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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-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
Adored this book as a child. Still great fun as an adult!
Horrible
This story made no sense. I read it to my kids. We were so frustrated by the end because it was so confusing. Don't waste your time reading.
This story made no sense. I read it to my kids. We were so frustrated by the end because it was so confusing. Don't waste your time reading.
Originally posted on www.serendipityreviews.co.uk
Liz Kessler has done it again.
North of Nowhere seems to have collected the essence of excellent time travel stories and weaved them together to make a modern, believable book with a strong British feel to it that is a ruddy good read.
There is the growing and long lasting friendship I so loved in Tom's Midnight Garden and the detailed planning of time travel to save the future from the past that was such a major part of the Back To The Future films. There is a heartbreaking moment too, which brought tears to my eyes as I remembered something similar that happened to Nicholas Lyndhurst in Goodnight Sweetheart.
Liz captured the mind of the pre teen so accurately that she could almost have been sat in my house listening to my two in conversation.
I also thought the book handled the difficulties that often do occur because of the generation gap extremely well. I loved the way Mia was beginning to realise that perhaps raising her voice and arguing wasn't really going to get her anywhere. My girls are just beginning to adopt the 'Be Nice' strategy.
I loved that the story was told from multiple points of view, as well as using other methods to communicate such as letters and the diary.
I was not expecting the ending at all. I can’t say what I wasn’t expecting or I’ll give it away, but I’ll just say the ending took me by surprise!
I thought North of Nowhere was stunning! Mindblowing! I can’t say much more to express how much I loved it because this book insists on secrecy otherwise the surprise will be spoilt.
So in the end all I really need to say is - READ IT! It is awesome!
Liz Kessler has done it again.
North of Nowhere seems to have collected the essence of excellent time travel stories and weaved them together to make a modern, believable book with a strong British feel to it that is a ruddy good read.
There is the growing and long lasting friendship I so loved in Tom's Midnight Garden and the detailed planning of time travel to save the future from the past that was such a major part of the Back To The Future films. There is a heartbreaking moment too, which brought tears to my eyes as I remembered something similar that happened to Nicholas Lyndhurst in Goodnight Sweetheart.
Liz captured the mind of the pre teen so accurately that she could almost have been sat in my house listening to my two in conversation.
I also thought the book handled the difficulties that often do occur because of the generation gap extremely well. I loved the way Mia was beginning to realise that perhaps raising her voice and arguing wasn't really going to get her anywhere. My girls are just beginning to adopt the 'Be Nice' strategy.
I loved that the story was told from multiple points of view, as well as using other methods to communicate such as letters and the diary.
I was not expecting the ending at all. I can’t say what I wasn’t expecting or I’ll give it away, but I’ll just say the ending took me by surprise!
I thought North of Nowhere was stunning! Mindblowing! I can’t say much more to express how much I loved it because this book insists on secrecy otherwise the surprise will be spoilt.
So in the end all I really need to say is - READ IT! It is awesome!
پنج ستاره دادم فقط چون به نظرم لیاقت چهار ستاره شدن تو گود ریدز رو داره
اگه انیمه ی یور نیم رو دوست داشتید قطعا اینو میپسندید
میترسم با گفتن اینکه از چه نظر شبیه یور نیم بود اسپویل کنم ... اما بعد یه ریوی کامل تر براش مینویسم
غیر قابل پیش بینی بودن
۴.۵/۵
شخصیت پردازی
۳.۵/۵
روون بودنش
۴/۵
داستان اما میتونست از اول رخ نده اگه عین ادم تاریخ میردن تو دفتر خاطراتشون ... یا اگه ملت تو کتاب مثل ادم با هم حرف میزدن :))
پ.ن گروه سنی جیم و دال و اون وراعه ... اما بستگی به سلیقه تون داره لذت بردنتون ازش
اگه انیمه ی یور نیم رو دوست داشتید قطعا اینو میپسندید
میترسم با گفتن اینکه از چه نظر شبیه یور نیم بود اسپویل کنم ... اما بعد یه ریوی کامل تر براش مینویسم
غیر قابل پیش بینی بودن
۴.۵/۵
شخصیت پردازی
۳.۵/۵
روون بودنش
۴/۵
داستان اما میتونست از اول رخ نده اگه عین ادم تاریخ میردن تو دفتر خاطراتشون ... یا اگه ملت تو کتاب مثل ادم با هم حرف میزدن :))
پ.ن گروه سنی جیم و دال و اون وراعه ... اما بستگی به سلیقه تون داره لذت بردنتون ازش
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this book was so interesting and entertaining. i love mysteries so this was the perfect one for me. i absolutely adored it.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Family tale with a hint of magic for 9+ readers
I really enjoyed this story and would probably (if it were for adults) class it as magical realism: there is an element of magic or the impossible in the plot, but it isn't a fantasy world. This pitch-perfect family story is fully rooted in a reality that will be completely recognisable to readers, with a plot that is ultimately focused on an intriguing mystery of a magical nature.
Mia, the protagonist, had my sympathy from the start. After looking forward to her half term break, she finds at the last minute that they have to spend it at her grandparents' pub in an isolated coastal town (without even a mobile signal, never mind the internet!), as her beloved grandad has gone missing. Her struggles to be supportive to her mum and her difficult grandma, despite her disappointment and boredom, are entirely convincing and will enable readers in the target age group to easily connect with her.
The story is largely told in Mia's lively voice, in the past tense. The opening passage, telling us that what will follow is unbelievable and yet true, works to pique our curiosity and prepare us for the fantasy element. She shares the narration with Frank, whose occasional chapters mean that we are aware of what is happening (or at least that something unusual is happening) before Mia. A third narrative voice is also present, as Mia finds and reads the diary of a girl who signs herself "D".
Plotwise, this novel is tight and skillful. While we may, as readers, have some idea of what is happening, the precise ins and outs are unlikely to be clear to the target reader until they are revealed. At the same time, this is beautifully managed so as to be a delicious mystery rather than a frustrating uncertainty.
Another high point, for me, is the setting. Liz Kessler captures the small coastal village and the vagaries of the sea beautifully. The need to be aware of tides, the fishermen's reliance on nature and the ever-present and very real risks from storms are clear. This is also the focus of the beautiful cover.
All in all, I'd definitely recommend this to readers of 9 and over (including adults). I enjoyed this book immensely.
I really enjoyed this story and would probably (if it were for adults) class it as magical realism: there is an element of magic or the impossible in the plot, but it isn't a fantasy world. This pitch-perfect family story is fully rooted in a reality that will be completely recognisable to readers, with a plot that is ultimately focused on an intriguing mystery of a magical nature.
Mia, the protagonist, had my sympathy from the start. After looking forward to her half term break, she finds at the last minute that they have to spend it at her grandparents' pub in an isolated coastal town (without even a mobile signal, never mind the internet!), as her beloved grandad has gone missing. Her struggles to be supportive to her mum and her difficult grandma, despite her disappointment and boredom, are entirely convincing and will enable readers in the target age group to easily connect with her.
The story is largely told in Mia's lively voice, in the past tense. The opening passage, telling us that what will follow is unbelievable and yet true, works to pique our curiosity and prepare us for the fantasy element. She shares the narration with Frank, whose occasional chapters mean that we are aware of what is happening (or at least that something unusual is happening) before Mia. A third narrative voice is also present, as Mia finds and reads the diary of a girl who signs herself "D".
Plotwise, this novel is tight and skillful. While we may, as readers, have some idea of what is happening, the precise ins and outs are unlikely to be clear to the target reader until they are revealed. At the same time, this is beautifully managed so as to be a delicious mystery rather than a frustrating uncertainty.
Another high point, for me, is the setting. Liz Kessler captures the small coastal village and the vagaries of the sea beautifully. The need to be aware of tides, the fishermen's reliance on nature and the ever-present and very real risks from storms are clear. This is also the focus of the beautiful cover.
All in all, I'd definitely recommend this to readers of 9 and over (including adults). I enjoyed this book immensely.
I thought this was a really really cute and unique story. There's a book I can think of that it might be like, but I've never read it so I can't say. But I really enjoyed this one a ton. So cute and enjoyable!