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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
The audiobook is read by Jayne Entwhistle and she's such a delight. Really cute middle grade.
Before reading, I read some very ranty reviews comparing this book to Harry Potter and shouting about knock offs and stolen ideas, and y'all, I am just not seeing it. As I listened, I tried hard to pay attention to any Potteresque similarities, and I just couldn't find any. This isn't a magic school story and the world felt very original and inventive to me! (Edited to add: I'm listening to book two now and I can see the Potter inspiration a bit more. Still, it's a very different world and I wouldn't call it a ripoff at all.)
In this story, there is a secret part of London called Lundinor. It's underground and it's a giant, hidden market where magical people come together to negotiate various trades. There are very funny "uncommon" uses of every day objects: toilet brushes (the police force carry them!), bells (they can talk!), black feathers (they write messages in the air), candles (can make you invisible), and suitcases (climb into and emerge in a far away place). The idea behind "uncommoners" (magical people) and their uncommon objects was such a wonderful idea, I wish I'd thought of it myself... especially the toilet brushes, ha ha.
Our heroine is Ivy Sparrows, age 11, and her older brother, Seb. Their parents aren't dead (wonders never cease!) but they work a lot and are often out of town. As the story starts, Ivy and Seb are being cared for by their grandmother, but she'd had a fall and they travel with her to the hospital. Grandma has a mysterious case of amnesia and can't remember most of her childhood. She has a few keepsakes from the time before, one of which is a gold bracelet. The bracelet has to be cut off for medical purposes and this sets off the events of the novel.
Ivy and her brother don't get along particularly well, but love each other deep down. It's fun to watch them grow closer and learn to respect one another as the story progresses. I loved the rest of the characters, too. Everyone felt very well rounded & developed. Scratch is my favorite, especially the way Entwhistle narrated his backward speaking mannerisms. So cute.
Some fun twists and exciting lead ins to the next book which I already have queued up and ready to go.
Before reading, I read some very ranty reviews comparing this book to Harry Potter and shouting about knock offs and stolen ideas, and y'all, I am just not seeing it. As I listened, I tried hard to pay attention to any Potteresque similarities, and I just couldn't find any. This isn't a magic school story and the world felt very original and inventive to me! (Edited to add: I'm listening to book two now and I can see the Potter inspiration a bit more. Still, it's a very different world and I wouldn't call it a ripoff at all.)
In this story, there is a secret part of London called Lundinor. It's underground and it's a giant, hidden market where magical people come together to negotiate various trades. There are very funny "uncommon" uses of every day objects: toilet brushes (the police force carry them!), bells (they can talk!), black feathers (they write messages in the air), candles (can make you invisible), and suitcases (climb into and emerge in a far away place). The idea behind "uncommoners" (magical people) and their uncommon objects was such a wonderful idea, I wish I'd thought of it myself... especially the toilet brushes, ha ha.
Our heroine is Ivy Sparrows, age 11, and her older brother, Seb. Their parents aren't dead (wonders never cease!) but they work a lot and are often out of town. As the story starts, Ivy and Seb are being cared for by their grandmother, but she'd had a fall and they travel with her to the hospital. Grandma has a mysterious case of amnesia and can't remember most of her childhood. She has a few keepsakes from the time before, one of which is a gold bracelet. The bracelet has to be cut off for medical purposes and this sets off the events of the novel.
Ivy and her brother don't get along particularly well, but love each other deep down. It's fun to watch them grow closer and learn to respect one another as the story progresses. I loved the rest of the characters, too. Everyone felt very well rounded & developed. Scratch is my favorite, especially the way Entwhistle narrated his backward speaking mannerisms. So cute.
Some fun twists and exciting lead ins to the next book which I already have queued up and ready to go.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had such a fun and unique world! Beautiful illustrations too!
if you feel like reading harry potter but doesn’t want to support jk rowling then read this series !
4⭐️
On the cover, it says “part Tim Burton, part J.K. Rowling”. I think that’s a perfect description of this novel. Take the first Harry Potter book, when young Harry discovers the magical world and all its wonders, add a bit of Burton’s signature creepiness and you’ll have The Uncommoners.
There are many similarities between the uncommoners and the wozarding worlds. Lundinor is some sort of city-wide Diagon Alley, where trading replaces money. There are 4 Grandmasters, as there are 4 Hogwarts houses. Some uncommoners hate commoners (also called ‘muckers’), much like some pure blood wizards hated muggles. But all those similarities take nothing from the magic of Jennifer Bell’s book. If anything, it made me want to read more, to see how she would stray away from the wizarding world.
The only major downside was the lack of diversity. The Crooked Sixpence begins in the UK and ends in Lundinor, where people from all over the world gather. It sounds impossible to me that every single character they meet is white and abled. There is zero hint that any character is anything but cis, white and abled. In fact, when the warrant goes up in the beginning, there is not even a mention of Ivy and Seb’s ethnicity, as if they obviously have to be white. Since there is no romantic plot, I can’t say if sexual diversity could be explored in further books, but there is no hint of it so far, either (not even as a kid having parents of the same gender). Other than this, I consider this book near perfect and would recommend it without a doubt to young readers who want a magical world (although, according to Valian, there is no magic involved).
On the cover, it says “part Tim Burton, part J.K. Rowling”. I think that’s a perfect description of this novel. Take the first Harry Potter book, when young Harry discovers the magical world and all its wonders, add a bit of Burton’s signature creepiness and you’ll have The Uncommoners.
There are many similarities between the uncommoners and the wozarding worlds. Lundinor is some sort of city-wide Diagon Alley, where trading replaces money. There are 4 Grandmasters, as there are 4 Hogwarts houses. Some uncommoners hate commoners (also called ‘muckers’), much like some pure blood wizards hated muggles. But all those similarities take nothing from the magic of Jennifer Bell’s book. If anything, it made me want to read more, to see how she would stray away from the wizarding world.
The only major downside was the lack of diversity. The Crooked Sixpence begins in the UK and ends in Lundinor, where people from all over the world gather. It sounds impossible to me that every single character they meet is white and abled. There is zero hint that any character is anything but cis, white and abled. In fact, when the warrant goes up in the beginning, there is not even a mention of Ivy and Seb’s ethnicity, as if they obviously have to be white. Since there is no romantic plot, I can’t say if sexual diversity could be explored in further books, but there is no hint of it so far, either (not even as a kid having parents of the same gender). Other than this, I consider this book near perfect and would recommend it without a doubt to young readers who want a magical world (although, according to Valian, there is no magic involved).
Amazing! Once I really got into the story I had trouble putting it down. As soon as it finished I wanted to read the next one.
I really enjoyed diving into this world and learning the ways of the Uncommoners. I also like the mystery aspect of this book along with the magic and there were a few twists that surprised me. It was always great when you came across a drawing in the book, it just gives it a little extra touch. I am excited to continue on with this series in the future.
An exciting read. If you like miss peregrine , Harry Potter or lemony sniket you will enjoy this book. Objects holding magical qualities rather than people.
Read- July 2019 for The Book Junkie Trials (The Drowning Deep) and Reading Rush (read an authors first book)
- This was a book that I have wanted to read for such a long time and I don't even know why. I never even knew the plot of the book before I started it but I've just always wanted to read it and now I finally have. I honestly did really enjoy this book (as we all know, a 3 star rating isn't bad) but there was just a few things that felt off to me.
The world building really wasn't great, I found myself getting confused so many times with how the world works. Also the plot was quite confusing and difficult to keep track of at times. However, by the end of the book I felt like I really got to grips with the world and the plot so I'm very excited to jump into the next book because I feel like it will be an easier read.
- This was a book that I have wanted to read for such a long time and I don't even know why. I never even knew the plot of the book before I started it but I've just always wanted to read it and now I finally have. I honestly did really enjoy this book (as we all know, a 3 star rating isn't bad) but there was just a few things that felt off to me.
The world building really wasn't great, I found myself getting confused so many times with how the world works. Also the plot was quite confusing and difficult to keep track of at times. However, by the end of the book I felt like I really got to grips with the world and the plot so I'm very excited to jump into the next book because I feel like it will be an easier read.
I really wanted to like The Crooked Sixpence. I mean, it has a blurb from the author of The School for Good and Evil, which is a book I really enjoyed (despite not being a huge fan of middle grade novels) AND it's being compared to JK Rowling. I thought I would enjoy this one. Unfortunately for me, this didn't really happen.
The Good: I thought Ivy was feisty and I really like that in a heroine. The world building in The Crooked Sixpence was extremely elaborate and very few aspects were brushed off. You really do get to know the world of Ludinor.
The Not-so-good: The pacing in The Crooked Sixpence is all over the place. There are a few parts in this book that were engaging and off-putting (in a good way), but there were way more parts where the pacing lags. I spent most of this book wishing that the pace would pick back up so that I wouldn't be so bored. I never felt like that happened. I never really clicked with what was happening. Another thing that bothered me was Ivy. While I liked her feisty nature, she never really screamed 11 year old to me. She was written in a way where she seemed much older. Not in a precocious way, but rather in a way where you start to think "This isn't just your smart/mature for her age 11 year old. This is someone who's not really 11."
Overall, I wasn't a big fan of The Crooked Sixpence. I was bored throughout and thought that the book lagged quite a bit.
The Good: I thought Ivy was feisty and I really like that in a heroine. The world building in The Crooked Sixpence was extremely elaborate and very few aspects were brushed off. You really do get to know the world of Ludinor.
The Not-so-good: The pacing in The Crooked Sixpence is all over the place. There are a few parts in this book that were engaging and off-putting (in a good way), but there were way more parts where the pacing lags. I spent most of this book wishing that the pace would pick back up so that I wouldn't be so bored. I never felt like that happened. I never really clicked with what was happening. Another thing that bothered me was Ivy. While I liked her feisty nature, she never really screamed 11 year old to me. She was written in a way where she seemed much older. Not in a precocious way, but rather in a way where you start to think "This isn't just your smart/mature for her age 11 year old. This is someone who's not really 11."
Overall, I wasn't a big fan of The Crooked Sixpence. I was bored throughout and thought that the book lagged quite a bit.