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ashleyaewert's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the ending, but the middle was just confusing. Also felt that with Polly, the mom, gone the majority of the book, hearing about her return would have brought it all back together.
piperbunny's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I listened to the audio book. It was a sweet story about a blended family learning to get along with a splash of garden magic.
This wasn't the right time for me to listen to this book, I was waiting for audiobook holds to arrive so I jumped into it.
This wasn't the right time for me to listen to this book, I was waiting for audiobook holds to arrive so I jumped into it.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
Magic? or imagination? That's the question that Abi has to answer, because she seems to be finding herself actually inside books. Maybe it's the really cool old house her newly blended family has moved in to? Louis seems to have discovered the same thing, except it's his new friend/pet/protector and quite possibly an owl. By the time Max has his first experience, readers know there's Something Going On. But what, exactly, and can (should?) it be stopped are a fun journey, with just enough mystery, caper and suspense mixed in to the very real story of a family trying to figure out how to be, now that they're together.
eARC provided by publisher.
eARC provided by publisher.
healingtothemax's review against another edition
3.0
Featured read of OwlCrate Jr's middle-grade focused monthly book box, the "Lost in a Book" theme. My first by author McKay, thankfully a stand-alone, apparently a departure from her usual genre. Contemporary setting grounds a blended family whose kids (5, 12, 16) face a new home oddly magicked, absent parents, and deep emotions while being beset by "green magic"-a very feral type of magic, unexplained yet acceptable because its book-powered. Unsettling, this book pelts you with ivy-shaped scenes, mysteriously shaped by beautiful prose, connected along hidden plot arcs. Its target audience is rather murky, a rare misstep for Owlcrate Jr. The story's point-of-views shift between sections, disappearing the original bookloving diverse MC beneath an anxiety-beset younger stepbrother and a first-love besotted older stepbrother. The outcome is uncertain since there are genuinely creepy frightening scenes for younger readers. However McKay pulls off a stunningly poignant and satisfying conclusion, elevating this book into the shelf realm of "it didn't work completely for me, yet there's something uniquely magical about it, here you try it."
phyrre's review against another edition
5.0
You can read my review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
The Time of Green Magic is a gorgeous, heartwarming book about a blended family trying to learn what exactly it means to be “family,” in a new house that has its own quiet magic.
I had so many warm, fuzzy feels during this book, guys. I’m not usually one for character-driven books, but this was a quick afternoon read, and it’s just positive, light, and full of good vibes. Not going to say it’s all bright and cheery, because it’s not. These kids have been through a lot, and adjusting to their new life is anything but easy, but they just won my heart over and over again until the ending, where, I’m not gonna lie, I definitely teared up, okay? It was just too freaking sweet and perfect.
My Thoughts:
- The story focuses on a blended family (Abi and her father, who marries Louis and Max’s mother) and this is a dynamic I want to see in more middle grade books. The family dynamic brings something unique to the narrative, because being in a blended family is hard. It follows a similar trajectory as the found family trope, because even though this family doesn’t necessarily choose each other to start with, they need to learn exactly what it means to live together and, in fact, be a family. Anyone who’s been part of a blended family will know the struggle of finding your situation turned on its head and then having these small, annoying beings invading your space. Or worse, you’re forced to go invade theirs. McKay doesn’t sugar coat this struggle, but faces it head on, with all the honest clumsiness of kids trying to adjust to a new situation. I appreciated the honesty and earnestness with which this concept is handled. I loved the way McKay allowed the children this time to grow, both independently and together. The result was just breathtaking and so well done.
- These children will steal your heart, guaranteed! They’re just so stinking sweet and relatable that I can’t even with them. They all deserves hugs, every one of them.
- It isn’t just the children, though. These parents, Tom and Polly, are fabulous and doing their best, despite struggling, and attentive, loving parents in middle grade books is always magical. Tom and Polly are a united front from the very beginning, recognizing the struggles of merging their families but doing their best. McKay doesn’t shy away from the ugly realities of these struggles, either, like not being sure they can afford a new house for all of them and being forced to work late hours and run ragged to make it work. As far as I’m concerned, this is such an important aspect for middle grade books, because two working parents is such a common thing, and the way this is presented in the book is easy for children to grasp how much the parents sacrifice for their children, while simultaneously still being there. Despite working long hours, Tom and Polly still go out of their way to make time for the children, with Polly advocating for Abi and Tom reading Louis bedtime stories and taking care of Max. It was so refreshing seeing the parents fall into a normal parenting role for all the children and providing a united parental unit. This was really part of the magic of the blended family for me, that the parents try so hard to make it work, which is a fact that isn’t missed by the kids, either.
- Despite being character-driven, there’s a small air of mystery in this book as the house itself becomes almost a character, weaving small feats of magic around the family. It’s magical realism at its finest. McKay has a gorgeous writing style that sounds dreamy in its own right, which lent itself nicely to the subtle hints of magic. It comes up almost immediately at the start of the book, though it’s easily mistaken, and I enjoyed how it unfolded little by little but was never quite solid and defined. The real mystery is around Iffen, a cat-thing that Louis discovers one night that seems to appear out of nowhere. Which the adults can’t see because … of course they can’t. Adults are boring. Pfft. While Iffen is adorable, the mystery wasn’t a huge selling point for me, and it was resolved a little easily. The charm was really in watching the kids work together to solve the problem.
The Time of Green Magic is a gorgeous, heartwarming book about a blended family trying to learn what exactly it means to be “family,” in a new house that has its own quiet magic.
I had so many warm, fuzzy feels during this book, guys. I’m not usually one for character-driven books, but this was a quick afternoon read, and it’s just positive, light, and full of good vibes. Not going to say it’s all bright and cheery, because it’s not. These kids have been through a lot, and adjusting to their new life is anything but easy, but they just won my heart over and over again until the ending, where, I’m not gonna lie, I definitely teared up, okay? It was just too freaking sweet and perfect.
My Thoughts:
- The story focuses on a blended family (Abi and her father, who marries Louis and Max’s mother) and this is a dynamic I want to see in more middle grade books. The family dynamic brings something unique to the narrative, because being in a blended family is hard. It follows a similar trajectory as the found family trope, because even though this family doesn’t necessarily choose each other to start with, they need to learn exactly what it means to live together and, in fact, be a family. Anyone who’s been part of a blended family will know the struggle of finding your situation turned on its head and then having these small, annoying beings invading your space. Or worse, you’re forced to go invade theirs. McKay doesn’t sugar coat this struggle, but faces it head on, with all the honest clumsiness of kids trying to adjust to a new situation. I appreciated the honesty and earnestness with which this concept is handled. I loved the way McKay allowed the children this time to grow, both independently and together. The result was just breathtaking and so well done.
- These children will steal your heart, guaranteed! They’re just so stinking sweet and relatable that I can’t even with them. They all deserves hugs, every one of them.
- It isn’t just the children, though. These parents, Tom and Polly, are fabulous and doing their best, despite struggling, and attentive, loving parents in middle grade books is always magical. Tom and Polly are a united front from the very beginning, recognizing the struggles of merging their families but doing their best. McKay doesn’t shy away from the ugly realities of these struggles, either, like not being sure they can afford a new house for all of them and being forced to work late hours and run ragged to make it work. As far as I’m concerned, this is such an important aspect for middle grade books, because two working parents is such a common thing, and the way this is presented in the book is easy for children to grasp how much the parents sacrifice for their children, while simultaneously still being there. Despite working long hours, Tom and Polly still go out of their way to make time for the children, with Polly advocating for Abi and Tom reading Louis bedtime stories and taking care of Max. It was so refreshing seeing the parents fall into a normal parenting role for all the children and providing a united parental unit. This was really part of the magic of the blended family for me, that the parents try so hard to make it work, which is a fact that isn’t missed by the kids, either.
- Despite being character-driven, there’s a small air of mystery in this book as the house itself becomes almost a character, weaving small feats of magic around the family. It’s magical realism at its finest. McKay has a gorgeous writing style that sounds dreamy in its own right, which lent itself nicely to the subtle hints of magic. It comes up almost immediately at the start of the book, though it’s easily mistaken, and I enjoyed how it unfolded little by little but was never quite solid and defined. The real mystery is around Iffen, a cat-thing that Louis discovers one night that seems to appear out of nowhere. Which the adults can’t see because … of course they can’t. Adults are boring. Pfft. While Iffen is adorable, the mystery wasn’t a huge selling point for me, and it was resolved a little easily. The charm was really in watching the kids work together to solve the problem.
emswantree's review against another edition
4.0
I finished reading this to my 8 year old two nights ago. I really liked this book but I think it would be a better fit for 10 and older just because my son was a little confused by parts. He still loved it though and we wished we had magic ivy growing on our house. It was fun to read together.
savvymarie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
rebar351's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this cute magical middle grade about books coming to life and family!