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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
Sad, magical realism. Need to remember it for those kids who want something more bittersweet or just out and out sad. Especially for those girls who are the oldest sister and know the feeling of feeling overworked, underappreciated, and with no space or privacy.
sort of like Sarah Addison Allen for young readers. Every girl in the town gets a "wishing day" when they can go to the willow tree and make three wishes. The first wish is an impossible wish, the second is something that they can make come true themselves and the third is the deepest wish of her secret heart.
Natasha is the oldest of three sisters and has to be the responsible one after their mother died/disappeared. She likes to write, but hasn't ever shown anyone her stories. There is a bit of romance in the story, and it resolves in a very real-world manner (no glittering unicorn rides into the sunset here!). There is a "crazy bird lady" character who may or may not be altogether real.
Hint of magic, hint of romance, lots of girl friendships and sisterhood.
Natasha is the oldest of three sisters and has to be the responsible one after their mother died/disappeared. She likes to write, but hasn't ever shown anyone her stories. There is a bit of romance in the story, and it resolves in a very real-world manner (no glittering unicorn rides into the sunset here!). There is a "crazy bird lady" character who may or may not be altogether real.
Hint of magic, hint of romance, lots of girl friendships and sisterhood.
This is so lovely! It's the first of a trilogy that tells of a trio of stacked sisters (not much more than two full years between the three of them) who live in a town where girls wish on a willow shortly after their thirteenth birthday. We follow Natasha, the oldest, who is responsible and sensible but whose wishes will send her on a lovely emotional journey. I can't wait to read the next two, which I assume will cover Darya and Ava's wishing days respectively. Very rare that a middle grade series leaves me wondering what happens next in anticipation.
I was looking for kids books at the library a few weeks ago, and happened upon this series by chance. The covers looked good so I decided to get them.
I liked the background of the story, and the relationship between the sisters, Natasha, Darya and Ava.
The fact that their names all end in A (as do the aunts/mom) reminded me of my own sisters, whose names also end in 'a' so you could never tell who was actually being called for when our parents called us from the other end of the house.
The fact that the sisters were born so close together is a little odd, and I wonder if it plays some other part in the story. But, I do like the bond the three have.
I enjoyed what I'd call "the middle schooler experience" element of this novel. I was tranported back to 7th grade and all the feelings that went along with that.
I hope the Bird Lady plays some really key role further along in this series, because honestly I find her annoying. Although I just got an idea of that role, so now I guess I'll have to see if I'm right.
Another thing that bothered me is how excessive the father's grief/absence is. It seems to be too much. I know that they were in love, and grief is normal, but the mother disappeared 8 years ago and he walks around like a ghost.
Also, I'm not a fan of the ending. I literally almost shouted "That's how it ends?" The end is very much a let down. Which of course is meant to get you to read the next books, but still. I was hoping for a tiny bit more resolution than that.
I liked the background of the story, and the relationship between the sisters, Natasha, Darya and Ava.
The fact that their names all end in A (as do the aunts/mom) reminded me of my own sisters, whose names also end in 'a' so you could never tell who was actually being called for when our parents called us from the other end of the house.
The fact that the sisters were born so close together is a little odd, and I wonder if it plays some other part in the story. But, I do like the bond the three have.
I enjoyed what I'd call "the middle schooler experience" element of this novel. I was tranported back to 7th grade and all the feelings that went along with that.
I hope the Bird Lady plays some really key role further along in this series, because honestly I find her annoying. Although I just got an idea of that role, so now I guess I'll have to see if I'm right.
Another thing that bothered me is how excessive the father's grief/absence is. It seems to be too much. I know that they were in love, and grief is normal, but the mother disappeared 8 years ago and he walks around like a ghost.
Also, I'm not a fan of the ending. I literally almost shouted "That's how it ends?" The end is very much a let down. Which of course is meant to get you to read the next books, but still. I was hoping for a tiny bit more resolution than that.
I really didn't understand the ending of this book. It seemed really good, and then we got there, and it was just...there's no answer to the questions. Is there supposed to be? Did the author just write it that way for more sequels? I don't understand.
There are a fair number of unanswered questions from this book. I hope there are more answers in the next books in the trilogy.
I did like that there was some growth in Natasha to identify that she wasn't being a great friend and to make her apologies to Molly.
I did like that there was some growth in Natasha to identify that she wasn't being a great friend and to make her apologies to Molly.
This felt...somehow half-finished. There was a lot here that was alluded to but wasn't fully addressed, because this is a series, but I would have liked more closure especially because it seemed to wander a bit in the middle. Sweet and about friendships and sisters and growing up and depression and learning the adults in your life are flawed, but I just wanted a little more closure out of this one.
Enjoyable series starter, perfect for those who like a hint of magic mixed in with their otherwise realistic fiction stories.
Oh, the magic, the magic, the magic. It practically glitters on the page. And combined with such heavy doses of reality. It makes me wish for magic and secret notes and sisters and birds' eggs. So very taken by this book disguised as a middle grade story.