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melkelsey's review
4.0
Book 52
I listened to Guest: A Changeling Tale. It was an easy read about girl who's baby brother gets replaced with a changeling and the magical quest she embarks on to get him back.The narration was a little grating.
3.5 stars
I listened to Guest: A Changeling Tale. It was an easy read about girl who's baby brother gets replaced with a changeling and the magical quest she embarks on to get him back.The narration was a little grating.
3.5 stars
minttangle's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this book! Definitely better than anything of Mary Downing Hahn's I remember reading as a kid. It was more magical rather than paranormal and spooky, which is something I prefer. I really only dinged it for having such an unsatisfying ending. It feels like it was setting up for a sequel, but nope, this is it. I guess I'm just not the sort of person who enjoys open-ended stories!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Slavery, Torture, and Violence
lindsay1212's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
briannearnl's review
3.0
This is definitely a younger middle adult novel. But I enjoyed the influence and use of Irish culture and folklore. I feel like more background was needed for me to fully be immersed in the story, but that’s on me, not on the author. The story of bravery and love of a family was well done.
library_brandy's review
4.0
Mollie knew she shouldn't say anything positive about her baby brother, lest the Kinde Folk hear and swap him for one of theirs. She knows that the locket around his neck is meant to protect him. But it won't hurt to wear the pretty necklace herself, just for a few minutes? He's such a good baby!
The changeling child--whom they call Guest, since he's NOT staying--is a hellion. Mollie's dad left and her mom is a mess, trying to care for this hated creature and distraught over her own boy. It's up to Mollie to go to the Kinde Folk and retrieve her real brother, but the queen won't give him up easily.
This is a different kind of story from what Hahn usually writes, and I think the story is stronger for it--the ideas and the writing sound fresher than they have in her other recent books.
ARC from publisher at ALA. Thanks!
The changeling child--whom they call Guest, since he's NOT staying--is a hellion. Mollie's dad left and her mom is a mess, trying to care for this hated creature and distraught over her own boy. It's up to Mollie to go to the Kinde Folk and retrieve her real brother, but the queen won't give him up easily.
This is a different kind of story from what Hahn usually writes, and I think the story is stronger for it--the ideas and the writing sound fresher than they have in her other recent books.
ARC from publisher at ALA. Thanks!
martinhope19's review
4.0
Audio. An author I can’t recommend enough to my kiddos who love mystery/scary style middle school reads. Another fun gem! :)
marsenault13's review against another edition
4.0
deliciously creepy tale of the changeling story, when the Fae bring a child they do not want, and trade it for a lovely little human baby. Molly isn't happy about this, AMD wants her baby brother back. this is her story.
quirkybibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed that the main character was naive and acted her age. I read too many books that are meant for a younger audience in which the protagonist seems like they are an adult and it throws me off. It was refreshing to read something different as Mollie gets into a whole lot of trouble for being a child.
Something else that I liked was the way that the twists unfolded, it seemed like there was no substance to them but as I kept reading I thought differently. I thought it was great that there was an element of surprise but it didn't throw off the main course of the book. I also liked that the twists were simple enough for 5-7 graders to understand and still want to read more.
Something else that I liked was the way that the twists unfolded, it seemed like there was no substance to them but as I kept reading I thought differently. I thought it was great that there was an element of surprise but it didn't throw off the main course of the book. I also liked that the twists were simple enough for 5-7 graders to understand and still want to read more.