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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
Cute book, with lovely characters and an enjoyable story. A little ham-handed with the neurodivergent message and the Edinburgh references - I know it's a teen book but I think they could be given some credit on making the connections with a little more nuances.
Just brilliant! I loved the main character in this and found her open discussion with the reader about the challenges with dyspraxia but also how woefully failed she is by school and society really moving and made me totally rethink my role as a teacher. Hearing from these voices is essential especially as children sometimes struggle to express those thoughts and will be affirmed by reading them.
It’s also a brilliant fantasy adventure set in Edinburgh! And I think there’s going to be a sequel which I will definitely be picking up as soon as it’s available!
It’s also a brilliant fantasy adventure set in Edinburgh! And I think there’s going to be a sequel which I will definitely be picking up as soon as it’s available!
As someone who is dyspraxic this book meant the world to me. It was magical and fun but still so emotional and a total mood. It's a book I wish I'd had when I was a kid and hope all dyspraxic kids will get the chance to read it now.
adventurous
mysterious
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:
Complicated
3.5* rounded up. this book got me out of my reading slump and hooked me, despite being a bit too cliche (along the lines of a mildly scottish percy jackson minus the greek gods and instead a whole host of other typical supernatural creatures like vampires, kelpies, sirens, etc.). i appreciated this book's representation of grief and the loss of a close family member—reading the part about grief towards the end made me cry.
all in all, sweet and easy read.
all in all, sweet and easy read.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
McNicholl is such a fantastic writer. I am so pleased to see that she's started a series. The other two books of hers could easily have been too!
This is the story of Ramya, a girl who straight away feels relatable to me. She has her parents but otherwise is estranged from her family. Having moved to Edinburgh, where the wider family are living, she goes through the death of her grandfather, which brings her back into the fold in mysterious ways. Ramya is different from those around her, and through the story, we find out that she is magical in her difference.
The story is quick paced and well-written, with many insights on Ramya's thoughts not just about what is in front of her but also on life, society, family, sacrifice and identity. McNicholl uses her stories to make sweeping observations on life and I am completely here for it.
This is the story of Ramya, a girl who straight away feels relatable to me. She has her parents but otherwise is estranged from her family. Having moved to Edinburgh, where the wider family are living, she goes through the death of her grandfather, which brings her back into the fold in mysterious ways. Ramya is different from those around her, and through the story, we find out that she is magical in her difference.
The story is quick paced and well-written, with many insights on Ramya's thoughts not just about what is in front of her but also on life, society, family, sacrifice and identity. McNicholl uses her stories to make sweeping observations on life and I am completely here for it.
A magical story with a touch of whimsy, and important neurodivergent rep. Ramya is a lovely girl and I enjoyed seeing her experience through her eyes. I absolutely adored our cast of characters and how well written they were, they felt like my friends. This was just a sweet and lovable book.
adventurous
mysterious
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
The action, plot, & character development eventually come together cohesively...but if you read slowly (like me), the first 100 pages might feel repetitive, self-absorbed, and overly focused on framing the main character's unique qualities as weaknesses...OR as strengths, and divvying up the side characters into those who see them as a huge problem and those who don't.
In this story, Ramya's unique qualities seem to be; (a) a supernatural ability to stand up to mind-controlling sirens, (b) dyspraxia - a lack of physical coordination that matches the author's diagnosis, which is also called developmental coordination disorder (DCD), (c) extreme cleverness with regard to mastering academic subjects, (d) extreme introversion, and (e) some special powers related to water that remain secret until the last quarter of the book.
In real life, people with DCD "experience difficulty executing coordinated motor actions accurately. Their movements may be slow and inaccurate..." appearing as "...mild fine and gross motor delays in childhood that may be attributed to motor learning difficulties." (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
About her dyspraxia, Ramya is teased, belittled, lectured out, punished, and also trained. At the same time, she is so determined and self-confident that she also trains herself to overcome her challenges. Even though the DCD disorder causes her to have difficulty swimming, she practices until she can compete and win; it causes her to have trouble speaking clearly, but she trains until she wins debates; even if she can't express herself clearly in front of the class, she studies until she knows all her school subjects and aces exams.
Some young readers may not therefore see her condition as a weakness - she's already overcome it before the action of the book begins. In addition, most children are "bystanders" - they don't have the unusual trait, and they don't notice or denigrate it in others - they aren't the bullies who poke at it.
In other words, for the majority of readers, the author must first persuade the reader that this character is not perceived of as "normal" by their family, peers, or society, and they can't function effectively in a social, educational, familial, or technological society that is not geared toward them. In addition, the author wants to persuade readers that the character's challenges are significant BUT the character will overcome them (or in this case, already has?), and finally, persuade readers that they should care what happens to the character.
That's what McNicholl seems to be doing; the writing ends up being repetitive and whiny, and the main character Ramya sounds privileged and arrogant - caring about other people far less than she cares about herself. When her mission achieves success, some readers may just shrug - it was inevitable, predictable, and when she gloats about it to her arch-nemesis, the scene sounds petty, superficial, and gratituitous.
A large portion of children's books are about characters who overcome challenges. McNicholl uses this as a soapbox in which multiple characters give advice about that struggle. I think readers might feel a bit as if the author assumes they need the advice...which is condescending and not fun to read.
In this story, Ramya's unique qualities seem to be; (a) a supernatural ability to stand up to mind-controlling sirens, (b) dyspraxia - a lack of physical coordination that matches the author's diagnosis, which is also called developmental coordination disorder (DCD), (c) extreme cleverness with regard to mastering academic subjects, (d) extreme introversion, and (e) some special powers related to water that remain secret until the last quarter of the book.
In real life, people with DCD "experience difficulty executing coordinated motor actions accurately. Their movements may be slow and inaccurate..." appearing as "...mild fine and gross motor delays in childhood that may be attributed to motor learning difficulties." (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
About her dyspraxia, Ramya is teased, belittled, lectured out, punished, and also trained. At the same time, she is so determined and self-confident that she also trains herself to overcome her challenges. Even though the DCD disorder causes her to have difficulty swimming, she practices until she can compete and win; it causes her to have trouble speaking clearly, but she trains until she wins debates; even if she can't express herself clearly in front of the class, she studies until she knows all her school subjects and aces exams.
Some young readers may not therefore see her condition as a weakness - she's already overcome it before the action of the book begins. In addition, most children are "bystanders" - they don't have the unusual trait, and they don't notice or denigrate it in others - they aren't the bullies who poke at it.
In other words, for the majority of readers, the author must first persuade the reader that this character is not perceived of as "normal" by their family, peers, or society, and they can't function effectively in a social, educational, familial, or technological society that is not geared toward them. In addition, the author wants to persuade readers that the character's challenges are significant BUT the character will overcome them (or in this case, already has?), and finally, persuade readers that they should care what happens to the character.
That's what McNicholl seems to be doing; the writing ends up being repetitive and whiny, and the main character Ramya sounds privileged and arrogant - caring about other people far less than she cares about herself. When her mission achieves success, some readers may just shrug - it was inevitable, predictable, and when she gloats about it to her arch-nemesis, the scene sounds petty, superficial, and gratituitous.
A large portion of children's books are about characters who overcome challenges. McNicholl uses this as a soapbox in which multiple characters give advice about that struggle. I think readers might feel a bit as if the author assumes they need the advice...which is condescending and not fun to read.