his royal ancestors keep popping up to give us a sense of the longevity of his people. There are traditions and tales from the days of Lir's father's reign, and Lir looks to the past for wisdom and guidance in his own decisions, but he also creates his own path.
Cethlenn has her own part in the story as well. She is an orphan, and back in her serving days in the kingdom, nobody cared for her but the puppies in the stable where she slept in the hay. During her time with Lir and the dragon on the Isle of Salt, she discovers that she has a secret strength within her that will change everything.
The artwork is absolutely brilliant and beautiful! Every page is a delight. Sometimes I just had to stop reading and stare at the art for a few minutes. Every page is full of energy and mystery. It's really powerful, perfectly matching the dynamic of the story.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone....more
I loved this edited version of Anne of Green Gables! It is simplified for younger readers, but still captures all the charm of the original. It's stilI loved this edited version of Anne of Green Gables! It is simplified for younger readers, but still captures all the charm of the original. It's still all the same dialogue and basic story, but it has just been shortened and condensed.
The illustrations are so beautiful! I'm going to display the book facing outward on a shelf so that I can enjoy looking at the pretty cover. Every page is beautifully illustrated with lovely depictions of Anne and her friends, the pretty house at Greed Gables, and the old schoolhouse, the Lake of Shining Waters, and the White Way of Delight. All those iconic scenes are brought to life in the artwork. My favorite is when Anne breaks her slate over Gilbert's head!
Such a beautiful edition, and perfect for readers who aren't quite to the reading level to read the original yet....more
Princess Samantha is searching for true love, and she seems to have found it with Prince David, until he humiliates her at the grand ball. The heartbrPrincess Samantha is searching for true love, and she seems to have found it with Prince David, until he humiliates her at the grand ball. The heartbroken princess decides to take matters into her own hands, and she sets off on a quest through a magic portal to find true love, expecting that somehow she will find her way back to Prince David. When Prince David discovers that she is gone, he sends his best knight, Sir Zachary, to bring her back. But he's not the only one searching for the missing princess. The royal family has their own dragon, Hubert Firetongue the Incomparable. The dragon teams up with Sir Zachary and they follow Samantha through the magic portal. But when they arrive on the other side of the portal, she is nowhere to be seen. Unbeknownst to any of them, they are all being pursued by a murderous dark knight.
This fairytale is full of humor and adventure and a delightful romance! It reminds me of the Princess Bride with lots of swashbuckling adventure and sword fights and daring heroes. They have to fight off ogres, escape from a dungeon, and free innocent creatures from the evil rule of a despotic baron. They encounter magical unicorns, kind giants, annoying gnomes, and one very slippery enchantress. And best of all, it is hilarious from start to finish! I was literally giggling like a madwoman through most of the story.
I loved the sweet slow-burn romance, especially because it's very clean and their romance is based on more than just physical attraction. It was really lovely to see these two characters gradually beginning to respect and care for each other in deeply meaningful ways. Every romantic moment between them is just so adorable and sweet, but you also get the sense that their relationship is built on something lasting.
Princess Samantha and Sir Zachary both have really excellent character development as they go through their adventures and it teaches them humility and gives them a perspective beyond their own previously narrow experiences. I completely fell in love with Sir Zachary, and I really related to Princess Samantha. They both have very complex personalities, and it was wonderful going on this inward journey of self-discovery with them.
I love all the funny references to other fairy tales, movies, and famous quotes. Princess Samantha complains that Snow already found her Prince Charming, and that other princess was asleep for years and found someone, so why can't Samantha find her true love? During their quest, the group visit a town that they describe as a "hive of scum and villainy". There are tons of witty quips in the dialogue that made me laugh.
I cried at the beautiful ending, because there is this heartwarming family reunion, and it was just so touching to see the parents and children all reunited. I love stories about family togetherness and this poor family had been through such difficult struggles to find each other again. Beautiful!
The best part of this book is the Christian themes that are woven through the story. The characters explore the meaning of self-sacrifice, gratitude, and personal joy. They discover that true love encompasses much more than just romantic love, but that it also includes family love. There are many instances throughout the story of different father figures who sacrifice for their children, just as God sacrificed his Son for us.
Since it is a fairy tale, the knight is obsessed with honor and chivalry, and the other characters sort of roll their eyes at this in the beginning. However, as they begin to see how Sir Zachary actually lives out his moral code and makes honorable decisions no matter the cost to himself, they begin to respect the beliefs and values that he lives to uphold. It's a very powerful and inspiring message!
I love this book so much! I enjoyed it just as much rereading it for the second time....more
Miss Rook is used to being the assistant to private detective, Mr. Jackaby. But now that his ability to see supernatural auras has been passed on to hMiss Rook is used to being the assistant to private detective, Mr. Jackaby. But now that his ability to see supernatural auras has been passed on to her, she is having trouble taking charge during an investigation. She is completely overwhelmed and can't seem to find her confidence again. Jackaby encourages her to take the reins and let him the assistant, but Miss Rook feels utterly incompetent to handle a supernatural crime investigation. However, when her nearest and dearest are accused of murder, Miss Rook is forced to follow the trail wherever it leads.
I loved this book so much! I really liked the world-building and the way that the supernatural creatures and people are trying to mingle with ordinary humans. The police force is trying to keep track of all the rampant magic in the city, and the city government writes new laws to try to control the magical populace. Most of the supernatural people are harmless, but the police only see threats in every direction.
I especially loved Jackaby and Miss Rook and their detective partnership. They are both full of witty remarks and flippant little quips. Jackaby kind of reminded me of Doctor Who in the way that he carelessly meets danger with no plan and silly grin.
I loved Miss Rook's character! She is very introspective, analyzing the clues and analyzing her relationships with people. We get to see her emotional turmoil as she tries to adjust to her new reality with the ability to see auras. She goes on quite an inner journey to find the confidence to trust herself and the courage to trust others.
The writing style is excellent. The plot is mysterious and fun! The mystery really kept me guessing, and I loved all the strange clues. Because there are magical elements in play, it's difficult to tell what is just a normal clue or what is some weird supernatural power at work. There are a lot of moving parts in the plot, and characters with different abilities and secret knowledge. It becomes like this weird game of chess with red herrings all over the place, until you realize that the red herrings are actually the center of the mystery. Such great plot twists!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone....more
When an ogress moves in just outside of town, the townspeople begin to blame her for everything that has gone wrong for years, even before she arrivedWhen an ogress moves in just outside of town, the townspeople begin to blame her for everything that has gone wrong for years, even before she arrived! Their bad luck had all started years before when the Library had burned down. Thank goodness for their wonderful Mayor who is working to restore the town and get rid of the Ogress. But there are a few children in the orphanage who begin to wonder if the Mayor is really so wonderful and if the Ogress is really so evil. Anthea is good at problem-solving. Bartleby is a philosopher who asks the hard questions, and his sister Cass is quiet but brave. These three children look at their crumbling town and decide to finally do something to help.
I loved this fanciful story!
The soft magic system is delightfully mysterious. There are little glimmers of magic in everything, but nothing is concrete. There is a description of how time and space will bend and warp around books. Books are so weighty with knowledge and wisdom that time will actually flow differently around them. The Ogress has such a warm personality that her garden grows ten times more abundantly from the warmth that radiates from her. The Mayor has such a silky voice and such a dazzling smile that the townspeople are mesmerized by everything he says. Is it magic? Maybe a little. The same way that a kind word is magic and a warm cookie straight out of the oven is magic. All the threads of the world come together in a magical way for those who know to look for them.
The writing style takes a lot of time to point out important details. The plot moves slowly, but the writing is so good at keeping your attention that I didn't mind the slower pace. In the end, each of those little details matters immensely and carries emotional weight in the story. It's nice to have a bit of a slower story sometimes, so that you can take time to really get to know the characters and reflect on their internal journeys as well as the outer adventure. The writing is so elegant that even during the scenes with more action, I found it soothing to read.
I loved the wonderful characters! Anthea is the oldest of the orphans, so she feels responsible to care for everyone. Bartleby is bookish and more of a thinker than a doer. But Cass is the doer. She quietly moves about, saying little and getting a lot done. They are all complex and interesting characters. I loved how those three interact and bicker and protect each other like real siblings.
I enjoyed the exploration of deep themes about family and neighborliness and generosity. The Ogress is not welcomed in the town because they don't think of her a neighbor, so the townspeople have to rediscover what it means to be neighborly. The orphans have a strong sense of family in their little orphanage. They function like a family unit, all caring for each other and protecting their home. The Ogress has a philosophy that the more you give, the more you have. She is wildly generous to every creature she meets, and her abundance overflows into the town. But the townspeople are overwhelmed by fear and greed. It takes something extraordinary to free them from their fears. I loved the positive messages in this book!
This is such a lovely book, and I can't wait to read more from this author!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone....more
This book is so interesting! Just reading it makes me want to travel the world. I like that there are plenty of photos of exotic places, and a list ofThis book is so interesting! Just reading it makes me want to travel the world. I like that there are plenty of photos of exotic places, and a list of hotels, restaurants, and other attractions with addresses and phone numbers so that you can book your stay and find your way around. The sections for each country are well-organized by region, so that it is easy to find everything. This book is attractive but also useful and full of good information.
The one spot that I really want to visit is the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye with dozens of bookshops. It's such a neat idea to have all those bookshops together, and a whole community dedicated to books!
This guide is full of little gems like that, and it will make you want to get your passport and book your plane ticket for amazing places around the world!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone....more
In this final book of the graphic novel trilogy, Kaidu and Rat are trying to recover the lost secret weapon of the ancient people of the Nameless CityIn this final book of the graphic novel trilogy, Kaidu and Rat are trying to recover the lost secret weapon of the ancient people of the Nameless City - a formula for exploding fire. They think it will be easy to sneak into the palace and steal back the book containing the formula; after all, they have snuck in and out of the palace many times before. But their only route past the walls has been demolished, and they will have to find some other way to get past the guards and into the inner library. Meanwhile Kaidu's father is trying to reach the other nations and gather military support to take back the city from the traitors among the Dao.
I loved these characters so much! Kaidu and Rat have so many emotional scars, but they find strength and support in their friendship. They have to trust each other absolutely through their adventures. No matter what other cultural or political changes may come up, these two remain loyal to each other, open to listen and respect their differences.
The plot is fantastic and imaginative! Kaidu and Rat get into lots of mischief and dangerous adventures. You get a sense of the depth of the characters and the history of the city. They have to decide what the future of the Nameless City is going to look like, but still respect its past history.
In this third book, we see Rat begin to lay aside her sad past and heal those old emotional wounds. She has to let go of her anger and grief, and learn to live beyond her limited perspective. She has a vision of what the city could be like in the future where people of all nations could live in harmony together. It is that vision that gives her strength to endure.
I love the world building. This book answers some of the questions about the ancient people who first built the city. Now that Kaidu and Rat know the mystery of the secret weapon the ancient people developed, they have to decide what to do with it. It was intriguing to see how the political landscape keeps changing as the nations come together to decide the fate of the city. There are many different cultures that are not blending very well due to prejudices and political unrest, but the friendship between two young people might just be the answer. Kaidu and Rat are determined to protect the city and each other.
The artwork is excellent, and every page is colorful and full of energy! This is such a satisfying end for a great trilogy!...more
In this second book of the graphic novel trilogy, Kaidu and Rat are doing everything they can to protect the monks of the Stone Heart. The monks are tIn this second book of the graphic novel trilogy, Kaidu and Rat are doing everything they can to protect the monks of the Stone Heart. The monks are the keepers of knowledge in the Nameless City, but the Dao military leaders think they must be hiding the secret weapon that the ancient peoples used to blast through the rock of the mountains. Kaidu and his father are loyal to the Dao general, but they are forced to choose between their loyalties or the truth.
I loved these characters so much! Kaidu is very open in his ideas. He doesn't just follow the crowd. The rest of the Dao look down on the native people of the Nameless City, but Kaidu is curious about them and respectful of everyone. The rest of the Dao are very focused on military might, but Kaidu prefers book-learning and wisdom just as his father does. Rat has grown up on the streets, and she teaches Kaidu to run across the rooftops, free from the crowds in the streets below. It's really interesting to see how their friendship develops.
The plot is fantastic and imaginative! Kaidu and Rat get into lots of mischief and dangerous adventures. You get a sense of the depth of the characters and the history of the city.
In this second book, we see more of Kaidu and his father growing closer. They haven't known each other for very long, and their relationship is still very tenuous. Kaidu's father has always been so busy with working and politics and trade agreements, and now he realizes that he should have taken more time with Kaidu. It's really lovely to see how father and son begin to grow closer.
I love the world building. This book answers some of the questions about the ancient people who first built the city. There is a mystery behind the construction of the city, and Kaidu and Rat are very curious about it. It was intriguing to see how the political landscape keeps changing as the General and his counselors propose different ideas for the future of the city. There are two different cultures that are not blending very well due to prejudices and political unrest, but the friendship between two young people might just be the answer. Kaidu and Rat are determined to protect the city and its ancient secrets.
There is a gay side character who is described as having a crush on someone's brother, but we never meet the brother or see them together.
The artwork is excellent, and every page is colorful and full of energy! I can't wait to read the rest of this trilogy!...more
Tildi and her friends have almost completed their quest to find a dangerous magical book and lock it up where no one can use it for harm. But now TildTildi and her friends have almost completed their quest to find a dangerous magical book and lock it up where no one can use it for harm. But now Tildi has fallen into the clutches of a radical group called the Scholardom, who believe that only humans are pure. They want to magically change all centaurs, dwarves, werewolves, and other half-human creatures to be completely human. If they gain control of the magical book, it would be disastrous. Tildi is the only one who can touch the book, so she is at the center of all their plans.
I enjoyed the way that all these little threads from plot began to come together in this second book of the duology. The adventure is really exciting and complex as Tildi bounces in and out of trouble. I liked seeing some character development for her as she gains more confidence in her magical abilities and as she works through her grief for the loss of her family.
The writing is really fun and whimsical, but there is also a lot of violence as different magical battles take place throughout the story. It has a good balance of serious themes and light-hearted scenes throughout the book.
The magical setting has all this weight of history behind it. You get the feeling that Tildi is just a very small little blip in all the history of the other characters, because she is so very young compared to the wizards and elves and dwarves who might live for centuries or even longer....more
Sailor is entering her second year at the Explorer Academy, and the Explorer students discover that they will be travelling in a new ship, the Vela. SSailor is entering her second year at the Explorer Academy, and the Explorer students discover that they will be travelling in a new ship, the Vela. Sailor is devastated when her older sister Keel mysteriously disappears, but Sailor's parents want her to continue with the school year aboard the Vela. She thinks that her sister might be sending her hidden messages with clues about what happened, and Sailor gets involved with a dangerous secret society. Her friends Cruz and Emmett and Lani are always there to get into trouble and out of it at Sailor's side. But what they don't know is that Sailor is hiding a remarkable secret of her own.
I love this spin-off of the Explorer Academy series! It has all the elements that I loved in the original series: adventure, codes and puzzles, world travel, nature conservation, cool technology, and amazing complex characters.
Sailor was already one of my favorite characters, so it is fantastic to get to know her better in this spin-off. She is feeling conflicted about the expectations put on her by the academy and her fellow students. She feels like she has to perform perfectly and be extraordinary all the time. But through her adventures and the encouragement of her friends and teachers, she learns that she just needs to be herself. Sailor is also struggling with this unique heritage that her grandmother has told her to ignore and suppress. Sailor feels like she is always hiding, but eventually she finds the courage to be true to her heritage and the abilities that come with it. She is such a complex character with a lot of layers, and a great character arc as she grows and develops her personality in new ways. And on top of that, she has all these crazy adventures trying to find out what happened to her missing sister!
I really love these Explorer Academy teachers! I am a teacher myself, and it's so great to see how they guide and encourage the students. But they also allow the kids to fail sometimes, because you can learn a lot more from failure than from success.
I enjoyed learning the real history of places they visit, and seeing how they protect animals and explore different ecosystems. It was especially interesting to learn about the migration patterns of monarch butterflies, because I have seen the forests in Mexico with millions and millions of butterflies on every surface. It was the most amazing experience of my life, so it was cool to see that included in this book.
I would recommend this series to readers aged 8 to 80 years. I can't wait to read more from this series!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone....more
I really liked this adaptation of Wind in the Willows. The story is condensed and simplified for a young audience, but still captures the charm of theI really liked this adaptation of Wind in the Willows. The story is condensed and simplified for a young audience, but still captures the charm of the original and has most of the main plot points. The editor did a great job abridging the story, but still keeping the integrity and grace of the original.
The artwork is so lovely! I love the cute designs for the creatures, and the pretty landscape around the river. Every page is so colorful, full of warmth and fun.
This would be great for young readers who are starting to read chapter books on their own. The text is big, and every other page has an illustration. Ages 6-10.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher/author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone....more
Mila is a wild girl, growing up on a deserted island with a family of dolphins. When she is rescued, she is placed with a doctor who studies the way tMila is a wild girl, growing up on a deserted island with a family of dolphins. When she is rescued, she is placed with a doctor who studies the way that humans learn language. The doctor hopes to learn the girl's dolphin language, and uses music to capture the sounds dolphins make. Mila begins to connect with her caregivers and their families; even the janitor cannot help connecting with this unique girl. At first, Mila is interested to learn English and learn how humans interact and live. But soon, she begins to miss her dolphin family and the simplicity of her life on the island. Her spirit starts to despair and turn inward, searching for the music she used to know.
This was definitely an interesting book with a unique voice. Mila's narration starts out very simple and grows more complex as she learns to communicate as a human. The very simplicity of her words brings forward a stark honesty in the story. Nothing is hidden behind fancy words. Everything is sincere and true for Mila, and those around her are forced to face the truth as well. The writing is genius is its extreme simplicity.
I like that Mila's situation brings up a lot of philosophical questions about how human societies live and what we value and how we treat each other. It was interesting to see how the other humans try to explain these things to Mila, but they end up looking foolish when she cuts right to the truth with her clear logic.