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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
Charming. An enjoyable journey of a younger sister trying to find her passion. Aventurine determined that chocolate is it, but what about when we fail? We get back up!
So this is what you get if you mash up Jo Walton's Tooth & Claw and Joanne Harris' Chocolat, drop it in a faintly Germanic setting and warm carefully to a bubble. Very nicely done! The main character is immediately and immensely likeable (I know a number of feisty Y5-7s just like her!) and the supporting characters are well-defined. You want to know their backstory too, which is a depth you sometimes don't get in MG. And those supporting characters are racially diverse without any fanfare - they just *are*, and it's brilliant.
Another one for the school library wishlist!
Another one for the school library wishlist!
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
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:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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:
Yes
A fun, light-hearted read that doesn't try to do anything boisterous and epic, but doesn't suffer because of it. It's the type of book that you can read in just a couple sittings, smile, and wish you, too, could become an apprentice chocolatier.
The only time is stumbles is at the very end. Adults in middle grade novels tend to be stupid so I expect that, but at the end of the novel, the adults were so stupid and the protagonist so dense that it felt more frustrating than triumphant. Likewise, it also wrapped itself up a little too nicely for my taste, but that's not something I think should be held against the book.
The only time is stumbles is at the very end. Adults in middle grade novels tend to be stupid so I expect that, but at the end of the novel, the adults were so stupid and the protagonist so dense that it felt more frustrating than triumphant. Likewise, it also wrapped itself up a little too nicely for my taste, but that's not something I think should be held against the book.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
This book was so much fun to read. I loved the humor of Adventurine trying to navigate the human world. I loved the chocolatier part of the story. I thought it had a great plot first with Adventurine trying to learn the ins and outs of the human world, then with learning it is okay to make mistakes, then with the situation between her family and the kingdom. I felt the pacing was really good with the story moving along nicely. I loved the ending itself and really look forward to continuing the series.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes