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timeislikeariver's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
a masterful fantasy with all my favorite things in it
resinless's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
bickie's review
3.0
Three-dimensional characters, well-crafted fantasy world, lots of wordplay. Reminds me of Angie Sage's Magyk series. Puzzle-lovers will want to read it again immediately to find clues to what might happen next. Ending provides closure but also sets the stage for more adventures. Age 9-12
nicolemhewitt's review
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
My kids and I really enjoyed this book. We thought it was great fun and the story drew us all in from the very start. We especially loved Fin, the boy who no one could remember. I thought that this was an incredibly unique power, but what made it truly fantastic was the emotional resonance that went along with it – Fin was such a sad character because he lived his life completely alone, even when he was among other people. All he wanted was to find his mother and be among people who actually remembered that he existed. When Marrill entered the scene she had her own reasons for wanting to get back to her mother. (Note to parents: Marrill’s mother is sick in this book, but it doesn’t make the overall book sad. By the end of book two, this plot point is still not resolved, so I’m not sure how things will end up with Marrill’s mother. My daughter can be sensitive to death and terminal illness in books, but she was okay with this one because it’s not a main focus of the book besides the fact that it’s Marrill’s motivation for getting back home.) Marrill actually remembers Fin, and their friendship became a central focus of the book – I loved seeing Fin navigating a relationship with another person, something he was completely unused to. The friendship was both sweet and realistic – it had its ups and downs for sure, but the power of their bond eventually won out over all of the circumstances that could have torn their friendship apart!
The fantasy elements in this book (things like the Pirate Stream, which appears to Marrill out of nowhere, the pirats, a magical map, a boy who can’t be remembered, and evil pirates) are all perfectly suited to a Middle Grade audience and kept the book feeling unique and fun! There was a lot of humor thrown in too – I especially loved the humorous chapter titles! Overall, this was a super engaging read that kept me and my eleven- and thirteen-year-old kids flipping the pages till the very end!
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
My kids and I really enjoyed this book. We thought it was great fun and the story drew us all in from the very start. We especially loved Fin, the boy who no one could remember. I thought that this was an incredibly unique power, but what made it truly fantastic was the emotional resonance that went along with it – Fin was such a sad character because he lived his life completely alone, even when he was among other people. All he wanted was to find his mother and be among people who actually remembered that he existed. When Marrill entered the scene she had her own reasons for wanting to get back to her mother. (Note to parents: Marrill’s mother is sick in this book, but it doesn’t make the overall book sad. By the end of book two, this plot point is still not resolved, so I’m not sure how things will end up with Marrill’s mother. My daughter can be sensitive to death and terminal illness in books, but she was okay with this one because it’s not a main focus of the book besides the fact that it’s Marrill’s motivation for getting back home.) Marrill actually remembers Fin, and their friendship became a central focus of the book – I loved seeing Fin navigating a relationship with another person, something he was completely unused to. The friendship was both sweet and realistic – it had its ups and downs for sure, but the power of their bond eventually won out over all of the circumstances that could have torn their friendship apart!
The fantasy elements in this book (things like the Pirate Stream, which appears to Marrill out of nowhere, the pirats, a magical map, a boy who can’t be remembered, and evil pirates) are all perfectly suited to a Middle Grade audience and kept the book feeling unique and fun! There was a lot of humor thrown in too – I especially loved the humorous chapter titles! Overall, this was a super engaging read that kept me and my eleven- and thirteen-year-old kids flipping the pages till the very end!
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
cozycat's review against another edition
4.0
The Map to Everywhere
A Grand Adventure featuring magic, wizards, fantastic adventures, awesome characters, and imaginative creatures.
A boy who everyone forgets finds a friends in a girl who loves her family but misses their adventures. A story will its own language sometimes nonsense, and a cast of clever curious characters, against the backdrop of an fantastic world filled with magical creatures.
The way it’s written is unique as well. Uses crazy fonts when one of the creatures speak. Shapes words like a poem. It even has drawing of the characters!
A Grand Adventure featuring magic, wizards, fantastic adventures, awesome characters, and imaginative creatures.
A boy who everyone forgets finds a friends in a girl who loves her family but misses their adventures. A story will its own language sometimes nonsense, and a cast of clever curious characters, against the backdrop of an fantastic world filled with magical creatures.
The way it’s written is unique as well. Uses crazy fonts when one of the creatures speak. Shapes words like a poem. It even has drawing of the characters!
channywax's review
Really enjoyed this one! Loved the two main characters, Fin and Marrill. I thought it was a bit longish,(a little over 400 pages for a MG! Yikes!) but it was full of fun, adventure and a totally creeptastic villain. It definitely kept me reading. I'll definitely be checking out the sequel. :)
neethya's review against another edition
5.0
Ein Wühlkistenfund der sich als Jahreshighlight herausgestellt hat! :D
Diese Geschichte ist so cool und alterslos, ein Seeabenteuer mit vielen verschiedenen Welten und Kreaturen und tollen Hauptfiguren. Dass alle außer Marrill permanent Fin vergessen haben, selbst wenn er direkt neben denen steht, hat zu vielen extrem witzigen Momenten geführt. Ich freu mich direkt schon auf die Fortsetzungen.
Diese Geschichte ist so cool und alterslos, ein Seeabenteuer mit vielen verschiedenen Welten und Kreaturen und tollen Hauptfiguren. Dass alle außer Marrill permanent Fin vergessen haben, selbst wenn er direkt neben denen steht, hat zu vielen extrem witzigen Momenten geführt. Ich freu mich direkt schon auf die Fortsetzungen.
2009ieatbooks31's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
marmoset737's review
3.0
This is a good choice for kids who like to read longer books and like adventure-fantasy (basically a good choice for kids who've read Harry Potter and are looking for a similar vibe).