Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this! But I feel that it took me a long time to read for whatever reason.
Really lovely characters and a great storyline - I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Really lovely characters and a great storyline - I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Five out of five stars! This book is wonderful-- a mixture of cozy, adventurous, and full of mystery. The way that clues are formed together and connected is perfect! Because you don't expect it, but it MAKES SENSE. It's beautiful, perfect!
All of these characters are relatable, yet unique, and you can tell that they love each other dearly, and appreciate each other so much. They value each other's differences, and in a way, they do remind me of the Baudelaires, from a series of Unfortunate events, but at the same time, they're also completely different. You can see how they've been affected by their time at the orphanage and their upbringing. With the Bauldelaries, what makes them them is that they each love their parents, and that they USED to be normal, but now, they're orphans, and they're goal is to find out what happened to said parents and get BACK to normal. Whereas with the unadoptables, they have never had parental love, and what brings them together is that they're each different, "unadoptable", but they love each other for said differences. They risk everything for each other, from the wrath of evil orphan heads, to death. And that's what's really interesting about them, is that these children have never known the love of a family, but they've managed to carve out one anyway. I love that about this book.
Anyway, enough of the family talk, let's talk about the writing-- I loved it! The way Tooke writes about the Netherlands makes me feel like I'M THERE. Wintery landscapes and crowded cities are transformed into fairytale like illustrations, just using words! It makes me feel like anything is possible, just like how a child would feel. It's not only the descriptions, but also the way she writes her characters, each are believable, and I feel well developed. Each child grows in this story, especially the main character, Milou, who I love the most. She is so imaginative, smart, and creative.
I love how each of these children have a talent.
Egg is good at art. Fenna is good with animals and baking. Lotta is good at mechanics and engineering. Sem is the logical one of the group. Milou is the story teller, the dreamer.
And while they each have a talent, they each have a personality that is something besides said talent. Egg is shy, and self-conscious, and a bit anxious, but he loves not only drawing, but mapmaking. Fenna is very quiet and timid, but throughout the book, she grows into a fierce fighter, Lotta is skeptical, similar to Sem, but has big ambitions. Sem can be clumsy, but he's got a head on his shoulders. Milou is smart, determined, but also prone to daydreaming, and being stubborn.
Just-- I love it all so, so much! Each of these characters feel unique, and thought out, and feel like real children I could meet! I'd adopt them all, to be honest!
This, for me at least, is the perfect found family book, and just the way these kids fight for each other is amazing. I also love how they're clever, but still a bit naïve, as children are, but they're also strong, in a way that a lot of kids aren't. This book, even though it isn't fantasy, is in, it's own way, full of magic, and I honestly cannot only wait to read it again, but to also see what Tooke has in store.
If you're looking for the perfect book for winter, or anytime of the year, where you want to get cozy, this book is it. From dazzling descriptions of snow and ice, to menacing stories of villains, to clever inventions and clever children trying to find their place in the world, this book is utterly, and wonderfully perfect. I can't wait to reread it!
Something to add here-- I read some of the reviews for this book, some of them have said that it's racist, full of ableism, and is very disrespectful of people in the system, or people who have been in the system. While I can agree to the latter criticism of the book (to a certain extent), I will say that as someone who isn't white (I'm a latina) I felt that the racism in this book is realistic. It takes place in the 1890s. A lot of People of color, and specifically Asians, were discriminated against during this time. (And also, when people are racist against Egg, the orphans hate it, and openly condemn that, but I will say that the book could've taken time to discuss how Egg is affected by what he goes through, and how being racist is in no way okay.) So, to me at least, that's realistic, and I would also like to argue, that we SHOULD take into consideration about how those who were disabled were treated during the time period of this book as well.
That's just my opinion though, and I do understand why a lot of people who were in the system were (or are) mad at this book. You have every right to feel the way you do.
And I also want to say that my love for this book may be a bit biased, because of the circumstances I grew up in as a child, where I had an emotionally unstable, and very abusive, childhood, so the situation that these children went through, and how they were able to carve out their own piece of the world, was very cathartic to me, and I loved how they found a family in each other. I just wanted to point that out, and say once more, to all those who were affected by this book, you are very much entitled to your feelings, and have every right to feel the way you do. I also feel that we, as readers, should listen to the people who may have been hurt by this book, and are specifically from the groups affected, Asian readers, adoptee readers, and disabled readers.
All of these characters are relatable, yet unique, and you can tell that they love each other dearly, and appreciate each other so much. They value each other's differences, and in a way, they do remind me of the Baudelaires, from a series of Unfortunate events, but at the same time, they're also completely different. You can see how they've been affected by their time at the orphanage and their upbringing. With the Bauldelaries, what makes them them is that they each love their parents, and that they USED to be normal, but now, they're orphans, and they're goal is to find out what happened to said parents and get BACK to normal. Whereas with the unadoptables, they have never had parental love, and what brings them together is that they're each different, "unadoptable", but they love each other for said differences. They risk everything for each other, from the wrath of evil orphan heads, to death. And that's what's really interesting about them, is that these children have never known the love of a family, but they've managed to carve out one anyway. I love that about this book.
Anyway, enough of the family talk, let's talk about the writing-- I loved it! The way Tooke writes about the Netherlands makes me feel like I'M THERE. Wintery landscapes and crowded cities are transformed into fairytale like illustrations, just using words! It makes me feel like anything is possible, just like how a child would feel. It's not only the descriptions, but also the way she writes her characters, each are believable, and I feel well developed. Each child grows in this story, especially the main character, Milou, who I love the most. She is so imaginative, smart, and creative.
I love how each of these children have a talent.
Egg is good at art. Fenna is good with animals and baking. Lotta is good at mechanics and engineering. Sem is the logical one of the group. Milou is the story teller, the dreamer.
And while they each have a talent, they each have a personality that is something besides said talent. Egg is shy, and self-conscious, and a bit anxious, but he loves not only drawing, but mapmaking. Fenna is very quiet and timid, but throughout the book, she grows into a fierce fighter, Lotta is skeptical, similar to Sem, but has big ambitions. Sem can be clumsy, but he's got a head on his shoulders. Milou is smart, determined, but also prone to daydreaming, and being stubborn.
Just-- I love it all so, so much! Each of these characters feel unique, and thought out, and feel like real children I could meet! I'd adopt them all, to be honest!
This, for me at least, is the perfect found family book, and just the way these kids fight for each other is amazing. I also love how they're clever, but still a bit naïve, as children are, but they're also strong, in a way that a lot of kids aren't. This book, even though it isn't fantasy, is in, it's own way, full of magic, and I honestly cannot only wait to read it again, but to also see what Tooke has in store.
If you're looking for the perfect book for winter, or anytime of the year, where you want to get cozy, this book is it. From dazzling descriptions of snow and ice, to menacing stories of villains, to clever inventions and clever children trying to find their place in the world, this book is utterly, and wonderfully perfect. I can't wait to reread it!
Something to add here-- I read some of the reviews for this book, some of them have said that it's racist, full of ableism, and is very disrespectful of people in the system, or people who have been in the system. While I can agree to the latter criticism of the book (to a certain extent), I will say that as someone who isn't white (I'm a latina) I felt that the racism in this book is realistic. It takes place in the 1890s. A lot of People of color, and specifically Asians, were discriminated against during this time. (And also, when people are racist against Egg, the orphans hate it, and openly condemn that, but I will say that the book could've taken time to discuss how Egg is affected by what he goes through, and how being racist is in no way okay.) So, to me at least, that's realistic, and I would also like to argue, that we SHOULD take into consideration about how those who were disabled were treated during the time period of this book as well.
That's just my opinion though, and I do understand why a lot of people who were in the system were (or are) mad at this book. You have every right to feel the way you do.
And I also want to say that my love for this book may be a bit biased, because of the circumstances I grew up in as a child, where I had an emotionally unstable, and very abusive, childhood, so the situation that these children went through, and how they were able to carve out their own piece of the world, was very cathartic to me, and I loved how they found a family in each other. I just wanted to point that out, and say once more, to all those who were affected by this book, you are very much entitled to your feelings, and have every right to feel the way you do. I also feel that we, as readers, should listen to the people who may have been hurt by this book, and are specifically from the groups affected, Asian readers, adoptee readers, and disabled readers.
Cuál es la necesidad de escribir huérfanos tan insoportables, me hace sentir mala persona que me caigan mal
I have nothing but positive things to say. This book is unusual in the most beautiful way. The characters are imperfect which makes them all the more loveable. I read all but 3 chapters in a single sitting. Definitely gives me some Lemony Snicket vibes with a little Miss Peregrine mixed in. This is my new go to recommendation for children.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Unadoptables is set in the early 20th century in Amsterdam, five babies were left on the doorstep of an orphanage where they grew up, least to be chosen to be adopted until they reach the age of 12. Milou believed that her parents would be coming back for her. Until one night, she and four of her friends, Lotta, Egg, Fena, and Sem escaped from the orphanage when they were being sold to slavery. It was a story of hope, and adventure. For some reason, the mood and atmosphere of the story reminded me of the movie, Hugo.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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:
No