Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
A brilliant children's fable from someone who is primarily a horror writer, though this is no more shocking than Jhonen Vasqez making a children's cartoon.
I am always in the lookout for books that give me Coraline vibes and this one did it! I absolutely loved it! It was a story about good and evil and was so creepy and magical. It even included illustrations that gave me the shivers and made me smile.
I had to read this book 3 times to fully appreciate it, because it’s honestly just not the sort of literature I tend to enjoy. However, this novel was chosen as our classroom read aloud, and I read it to two classes of fifth graders who ADORED it. They couldn’t bear for me to stop reading and begged me to read “just one more chapter” every single day.
It’s creepy and wonderful if you like to get a bit of thrill out of your reading. The main character, Harvey, is somewhat insufferable towards the beginning and undergoes significant character development throughout the course of the story. The Thief of Always is clever, with a quick wit and beautiful (though chilling) descriptive language.
I did personally find the ending to be somewhat quick and not as challenging as I would have liked. It felt almost too easy. However, I do think, after now having read it fully three times, that it is definitely a special book with a very touching theme about love & family, small criticisms aside!
It’s creepy and wonderful if you like to get a bit of thrill out of your reading. The main character, Harvey, is somewhat insufferable towards the beginning and undergoes significant character development throughout the course of the story. The Thief of Always is clever, with a quick wit and beautiful (though chilling) descriptive language.
I did personally find the ending to be somewhat quick and not as challenging as I would have liked. It felt almost too easy. However, I do think, after now having read it fully three times, that it is definitely a special book with a very touching theme about love & family, small criticisms aside!
3.5 This is one of those stories that sticks with you long after the pages have ended. My students and I enjoyed this one. A unique way to showcase the moral of treasuring time.
I'd say it's right up there with Coraline, since it's billed as a children's book. Nothing hurt the kids badly enough to actually bother me. (Helen's #1 rule. No one hurts the babies!)
To be honest, I haven't read any Barker books outside of Abarat. I see now that's a mistake I could easily change! Abarat is my second, fictional home, and a series I have read so much my paperbacks are falling apart! It was nice to see a new book with the same voice and drawings. I was tempted to knock it down a star because it wasn't Abarat but this is a book I'll be recommending to patrons. Even the children who ask for "scary books".
The story is about 10 year old Harvey who finds his way to a magical house thanks to the power of bordum. A mysterious Mr. Hood grants him everything his heart desires but then more sinister intentions begin to reveal themselves.
To be honest, I haven't read any Barker books outside of Abarat. I see now that's a mistake I could easily change! Abarat is my second, fictional home, and a series I have read so much my paperbacks are falling apart! It was nice to see a new book with the same voice and drawings. I was tempted to knock it down a star because it wasn't Abarat but this is a book I'll be recommending to patrons. Even the children who ask for "scary books".
The story is about 10 year old Harvey who finds his way to a magical house thanks to the power of bordum. A mysterious Mr. Hood grants him everything his heart desires but then more sinister intentions begin to reveal themselves.
This reads as a darker and slightly higher reading level than a goosebumps book, but with the always amazing writing style of Clive Barker. If you are a fan of children's horror this is a must read. I don't really want to say anything else because I feel like I will spoil something. Just know I expected to read this over a week, but I finished it in two days! It was just that good!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This book was a very quick read (completed in about 4 days' time). Clive Barker did an amazing job with the imagery in this book. At every turn, you can practically hear, feel, see, and touch everything that Harvey Swick comes across.
For anyone looking for a light, quick read, this is highly recommended.
For anyone looking for a light, quick read, this is highly recommended.