Scan barcode
gmamartha's review against another edition
3.0
I really like this book. The tone and flow seem perfect.
vegprincess's review against another edition
3.0
I took turns reading this book out loud at bedtime with my husband. The story was cute but I found my mind wandering when it was my hubby's turn to read. I'm not much of an auditory learner, I absorb" things more readily when I read things in print myself, so I think that's why I feel like half the time I couldn't follow the storyline.
stefaniejane's review
4.0
This was a fun and scary wilderness orphan type romp. I liked the idea, some aspects better executed than others... For example the only positive adult is asleep for most of the book, never meet Carly's aunt, a little too neat in places. I enjoyed Carly herself as a protagonist. Three stars, another star for illustrations!
onceuponacarm's review against another edition
4.0
Really more like a 3.5, but my students love it so I'll round up.
Good--things unexplained are explained/mysteries revealed later on, like where the rats got instruments and how they learned to play from the moon king (page 179)
Lots of things that seem wacky come full circle--vegetables, home under the school
Interesting, enjoyable characters. Care about what happens to them, keeps you reading
Not so good--confusing/complicated plot, might be hard to remember all of the details about the many characters.
Would have liked to know more about Green's and Carly's parents lives before they died
Finding parts of stories in library books seems unlikely and too lucky. And glued together books blocking the trap door is very unrealistic--wouldn't work because someone would have noticed the glued books!
Everything wrapped up too neatly at the end. Seemed to rush the conclusion rather than allowing for a more realistic unfolding of clues and information. Altogether too convenient.
Characters--good sense of who Carly is. Inconsistency in when she was unable to stay awake seemed to change in relation to whether the author wanted her to stay awake or not for the sake of plot progression
Good character names (Breeza Meezy, Green, Kunderskool).
Good--things unexplained are explained/mysteries revealed later on, like where the rats got instruments and how they learned to play from the moon king (page 179)
Lots of things that seem wacky come full circle--vegetables, home under the school
Interesting, enjoyable characters. Care about what happens to them, keeps you reading
Not so good--confusing/complicated plot, might be hard to remember all of the details about the many characters.
Would have liked to know more about Green's and Carly's parents lives before they died
Finding parts of stories in library books seems unlikely and too lucky. And glued together books blocking the trap door is very unrealistic--wouldn't work because someone would have noticed the glued books!
Everything wrapped up too neatly at the end. Seemed to rush the conclusion rather than allowing for a more realistic unfolding of clues and information. Altogether too convenient.
Characters--good sense of who Carly is. Inconsistency in when she was unable to stay awake seemed to change in relation to whether the author wanted her to stay awake or not for the sake of plot progression
Good character names (Breeza Meezy, Green, Kunderskool).
bmg20's review against another edition
3.0
Cute and charming but definitely meant more for the Middle Grade age group. Not one that an adult Middle Grade reader could enjoy as much.
jillcd's review against another edition
3.0
Kids who love fantasy will enjoy this book. I could easily put it into the hands of several students who enjoy fairy-like fantasy and know they would appreciate the story line.
vegprincess's review
3.0
I took turns reading this book out loud at bedtime with my husband. The story was cute but I found my mind wandering when it was my hubby's turn to read. I'm not much of an auditory learner, I absorb" things more readily when I read things in print myself, so I think that's why I feel like half the time I couldn't follow the storyline.
More...