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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed Charlie Bone yet! Growing up, I loved Charlie Bone ever so slightly more than Harry Potter. There are so many characters to fall in love with and it’s such a fantastic story. I hunted down all 8 volumes and while they’re all different editions, they no longer print them so it’s what I have to make do with.
If you have a kid slightly too young for Harry Potter (the later books are rather dark and violent), then this is always the first series I recommend.
Edit 10/9/2024:
I still absolutely love this series! I love the writing, the atmosphere, the plots! So happy to be rereading!
If you have a kid slightly too young for Harry Potter (the later books are rather dark and violent), then this is always the first series I recommend.
Edit 10/9/2024:
I still absolutely love this series! I love the writing, the atmosphere, the plots! So happy to be rereading!
when u figure out a childhood fave is actually not well written at all :(
Revisiting these books since I first read these as a kid and they still hold up. Still obviously meant for middle grade but very charming writing style and being back with these characters feels like home. I feel like more people need to read these. The magic and lore is so fun here!!
Harry Potter carbon copy in many ways, but less compelling and therefore easier to read. And although the scenario is HP almost to the life, there are some nice twists, and the whole point of the story (and the series) is quite different. Lots of fun, quirky characters, little silly bits of fun, and although there are some very nasty characters, no one as nasty as the Dursleys (although Charlie's female paternal relatives are pretty ghastly) or as evil as Voldemort. Magic in Charlie's world is both a smaller and a more normal thing than in HP's. People have magical talents that allow them to do one magical thing (Charlie can talk to people in photographs and pictures, his friend Gabriel feels emotions in used clothing), but most people don't have the magic, and the non-magical both know all about and don't think much of the magic. There's no non-magical underclass here, which is kind of nice. Also nice is that Charlie shows no sign of ditching his non-magical best friend, Benjamin Brown, even after Charlie discovers his magic and has to start going to the sinister Bloor's Academy with the other magical descendants of the mythical Red King. As a person who's always hoped to stumble upon some real magic, I firmly support this sort of interweaving of magical and normal life. Has anyone else ever wondered what it would be like to be a Muggle who liked fantasy? Miserable, it seems to me.
This was a good read aloud with my kids. The meanness of his aunts bothered me and the school was dark, but the story was compelling and my kids were anxious to keep reading. I don't feel the need to continue the series but my kids probably will.
A fun story, filled with what middle grade readers tend to enjoy: adventure, being different, kids saving the day, all coupled with mean adults that are out of touch. As long as you don't go into it thinking, "this is the next Harry Potter!", you will enjoy this book. In fact, I would recommend this for audiences too young for the dark, and sometimes graphic, world of HP.
Interesting series! Definitely looking forward to reading the rest of these!
adventurous
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The pacing of the book and the slow gathering of knowledge just makes it so hard to put this book down.
When I was younger my mom didn’t let me read Harry Potter (lololol) and so I would sneak this series from the library as a substitute. Last week I had a sudden urge to reread the series and find out how Charlie fared. Definitely similar themes to HP, but less fleshed our and overall less “magical”. Definitely on the younger end of the YA spectrum, but fun nonetheless.
this book sorta freaked me out. I tried it when i was in 4th or 5th grade so maybe i would like it now....