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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Book was removed from library. Wouldn't mind reading it, and not willing to put effort into finding it.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Set in 19th century Netherlands, it is the story of five orphans (Milou, Lotta, Egg, Fenna and Sem) who were abandoned at the orphanage as babies within months of each other. Twelve years later they are still at the orphanage and deemed unadoptable by matron Elinora Gassbeek. When the kids get wind of the matron's plans to sell them off to a shady character, they forge their own adoption papers and run away, using the meagre clues they have to try and track down Milou's family. And that is just the beginning of their big adventure.
One of the reasons it's been so long since I read a middle grade novel is because I thought I would find them too childish but The Unadoptables proved me wrong on that count. The writing, the humour, the plot...every single aspect of it appealed to me. The characters are so well crafted and Hana Tooke brings them to life beautifully. I loved the special bond the five children share with each other and the themes of family, friendship and loyalty explored throughout the book.
I initially thought the story would be narrated through the eyes of each of the five children but it was in fact told solely from Milou's point of view. The peeks into her Book of Theories (about her parents and how she came to be abandoned) were a fun addition. And the mystery had me hooked! I was just as invested as Milou in finding out what had happened to her family though I sort of solved the mystery much earlier in the book.
Another thing I really liked was each child's different reaction to being abandoned, from Milou's fierce belief that her parents wouldn't have left her if they could have avoided it to Sem's indifference and maybe even disdain towards the people who gave him up.
A brilliant debut that has me wanting to explore similar middle grade fiction, The Unadoptables is one I highly recommend.
One of the reasons it's been so long since I read a middle grade novel is because I thought I would find them too childish but The Unadoptables proved me wrong on that count. The writing, the humour, the plot...every single aspect of it appealed to me. The characters are so well crafted and Hana Tooke brings them to life beautifully. I loved the special bond the five children share with each other and the themes of family, friendship and loyalty explored throughout the book.
I initially thought the story would be narrated through the eyes of each of the five children but it was in fact told solely from Milou's point of view. The peeks into her Book of Theories (about her parents and how she came to be abandoned) were a fun addition. And the mystery had me hooked! I was just as invested as Milou in finding out what had happened to her family though I sort of solved the mystery much earlier in the book.
Another thing I really liked was each child's different reaction to being abandoned, from Milou's fierce belief that her parents wouldn't have left her if they could have avoided it to Sem's indifference and maybe even disdain towards the people who gave him up.
A brilliant debut that has me wanting to explore similar middle grade fiction, The Unadoptables is one I highly recommend.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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