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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
3.5 to 4 stars - 4 young sisters cope with family situations including depression, alcoholism, neglect, and verbal/physical abuse by using magical closets that help them escape reality. It sounds sad and it is, but the characters eventually find the courage to face their situation and find strength in each other. The end is a bit too neat, but it's still a great read.
I'd describe it as 'Narnia meets Little Women' and lovely. Recommend.
***I received this Rules for Stealing Stars ARC at BookCon 2015; thoughts are not based on the final, published version of the book and I was not paid for this review.***
One-Sentence Summary: Silly, the youngest of four girls, just wants a summer where her and sisters can be together and their mom won’t be “sick,” but she may get more than she ever imagined.
Time/Setting: Present-day New Hampshire
Review: This book made me extra glad that I don’t have siblings. Siblings are annoying. Every one of the girls in this book got on my nerves: Silly for always wanting to be included; Marla for being a whiny brat; Astrid for being spacey; and, Eleanor for being able to just leave her sisters to fend for themselves. The parents are even horrible, too. The magical aspect of the story is what makes it somewhat bearable. I do know that the realistic portrayal of the characters is what makes the book down-to-earth, still doesn’t mean I have to like it, which is sad cause I like Corey Ann Haydu. It’s a sad little story and it’s well written, but it’s definitely not my favorite. The ending also didn’t leave me with any warm fuzzy feelings.
Favorite Character: I guess I’d say Astrid because she was the nicest to Silly.
Least Favorite Character: Marla, the mom, the dad, Eleanor…
Favorite Quote: None.
Recommend? Maybe, depends on who you are. Might be okay for the kids, and people with siblings who can relate.
Re-read? Nope.
One-Sentence Summary: Silly, the youngest of four girls, just wants a summer where her and sisters can be together and their mom won’t be “sick,” but she may get more than she ever imagined.
Time/Setting: Present-day New Hampshire
Review: This book made me extra glad that I don’t have siblings. Siblings are annoying. Every one of the girls in this book got on my nerves: Silly for always wanting to be included; Marla for being a whiny brat; Astrid for being spacey; and, Eleanor for being able to just leave her sisters to fend for themselves. The parents are even horrible, too. The magical aspect of the story is what makes it somewhat bearable. I do know that the realistic portrayal of the characters is what makes the book down-to-earth, still doesn’t mean I have to like it, which is sad cause I like Corey Ann Haydu. It’s a sad little story and it’s well written, but it’s definitely not my favorite. The ending also didn’t leave me with any warm fuzzy feelings.
Favorite Character: I guess I’d say Astrid because she was the nicest to Silly.
Least Favorite Character: Marla, the mom, the dad, Eleanor…
Favorite Quote: None.
Recommend? Maybe, depends on who you are. Might be okay for the kids, and people with siblings who can relate.
Re-read? Nope.
An incredibly raw view of the world from the perspective of an eleven-year-old girl amongst a broken home that has the realest hint of fairytale magic.
If there anything at all, it should be me not forgetting to read mid grade books just because I am getting older by age. I love this book, and i'm glad i picked up from the book fair last 2018. Books like this really help me visualise especially since the last time I read a mid grade book was either in 5th or 12th grade – can't exactly remember.
Before you even ask, yes I did sob a bit during the reading of this book. It's nearly impossible to read a story like Rules for Stealing Stars and not have some deep feelings. This is a story about sisterhood. About family. About the fact that sometimes a family can seem like they're holding it together, but inside they're each falling apart. If you love magical realism and contemporary Middle Grade stories, you're going to fall in love with this book.
I have a soft spot for stories about children. While most people see the pain that parents exhibit when a family is broken, they forget that the children feel it even more clearly. Looking at an an ailing parent, at the depression and anger that they're dealing with on a daily basis, is hard enough. Looking at that same parent through the eyes of a child is even harder. Imagine remembering what your family once was, and wondering if it will ever be that way ever again. Not knowing whether to love that person, or to pretend they don't exist to stop the hurt. Is it any wonder that I got emotional? I think not.
Really, it was the sisters themselves that made this story for me. Eleanor, Astrid, Marla and Priscilla (Silly to her sisters), were such beautifully rendered characters. Each one dealing with this unstable part of their lives in such a different way. Eleanor choosing to run away from it. Astrid choosing to loose herself in her hobbies. Marla, trying so hard to change things and internalizing her fear. Finally, poor Silly and her inability to understand why her sisters didn't want to rally together. I watched as she did her best to figure out where she fit in this broken family, and I felt her hurt.
So what of the magical realism? Well, it's definitely there. Corey Ann Haydu does a rather excellent job of bringing a bit of magic into the world of these girls. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about this addition. I won't spoil, but it felt a little unbelievable. This is coming from a reader who opens herself to pretty much anything. However, the more I read the more I realized how perfectly the concept that Haydu was weaving into the story fit. Sometimes you don't know what you need until it's right in front of you. That's exactly what Silly and her sisters soon came to discover.
Rules for Stealing Stars is sweet. It's sad. It's full of the kind of feelings that will make you want to curl up to stop the heartache. It's a gorgeous story, and one that I'm very glad that I read.
I have a soft spot for stories about children. While most people see the pain that parents exhibit when a family is broken, they forget that the children feel it even more clearly. Looking at an an ailing parent, at the depression and anger that they're dealing with on a daily basis, is hard enough. Looking at that same parent through the eyes of a child is even harder. Imagine remembering what your family once was, and wondering if it will ever be that way ever again. Not knowing whether to love that person, or to pretend they don't exist to stop the hurt. Is it any wonder that I got emotional? I think not.
Really, it was the sisters themselves that made this story for me. Eleanor, Astrid, Marla and Priscilla (Silly to her sisters), were such beautifully rendered characters. Each one dealing with this unstable part of their lives in such a different way. Eleanor choosing to run away from it. Astrid choosing to loose herself in her hobbies. Marla, trying so hard to change things and internalizing her fear. Finally, poor Silly and her inability to understand why her sisters didn't want to rally together. I watched as she did her best to figure out where she fit in this broken family, and I felt her hurt.
So what of the magical realism? Well, it's definitely there. Corey Ann Haydu does a rather excellent job of bringing a bit of magic into the world of these girls. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about this addition. I won't spoil, but it felt a little unbelievable. This is coming from a reader who opens herself to pretty much anything. However, the more I read the more I realized how perfectly the concept that Haydu was weaving into the story fit. Sometimes you don't know what you need until it's right in front of you. That's exactly what Silly and her sisters soon came to discover.
Rules for Stealing Stars is sweet. It's sad. It's full of the kind of feelings that will make you want to curl up to stop the heartache. It's a gorgeous story, and one that I'm very glad that I read.
Deeply imaginative and more than a little haunting. While the ending still feels slightly unresolved I think the characters (who are well developed and distinctive) and the plot (engaging, thoughtful and oh so sad) that carry this book. Overall, I loved this magical world and parts even had me on edge.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but it was overwhelmingly boring and repetitive + all in all a huge disappointment; DNF.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes