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bookishnicole's review
4.0
Check out my review At Paperback Princess.
I thought this book was overwhelmingly adorable. As I said earlier this book reminded me of The Series of Unfortunate Events. If you've read even one book in that series, you will understand what I mean by the similarities of the worlds created in these books. They seemed to be the most simple forms of our world, just with magic which makes them the best for young minds and their imaginations.
The book starts with Liesl who is locked in her attic by her stepmother and her father just died. Clearly this is not a world that pays close attention to what is happening. I also liked how there was an alchemist who was trying to make the best magic ever. This book does a great job of bringing you back to your childhood fantasies and belief in magic.
Through the story there are several story lines that come to collide as one. The story of Liesl who just wants to bury her fathers ashes next to her mother, then there is Po who is a ghost who likes to watch Liesl draw, Will who likes to watch Liesl in her attic window, Augusta who poisoned her husband for his money and locked his daughter in the attic, Lady Premier who wants the ability to raise the dead, the alchemist who can make the potion to raise the dead and Mo who just wants to give Will a hat. All of these stories converge to make one really fun magical one.
I'm sorry that this one is another short post, but the book was simple and perfect for the middle school group it is targeted at. Not only that but I felt the book is good not just for girls but for boys as well, since it doesn't get too girly in the book. Liesl and Po also helps to teach readers how to move on when someone they love has died.
I thought this book was overwhelmingly adorable. As I said earlier this book reminded me of The Series of Unfortunate Events. If you've read even one book in that series, you will understand what I mean by the similarities of the worlds created in these books. They seemed to be the most simple forms of our world, just with magic which makes them the best for young minds and their imaginations.
The book starts with Liesl who is locked in her attic by her stepmother and her father just died. Clearly this is not a world that pays close attention to what is happening. I also liked how there was an alchemist who was trying to make the best magic ever. This book does a great job of bringing you back to your childhood fantasies and belief in magic.
Through the story there are several story lines that come to collide as one. The story of Liesl who just wants to bury her fathers ashes next to her mother, then there is Po who is a ghost who likes to watch Liesl draw, Will who likes to watch Liesl in her attic window, Augusta who poisoned her husband for his money and locked his daughter in the attic, Lady Premier who wants the ability to raise the dead, the alchemist who can make the potion to raise the dead and Mo who just wants to give Will a hat. All of these stories converge to make one really fun magical one.
I'm sorry that this one is another short post, but the book was simple and perfect for the middle school group it is targeted at. Not only that but I felt the book is good not just for girls but for boys as well, since it doesn't get too girly in the book. Liesl and Po also helps to teach readers how to move on when someone they love has died.
rachielove9's review against another edition
4.0
I would listen to Jim Dale read a phone book. This novel was right up his alley. Magical but empathetic and lyrical. I loved it ineffably.
amyreadsbooks917's review
3.0
This was such a fun middle grade story. Little Liesl has been trapped in her attic room by her evil stepmother almost all her life. After her father dies one day, she meets a ghost named Po, who is neither fully a boy nor a girl, and its pet named Bundle, who is neither fully a cat nor a dog. Liesl discovers that her father's dying wish is to have his ashes scattered under the tree they visited when she was a little girl, so she escapes and sets off to fulfill this wish so he can pass on to the afterlife. The only problem is that the box his ashes were in has been mixed up with a box containing the most powerful magic that can bring people back to life and unbeknownst to Liesl and Po and Bundle, they are now the targets of an evil alchemist and villainous lady.
As dark as some elements of this story sound, it really had "A Series of Unfortunate Events" vibe to it where all of the adults were incompetent and caricatures of evil while the children were level-headed and witty. It made things feel very funny and light-hearted. There was also a bit of "The Graveyard Book" kind of tone where things could be very silly and slapstick one moment then transition into being very sentimental and serious the next. For this reason, I loved the characters and I was rooting for them, but I never felt completely invested in the story. It was still a great story with incredibly original ideas and original characters. I would definitely recommend reading this, especially if you enjoy middle grade fantasy.
As dark as some elements of this story sound, it really had "A Series of Unfortunate Events" vibe to it where all of the adults were incompetent and caricatures of evil while the children were level-headed and witty. It made things feel very funny and light-hearted. There was also a bit of "The Graveyard Book" kind of tone where things could be very silly and slapstick one moment then transition into being very sentimental and serious the next. For this reason, I loved the characters and I was rooting for them, but I never felt completely invested in the story. It was still a great story with incredibly original ideas and original characters. I would definitely recommend reading this, especially if you enjoy middle grade fantasy.
arirauseo's review
Remember reading this as a kid and LOVING it. It comes to mind every now and then and i get super nostalgic
froydis's review
5.0
This is a really lovely book! although the storyline is quite different - its much darker - it really reminded me of the magical worlds of the Edward Edgar and C.S. Lewis books I loved so much as a child. The ending is very beautiful. Excellent book!
oneangrylibrarian's review
5.0
I loved this book. This is a book that paints with language. I found myself so engrossed in the world and loving the beauty that is hidden in the gray.
wiseowl33's review
4.0
Great story. Pretty interesting to think your best friend could be a ghost. At times it got a bit creepier than I thought it would, but overall LOVED the book!