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moonyreadsbystarlight's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was really fun and adventurous with an interesting mystery, but also hits on some important issues, including mental health and the environment. The condundrum of being the eldest daughter and chronic people pleaser hit a little too close to home, but (being vauge to avoid spoilers) how things ended up and the moral around that was really good and kind of cathartic.
Overall, thus was fun, had a lot of heart, and some important messages.
Overall, thus was fun, had a lot of heart, and some important messages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Mental illness
Minor: Animal cruelty
Accidental misgenderingbibliobrittish's review
5.0
This one’s going down as a heart book. I can’t even put thoughts together properly but wow
msghani's review
5.0
I adored this delightful, warm, and spooky MG. Tennie reminded me so much of my younger self. Hand this to kids that love a funny, ghostly Southern tale of family, friends, and courage.
jessoehrlein's review
3.0
Really loved Tennie and her arc here, and I like Fox a lot as a character, too! There was some pacing here that I didn't love, though, both for their friendship and the full plot of the book.
The queerness here isn't a big focus, and I like we're to the point where we can have casually queer middle grade books! Tennie is bi+ (no label iirc), and Fox is nonbinary.
The queerness here isn't a big focus, and I like we're to the point where we can have casually queer middle grade books! Tennie is bi+ (no label iirc), and Fox is nonbinary.
dnnorfleet's review
3.0
Honestly, I thought the topics were handled well given the material. The only thing that really drove me nuts were the many metaphors layered throughout the story that bridged stereotypical when it came to Southerners. Now, having lived in Kentucky and visiting the deep south, sure--SOMETIMES. I still just couldn't get into the story when a metaphor popped up and I groaned at how cliche/cringey it was to me.
The metaphors also seemed shoehorned in, so they often took my out of the story. I really think this just comes as a preference with writing.
The metaphors also seemed shoehorned in, so they often took my out of the story. I really think this just comes as a preference with writing.
grace_ace's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? No
5.0
katymul's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
This is a pitch perfect middle grade novel. Tennie's desperation to smooth over every struggle in her family feels achingly real, and her budding friendship with Fox is rendered in a more complex and thoughtful way than most new friendship-as-rescue arcs. We get just enough to know that Fox has their own life struggles that pre-exist Tennie and deserve just as much consideration as Tennie's more ever-present concerns as the narrator. The magical elements are spooky but mostly emotional and moving, and the balance of the story is remarkable.
I was initially a bit concerned about the ending, at least as I read through the book and saw how quickly the number of pages left in the book was shrinking. "How can a full climax and resolution happen in the remaining pages?" I remember thinking. But what could have felt like an anticlimax instead hammers home the message that Tennie's outsized fear of "bothering" her family with her needs is an unnecessary fear. Not only does the world not end, but when everyone pulls together, the resolution can happen faster than Tennie (or I as the reader) imagined.
Beautiful, meticulously crafted, wonderful.
I was initially a bit concerned about the ending, at least as I read through the book and saw how quickly the number of pages left in the book was shrinking. "How can a full climax and resolution happen in the remaining pages?" I remember thinking. But what could have felt like an anticlimax instead hammers home the message that Tennie's outsized fear of "bothering" her family with her needs is an unnecessary fear. Not only does the world not end, but when everyone pulls together, the resolution can happen faster than Tennie (or I as the reader) imagined.
Beautiful, meticulously crafted, wonderful.
2nd2lastunicorn's review
5.0
Tennessee has a gift - she can pull memories from the objects she touches and with her chaotic family she keeps her ability a secret and tries to keep the peace no matter the cost to her. When she ends up at her Mimsy’s house for a week to help clear out some old things of her Poppy’s, she encounters ghosts alongside her only friend Fox who can hear the ghosts as well. Together they try to discover what is happening in their little town of Howler’s Hollow.
A great spooky season story of friendship, grief, loss, finding yourself and standing up for what you need even if it’s the hardest thing. Did get a little too spooky for me personally occasionally but I’m easily spooked
A great spooky season story of friendship, grief, loss, finding yourself and standing up for what you need even if it’s the hardest thing. Did get a little too spooky for me personally occasionally but I’m easily spooked
i_will_papercut_a_bish's review
5.0
I'm so excited to share this book with my readers! You're lovely people, and I hope it makes you smile.
krwriter8's review
5.0
A little bit spooky, a little bit magical and full of heart. Tennie is one of the most relatable and realistic MG characters I've read, and I super appreciated the story of a family struggling with money through the eyes of a young person. It also has great rep with a nonbinary character. And of course, Tennie's ability to see people's memories by touching their belongings was really cool and the creepy factor was done just right and not too scary for this age group.