Scan barcode
sofia_santana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hannahhbic's review
5.0
A true joy. This is essentially "kindness is a mundane superpower" the series. It might soothe your soul, the same as it did mine.
williamabookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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
4.5
boogy's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
saa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
adriennemcc's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
allysonwbrunette's review
5.0
Every once in a great while, I’ll read a highly rated children’s or YA book and the simplicity of the storytelling ends up making for a highly enjoyable reading experience. I felt the same way when I read The Wednesday Wars last year (see the review in this post). This story follows a family of five children and two parents living in a brownstone in Harlem. They find out that their curmudgeonly landlord, Mr. Biederman, will not be renewing their lease 10 days before the end of the year. Dismayed at the loss of their home and community on 141st Street, the children set to work in an attempt to convince the hermit-like landlord to reconsider and let their family stay in the brownstone. The story follows each of the children’s unique skills (basketball, music, chemistry, art), interests (rabbit training, violin, Rube Goldberg machines, reading), and attempts at persuasion over the course of five days (arts and crafts, petitions, musical renditions, bribery by cookies and pets). I loved the way that this story presented both family and the sense of community gained through a strong neighborhood. The Vanderbeekers were a life force in the tiny pocket of their neighborhood, and while they didn’t seem to know it, the rambunctious group of five children brought joy to so many in their midst.
mehsi's review
1.0
I am just not sure what to think of this one....
The premise sounds pretty sweet, heartwarming and lovely, but I actually didn't like it that much. Maybe because I got tired of the "Old man yells at clouds (or in this case kids and adults), but turns out to have a terrible backstory with lots of tragedy and that is why we should all forgive him for his angry outbursts because look at this sad old man"-trope. Really, can't we for once just have a grumpy old man without a sob sob backstory? Like he is just legit pissed off at the world for no reason? He just hates things? And I wouldn't mind if he would grant them one kind thing, but then turns back to crabby. But this? I have seen it too many times in books (or movies, or tv-shows, or anime, or manga).
It also didn't help that the POV switched between the various siblings. I didn't always like the siblings. Oliver for instance was definitely not my favourite. Laney or Hyacinth would both win. Laney for her weirdness that is kind of adorable, Hyacinth for the amount of love she can throw out in the world and that she doesn't care if someone is an angry humbug, she will just hug them to death and let them feel the love. Isa and Jessie were OK-ish, but then the whole drama with Bennie started and I just raised my hands to the heavens. Was that needed? And what in all hell did Jessie think that it was a good idea to lie about that and say that? Hello, your twin, Isa, is allowed a life outside of your precious twinbubble. I get that it is hard, but growing up means that you can't do everything together every day, every hour.
I did find it weird that someone is just able to drop someone's lease like that and barely gives them time to find a new home/move. Unless the parents knew about it for months and just didn't care to tell their kids until right before Christmas (which seems like a crappy thing to do), but otherwise I don't see how it is legal to just drop someone's lease and just give them a week (maybe a bit more) to get out.
I am bit confused about the cover. We see 3 stories of the house, I am guessing the last story (bottom level) is hidden. But, checking the cover we see the kids on the third story, whereas that is the apartment/floor of their neighbours: Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet.
As reading the book linear didn't work for me (in very very rare cases that happens), I dove right to the end, then pick random parts to read until I finish the whole book. It is a bit chaotic, but it isn't like I missed anything of the story this way or got too many spoilers. That may also say something about the book itself. :P Too predictable.
I did like that the book took place over the days until Christmas. Then again, I didn't notice much of it given how I read the book, but still nice touch.
There are a few illustrations (like 4 or 5), mostly stuff like how their house looked, or a note. I would have loved seeing the characters, or some other things. Now it just felt weird there were things like that water wall thing, or a note, but nothing else.
All in all, not a success. I am a bit sad as I have been hoping to read this book for some time and I was delighted that one of my libraries finally had it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
The premise sounds pretty sweet, heartwarming and lovely, but I actually didn't like it that much. Maybe because I got tired of the "Old man yells at clouds (or in this case kids and adults), but turns out to have a terrible backstory with lots of tragedy and that is why we should all forgive him for his angry outbursts because look at this sad old man"-trope. Really, can't we for once just have a grumpy old man without a sob sob backstory? Like he is just legit pissed off at the world for no reason? He just hates things? And I wouldn't mind if he would grant them one kind thing, but then turns back to crabby. But this? I have seen it too many times in books (or movies, or tv-shows, or anime, or manga).
It also didn't help that the POV switched between the various siblings. I didn't always like the siblings. Oliver for instance was definitely not my favourite. Laney or Hyacinth would both win. Laney for her weirdness that is kind of adorable, Hyacinth for the amount of love she can throw out in the world and that she doesn't care if someone is an angry humbug, she will just hug them to death and let them feel the love. Isa and Jessie were OK-ish, but then the whole drama with Bennie started and I just raised my hands to the heavens. Was that needed? And what in all hell did Jessie think that it was a good idea to lie about that and say that? Hello, your twin, Isa, is allowed a life outside of your precious twinbubble. I get that it is hard, but growing up means that you can't do everything together every day, every hour.
I did find it weird that someone is just able to drop someone's lease like that and barely gives them time to find a new home/move. Unless the parents knew about it for months and just didn't care to tell their kids until right before Christmas (which seems like a crappy thing to do), but otherwise I don't see how it is legal to just drop someone's lease and just give them a week (maybe a bit more) to get out.
I am bit confused about the cover. We see 3 stories of the house, I am guessing the last story (bottom level) is hidden. But, checking the cover we see the kids on the third story, whereas that is the apartment/floor of their neighbours: Miss Josie and Mr. Jeet.
As reading the book linear didn't work for me (in very very rare cases that happens), I dove right to the end, then pick random parts to read until I finish the whole book. It is a bit chaotic, but it isn't like I missed anything of the story this way or got too many spoilers. That may also say something about the book itself. :P Too predictable.
I did like that the book took place over the days until Christmas. Then again, I didn't notice much of it given how I read the book, but still nice touch.
There are a few illustrations (like 4 or 5), mostly stuff like how their house looked, or a note. I would have loved seeing the characters, or some other things. Now it just felt weird there were things like that water wall thing, or a note, but nothing else.
All in all, not a success. I am a bit sad as I have been hoping to read this book for some time and I was delighted that one of my libraries finally had it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
paig35mith's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not what I expected from a children's book. I read this book so that I could discuss it with my child since I had assigned it as his book of the month. This book wasn't your typical happy-go-lucky kid's book but that made it more likable to me. I was worried that it had too many emotions and maybe my child wouldn't care for it but they did. We had a great discussion about how people react to certain situations and how something can appear to be one thing but there's something totally different at play.