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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
A few of my students recommended these books to me. I'm glad I finally picked up the first one! This will likely appeal to Harry Potter fans, as it is also set in an English boarding school (though the kids come home for weekends) and is for students who are gifted in the arts or in some otherworldly way. Charlie begins attending Bloor's Academy when his creepy grandmother and aunts discover he can hear photographs--a sort of ESP that allows him to listen to what was being said just before a photo was taken. Weird talent, but it's enough to get him into Bloor's. Along the way, he discovers a mystery involving hypnotism, a missing girl, his presumed-dead father, the school, a nice bookstore owner, and his ancestors. It's a fun, magical adventure (though not as pronounced in the fantasy elements as Harry Potter) accompanied by good friends, both new and old. Recommended for 3rd-7th graders.
This book is so nostalgic for me. I loved it as a kid when it first came out, but my ability to wait for sequels to come out was non-existent so I never read past book 2. I like the group of friends Charlie ends up with. I like that the whole book isn't from Charlie's perspective so we can see what's happening when he's not around. I hope that in future books we get to see more details about classes at school and not just when he's talking to his friends between classes or during mealtime.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Read this to my kids at bedtime for a few weeks. Was nostalgic for me but some words and situations didn’t age well. Very cute mystery in a magic school/alternative to Happy Potter.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent
I liked this but I think I would've liked this a whole lot more if I was a child.
Amazing. Read it in just a few hours this time. Love this book.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
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