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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
This is a middle grades book. As long as you know that going in, you'll quite enjoy it!
http://librarianosnark.blogspot.com/2014/11/review-absolutely-truly.html
I loved this one! I think the subject matter will be easy for many kids in Maine to relate to. Wonderful story.
3.5 stars, rounded up because I’m feeling generous and this was cute. And sometimes, that’s all the reason you need.
This was wholesome. I think Truly comes off as slightly older than she actually is, like maybe 14 as opposed to 12, but she was still prone to minor temper episodes so it all kinda averaged out. I would, however, have liked to see a little more in depth characterization for the side characters, especially her siblings. Some side characters, like her father, were definitely more fleshed out because they were more integral to plot progression. Other ones, like Danny and Lauren, had character traits, but not a lot of actual personality shined through, which, though not detrimental was still noticeable. This might be because there were quite a lot of side characters involved in this story, and I think if some had been cut out, it wouldn’t have been the worst idea. Sometimes, you can do more with less.
The mystery itself wasn’t much of a mystery. I think a lot of middle graders would be able to piece together the ending since the clues aren’t exactly subtle. Which is not to say it’s a poor mystery, just not an incredibly difficult one to piece together. On the other hand, the setting was probably the strongest part of the book, and it painted a quaint but stalwart community that puts its people first, and it was truly endearing. I especially enjoyed all the bird talk: the comparisons to people and the incorporation of something that Truly loved into other aspects of her life like at the bookshop, coupled with her seeing and hearing them in her surroundings was like a comfort blanket for her, and as the reader, those same cozy feelings tracked too.
There are some interesting issues that the author decided to incorporate and explore, like war veterans acclimating back to society and being the middle child and the neglect that can occur, and I believe that they were handled positively, if not exactly fully. This is a series however, and it can definitely be expanded upon as such in future novels. I actually commend Heather Vogel Frederick for the fact that not everything was completely resolved at the end, giving some room for growth in the books to come.
All in all, I think it’s a solid middle grade mystery, and will definitely try to pick up the sequel when I get a chance.
This was wholesome. I think Truly comes off as slightly older than she actually is, like maybe 14 as opposed to 12, but she was still prone to minor temper episodes so it all kinda averaged out. I would, however, have liked to see a little more in depth characterization for the side characters, especially her siblings. Some side characters, like her father, were definitely more fleshed out because they were more integral to plot progression. Other ones, like Danny and Lauren, had character traits, but not a lot of actual personality shined through, which, though not detrimental was still noticeable. This might be because there were quite a lot of side characters involved in this story, and I think if some had been cut out, it wouldn’t have been the worst idea. Sometimes, you can do more with less.
The mystery itself wasn’t much of a mystery. I think a lot of middle graders would be able to piece together the ending since the clues aren’t exactly subtle. Which is not to say it’s a poor mystery, just not an incredibly difficult one to piece together. On the other hand, the setting was probably the strongest part of the book, and it painted a quaint but stalwart community that puts its people first, and it was truly endearing. I especially enjoyed all the bird talk: the comparisons to people and the incorporation of something that Truly loved into other aspects of her life like at the bookshop, coupled with her seeing and hearing them in her surroundings was like a comfort blanket for her, and as the reader, those same cozy feelings tracked too.
There are some interesting issues that the author decided to incorporate and explore, like war veterans acclimating back to society and being the middle child and the neglect that can occur, and I believe that they were handled positively, if not exactly fully. This is a series however, and it can definitely be expanded upon as such in future novels. I actually commend Heather Vogel Frederick for the fact that not everything was completely resolved at the end, giving some room for growth in the books to come.
All in all, I think it’s a solid middle grade mystery, and will definitely try to pick up the sequel when I get a chance.
This was a nice little mystery told from the point of view of 12-year-old Truly Lovejoy. Her family moves to the small town of Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire and Truly is very unhappy about it. She soon discovers an envelope inside a signed 1st edition of Charlotte's Web and embarks on a mystery. Who wrote the letter, who was supposed to receive it, what did the quote mean? So many questions. Truly makes some new friends and enlists their help to find out about the letter. Meanwhile, the 1st edition is stolen, prompting a second mystery for Truly and her friends to solve. I like that this is a mystery without blood, guts, death, and murder like so many that I read. It was refreshing to have a young sleuth and a "tame" pair of mysteries to solve.
Heartwarming, check! Book-nerdy, check! Made me cry several times, check!
For fans of Charlottes Web, Much Ado About Nothing, Gilmore Girls, New England, snow, families, middle children, Dads, and indie bookstores.
For fans of Charlottes Web, Much Ado About Nothing, Gilmore Girls, New England, snow, families, middle children, Dads, and indie bookstores.
Frederick has set up a great cast of characters, a fabulous setting, and a clever plot in this middle-grade children’s mystery. And the really lovely thing is that these characters and this setting are big enough to carry a series, which is where I sense she is going. And that’s Absolutely Truly good news.
Warm and loving, this book is one of my favorite middle-grade novels in recent memory. Truly is hilarious and fairly self-aware for a twelve-year-old. Her father, like her whole family dynamic, is complicated, interesting and ultimately hopeful. The mystery was fun, the bookshop setting perfect, and the little town of Pumpkin Falls, "population you've got to be kidding me," adorable. I hope everyone buys this as fast as they can so Frederick will be able to turn this into a series.
A great read about a great family - dealing with a lot of issues, but a really solid core of loving family, which is always nice to see. The family moves to a small town far from their old neighborhood and Truly is devastated. She becomes involved in a minor mystery (no dead bodies, no threatening anything!) and it is a wonderful, warm read- easily recommended to a multitude of readers.
I loved the twists and turns. I didn't expect the twists and turns for the mystery or other parts of the story. Scooter was a well-developed character and I think the change of heart made sense. The friendships with Truly were slow and realistically growing. Slowly became friends with Cha Cha then became friends with Cha Cha's other friends. Then more relationships developed as it was needed for them to help in a logical manner.