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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Fantasy lovers will enjoy this family adventure that is packed with other-worldly creatures like Sasquatches, witches, and Pegasus ending takes an expected turn that will surprise you.
Rick Riordan-ish, but with better much plot structure, and more beautiful written. Truly artful story telling about journeying through a fantastical world to the unknown in the name of family. A few very, very rare books make me want to have children so I can read them at bedtime, this is one of those! -Although no book in the end is that fantastic!
We love our library. I may have mentioned that before, but it is a truth that bears repeating. We have a wonderful library and the kids and I love to just browse its shelves. During a recent day off school, we made just such a trip to our library and I saw this one, My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson, sitting on the shelf just calling out to me. The cover art is beautiful and no matter how much someone tells me not to judge a book by its cover, sometimes I can't help it. This book features Gracie Lockwood, young girl living in plain, old Cliffden, Maine. You know, just the regular world with school and homework, Dairy Queen and Circle K, dragons and sasquatches. Oh, wait. That last part didn't sound right to you? Well, that is what caught my attention, too.
Gracie lives in a world that sounds exactly like us, shocking in its unremarkableness, except for the supernatural creatures that are viewed the same way we view squirrels and butterflies. Included in this strange world are dark clouds that arrive to take someone away when it is their time to die. Gracie has noticed a cloud making its way down their street and it has her concerned. Her family is sure that the cloud is coming for Gracie's sickly younger brother Sam, so in an attempt to protect him, the Lockwoods leave town. They know the cloud can follow them, but they have a plan for that. They are determined to go all the way to the edge of the world so that they can cross over into The Extraordinary World. Though most people have never heard of it, and those who have believe it is a myth, Gracie's father believes it is another dimension which they can reach after a very perilous journey across their own world. They will risk sasquatches, yetis (larger versions of sasquatches), and abominable snomen (larger versions of yetis); witches, ghosts and ghost ships, and giants. It's not your average family road trip novel, but it sure does have imagination.
I loved this book when it began. There was just something so funny about the way the ordinary was mentioned right along with the extraordinary, like when Gracie casually recalls a dragon burning down a TJ Maxx recently. No big deal. Happens all the time. As the story progressed, I did begin to get impatient and lose interest a bit and there were even times I wasn't sure I wanted to finish it, but I pressed on and by the time I reached the last few chapters, I was glad I had kept at it. Your middle grade reader would love it.
My favorite quote comes from Gracie's mother:
"Books are the way to stretch out people's souls, and I won't have children with small souls."
Gracie lives in a world that sounds exactly like us, shocking in its unremarkableness, except for the supernatural creatures that are viewed the same way we view squirrels and butterflies. Included in this strange world are dark clouds that arrive to take someone away when it is their time to die. Gracie has noticed a cloud making its way down their street and it has her concerned. Her family is sure that the cloud is coming for Gracie's sickly younger brother Sam, so in an attempt to protect him, the Lockwoods leave town. They know the cloud can follow them, but they have a plan for that. They are determined to go all the way to the edge of the world so that they can cross over into The Extraordinary World. Though most people have never heard of it, and those who have believe it is a myth, Gracie's father believes it is another dimension which they can reach after a very perilous journey across their own world. They will risk sasquatches, yetis (larger versions of sasquatches), and abominable snomen (larger versions of yetis); witches, ghosts and ghost ships, and giants. It's not your average family road trip novel, but it sure does have imagination.
I loved this book when it began. There was just something so funny about the way the ordinary was mentioned right along with the extraordinary, like when Gracie casually recalls a dragon burning down a TJ Maxx recently. No big deal. Happens all the time. As the story progressed, I did begin to get impatient and lose interest a bit and there were even times I wasn't sure I wanted to finish it, but I pressed on and by the time I reached the last few chapters, I was glad I had kept at it. Your middle grade reader would love it.
My favorite quote comes from Gracie's mother:
"Books are the way to stretch out people's souls, and I won't have children with small souls."
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I first read this book in seventh grade and loved it. It has so much fall and winter vibes, so I decided to read it again this season. And man is it still good. I don’t read a lot of middle grade anymore but this book is worth it. It kept me captivated until the end, all of the characters are so likeable and the ending is perfect. I can’t describe it in any other terms than that. Perfect. I don’t care who you are, I will recommend this to everyone.
ترکیبی از supernatural + fringe!
به نظرم گنجوندن این همه تخیل تو یه داستان، از انواع و اقسام موجودات جادویی گرفته تا نظریه ریسمان و جهانهای موازی، اصلا بد نیست. ولی نیازه که داستان با مهارت کافی نوشته و طوری پرداخت بشه که بشه جهان داستان رو معقول دونست. به نظرم اینطوری نبود :((
به نظرم گنجوندن این همه تخیل تو یه داستان، از انواع و اقسام موجودات جادویی گرفته تا نظریه ریسمان و جهانهای موازی، اصلا بد نیست. ولی نیازه که داستان با مهارت کافی نوشته و طوری پرداخت بشه که بشه جهان داستان رو معقول دونست. به نظرم اینطوری نبود :((
10 year-old me would have been obsessed with this world! Well, 27 year-old me is still pretty obsessed.
I could have read an entire series within the world alone. Why makes this book so special is it is fantasy with fantasy seeming so normal and not the point of the story. Family is the point of the story. The feels, the world building, the story. This book is one of my favorites for 2015.
I could have read an entire series within the world alone. Why makes this book so special is it is fantasy with fantasy seeming so normal and not the point of the story. Family is the point of the story. The feels, the world building, the story. This book is one of my favorites for 2015.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Since this MG novel is about a family literally running from death, (not a spoiler) I was expecting to be broken. I was not broken, but instead I was shattered.
The book made me realize that the world is beautiful and amazing, particularly the little things and the connections between family members. The book itself was so touching, bittersweet, and yet hilarious at the same time.
There were so many plot twists, each one making the characters more real and the adventure they were on more thrilling.
I can't find anything wrong with this book except it was quite long at over 400 pages, but wow, was every page worth it.
The book made me realize that the world is beautiful and amazing, particularly the little things and the connections between family members. The book itself was so touching, bittersweet, and yet hilarious at the same time.
There were so many plot twists, each one making the characters more real and the adventure they were on more thrilling.
I can't find anything wrong with this book except it was quite long at over 400 pages, but wow, was every page worth it.