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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
Really liked the more challenging parts of this book. It's difficult to balance lightheartedness with the while also engaging more serious themes, and this one does a pretty good job of giving weight to the harms endured by the characters while maintaining a hopeful tone.
First half and second half of the book were very different and had different strengths. I enjoyed the grounded examination of oppression in the first half, and the family antics in the second half. Honestly I preferred the first half, but the book was overall warm and worth reading. Really enjoy this world and hope to see more from it at some point.
First half and second half of the book were very different and had different strengths. I enjoyed the grounded examination of oppression in the first half, and the family antics in the second half. Honestly I preferred the first half, but the book was overall warm and worth reading. Really enjoy this world and hope to see more from it at some point.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved coming back to the island and these characters. Held true to the first and added some fun additions. Lucy stole the show again for me but each of the children are such fun characters only heir own right.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the sequel to The House on the Cerulean Sea. Both are simply wonderful. I didn't want it to end. I hope there's a third one in the future.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
I had a hard time pinning down my feelings on this one. It has all the right puzzle pieces - same loving characters and cute found family, humor, cozy vibes, important message about standing up for what is right, reminding parents to take care of themselves WHILE listening to their kids and their needs, and a fantastic message at its heart that minority children deserve love and protection. And best new character, FRANK!!
But somehow this didn’t hit as hard as book 1. The children are maturing, and yes they’re obviously fantastical characters, but multiple times their conversations in the book were almost outlandishly adult, far beyond their years. And then they’d oscillate back to being chaos gremlin children. Which made the plot feel a little more disordered and important conversations instead just toed the line of being repetitious, not poignant. I think also the addition of 2 new nemesis’s fell a little flat. Initially they had me balking, blood pressure rising. But quickly they felt 2 dimensional, evil for evils sake. And the lessons the children are taught as a result are verging on preachy? I dunno - I can see the love put into this book, and I absolutely see why so many are a fan! But it just missed the mark for me.
But somehow this didn’t hit as hard as book 1. The children are maturing, and yes they’re obviously fantastical characters, but multiple times their conversations in the book were almost outlandishly adult, far beyond their years. And then they’d oscillate back to being chaos gremlin children. Which made the plot feel a little more disordered and important conversations instead just toed the line of being repetitious, not poignant. I think also the addition of 2 new nemesis’s fell a little flat. Initially they had me balking, blood pressure rising. But quickly they felt 2 dimensional, evil for evils sake. And the lessons the children are taught as a result are verging on preachy? I dunno - I can see the love put into this book, and I absolutely see why so many are a fan! But it just missed the mark for me.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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