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sierra_color's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing! It got me so excited to read, and after the disappointment of the last book I read, reading this one was like a breath of fresh air. I only have one critique of it though, and that is I wish we could've seen Fiona's parents realizing their mistakes, and getting to know their other daughter better. That's it.
Now ONTO ALL THE GOOD STUFF.
The writing is so amazing, at times, I felt like I was in the town, like the air me was watchful. I saw the old town in my head, heard the creaks of old floorboards of Fionna's house, and felt like I was apart of the mystery too, trying to solve it! It was wonderfully thrilling! The writing wraps you in, and snatches you into the book as you start reading. You feel like you're Fiona, lost and alone in Lost Lake, trying to find a place to belong.
I also loved how there's a beautiful air of mystery around this book, tinged with sisterly relationships. Speaking of relationships, they were so well done-- from the way the relationship between Fiona and her sister was dissected and fixed, to the way the two sisters in the book Fiona finds relationship was fixed and mended as well. I loved how this book seems like it'll take a more realistic route, and then takes a more fantastical one, I feel that this was done excellently. The way the mundane reality seeps into the fantastical is flawless. It starts slow, before bursting out of the seams.
I loved how Fiona's emotions were described too I, at one point, slammed the book down because I was so frustrated for her! It was so easy to emphasize with her character, because she's so well written, and her arc throughout the book was done amazingly. It felt realistic, and you can tell how she realizes what she's done wrong throughout the book.
I can't rave enough about this book! The mystery, the characters, the writing-- all of it is SO well done, and I loved it so much! I couldn't stop thinking about finishing it all day while I was at work, and I'm so happy I got to read it. It was such a fantastic read, and honestly, if you love mystery, I'd definitely recommend it. I'd also recommend it to fans of [b:Wait Till Helen Comes|267972|Wait Till Helen Comes|Mary Downing Hahn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486692223l/267972._SX50_.jpg|259783] and [b:The Girl Behind the Glass|9757234|The Girl Behind the Glass|Jane Kelley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320548582l/9757234._SY75_.jpg|14646530]. It has similar spooky vibes to those books. Atmospheric writing, that's a mixture of haunting and moving, with vivid descriptions of scenes of old towns and old houses, Long Lost is the perfect read not only for autumn, but just in general. I honestly can't wait to read it again!
Now ONTO ALL THE GOOD STUFF.
The writing is so amazing, at times, I felt like I was in the town, like the air me was watchful. I saw the old town in my head, heard the creaks of old floorboards of Fionna's house, and felt like I was apart of the mystery too, trying to solve it! It was wonderfully thrilling! The writing wraps you in, and snatches you into the book as you start reading. You feel like you're Fiona, lost and alone in Lost Lake, trying to find a place to belong.
I also loved how there's a beautiful air of mystery around this book, tinged with sisterly relationships. Speaking of relationships, they were so well done-- from the way the relationship between Fiona and her sister was dissected and fixed, to the way the two sisters in the book Fiona finds relationship was fixed and mended as well. I loved how this book seems like it'll take a more realistic route, and then takes a more fantastical one, I feel that this was done excellently. The way the mundane reality seeps into the fantastical is flawless. It starts slow, before bursting out of the seams.
I loved how Fiona's emotions were described too I, at one point, slammed the book down because I was so frustrated for her! It was so easy to emphasize with her character, because she's so well written, and her arc throughout the book was done amazingly. It felt realistic, and you can tell how she realizes what she's done wrong throughout the book.
I can't rave enough about this book! The mystery, the characters, the writing-- all of it is SO well done, and I loved it so much! I couldn't stop thinking about finishing it all day while I was at work, and I'm so happy I got to read it. It was such a fantastic read, and honestly, if you love mystery, I'd definitely recommend it. I'd also recommend it to fans of [b:Wait Till Helen Comes|267972|Wait Till Helen Comes|Mary Downing Hahn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486692223l/267972._SX50_.jpg|259783] and [b:The Girl Behind the Glass|9757234|The Girl Behind the Glass|Jane Kelley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320548582l/9757234._SY75_.jpg|14646530]. It has similar spooky vibes to those books. Atmospheric writing, that's a mixture of haunting and moving, with vivid descriptions of scenes of old towns and old houses, Long Lost is the perfect read not only for autumn, but just in general. I honestly can't wait to read it again!
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 4.5 STARS
2021; Greenwillow/HarperCollins (Harper Audio)
I really enjoyed this middle grade novel. I love the gorgeous cover, but was not sure how the story would be. It looked like a mixture fantasy and contemporary, but not sure how much of either. Long Lost reminded me a bit of Mary Downing Hall with that mixture of realism and magic of sorts. Fiona, at eleven years old is feeling unappreciated by her family. She is moved away from her friends so that they are closer to her sister's skating lessons. Refusing to go to her practices, Fiona asks to be dropped off at the library. On her visit visit she discovers a book with an irresistible story about two sisters. It is not a book that can be checked out, so she returns to read it again. After her third or fourth visit, the book disappears. It turns out the book does not exist, even though it seems to take place in the town. This leads Fiona to try to uncover more about the book and its tie to the small town. I was a bit sad when the book ended, and now will have to go see what else West has written. This is a great book for children that love magic, supernatural, fantasy and/or realism.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2021; Greenwillow/HarperCollins (Harper Audio)
I really enjoyed this middle grade novel. I love the gorgeous cover, but was not sure how the story would be. It looked like a mixture fantasy and contemporary, but not sure how much of either. Long Lost reminded me a bit of Mary Downing Hall with that mixture of realism and magic of sorts. Fiona, at eleven years old is feeling unappreciated by her family. She is moved away from her friends so that they are closer to her sister's skating lessons. Refusing to go to her practices, Fiona asks to be dropped off at the library. On her visit visit she discovers a book with an irresistible story about two sisters. It is not a book that can be checked out, so she returns to read it again. After her third or fourth visit, the book disappears. It turns out the book does not exist, even though it seems to take place in the town. This leads Fiona to try to uncover more about the book and its tie to the small town. I was a bit sad when the book ended, and now will have to go see what else West has written. This is a great book for children that love magic, supernatural, fantasy and/or realism.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
erinj254's review against another edition
4.0
The kids and I really enjoyed this read aloud! A little spooky but not too much.
dbtabm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jacyjean's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thebibliotourist's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0