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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this more than I expected. Even though, I didn't feel really attached with the characters, I love the middle-grade mystery vibe in it! And also all those beautiful illustrations.
This book made me feel like I'm back again at the time when I reread "The Famous Five" series for 10000x times. Those beautiful days....
Well, if you're looking for an easy-reading MG book with a little mystery in it, maybe you should try this one!
This book made me feel like I'm back again at the time when I reread "The Famous Five" series for 10000x times. Those beautiful days....
Well, if you're looking for an easy-reading MG book with a little mystery in it, maybe you should try this one!
Oliver (probably best known for her Before I fall and Delirium series), and co-author father, Harold Schechter (H.C. Chester)true-crime author, have written a satisfying, mysterious mystery for tweens. Four extra-ordinary, but odd, orphans have been raised in a museum for oddities featuring "wondrous weirdness, magic and monsters . . . and four of the most extraordinary children in the world." And a shrunken head which goes missing and is blamed for three murders. Not only do the children try to find the shrunken head and solve the murders, but they also try to rescue their faltering museum from foreclosure. Set during the depression the setting is a tad bit dark - but only enough to make the story interesting and unique. Everything comes together in a satisfying end. But you just know this won't be the only mystery the quartet will solve.
Real rating: 3.5 stars
I had no idea that I’d like this book as much as I did! Sort of like Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children meets Theodosia (sort of) with something else added to the mix. Very original, quirky, and clever! Great illustrations and characters too. Speaking of which- Pippa reminded me a lot of Lydia Deates (did I spell that right?) from Beetlejuice. Just saying.
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I had no idea that I’d like this book as much as I did! Sort of like Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children meets Theodosia (sort of) with something else added to the mix. Very original, quirky, and clever! Great illustrations and characters too. Speaking of which- Pippa reminded me a lot of Lydia Deates (did I spell that right?) from Beetlejuice. Just saying.
/Users/Madeline/Desktop/Randomness/Gifs and gifs and gifs/lydia-shake-senora.gif
The story and the characters are awesome! But the writing can be a bit hard to follow due to the sheer number of characters. Overall a fun kids book!
Clearly written for a younger crowd, but I usually find those enjoyable, nonetheless. Unfortunately, the story line isn't real compelling, and the characters aren't particularly sympathetic. I did, however, enjoy something less deep, as a "palate cleanser" between the other books I've been reading. There are two more books in the series, and I will probably read them at some point in time.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Did I predict the whole plot? Yeah. Did I still have a fun time? Also yeah. I definitely think lemony snickett fans should read this.
This is one I've been meaning to read for a while because of the pretty cover and the author. The premise wasn't overly promising for me as I've never really enjoyed stories about this sort of thing - people on display because of their differences and the like, but I had some hope that this may turn out to be surprisingly good.
It didn't.
The writing was passable, the characters were flat and one dimensional, and the mystery isn't really all that mysterious or suspenseful.
Three stars simply because it wasn't awful, but I won't be continuing with the series simply because I have no wish to see what happens next.
It didn't.
The writing was passable, the characters were flat and one dimensional, and the mystery isn't really all that mysterious or suspenseful.
Three stars simply because it wasn't awful, but I won't be continuing with the series simply because I have no wish to see what happens next.
Closer to 3.75, I'd said the GR score is pretty accurate. A somewhat dark and twisty caper with the highlights being the quirky characters and somewhat paranormal protagonists. An enjoyable read for elementary kids that like a macabre mystery.