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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
3.5. I ended up with an annotated (by the author) version, which felt more distracting than helpful for me.
Ms. Messenger has created a world of elves unlike any other out there. Sophie's schism between her childhood and the new reality reads so true that you find yourself sucked into every nuanced emotion. How WOULD a pre-teen react to finding herself no longer the stunning "prodigy" among older teenagers - now an ordinary prodigy in a school of prodigies? The tangled threads and questions pile up, with Ms. Messenger allowing very few of the answers to escape her grasp. True, many of Sophie's peers fall into expected school tropes, but they're a slight step above cardboard. (And, honestly, for a Young Reader's book, what would one expect?) The absurd opulence and the system of "work" in the elven world creates a stumbling block that's difficult to swallow and comprehend, though it creates a stark contrast to Sophie's human upbringing. With a number of books remaining in the series, I can assume Ms. Messenger has plenty left to explore.
Lots of fun and adventure for middle grade readers. Friendship, drama, all the it factors are there. Plus Messenger keeps you on the edge of your seat with all the questions you will have about her mysterious main character in this beautiful, amazing world she has created.
I read this with my Battle of the Books team, who loved it. And I can absolutely see the appeal for eleven-year-old girls: young girl is suddenly swept away to a secret magical land by a cute boy and discovers she has telepathic powers? 5th grade me probably would be all over that. But as an adult, it was hard to look past all the tropes and MELODRAMA. Also, why were all the cool, funny, or wise characters male?? Sofie has multiple mentors/role models/special relationships throughout the story and they are all male. The female characters are often depicted as catty, unapproachable, or flat and boring.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have heard this book called "a version of Harry Potter if Hermione had been the main character" and while that's not toootally accurate in my opinion, it's a very similar feeling middle grade story with a fabulous main character. She's intelligent and flawed and appropriately (12-13) aged in the way she's written (rather than a character who's totally written like an adult but is supposed to be 12 or some such nonsense) - just an overall great read.
4.5 star out of 5.
I didn’t think I enjoy this book very much and boy was i wrong after the few first chapters I literally couldn’t put it down.this book follows Sophie who can hear other people thoughts and has photographic memory,she is been hiding her whole life until one day a boy named Fitz finds her and she learns she is an elf and there is a whole society of other creatures living besides humans.she is transferred to their world to live there and go to school to learn,her human family are made to forget her.she learns many things about herself.she finds out that probably a group called Black Swan engineered her birth and her talent to use her agains the council who rules the elves.the Supporting characters are her friends that are Dex(who i loved),Fitz,Biana(Fitz’s sister),Kefee(who is hilarious),Grady and Edaline(who adopt Sophie and who have lost a daughter already), and Fitz’ father who I didn’t liked very much beacuse i feel that he is manipulating Sophie in his own way.
All in all a delightful suprise.i checked and there are about 6 other books in the series with 2 other on the way,YaY.I am going to read the second book right after this.
I didn’t think I enjoy this book very much and boy was i wrong after the few first chapters I literally couldn’t put it down.this book follows Sophie who can hear other people thoughts and has photographic memory,she is been hiding her whole life until one day a boy named Fitz finds her and she learns she is an elf and there is a whole society of other creatures living besides humans.she is transferred to their world to live there and go to school to learn,her human family are made to forget her.she learns many things about herself.she finds out that probably a group called Black Swan engineered her birth and her talent to use her agains the council who rules the elves.the Supporting characters are her friends that are Dex(who i loved),Fitz,Biana(Fitz’s sister),Kefee(who is hilarious),Grady and Edaline(who adopt Sophie and who have lost a daughter already), and Fitz’ father who I didn’t liked very much beacuse i feel that he is manipulating Sophie in his own way.
All in all a delightful suprise.i checked and there are about 6 other books in the series with 2 other on the way,YaY.I am going to read the second book right after this.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hmmmm... chosen one with powerful magic, goes to a magical school and has to do exams and makes loads of friends and everyone is in love with her...
I just feel like I've seen it all before. And it was kind of boring.
I just feel like I've seen it all before. And it was kind of boring.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Complicated