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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I think it's highly probable that I read this when I was a child - it may even have been formative in my lifelong love of time-travel stories. It's a lovely story about a boy separated from his brother because of a contagious childhood disease and how his terribly boring stay with an uncle and aunt turns into a dream-come-true (see the title).
I think I would have quite enjoyed this British award-winner when I was a kid -- child protagonist every night enters a magical garden behind his aunt & uncle's house, that seems to have existed in the past but is not there during the day, and only he can access; meets earlier inhabitants of the house there; learns some secrets. Certainly in the vein of Narnia, Phantom Tollbooth, or Secret Garden, but I like all of those better -- again, perhaps because I read them in my youth. May try reading it to my 6yo to see what she thinks, though I think the language/descriptions may be hard for her to sit through. It's kind of slow-paced, not a lot of action.
This is another 3.5 star, if that were possible. It is a very sweet kids' book, perhaps for the 9 to 12 crowd.
It starts slowly, but then it does kind of magically capture one's attention, almost against one's will!
It starts slowly, but then it does kind of magically capture one's attention, almost against one's will!
A classic for a reason; a sweet and melancholy young adult novel about dreams and memory and the passage of time.
Wow. Philip Pullman was exactly right when he said this is a perfect book. Absolutely perfect. I'm so glad I learned of it and got to read it!
It's the middle of the night and Tom can't sleep. Shipped off to his aunt and uncle's when his brother got sick, sleep has been the last thing on his mind for a while. Rather, Tom's summer has become one of waiting, with nothing to do and no one to do it with. But when a midnight walk reveals a mysterious secret, Tom realizes that his boring existence is about to change and something truly magical is about to begin...
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
inspiring
medium-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
This book was actually kind of good.
The plot twists are alright I guess, and the characters are okay, it's just that it was so sloooow. I had to force myself to finish it.
The plot is interesting, but I got bored quickly.
Like, one event/interaction takes foreveeeerrr.
All I could say is that even though it had a good plot, it's not a page turner.
I guess this wasn't the book for me.
The plot twists are alright I guess, and the characters are okay, it's just that it was so sloooow. I had to force myself to finish it.
The plot is interesting, but I got bored quickly.
Like, one event/interaction takes foreveeeerrr.
All I could say is that even though it had a good plot, it's not a page turner.
I guess this wasn't the book for me.
