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lovemesomefiction's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
scrabtree17's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book so much! One of those children’s books that adults could also benefit from reading. 4 stars instead of 5 because the pace is slower than I prefer.
zabcia's review against another edition
4.0
85%
"What does it mean to be a good neighbour?"
* the writing style used for this novel is one of my favourite kinds - it has a sort of delicate whimsy that I associate with classic story-telling
* all of the characters had distinct personalities, even (if not especially) the crows. I like that the crows have their entire own culture and language, and while they started off as fairly unassuming silly side characters, they eventually developed into being integral to the story
* really enjoyed the repeated emphasis (both in the story, and also in the acknowledgments) on the concept of books being tied to space-time and how they, with the help of a reader, have the power to warp, shape, and change it. in a way, books were also a character in this story. it certainly gave me a new perspective on books that I hadn't considered before
* another major topic/lesson in this story was the importance of caring and sharing, and that what you put out into the world eventually circles back to you. it was done in a way that wasn't pushy - by showing rather than telling. it gave me a little more faith in humanity, and lord knows we all could use more of that
* to me, it seemed obvious that the story is an allegory of the USA - and indeed western society in general - and the current social issues (racism, poverty, general suspicion and social division); sometimes, maybe a little too obvious. this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it's always easier to swallow a truth and ponder it when its not being directly pointed at your inadequacies (this is very reminiscent of early Star Trek and its social commentary, which was a major success) and making you feel bad about them. this is a really valuable form of story-telling, and I hope it translates to children as well as it did to this particular adult
Favourite Quotes:
"she learned to trade in kindness and discovered the tremendous value in small mercies and selfless giving. the more she gave, the more she seemed to have. it was the best sort of magic"
"No one wanted to be the only one helping, because no one wanted to be responsible for solutions that perhaps might fail."
"Curiosity is a powerful state of being - full of possibility. Curiosity doesn't sit still. It moves. It's awfully close to magic."
"One person can inspure other people to do good things. Good is not a number. Good is more than that. With good, the more you give, the more you have. It is the best sort of magic."
"A moment is a concrete thing, separate from other moments. It doesn't leave. It doesn't pass. It simply exists on its own point on the axis. Take this moment, for example. Why on earth do you think the universe would work so hard as to create this moment if only to let it slide away to oblivion?"
"What does it mean to be a good neighbour?"
* the writing style used for this novel is one of my favourite kinds - it has a sort of delicate whimsy that I associate with classic story-telling
* all of the characters had distinct personalities, even (if not especially) the crows. I like that the crows have their entire own culture and language, and while they started off as fairly unassuming silly side characters, they eventually developed into being integral to the story
* really enjoyed the repeated emphasis (both in the story, and also in the acknowledgments) on the concept of books being tied to space-time and how they, with the help of a reader, have the power to warp, shape, and change it. in a way, books were also a character in this story. it certainly gave me a new perspective on books that I hadn't considered before
* another major topic/lesson in this story was the importance of caring and sharing, and that what you put out into the world eventually circles back to you. it was done in a way that wasn't pushy - by showing rather than telling. it gave me a little more faith in humanity, and lord knows we all could use more of that
* to me, it seemed obvious that the story is an allegory of the USA - and indeed western society in general - and the current social issues (racism, poverty, general suspicion and social division); sometimes, maybe a little too obvious. this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it's always easier to swallow a truth and ponder it when its not being directly pointed at your inadequacies (this is very reminiscent of early Star Trek and its social commentary, which was a major success) and making you feel bad about them. this is a really valuable form of story-telling, and I hope it translates to children as well as it did to this particular adult
Favourite Quotes:
"she learned to trade in kindness and discovered the tremendous value in small mercies and selfless giving. the more she gave, the more she seemed to have. it was the best sort of magic"
"No one wanted to be the only one helping, because no one wanted to be responsible for solutions that perhaps might fail."
"Curiosity is a powerful state of being - full of possibility. Curiosity doesn't sit still. It moves. It's awfully close to magic."
"One person can inspure other people to do good things. Good is not a number. Good is more than that. With good, the more you give, the more you have. It is the best sort of magic."
"A moment is a concrete thing, separate from other moments. It doesn't leave. It doesn't pass. It simply exists on its own point on the axis. Take this moment, for example. Why on earth do you think the universe would work so hard as to create this moment if only to let it slide away to oblivion?"
mackenziencheez's review against another edition
5.0
When it comes to middle grade fantasy, Kelly Barnhill is a force to be reckoned with. Our setting, Stone-in-the-Glen, was once a beautiful and community-oriented town. However, after some buildings being burnt down and the coincidental arrival of a new hero who becomes the mayor, the town is now a much duller and less cheery place. Our ogress makes her new home at the edge of town. She secretly shares her delicious sweet and savory treats under the dark of night and rescues a runaway orphan, but is it enough to bring the town back together?
Thanks to the third-person omniscient narration, we're able to see the town through a variety of characters and over the course of time, which leaves you curious with who (or what) is narrating the story. The writing is lush and delightful, and the story has you mulling over how a community can change, both for better and for worse. There are definitely some parallels to recent years, and while the destruction of the town is heartbreaking, the repair has you feeling hopeful and asking yourself "What is a neighbor?"
Thanks to the third-person omniscient narration, we're able to see the town through a variety of characters and over the course of time, which leaves you curious with who (or what) is narrating the story. The writing is lush and delightful, and the story has you mulling over how a community can change, both for better and for worse. There are definitely some parallels to recent years, and while the destruction of the town is heartbreaking, the repair has you feeling hopeful and asking yourself "What is a neighbor?"
waffleairways's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hominid's review against another edition
4.0
Very good in parts, kinda didn't come together as a story in which much happened.
vaishali26's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
jennifermilanovic's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
ws_bookclub's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for allowing me to join in on this book tour and for providing me with The Ogress and the Orphans in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is available for purchase now.
Sometimes you read a book and think, “Oh, what an entertaining and fun book!”
Sometimes you think, “This is an important book, a book that says something.”
And sometimes you read a book that is both. The Ogress and the Orphans is a well-written adventure, with children that speak to crows and a generous ogress. It is also a dangerous book, with wicked dragons and fear stoked into hatred. It is the sort of book that draws you in and makes you think. It teaches a lesson without beating the reader over the head with it (as a homeschool parent, I love children’s books like that).
The Ogress and the Orphans follows a house full of orphans in a town that used to be kind and helpful but became selfish and afraid after everything burned down (starting with the library. Hmmm…could it be that the freedom to read is important?), leaving suspicious neighbors who only trust their mayor, who has slain a dragon after all. He never seems to do anything to help, but in the town’s eyes he can do no wrong.
Meanwhile, in the Orphan House, there may not be enough to eat, and the caretakers are world-weary, but there is kindness aplenty. I loved all of the characters in the house! There are so many of them, but my favorites were Bartleby and Cass. Bartleby could hear the stories that the walls and trees tell, stories of both the past and the future. And sweet, kind Cass sets things in motion when an attempt to care for others goes in unexpected directions.
I loved the narrator, who gave small asides about the things it could say if anyone asked (but they didn’t). The entire book was wonderful and uplifting, something that is always appreciated. The Ogress and the Orphans is full of both adventure and heart. Pick it up. You’ll love it.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2022/03/08/the-ogress-and-the-orphans-by-kelly-barnhill-algonquin-book-tour/
Sometimes you read a book and think, “Oh, what an entertaining and fun book!”
Sometimes you think, “This is an important book, a book that says something.”
And sometimes you read a book that is both. The Ogress and the Orphans is a well-written adventure, with children that speak to crows and a generous ogress. It is also a dangerous book, with wicked dragons and fear stoked into hatred. It is the sort of book that draws you in and makes you think. It teaches a lesson without beating the reader over the head with it (as a homeschool parent, I love children’s books like that).
The Ogress and the Orphans follows a house full of orphans in a town that used to be kind and helpful but became selfish and afraid after everything burned down (starting with the library. Hmmm…could it be that the freedom to read is important?), leaving suspicious neighbors who only trust their mayor, who has slain a dragon after all. He never seems to do anything to help, but in the town’s eyes he can do no wrong.
Meanwhile, in the Orphan House, there may not be enough to eat, and the caretakers are world-weary, but there is kindness aplenty. I loved all of the characters in the house! There are so many of them, but my favorites were Bartleby and Cass. Bartleby could hear the stories that the walls and trees tell, stories of both the past and the future. And sweet, kind Cass sets things in motion when an attempt to care for others goes in unexpected directions.
I loved the narrator, who gave small asides about the things it could say if anyone asked (but they didn’t). The entire book was wonderful and uplifting, something that is always appreciated. The Ogress and the Orphans is full of both adventure and heart. Pick it up. You’ll love it.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.home.blog/2022/03/08/the-ogress-and-the-orphans-by-kelly-barnhill-algonquin-book-tour/