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rosieski's review
4.0
A sweet story, probably appropriate for 1st - 4th graders. It has no profanity or lewd language, etc. It does have some touchingly sad parts, but nothing scary (unless you count that someone was murdered before the story began). The illustrations are a very nice touch. The reviews left me expecting a lot more that I got, but while I was not dazzled, I can't deny that it really is a nice little book. I have given it to my children to read.
reddyrat's review
4.0
When you look back to your childhood, what classic stories do you treasure? A Little Princess? The Secret Garden? Matilda? The books that linger in our memories as adults all seem to have a certain magic. Maybe the book actually is about magic or maybe it captures the figurative magic of childhood that we could bottle up as an elixir and drink. Liesl & Po is one of those magical books that children fifty years from now will love as much as children today.
Liesl & Po is a book of friendship and loneliness, of greed and generosity, of death and life. Liesl is mourning the death of her father and suffering alone in the attic, where her evil stepmother has locked her up. Alone that is until a ghost named Po shows up one night with his animal (maybe cat, maybe dog) named Bundle. Liesl needs Po to get in touch with her father. Po needs Liesl to reconnect with the living. Further away, Will walks the streets alone at night on errands for his boss, the Alchemist. He may not be locked up in an attic, but he is every much as trapped as Liesl. We watch as all three lives collide and then travel together in an exciting and heartwarming adventure.
Lauren Oliver created three fabulous characters. Liesl seems the essence of naivete as she sits in the attic not questioning her stepmother's actions. But we soon learn that she is creative, stubborn, and brave as she pushes Po to find her father and eventually escapes the attic. Po is by far my favorite character. It is young yet it is not. It has the knowledge and arrogance of an eternal soul, but expresses itself in the manner of a petulant child. Will is clumsy, somewhat immature, and has the insecurity of an abused child. Yet he is also kind, loyal and goofy.
With the exception of the Guard and Liesl's father, the adults are villains. Rather cardboard villains driven by greed and insensitive to the lives of others. One could argue the flat characters is a flaw of the book. Instead, I would say that many classic children's novels, particularly those by Roald Dahl, have simple villains and are still beloved. Similarly, the plot all gets cleaned up into a nice and tidy box by the end. There are certainly twists along the way, but it stays within the traditional fairy tale story model. There are a few elements that could have been explored further, particularly the guard's sister, but these are less important side plots.
The highlight of Liesl & Po is the writing. The prose is itself magical. Her words evoke all the emotions the characters are trying to display. Sadness, anger, embarrassment, hope. And they flow so smoothly that I felt like I was flying throughout the novel. The book is wonderful read in silence but would be even better read aloud. I love Lauren's young adult novels, but I think she could easily stay in the middle grade realm forever. Lauren does a wonderful job of incorporating the themes of death, closure, and healing. The simple sweetness of the novel will stay with me for a long time.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Liesl & Po is a book of friendship and loneliness, of greed and generosity, of death and life. Liesl is mourning the death of her father and suffering alone in the attic, where her evil stepmother has locked her up. Alone that is until a ghost named Po shows up one night with his animal (maybe cat, maybe dog) named Bundle. Liesl needs Po to get in touch with her father. Po needs Liesl to reconnect with the living. Further away, Will walks the streets alone at night on errands for his boss, the Alchemist. He may not be locked up in an attic, but he is every much as trapped as Liesl. We watch as all three lives collide and then travel together in an exciting and heartwarming adventure.
Lauren Oliver created three fabulous characters. Liesl seems the essence of naivete as she sits in the attic not questioning her stepmother's actions. But we soon learn that she is creative, stubborn, and brave as she pushes Po to find her father and eventually escapes the attic. Po is by far my favorite character. It is young yet it is not. It has the knowledge and arrogance of an eternal soul, but expresses itself in the manner of a petulant child. Will is clumsy, somewhat immature, and has the insecurity of an abused child. Yet he is also kind, loyal and goofy.
With the exception of the Guard and Liesl's father, the adults are villains. Rather cardboard villains driven by greed and insensitive to the lives of others. One could argue the flat characters is a flaw of the book. Instead, I would say that many classic children's novels, particularly those by Roald Dahl, have simple villains and are still beloved. Similarly, the plot all gets cleaned up into a nice and tidy box by the end. There are certainly twists along the way, but it stays within the traditional fairy tale story model. There are a few elements that could have been explored further, particularly the guard's sister, but these are less important side plots.
The highlight of Liesl & Po is the writing. The prose is itself magical. Her words evoke all the emotions the characters are trying to display. Sadness, anger, embarrassment, hope. And they flow so smoothly that I felt like I was flying throughout the novel. The book is wonderful read in silence but would be even better read aloud. I love Lauren's young adult novels, but I think she could easily stay in the middle grade realm forever. Lauren does a wonderful job of incorporating the themes of death, closure, and healing. The simple sweetness of the novel will stay with me for a long time.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
jonathanpalfrey's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up on whim at Barcelona Airport, and initially I thought it might be the kind of nice children's book that's equally suitable for adults.
I liked the writing style and the main (child) characters, and the book features a rather original concept of what ghosts are and how they work.
However, the adult characters tend to be simple and predictable, and I found the story development rather weak by the end.
This seems odd, because the author doesn't talk down to her readers in her writing style, but she serves up characters and story more lazily constructed than I think she would do for adult readers.
To my mind, a good writer for children creates characters and plot sufficiently complex and interesting to engage an adult reader. I think Lauren Oliver has the capability to be such a writer, but on this occasion she doesn't seem to have thought it necessary to make the effort.
This book is pleasant and might delight some children. It's readable by adults if you don't expect too much.
I liked the writing style and the main (child) characters, and the book features a rather original concept of what ghosts are and how they work.
However, the adult characters tend to be simple and predictable, and I found the story development rather weak by the end.
This seems odd, because the author doesn't talk down to her readers in her writing style, but she serves up characters and story more lazily constructed than I think she would do for adult readers.
To my mind, a good writer for children creates characters and plot sufficiently complex and interesting to engage an adult reader. I think Lauren Oliver has the capability to be such a writer, but on this occasion she doesn't seem to have thought it necessary to make the effort.
This book is pleasant and might delight some children. It's readable by adults if you don't expect too much.
hayleyccc4's review
2.0
It was okay... I got the book many years ago, but found it confusing and never finished it. I didn't want to let my money go to waste, so I read it! But it was definitley meant for a younger audience.
sducharme's review
3.0
The story is interesting and unusual - girl meets ghost and embarks on a journey to place her father's ashes in the spot he would gave chosen. Mishaps such as swapping the box of ashes with a box of "magic", and colorful characters like an alchemist, wicked stepmother, and love-struck boy make this a fun read.
aoosterwyk's review
3.0
I did enjoy this story, but not as much as her other books. The afterword explains her stylistic deviation and added to my appreciation, but I don't see it selling itself to my students. It may take a reader already familiar with Victorian style children's literature to fully connect. It reminded me of Breadcrumbs by Anna Urso.
ketchikrista's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
scarletohhara's review
4.0
A very cute little book about a girl's journey to return her dead dad's remains to where they belong.
I've always been a fan of Oliver's writing, and what I loved most in this book is that there is a latent sense of honesty in the writing. Its something you'll notice as you read the book. Its something that's embedded into Po's, Mo's and Will's characters.
And of course, the author's note at the end of the book also added to it.
Pick it up if you are looking for a nice , happy kinda read on a boring afternoon.
I've always been a fan of Oliver's writing, and what I loved most in this book is that there is a latent sense of honesty in the writing. Its something you'll notice as you read the book. Its something that's embedded into Po's, Mo's and Will's characters.
And of course, the author's note at the end of the book also added to it.
Pick it up if you are looking for a nice , happy kinda read on a boring afternoon.