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teri_b's review against another edition
3.0
This book is about speaking toys, a danger that has entered the land of Neverendings, but also a story about Emily who just lost her sister. Her father and her mother reel with this loss as well but seem unable to reach out, take care of their remaining child.
The story is placed on the borderline between the real and magical and takes onto a journey of coming to terms of having lost a most beloved sibling and readjust as a family with some one gone.
I loved parts of the story, parts of it I wondered who this book was written for. The afterword by the author gave some answers to this question.
The one question that came really up strongly, is, in what kind of repressed society are we living that we have to have books like this written when it comes to the mourning of having lost a sibling respectively child and the stigma that still seems to surround death.
The story is placed on the borderline between the real and magical and takes onto a journey of coming to terms of having lost a most beloved sibling and readjust as a family with some one gone.
I loved parts of the story, parts of it I wondered who this book was written for. The afterword by the author gave some answers to this question.
The one question that came really up strongly, is, in what kind of repressed society are we living that we have to have books like this written when it comes to the mourning of having lost a sibling respectively child and the stigma that still seems to surround death.
nicola_tyrrell32's review against another edition
4.0
This book destroyed me but in the best way! This is an excellent book about grief, friendship and magic!
razreads's review against another edition
4.0
Complete review available: The Land of Neverendings
This is a really hard one to review. I loved it - I really did - but I think that's largely because I'm a sucker for this trope and Saunders world-building skills aren't half-bad. Yet, there were certain scenes and relationships between the characters that had me thinking twice. What's the audience for this book again? Because I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable reading it to the children and young teenagers I know. And not because of the large themes discussed - they're important to talk with young children about - but some of the more subtle, implied and inferred ideas. May I perhaps point to the aprons (a tiny scene, but impressionable) or even Emily's relationship with her mum (not one I can 100% get behind)?
On the whole, enjoyable and with nice world-building, but problematic in several little nooks.
This is a really hard one to review. I loved it - I really did - but I think that's largely because I'm a sucker for this trope and Saunders world-building skills aren't half-bad. Yet, there were certain scenes and relationships between the characters that had me thinking twice. What's the audience for this book again? Because I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable reading it to the children and young teenagers I know. And not because of the large themes discussed - they're important to talk with young children about - but some of the more subtle, implied and inferred ideas. May I perhaps point to the aprons (a tiny scene, but impressionable) or even Emily's relationship with her mum (not one I can 100% get behind)?
On the whole, enjoyable and with nice world-building, but problematic in several little nooks.
thelibraryofethos's review against another edition
5.0
I would never have read this book if it hadn't been shortlisted for the Concorde Book Awards 2020. I don't know what it is, something about the cover just makes me feel bored when I look at it.
But I would have missed out on a treat.
This is a children's book. But it is written so well that I think any adult could enjoy reading it.
The story begins very suddenly by mentioning Holly's death. Usually children's book don't deal with something quite so raw in such a direct way, and that is the whole point of the story.
Grief is devastating, but a dead family member cannot be forgotten or hidden from memory. Children who have lost someone need support and encouragement from all angles.
There are lots of lessons in this story, for those who have lost anybody but also for those who haven't.
At first I thought the toys would be an annoying part of the book, but actually some of the "Smockeroon" scenes had me laughing in earnest. A cuckoo clock whose cuckoo can't be bothered to come out to tell the time so sends a text message instead? Fantastic. A barbie doll who became a nun because of a dark past? Hilarious. All the way through the story were aspects that made the novel slightly 'classier' than your average children's fiction.
You know that feeling you had as a child when an adult would talk to you as if you were also an adult? A refreshing experience, because so many adults don't have any time for children whatsoever. Then that person comes along and makes you feel like you're no lesser than any of the other people in the room, despite being younger. Well, this book was written in a way that provoked the same kind of feeling. We honestly need more children authors like Kate Saunders, addressing their audience in a funny, interesting yet also quite serious way.
But I would have missed out on a treat.
This is a children's book. But it is written so well that I think any adult could enjoy reading it.
The story begins very suddenly by mentioning Holly's death. Usually children's book don't deal with something quite so raw in such a direct way, and that is the whole point of the story.
Grief is devastating, but a dead family member cannot be forgotten or hidden from memory. Children who have lost someone need support and encouragement from all angles.
There are lots of lessons in this story, for those who have lost anybody but also for those who haven't.
At first I thought the toys would be an annoying part of the book, but actually some of the "Smockeroon" scenes had me laughing in earnest. A cuckoo clock whose cuckoo can't be bothered to come out to tell the time so sends a text message instead? Fantastic. A barbie doll who became a nun because of a dark past? Hilarious. All the way through the story were aspects that made the novel slightly 'classier' than your average children's fiction.
You know that feeling you had as a child when an adult would talk to you as if you were also an adult? A refreshing experience, because so many adults don't have any time for children whatsoever. Then that person comes along and makes you feel like you're no lesser than any of the other people in the room, despite being younger. Well, this book was written in a way that provoked the same kind of feeling. We honestly need more children authors like Kate Saunders, addressing their audience in a funny, interesting yet also quite serious way.
isa66's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book it is so origanal and magical love it !!!!!!
random_subplot's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
homeschooledbookworms's review
5.0
I would never have read this book if it hadn't been shortlisted for the Concorde Book Awards 2020. I don't know what it is, something about the cover just makes me feel bored when I look at it.
But I would have missed out on a treat.
This is a children's book. But it is written so well that I think any adult could enjoy reading it.
The story begins very suddenly by mentioning Holly's death. Usually children's book don't deal with something quite so raw in such a direct way, and that is the whole point of the story.
Grief is devastating, but a dead family member cannot be forgotten or hidden from memory. Children who have lost someone need support and encouragement from all angles.
There are lots of lessons in this story, for those who have lost anybody but also for those who haven't.
At first I thought the toys would be an annoying part of the book, but actually some of the "Smockeroon" scenes had me laughing in earnest. A cuckoo clock whose cuckoo can't be bothered to come out to tell the time so sends a text message instead? Fantastic. A barbie doll who became a nun because of a dark past? Hilarious. All the way through the story were aspects that made the novel slightly 'classier' than your average children's fiction.
You know that feeling you had as a child when an adult would talk to you as if you were also an adult? A refreshing experience, because so many adults don't have any time for children whatsoever. Then that person comes along and makes you feel like you're no lesser than any of the other people in the room, despite being younger. Well, this book was written in a way that provoked the same kind of feeling. We honestly need more children authors like Kate Saunders, addressing their audience in a funny, interesting yet also quite serious way.
But I would have missed out on a treat.
This is a children's book. But it is written so well that I think any adult could enjoy reading it.
The story begins very suddenly by mentioning Holly's death. Usually children's book don't deal with something quite so raw in such a direct way, and that is the whole point of the story.
Grief is devastating, but a dead family member cannot be forgotten or hidden from memory. Children who have lost someone need support and encouragement from all angles.
There are lots of lessons in this story, for those who have lost anybody but also for those who haven't.
At first I thought the toys would be an annoying part of the book, but actually some of the "Smockeroon" scenes had me laughing in earnest. A cuckoo clock whose cuckoo can't be bothered to come out to tell the time so sends a text message instead? Fantastic. A barbie doll who became a nun because of a dark past? Hilarious. All the way through the story were aspects that made the novel slightly 'classier' than your average children's fiction.
You know that feeling you had as a child when an adult would talk to you as if you were also an adult? A refreshing experience, because so many adults don't have any time for children whatsoever. Then that person comes along and makes you feel like you're no lesser than any of the other people in the room, despite being younger. Well, this book was written in a way that provoked the same kind of feeling. We honestly need more children authors like Kate Saunders, addressing their audience in a funny, interesting yet also quite serious way.
opalspines's review
5.0
a sweet story about a girl who was comforted by her childhood during a time of loss.
nickoliver's review
4.5
I've never heard of this book before, I found it by chance in the library - and I'm so glad I did! It was an absolutely wonderful, imaginative delight!