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A review by justagirlwithabook
Gussy by Jimmy Cajoleas
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Gussy and her Grandpa Widow are Protectors for their village in the desert. They have their rites that must be practiced and performed correctly, down to the exact detail, in order to keep the Great Doom outside of the village and keep the community safe. If they err even the tiniest bit, the Great Doom could slip inside and infect people and homes.
When an unexpected rider comes bringing a summons for Grandpa Widow, it's up to Gussy, with the help of her sidekick dog Cricket, to perform the rites each day on her own and to follow all the rules. The most important rule: never open the gates after sundown. But on the night of a very big storm, a little girl wanders up to the gates barely hanging on by a thread and asking to be let in. Gussy breaks the greatest rule to help her out, and that's when things start going strange.
Who is this girl, and did Gussy let the Great Doom in that dark and stormy night? Is Gussy really worthy of the the task in front of her and to be called Protector, and can she ultimately muster the courage to save the town from its greatest ancestral enemy?
What I Loved:
- Very fast-paced story (I read this in under 24 hours!) and there's action from the very start.
- Each of the characters grab at your heart strings a little bit for various reasons (especially Cricket, Gussy's dog!).
- Gussy has a "what in tarnation" kind of style of speaking and it regularly brought a smile to my face! (Phrases like, "I'd be a liar if I told you ...," "and that's just a fact," and "to be honest with you.")
- This story is immensely quotable. There are a million little heartwarming nuggets that are applicable to every day life that kids can learn from (along with a few that just make you smile or tug at your heart).
What I Didn’t Love:
- I wish there had been a tad bit more depth to side characters to get to know them better and to feel a little more connected.
- I just wanted a little bit of something more - more depth to characters, more background on the rites, just a little more something.
Overall:
I really loved this story overall. It was really adorable and the main character, Gussy, had a very strong voice and personality that I really loved. I also really loved how quotable this story was - so many heartwarming and thoughtful moments that I made sure to highlight throughout. I do wish that there might've been a bit more substance to the side characters, that we could've gotten to know a few of them in depth a bit more to connect with them better. When reading this book as an adult, it's important to keep in mind that it's meant for middle grade readers, and I think for middle grade readers, this will be a supremely enjoyable book! (I think if an adult could enjoy it as much as I did, that's a good sign of a solid middle grade read!) I have every intention on adding this one to my junior high library's collection for the lower readers we have that would enjoy a light but enjoyable fantasy read.
A few favorite lines:
"Even the folks you can't stand still matter to the world, you know? They can still play their part."
"'There isn't a person alive who's not at war with their own thoughts." He shook his head. 'It's the fighting that counts, little Gussy. It's the fight you can't ever quit.'"
"Is that a strange thing to believe, that you were created with love, that whatever made you delights in you too?"
"When you dream so hard it bleeds over into someone else's sleep, well ... that's serious business."
"I went straight back to the Rectory and had myself a good cry. Sometimes you just can't help it. All the fear and worry come pouring out of your eyeballs and you just lay on the floor and moan a while. There's nothing wrong with crying, and that's just a fact. Plus, I had a warm dog to cuddle with and make me feel better."
Thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Children's Books for an e-ARC of this book!
When an unexpected rider comes bringing a summons for Grandpa Widow, it's up to Gussy, with the help of her sidekick dog Cricket, to perform the rites each day on her own and to follow all the rules. The most important rule: never open the gates after sundown. But on the night of a very big storm, a little girl wanders up to the gates barely hanging on by a thread and asking to be let in. Gussy breaks the greatest rule to help her out, and that's when things start going strange.
Who is this girl, and did Gussy let the Great Doom in that dark and stormy night? Is Gussy really worthy of the the task in front of her and to be called Protector, and can she ultimately muster the courage to save the town from its greatest ancestral enemy?
What I Loved:
- Very fast-paced story (I read this in under 24 hours!) and there's action from the very start.
- Each of the characters grab at your heart strings a little bit for various reasons (especially Cricket, Gussy's dog!).
- Gussy has a "what in tarnation" kind of style of speaking and it regularly brought a smile to my face! (Phrases like, "I'd be a liar if I told you ...," "and that's just a fact," and "to be honest with you.")
- This story is immensely quotable. There are a million little heartwarming nuggets that are applicable to every day life that kids can learn from (along with a few that just make you smile or tug at your heart).
What I Didn’t Love:
- I wish there had been a tad bit more depth to side characters to get to know them better and to feel a little more connected.
- I just wanted a little bit of something more - more depth to characters, more background on the rites, just a little more something.
Overall:
I really loved this story overall. It was really adorable and the main character, Gussy, had a very strong voice and personality that I really loved. I also really loved how quotable this story was - so many heartwarming and thoughtful moments that I made sure to highlight throughout. I do wish that there might've been a bit more substance to the side characters, that we could've gotten to know a few of them in depth a bit more to connect with them better. When reading this book as an adult, it's important to keep in mind that it's meant for middle grade readers, and I think for middle grade readers, this will be a supremely enjoyable book! (I think if an adult could enjoy it as much as I did, that's a good sign of a solid middle grade read!) I have every intention on adding this one to my junior high library's collection for the lower readers we have that would enjoy a light but enjoyable fantasy read.
A few favorite lines:
"Even the folks you can't stand still matter to the world, you know? They can still play their part."
"'There isn't a person alive who's not at war with their own thoughts." He shook his head. 'It's the fighting that counts, little Gussy. It's the fight you can't ever quit.'"
"Is that a strange thing to believe, that you were created with love, that whatever made you delights in you too?"
"When you dream so hard it bleeds over into someone else's sleep, well ... that's serious business."
"I went straight back to the Rectory and had myself a good cry. Sometimes you just can't help it. All the fear and worry come pouring out of your eyeballs and you just lay on the floor and moan a while. There's nothing wrong with crying, and that's just a fact. Plus, I had a warm dog to cuddle with and make me feel better."
Thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Children's Books for an e-ARC of this book!