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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'll read all of Elle McNicoll's books. She writes middle grade in a way that's still engaging and heartfelt reading it as an adult.
I always love an autistic MC I can relate to! And the DCD/dyspraxia representation was fantastic to see.
Although I love magical creatures (which were plentiful here), this book didn't grab me as much as I thought it would. It felt like there were a lot of ideas going on and it got a bit muddled for me, all while being a bit predictable. I also didn't feel a strong connection with the relationships between Ramya and the other characters. That being said, I still enjoyed it and continue to look forward to what the author writes next!
I always love an autistic MC I can relate to! And the DCD/dyspraxia representation was fantastic to see.
Although I love magical creatures (which were plentiful here), this book didn't grab me as much as I thought it would. It felt like there were a lot of ideas going on and it got a bit muddled for me, all while being a bit predictable. I also didn't feel a strong connection with the relationships between Ramya and the other characters. That being said, I still enjoyed it and continue to look forward to what the author writes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Grief
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death
Moderate: Gaslighting
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Grief
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“Exactly. These stories about fairies and giants and vampires and trolls… they may have written them completely wrong. But you’re still more likely to find a magical monster in a story than someone like me.”
Elle McNicoll has done it again! Taking the important issues in our every day lives and transferring it into a middle grade novel in a way that our children will engage, learn and think about what they are reading. With Kind of Spark the use of sharks made it relatable and easy to understand. With like a charm it’s the use of folklore, magical creatures, demons and MAGIC! As a kid what’s not to like!? As an adult I’m on board too!
Ramya Knox is dyspraxic. Meaning that often she is overlooked and underestimated when it comes to what she can achieve. But when she moves back to Edinburgh and finds it filled with magical creatures… she finds that she is capable of anything she puts her mind to.
This book just feels absolutely relevant right now in a time when those who are different need to stay quiet and stay hidden in order to feel safe. The fact that the media is used to incite terror, hate and violence especially against those marginalised people. And that those in power use these means to manipulate and invoke a certain response from us mere citizens.
I love that it’s another own voices novel and that the author is giving space in our literature to those who never had it before. I love that these novels are helping to build understanding and for our children to see themselves in the stories they are reading. I love how these books give those children power and confidence; belief that they can be whoever they want to be.
This is proof that there are more magical children’s stories out there than those stories written by someone who is inciting hate in our community. This one is an excellent alternative and imo even better.
Elle McNicoll has done it again! Taking the important issues in our every day lives and transferring it into a middle grade novel in a way that our children will engage, learn and think about what they are reading. With Kind of Spark the use of sharks made it relatable and easy to understand. With like a charm it’s the use of folklore, magical creatures, demons and MAGIC! As a kid what’s not to like!? As an adult I’m on board too!
Ramya Knox is dyspraxic. Meaning that often she is overlooked and underestimated when it comes to what she can achieve. But when she moves back to Edinburgh and finds it filled with magical creatures… she finds that she is capable of anything she puts her mind to.
This book just feels absolutely relevant right now in a time when those who are different need to stay quiet and stay hidden in order to feel safe. The fact that the media is used to incite terror, hate and violence especially against those marginalised people. And that those in power use these means to manipulate and invoke a certain response from us mere citizens.
I love that it’s another own voices novel and that the author is giving space in our literature to those who never had it before. I love that these novels are helping to build understanding and for our children to see themselves in the stories they are reading. I love how these books give those children power and confidence; belief that they can be whoever they want to be.
This is proof that there are more magical children’s stories out there than those stories written by someone who is inciting hate in our community. This one is an excellent alternative and imo even better.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Grief
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
came for edinburgh, stayed for dyspraxia representation!! voiceover sounded creepy at times with characters that aren’t meant to be creepy, but all in all a good time!