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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a cute story. I enjoy T. Kingfisher and this is one of those books that were supposed to satisfy her middle grade or kids book publishing but just was too adult for that and so it is published under her adult moniker. I guess this also happened with [b:A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|54369251|A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|T. Kingfisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593743861l/54369251._SX50_.jpg|84842875], which I also found delightful.
Rosa comes from a family of artists. But these are not just any artists they have magic and paint things that are useful to society. Like wards to keep pots from breaking, fire from catching, garbage from stinking. I loved imagining a city where there was all this extra art to help keep things running in order. I enjoyed how each artist in Rosa's family was so different and each had their own way of making art.
Rosa is still young around ten and she wants to help her family any way she can and since she and her best friend Serena are in a fight right now she can. When she happens upon a mysterious box hidden away in the house is intrigued. Especially since it seems that something on the box makes you forget all about it. Well Rosa is determined that whatever is in that box could help her family and be the thing that make then the best artist family in the city again. Oh how wrong she was.
With the help of a crow sometimes distracted by shiny objects, her best friend/sometimes nemesis and the rest of her family Rosa will have to find a way to capture the unusual monster she accidentally let lose before it sucks all the magic out of the paintings in the city.
Totally cute story and I loved hanging out with Rosa and learning that even kids can do amazing things when they don't know they aren't supposed to.
Rosa comes from a family of artists. But these are not just any artists they have magic and paint things that are useful to society. Like wards to keep pots from breaking, fire from catching, garbage from stinking. I loved imagining a city where there was all this extra art to help keep things running in order. I enjoyed how each artist in Rosa's family was so different and each had their own way of making art.
Aunt Nadia often got a little weird when she was working on a painting, as if most of her brain was involved with art, and the bits that controlled talking were wandering around unsupervised.
Cousin Sergio, who believed that the painting was brilliant up until the moment it was finished, when he suddenly discovered that it was terrible and they had to stop him from setting the canvas on fire.
Rosa is still young around ten and she wants to help her family any way she can and since she and her best friend Serena are in a fight right now she can. When she happens upon a mysterious box hidden away in the house is intrigued. Especially since it seems that something on the box makes you forget all about it. Well Rosa is determined that whatever is in that box could help her family and be the thing that make then the best artist family in the city again. Oh how wrong she was.
“He made an evil monster that’s out to ruin us! Does it really matter how good his technique was?”
“Of course it matters,” said Aunt Nadia with a half-smile. “You’d hate to see the studio destroyed by a mediocre artist, wouldn’t you?”
With the help of a crow sometimes distracted by shiny objects, her best friend/sometimes nemesis and the rest of her family Rosa will have to find a way to capture the unusual monster she accidentally let lose before it sucks all the magic out of the paintings in the city.
Totally cute story and I loved hanging out with Rosa and learning that even kids can do amazing things when they don't know they aren't supposed to.
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Illuminations is a cute story. I enjoy T. Kingfisher and this is one of those books that were supposed to satisfy her middle grade or kids book publishing but just was too adult for that and so it is published under her adult moniker. I guess this also happened with A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, which I also found delightful. I read the book awhile ago but was so excited to listen to the audio that was just released as T. Kingfisher books are so much fun and I wanted to see if a narrator could add to an already great story
Rosa comes from a family of artists. But these are not just any artists they have magic and paint things that are useful to society. Like wards to keep pots from breaking, fire from catching, garbage from stinking. I loved imagining a city where there was all this extra art to help keep things running in order. I enjoyed how each artist in Rosa's family was so different and each had their own way of making art.
Rosa is still young around ten and she wants to help her family any way she can. She is currently in a fight with her bet friend Serena, from a rival Illuminations house, so she has plenty of time to try and find a way to help her family. When she happens upon a mysterious box hidden away in the house, she is intrigued. Especially since it seems that something on the box makes you forget all about it. Well Rosa is determined that whatever is in that box could help her family and be the thing that make then the best artist family in the city again. Oh how wrong she was.
With the help of a crow sometimes distracted by shiny objects, her best friend/sometimes nemesis and the rest of her family Rosa will have to find a way to capture the unusual monster she accidentally let lose before it sucks all the magic out of the paintings in the city.
Totally cute story and I loved hanging out with Rosa and learning that even kids can do amazing things when they don't know they aren't supposed to. I also will never look at a radish quite the same again.
Raquel Beattie is a new to me narrator. She captured the fun of this story well in her narration with the exasperation of Rosa and all the big feelings she was having. I really enjoyed how well she conveyed being a little girl with a big problem just trying to help out all the people she loves. All the voices of the characters were distinct and easily identifiable. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Illuminations is a cute story. I enjoy T. Kingfisher and this is one of those books that were supposed to satisfy her middle grade or kids book publishing but just was too adult for that and so it is published under her adult moniker. I guess this also happened with A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, which I also found delightful. I read the book awhile ago but was so excited to listen to the audio that was just released as T. Kingfisher books are so much fun and I wanted to see if a narrator could add to an already great story
Rosa comes from a family of artists. But these are not just any artists they have magic and paint things that are useful to society. Like wards to keep pots from breaking, fire from catching, garbage from stinking. I loved imagining a city where there was all this extra art to help keep things running in order. I enjoyed how each artist in Rosa's family was so different and each had their own way of making art.
Aunt Nadia often got a little weird when she was working on a painting, as if most of her brain was involved with art, and the bits that controlled talking were wandering around unsupervised.
Cousin Sergio, who believed that the painting was brilliant up until the moment it was finished, when he suddenly discovered that it was terrible and they had to stop him from setting the canvas on fire.
Rosa is still young around ten and she wants to help her family any way she can. She is currently in a fight with her bet friend Serena, from a rival Illuminations house, so she has plenty of time to try and find a way to help her family. When she happens upon a mysterious box hidden away in the house, she is intrigued. Especially since it seems that something on the box makes you forget all about it. Well Rosa is determined that whatever is in that box could help her family and be the thing that make then the best artist family in the city again. Oh how wrong she was.
“He made an evil monster that’s out to ruin us! Does it really matter how good his technique was?”
“Of course it matters,” said Aunt Nadia with a half-smile. “You’d hate to see the studio destroyed by a mediocre artist, wouldn’t you?”
With the help of a crow sometimes distracted by shiny objects, her best friend/sometimes nemesis and the rest of her family Rosa will have to find a way to capture the unusual monster she accidentally let lose before it sucks all the magic out of the paintings in the city.
Totally cute story and I loved hanging out with Rosa and learning that even kids can do amazing things when they don't know they aren't supposed to. I also will never look at a radish quite the same again.
Narration:
Raquel Beattie is a new to me narrator. She captured the fun of this story well in her narration with the exasperation of Rosa and all the big feelings she was having. I really enjoyed how well she conveyed being a little girl with a big problem just trying to help out all the people she loves. All the voices of the characters were distinct and easily identifiable. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
It was a cute book, I could have read it with the kiddos. Very imaginative and some good lessons about family and friends, working together, working through emotions like jealousy. It was a little coming of age but in a totally non romantic way. Growing up a bit, leaning into your own talents, taking responsibility, becoming not just a little kid. Also, how awesome would it be if some of these illuminations were real?!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cute and charming middle grade read with a fun magic system and interesting concept. I always forget that middle grade reads just don't resonate as much with me lately, so though I enjoyed it, I didn't love it. I was also pretty disappointed in the ending.
Spoiler
It really seemed like there was a great opportunity to win the Scarling over to their side and reform them, and instead they get buried under concrete and essentially tortured for all eternity... maybe that's the curse of middle grade, but it felt so reductive and cruel and like a real missed opportunity for a richer ending, and I was left disappointed that the author took the easy and obvious route of vanquishing evil...This is one of Kingfisher's middle grade books, in the same style as A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking.
This is important to remember!
I feel that this book is a 3.5 star from me, but i definitely believe it to be a 5 star children's book!
it has a nice plot, good characters, and some very healthy family and friendship dynamics for children to recognise and emulate. Some good lessons, character growth, and learning to trust your family and friends.
all in all, this was a very cute story. I just found it a bit too flat, but that honestly should be expected.
(still, i wonder why this was published under the Kingfisher name? i thought that was for more adult books?)
Rosa had been keyed up and scared and ready to fight ... It had been over an hour. She didn't know how to feel. She had been ready to be heroic, and now, she just had to go to the bathroom, which didn't feel very heroic at all.
This is important to remember!
I feel that this book is a 3.5 star from me, but i definitely believe it to be a 5 star children's book!
it has a nice plot, good characters, and some very healthy family and friendship dynamics for children to recognise and emulate. Some good lessons, character growth, and learning to trust your family and friends.
all in all, this was a very cute story. I just found it a bit too flat, but that honestly should be expected.
(still, i wonder why this was published under the Kingfisher name? i thought that was for more adult books?)
Rosa had been keyed up and scared and ready to fight ... It had been over an hour. She didn't know how to feel. She had been ready to be heroic, and now, she just had to go to the bathroom, which didn't feel very heroic at all.