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arp363's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful story of the magic of girls who come together to support each other. Identical twins, Iris and Lark, are entering the 5th grade having been placed in separate classrooms for the first time. They must then learn to stand on their own and navigate separate worlds.
kristio114's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this book was really good, but the ending took it to the next level for me! Without revealing any details, I’ll just say that this book is full of girl power and how girls are even more powerful when they lift each other up instead of tearing each other down. This book has a strong message about identity, particularly related to young girls on the cusp of being teenagers. I loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone, but particularly girls or parents of young girls.
chaoticreadingclub's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookdragon_library's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the few books I’ve read that is set in MN. I really liked the historical tidbits of area attractions like the Walker and the Zoo. It was a good relationship book about the twins growing up and trying to gain separate identities and what is or isn’t working for them. It touches on anxiety and co-dependence.
Has a creepy-scary-mystery-magical vibe to it.
Has a creepy-scary-mystery-magical vibe to it.
samantha_randolph's review against another edition
3.0
What I Loved:
While there are many things to love about THE LOST GIRL, my personal favorite is how Ursu captures the frustration of being a kid in an 'adult' world. There are so many times Iris and Lark try to talk to the adults in their lives (parents, teachers, etc.) and are quickly dismissed just because they are children. There were moments when I was practically shaking the book in anger because no one was taking them seriously. Young readers will find much to relate to in Iris and Lark, and I strongly recommend adults read this one too to remember what it was like at their age.
I also enjoyed how Iris and Lark have to learn to set boundaries with each other. As twins, they have done the majority of life activities together, and when that gets shaken, they have to face some problems in their relationship. It shows that no matter how much you love someone, you have to give them room to grow and make mistakes, even when you think you know what's best for them.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While I love the characters, the plot moves a bit slowly for my taste. The thread of magic throughout the novel also went from light to suddenly heavy at the very end, and I thought the build up could have been more progressive. However, I think readers who like more character-focused middle grade books won't mind either concern.
Final Verdict:
While I found the plot sometimes lacking, THE LOST GIRL is ultimately a fierce novel that explores the frustration of not being respected just because you're a kid, the importance of setting boundaries, and the power of sisterly love.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/23720-the-lost-girl
While there are many things to love about THE LOST GIRL, my personal favorite is how Ursu captures the frustration of being a kid in an 'adult' world. There are so many times Iris and Lark try to talk to the adults in their lives (parents, teachers, etc.) and are quickly dismissed just because they are children. There were moments when I was practically shaking the book in anger because no one was taking them seriously. Young readers will find much to relate to in Iris and Lark, and I strongly recommend adults read this one too to remember what it was like at their age.
I also enjoyed how Iris and Lark have to learn to set boundaries with each other. As twins, they have done the majority of life activities together, and when that gets shaken, they have to face some problems in their relationship. It shows that no matter how much you love someone, you have to give them room to grow and make mistakes, even when you think you know what's best for them.
What Left Me Wanting More:
While I love the characters, the plot moves a bit slowly for my taste. The thread of magic throughout the novel also went from light to suddenly heavy at the very end, and I thought the build up could have been more progressive. However, I think readers who like more character-focused middle grade books won't mind either concern.
Final Verdict:
While I found the plot sometimes lacking, THE LOST GIRL is ultimately a fierce novel that explores the frustration of not being respected just because you're a kid, the importance of setting boundaries, and the power of sisterly love.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/23720-the-lost-girl
turtlewexler's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this book. I read it in one day. And now I want to give this book to every girl child and every woman I know. I want you to read it. It's magical, but not *just* magical.
mrwyzlic's review against another edition
5.0
Anne Ursu is a gift to the world. This book is a tremendous, distinguished contribution to children’s literature.
lizpatanders's review against another edition
4.0
The Lost Girl is a dark story in some ways, but ultimately the ending is uplifting.
In this story, Iris thinks a lot about what she means to her sister Lark. She considers herself Lark's protector. However, Iris so engrossed in these questions that the question of what she means to Lark causes her to unravel.
Ursu doesn't shy away from how complicated love between family and friends can be. Another part that rung true for me is that she also acknowledges that finding a group of supportive women can sometimes be complicated. She also gets into the fact that we misjudge people initially.
The Lost Girl has a lot of great symbolism in it, and this especially is true with the magic. The magic is what makes this story stand out from other books about siblings.
There were a couple of elements to this story that just a little bit too neat. Regardless, this is still a great story about unlikeable girls, and about girls reading relationships with each other, and I'm eager to hand it off to middle grade readers.
In this story, Iris thinks a lot about what she means to her sister Lark. She considers herself Lark's protector. However, Iris so engrossed in these questions that the question of what she means to Lark causes her to unravel.
Ursu doesn't shy away from how complicated love between family and friends can be. Another part that rung true for me is that she also acknowledges that finding a group of supportive women can sometimes be complicated. She also gets into the fact that we misjudge people initially.
The Lost Girl has a lot of great symbolism in it, and this especially is true with the magic. The magic is what makes this story stand out from other books about siblings.
There were a couple of elements to this story that just a little bit too neat. Regardless, this is still a great story about unlikeable girls, and about girls reading relationships with each other, and I'm eager to hand it off to middle grade readers.
thepurplegiraffe's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars for now. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.