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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
Charming read and I really liked Cornelia. This is what my students would term a "girl" read - charming and low key. But every little girl (or boy) should have a Virginia Somerset in his or her life. A caring adult who understands loneliness and can weave tales of interest and daring do from an earlier time.
I really enjoyed this story about a precocious 11 year old with a love of words. She feels ignored by her a mother, a world-famous concert pianist. Cornelia befriends a new neighbor, Virginia Somerset. Virginia tells her tales of her youth and adventures she had with her sisters in foreign countries. Through their friendship, Cornelia learns to give others a chance, and to see life as an adventure. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoyed The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall.
Loved this book! This book has great adventures with the sisters around the world. Cornelia is the character that will touch your heart and will inspire to have an adventure of your own!!!!!!!!!!
Helaina Trevino
Helaina Trevino
There will be a last time that I read each of my childhood favorite books, and I realized this with an unpleasant jolt one day when I considered that some of those ‘last times’ may have already happened. One day, I closed the cover of Smells Like Treasure by Suzanne Collins, never to open it again; I put down The Candymakers for the last time, without knowing it. So, in an effort to stave off my inevitable entering of adulthood, I’m going to reread - rediscover, re-fall-in-love-with - some of my most favorite middle grade novels this year.
Throughout Cornelia, the somber thought loomed over me that this may be the last time I ever read it. Not through any fault of the book, simply because I’ve grown out of it. So I drank it in, soaked it up, appreciated every detail that I missed as a ten-year-old. I don’t relate to Cornelia quite as much as I did then, but I still love her cosy New York neighborhood, the general bookish vibe, and, of course, Virginia Somerset herself - someone who, I am positive, would be a kindred spirit to my own if I ever met her. This is a wonderful, slow-paced, and poignant middle-grade novel that I think can justly appeal to young and old alike.
Throughout Cornelia, the somber thought loomed over me that this may be the last time I ever read it. Not through any fault of the book, simply because I’ve grown out of it. So I drank it in, soaked it up, appreciated every detail that I missed as a ten-year-old. I don’t relate to Cornelia quite as much as I did then, but I still love her cosy New York neighborhood, the general bookish vibe, and, of course, Virginia Somerset herself - someone who, I am positive, would be a kindred spirit to my own if I ever met her. This is a wonderful, slow-paced, and poignant middle-grade novel that I think can justly appeal to young and old alike.
I come back to this book even as an adult because I absolutely adore the whimsical stories. I still love reading about the escapades and how they affect Cornelia. This book never gets old.
A surprisingly slow and uninteresting read, especially for a children's book whose title touts "audacious escapades." Flat, difficult-to-like characters and escapades that relied heavily on tired stereotypes both made this book rather difficult to enjoy at times. I realize this is a children's book, but still, a little nuance can go a long way.
A kid I babysit liked this book a lot and asked me to read it. It took awhile to get into but overall an enchanting story!
A thoroughly enjoyable tale that weaves through time, proprieties, and attachments.
What a fun, middle school read. I really enjoyed the relationship between Virginia and Cornelia.
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness
Minor: Bullying, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship