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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I am so utterly in love with this novel. It is cute and fun and all about finding where you belong without being super soppy. While I could drone on for hundreds or even thousands of words about just how amazing this one is, instead I shall emphatically thrust it in every person I meets direction and force them to partake in the grandeur and beauty that is this amazing middle grade novel
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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:
No
Quite entertaining, though the end doesn’t quite live up to the intriguing beginnning - I would have hoped to hear more about the other children’s back stories. Still a sweet story about the meaning of family
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
I loved this book so much!! It was adorable and made me feel so many emotions :]]
At first I fully thought I knew what to expect. "It's just another story about an orphan looking for her family. What could be new?". But that couldn't be further from the truth. While, yes, some things were a bit more predictablesuch as her parents not actually being there (it was never going to be that easy) , the way it got to that point was a unique enough approach to keep me wanting more.
This also played out in my head somewhat like a marionette show or a shadow puppet show. I don't know why, but the sort of cozy artsy vibes mixed with the heavy themes of puppetry and storytelling probably made me feel like that.
Anyway, this book was fantastic, especially as a middle grade book which can usually end up straying away from covering heavier topics because "kIdS wOnT uNdErStAnD" (in plots which would otherwise greatly benefit from the emotional impact of darker themes), this book covered some heavier themes in ways that were still suitable for a middle grade audience. Ones that would make them feel for the characters while also not giving them nightmares.
At first I fully thought I knew what to expect. "It's just another story about an orphan looking for her family. What could be new?". But that couldn't be further from the truth. While, yes, some things were a bit more predictable
This also played out in my head somewhat like a marionette show or a shadow puppet show. I don't know why, but the sort of cozy artsy vibes mixed with the heavy themes of puppetry and storytelling probably made me feel like that.
Anyway, this book was fantastic, especially as a middle grade book which can usually end up straying away from covering heavier topics because "kIdS wOnT uNdErStAnD" (in plots which would otherwise greatly benefit from the emotional impact of darker themes), this book covered some heavier themes in ways that were still suitable for a middle grade audience. Ones that would make them feel for the characters while also not giving them nightmares.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
This was such a sweet story! I can't remember the last time I read a historical middle grade book and I don't think I've ever read anything set in the Netherlands that wasn't about WW2 before. Family is a tricky thing sometimes but I think that Milou summed up the definition well saying that it's those who you know you wouldn't be able to live without that make up your family. I loved how independent and intelligent the characters were and how they wouldn't stop until they found a life that gave them joy. I admit I wasn't sure they'd be able to pull off the theater show but I was wrong and should have realized by then not to underestimate them.
One thing that I didn't like was the spiritual/psychic element. I didn't really see the need for it and think that the story would have been just as good, if not better, had that been left out. I would recommend this book for a younger audience as parts of the plot I had a hard time finding believable but I thought that the ending was so, so good and it seemed like there could be room for a sequel! Overall, a great story about finding where you belong. Happy Reading :)
One thing that I didn't like was the spiritual/psychic element. I didn't really see the need for it and think that the story would have been just as good, if not better, had that been left out. I would recommend this book for a younger audience as parts of the plot I had a hard time finding believable but I thought that the ending was so, so good and it seemed like there could be room for a sequel! Overall, a great story about finding where you belong. Happy Reading :)
This was a really cute and fun read. I loved the kids, I love that they all had a special thing about them. I don’t love the title (Unadoptable just shouldn’t be a word— no one is unadoptable) but I do think the author did a good job portraying these kids as amazing and unique heroes of their own stories, no matter what the awful adults around them were doing. The end definitely had me turning pages super fast.
This was a total delight. What fun adventure! (Random side note: I was reading two books at once that had a lot of puppets. That was weird and unintentional)
[3,5]
It took me a while to finish the book. I regret that I read the audio book, because when I googled it just now, I saw that there are beautiful illustrations in the book. The characters in the book were well developed, the plot I found less interesting. The disadvantage of the audio book is that the Dutch language is used in the text, which makes it difficult to follow. I speak Dutch, but even I had trouble with this, because the person who recorded the audio book said the words with a strange English accent.
This is normally not a book I pick up, I don't have much interest in historical books, but this book was dark, funny and adventurous and managed to make me want to read on.
When I started this book, I had no idea of the drama involved. Halfway through the book I read some reviews. It became clear that people disagreed with the title of this book and the impact it could have on children in the care system. I understand that you have to be careful about things like that, but it's clear that most of the people who are upset about it have not read the book. As someone who has no connection with the adoption community, you might say that I am not qualified to comment on this argument. But Adoption UK clearly shares this opinion, as they have published a positive review of Hana Tooke's book...
It took me a while to finish the book. I regret that I read the audio book, because when I googled it just now, I saw that there are beautiful illustrations in the book. The characters in the book were well developed, the plot I found less interesting. The disadvantage of the audio book is that the Dutch language is used in the text, which makes it difficult to follow. I speak Dutch, but even I had trouble with this, because the person who recorded the audio book said the words with a strange English accent.
This is normally not a book I pick up, I don't have much interest in historical books, but this book was dark, funny and adventurous and managed to make me want to read on.
When I started this book, I had no idea of the drama involved. Halfway through the book I read some reviews. It became clear that people disagreed with the title of this book and the impact it could have on children in the care system. I understand that you have to be careful about things like that, but it's clear that most of the people who are upset about it have not read the book. As someone who has no connection with the adoption community, you might say that I am not qualified to comment on this argument. But Adoption UK clearly shares this opinion, as they have published a positive review of Hana Tooke's book...