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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
My Rating: 3 Stars
Granny's Rating: 4 Stars
Pretty good until the end, I didn't like the ending.
Granny's Rating: 4 Stars
Pretty good until the end, I didn't like the ending.
Losing your parents is no fun. Being with your friends is another story. [b:The Unadoptables|51838643|The Unadoptables|Hana Tooke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583882431l/51838643._SX50_.jpg|72922909] by [a:Hana Tooke|19473508|Hana Tooke|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1566126762p2/19473508.jpg] is like if A Series of Unfortunate Events had a worthy successor!
In the late 1880s, five children (Lotta, Egg, Fenna, Sem and the lead character Milou) escape from a neglectful orphanage & a sinister gentleman who wants to tear them apart & embark on an adventure with hunting werewolves to hot air balloon specialists, clockmakers & marionette masters. It's a doorstopper of a book that delivers the best brand of the adventure genre. I love the 19th-century style illustrations thanks to Ayesha L. Rubio - it makes you want to visit Amsterdam! Each character is so unique in their role of being different from one another. Lotta has twelve fingers, Fenna is mute, Sem has clumsy ears, Egg has East-Asian ancestry, and Milou has a wild attitude.
A stunningly large number of heroes and their coteries lack in the parent department, either through death or in that they just aren't talked about. Even if both parents are alive, they may well be emotionally or physically distant. This is a very convenient way for characters to be able to run off in the middle of the night to fight Evil, get sucked into another world, etc. without having anyone responsible for them making a fuss. One of the first things a creator of stories about children or teens having adventures needs to do is explain a lack of parental involvement. There are so many twists & turns in this book; I don't want to give anything else away.
A large sum of people has criticised the use of the title as it being offensive. But a reminder, this is only a work of fiction. These unfortunate implications of disabilities & stereotypes are unlikely to happen in children's literature, though. The children (both in-universe & out-universe) can sometimes have different strengths and flaws which round them out and make them generally equal to the rest of the characters. In summary, it's a lovely tale full of friendship & adventure that deserves to be on every child's lap.
OH MY GOUDA. This book, guys. I’ve already gushed about in on twitter, so sorry if you’ve already seen this before, but I need to talk about this book. THE UNADOPTABLES tells the story of five orphans in 19th century Amsterdam who are thrown into an adventure when they are forced to escape their orphanage one night. I visited Amsterdam a few years ago, and fell in love with it, so reading a novel set there was just fantastic. Hana captures the feel and essence of this magical city with ease, transporting the reader not only geographically but also back time. The world-building was complex and multi-layered, and partly because of this I sunk completely into the story.
This neatly moves us on to the next point of my gush-fest: the plot. It was compelling and twisty-turny and pace-y and unputdownable. Basically, it was a fantastic story. ALSO, there was a fortune teller. On to our main characters: we have five of them, which was daunting (I have a hard time keeping up when there are lots of characters). However, each of the unadaptable orphans were so different from each other, and they were complex and 3D people, so it was very easy to keep track of who was speaking and to whom. I also adored the diversity of the MC’s–we have a person of colour, a disabled character, and a character with selective mutism.
FINALLY, Hana’s writing was exquisite. This was one of those stories where certain sentences and turns of phrase made me OOH and AHH with appreciation (and a little bit of writerly jealously). This has been one of my favourite reads of 2020 so far; it is most definitely a classic in the making, and you need to read it when it comes out in July. I have pre-ordered, and I will definitely be re-reading it in the near future.
This neatly moves us on to the next point of my gush-fest: the plot. It was compelling and twisty-turny and pace-y and unputdownable. Basically, it was a fantastic story. ALSO, there was a fortune teller. On to our main characters: we have five of them, which was daunting (I have a hard time keeping up when there are lots of characters). However, each of the unadaptable orphans were so different from each other, and they were complex and 3D people, so it was very easy to keep track of who was speaking and to whom. I also adored the diversity of the MC’s–we have a person of colour, a disabled character, and a character with selective mutism.
FINALLY, Hana’s writing was exquisite. This was one of those stories where certain sentences and turns of phrase made me OOH and AHH with appreciation (and a little bit of writerly jealously). This has been one of my favourite reads of 2020 so far; it is most definitely a classic in the making, and you need to read it when it comes out in July. I have pre-ordered, and I will definitely be re-reading it in the near future.
I was hooked immediately from the lovely cover, to the opening of The Unadoptables where we are tantalising introduced to these unique and special children as they are found on the orphanage steps. Unfortunately, their adverse start in life is not reversed, instead they are subjected to a life of austerity and suffering under the helm of a sadistic matron.
“But there was no disguising what they really were scruffy, hungry, desperate orphans”
Egbert, Lotta, Sem, Fenna, and Milou are labelled The Unadoptables as Matron likes to ensure that orphans do not remain at Little Tulip orphanage for long and are adopted as soon as possible. However, this group of friends are the oldest due to their quirks, differences and attitude making them less appealing and therefore adoptable to prospective parents.
“Why would a man who so obviously disliked children want to adopt one?”
Matron dislike of opposition and children who advocate for themselves, leads to the decision to seek servitude rather than a home for our brave band of friends.
What follows is a journey of almost epic proportions as this group are tested in their efforts to find safety, a home, and family. They flee from sinister and deadly foes, seek independence in the face of suspicion and opposition, all whilst being proactive and inventive in their search for answers to their origins and future.
“Spies are stealthy and brave. They do the jobs no one else dares do, to protect others.”
I laughed, shed a tear or two and at turns was astounded by their efforts and determination to remain free. I loved the writing, in particular the visual descriptions of characters which was skilfully complemented by the illustrations at the beginning of chapters.
“...a parody of a smile, Milou realized much like the matron’s: all teeth and no soul.”
This is a magical tale about dreamers who keep hold of that spark of joy in the face of desperate times, nurture it and encourage others. It emphases the importance of how imagination, the power of belief and the support of others can sustain you. Of how friendship is nourished not because of proximity but due to mutual affection and admiration. Above all we see the importance of loving others, just as they are including their strength and weaknesses. Culminating in the conclusion, that family is the definition you make.
A wonderful whimsical tale that I adored. A delight to read. I hope to read more about this group of resilient and resourceful children.
4 Stars - I Loved It
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s for a digital advance review copy in return for a candid review.
Read more reviews on the blog
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
“But there was no disguising what they really were scruffy, hungry, desperate orphans”
Egbert, Lotta, Sem, Fenna, and Milou are labelled The Unadoptables as Matron likes to ensure that orphans do not remain at Little Tulip orphanage for long and are adopted as soon as possible. However, this group of friends are the oldest due to their quirks, differences and attitude making them less appealing and therefore adoptable to prospective parents.
“Why would a man who so obviously disliked children want to adopt one?”
Matron dislike of opposition and children who advocate for themselves, leads to the decision to seek servitude rather than a home for our brave band of friends.
What follows is a journey of almost epic proportions as this group are tested in their efforts to find safety, a home, and family. They flee from sinister and deadly foes, seek independence in the face of suspicion and opposition, all whilst being proactive and inventive in their search for answers to their origins and future.
“Spies are stealthy and brave. They do the jobs no one else dares do, to protect others.”
I laughed, shed a tear or two and at turns was astounded by their efforts and determination to remain free. I loved the writing, in particular the visual descriptions of characters which was skilfully complemented by the illustrations at the beginning of chapters.
“...a parody of a smile, Milou realized much like the matron’s: all teeth and no soul.”
This is a magical tale about dreamers who keep hold of that spark of joy in the face of desperate times, nurture it and encourage others. It emphases the importance of how imagination, the power of belief and the support of others can sustain you. Of how friendship is nourished not because of proximity but due to mutual affection and admiration. Above all we see the importance of loving others, just as they are including their strength and weaknesses. Culminating in the conclusion, that family is the definition you make.
A wonderful whimsical tale that I adored. A delight to read. I hope to read more about this group of resilient and resourceful children.
4 Stars - I Loved It
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s for a digital advance review copy in return for a candid review.
Read more reviews on the blog
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Hana Tooke has written a wonderful whimsical tale that I adored. If you like orphans in peril, who are also resilient and resourceful, intertwined with a series of mysteries, then this book will not disappoint.
The children in The Unadoptables perfectly illustrate the values of love, friendship and family, such a charming read. I was thrilled by their ingenuity and inventiveness against adversity.
Full review on blog here
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The children in The Unadoptables perfectly illustrate the values of love, friendship and family, such a charming read. I was thrilled by their ingenuity and inventiveness against adversity.
Full review on blog here
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
I can honestly say that this is one of the best children's novels I have read in a long time. This was gripping and incredibly intriguing. I loved the five orphans so, so much - Fenna was an absolutely wonderful character and Sem with his sewing made me so happy. Mozart! Please have more owl related tangents because I loved him and I'm sure my class would too!
All in all, a wonderful story and I will certainly be reading more by this author!
All in all, a wonderful story and I will certainly be reading more by this author!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
Interesting premise and setting, but too long. Read with my 11yo and it took forever.
I am so utterly in love with this novel. It is cute and fun and all about finding where you belong without being super soppy. While I could drone on for hundreds or even thousands of words about just how amazing this one is, instead I shall emphatically thrust it in every person I meets direction and force them to partake in the grandeur and beauty that is this amazing middle grade novel
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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