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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Wild and wonderful while still being packed with life lessons
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have always been a planner. My life changed when I started using a weekly print planner and I never looked back. Being organized and thoughtful about tasks and time is freeing for me -- so a children's book that took those same elements and made them such a negative straight out of the gate felt like a bitter pill to swallow. I understand that there is a tiger mom trend to over schedule children, but this felt as if I were being beat over the head with it. I made it about 100 pages in during the ride home on Thanksgiving, but by the time we hit the bridge, I still wasn't digging it and decided to cut my losses. I see shades of Alice in Wonderland and The Phantom Tollbooth in plot design and details.
I didn’t love this book, not like I loved Phantom Tollbooth. I feel like there was a little bit too much set up, coupled with Penelope not being a very dynamic main character made this whole book feel flat and contrived. I really wasn’t a fan of how her ‘magic’ worked, to avoid a dreadful bore you needed to hum, and to get rid of him you just had to yell ‘interesting’ words at him. Also I didn’t like that she didn’t know what certain words meant even though her parents had her on a really tight studying schedule which included pre-pre SAT prep or whatever. It just seems that someone who is being pushed to the limits on school work would know words like –Anomaly… perhaps that is just me? For girls 5th grade on up looking for a fantasy world that is about slowing down, and taking time to be creative.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Just a fun silly little book! Love it! (The beginning is kinda boring but once you get to the actually fun silly little part it’s great)
The book was a pleasant read and I like the illustrations and the value placed on imagination and wondering and wandering (also known as moodling). I got a bit lost in all the time terms and play on worlds felt a bit forced, but over all an ok read.
"The only time you can spend is the time you have right now. And the time you have right now is all the time in the world. Time isn't precious, Penelope. You are. As long as you remember that, you're sure to use it wisely."
Reading this book was like revisiting The Phantom Tollbooth, one of my favorite books in elementary and early middle school. It's fanciful, full of wordplay, and a chance to pause and think about our preconceived notions of--and obsession with--time. It may be children's level chapter book, but it holds just as much food for thoughts for adults.
Reading this book was like revisiting The Phantom Tollbooth, one of my favorite books in elementary and early middle school. It's fanciful, full of wordplay, and a chance to pause and think about our preconceived notions of--and obsession with--time. It may be children's level chapter book, but it holds just as much food for thoughts for adults.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fun! Kinda like a cross between "Alice in Wonderland" and "A Wrinkle in Time." The play on words were very clever.