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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
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
Excellent story. The beginning was a little slow and complicated. But once the story got started, it was an absolutely wonderful! My mom, myself , and my 9 and 6 year old all read it together, and all loved it!
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
A perfect read aloud. I was as invested in the story as my kids were. It prompted some really great conversations.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love the story of how this book got published with Waxwing Books, and I love the premise. With that said, the execution fell a bit flat for me, and I thought there were major parts of the story that needed more fleshing out. The Zs were a major piece of the story, but we never got to know them. Omnis Res Mundi was meant to by a mythical and mysterious piece of the puzzle, but it was a bit too mysterious. It was a fun read aloud, and the ending definitely had us turning the pages, but I needed more details.
adventurous
hopeful
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
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
lighthearted
slow-paced
Meh. I picked this one up because I saw it was highly recommended by Read Aloud Revival. We did it as a family read aloud. To be fair my 10 yr old daughter loved it. My 8 yr old son was in and out. And my 12 yr old son was like “ummmm…..I felt like there wasn’t really a plot.” Which is exactly how I felt about it. It felt like there were no obstacles. Every problem that was presented was briefly presented and then easily and quickly solved. And one aspect that made me laugh was that it also kind of felt like a stereotypical homeschooler’s checklist. Latin, check. Herbal healing, check. Green cloak, check. A ball with fancy dresses, check. Rangers, check. Elves/fairies, check. A giant magical library, check. Zero violence and zero negative character traits, double check. A very “safe” book for any kid to read. If I could turn back time, I’d skip this one and pick something with more depth. But, the nature descriptions were beautiful. They allowed me envision Mulberry Glen and the trees and the Housetree, and made me want to eat the food or drink a cup of herbal tea. So, I’ll give it a couple stars for that.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
What a treat of a book! From the first paragraph, I was hooked. Millie Florence knows how to use her words to captivate. The hero's journey of this book was a delight to read, and I enjoyed watching Lydia grow. The villian of the story "the Darkness" is not too scary for a younger MG reader but still effective. Overall, I loved the friendships, the courage Lydia found to accomplish her goals, and the ultimate sense of hope and goodness that this book ended with. While this book holds a Biblical worldview, it is never in your face. I'd hand this to any reader. Great read for MG kids and adults alike!
I did receive an e-galley from the publisher through Netgalley (though I ended up reading my own copy.) All opinions are my own.
I did receive an e-galley from the publisher through Netgalley (though I ended up reading my own copy.) All opinions are my own.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Florence fills these pages with quotes to inspire middle graders. A typical fantasy, we follow Lydia as she searches for all-intents-purposes siblings. Leaving Mulberry Glen, which she never wanted to leave, takes courage. The additional bravery that the reader and Lydia muster as they face eye-opening places, new creatures, and a summit of darkness will leave young readers with an understanding that hope springs eternal. I would recommend for all fantasy fans in need of a genre mash-up.