I'm enjoying this series so much. Fast paced; great characters and tension; legitimately creepy; compelling plots; I'm going to be sad when it's finisI'm enjoying this series so much. Fast paced; great characters and tension; legitimately creepy; compelling plots; I'm going to be sad when it's finished. ...more
3.5 Stars - This was wonderfully creepy and entertaining. I listened to the audiobook and it was excellent - so excellent I finished all 10 hours in 23.5 Stars - This was wonderfully creepy and entertaining. I listened to the audiobook and it was excellent - so excellent I finished all 10 hours in 2 days. A great Halloween read for older tweens/teens. (I’d say 11+ - it does get scary and gruesome.)
The main narrator is a girl but the story is very accessible for boys as well. Lucy’s male counterpart, Lockwood, is very much a Sherlock-type character, only more charming. It reminded me a bit of Jackaby, but for a little bit younger of a crowd....more
This is one of those books that is really hard for me to review - I'm torn between my private-reader-self who just gets to like what I like without anThis is one of those books that is really hard for me to review - I'm torn between my private-reader-self who just gets to like what I like without answering to anyone and my children's-librarian-self who feels a responsibility to advise young readers and parents about what they're reading.
I have several thoughts/disclaimers and no graceful way of transitioning between ideas so here is an itemized list:
1. I really liked it. REALLY liked it. It was creepy and atmospheric and menacing. It's 500+ pages but I devoured it in less than 3 hours. A perfect Halloween read.
2. This is a proper horror novel. If you're looking for safe and happy resolutions - this is not the book for you.
3. It's a dual narrative: one set in the 1980's and one in the present. The older narrative takes the form of a young girl's diary; the present narrative is presented entirely in pictures. (Great for developing visual literacy.) Both girls are 13. Brian Selznic is (I think) the originator of this written/visual dual story format and this book is on par with his work. This is Pam Smy's first novel and I need her to produce more - stat.
4. It's about bullying and loneliness. The depiction of bullying is gutting and brilliant.
5. The publishers or other powers-that-be identify the audience age range as 10-14. I would never, NEVER give this to a 10-year-old. It has some pretty heavy, dramatic content which I absolutely do not think a 10-year-old has the emotional intelligence to mediate. I would say this is for 12+ and even then I think some parents would want to debrief the content afterward. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it for anyone - but I'm happy to answer any questions in private messages.
6. The writing level is fairly easy (a 10-year-old could technically handle the writing) so this would be great for hi-lo readers. ...more
This is a great October read. A threatening and atmospheric ghost story that spans several generations of (more than) one family. The writing is reallThis is a great October read. A threatening and atmospheric ghost story that spans several generations of (more than) one family. The writing is really beautiful - it reads like something produced in the 1800's. The author does a great job of creating a sense of place and time, which is impressive considering how many places and times exist within this single book. Victorian medical practices, experimentation, and abuses; love; coming of age; women's rights; war; rural England; rural Italy; London - truly a feat.
I will say that it jumps around a lot in time and changes characters frequently - so if you like linear novels, you may struggle with this. ...more
I'm just going to start with saying that this will NOT be for everyone. I can't even explain why I chose this book except for a morbid fascination andI'm just going to start with saying that this will NOT be for everyone. I can't even explain why I chose this book except for a morbid fascination and disbelief that it existed. Grave robbing? Really? I laughed out loud so much not because it was intentionally funny, but because I kept thinking, "I can't believe someone wrote this! It's so macabre and twisted . . . who could think this up?"
I listened to this and the narration was superb. Truly. It won an award and it was deserved. In fact, I don't think I would have enjoyed appreciated this book as much if I had read it rather than listened to it.
I also think I was really well written. It would have been easy to just rely on shock value and sensational descriptions but I was really impressed with the novel overall. I mean, shocking material and sensational descriptions where there - honestly - do NOT read this if you're squeamish - but the characters were so vivid and I was completely sucked into this underground world of grave-robbers and apprentices and territory. It was so engrossing I found myself google researching grave robbing once the book was done . . . (#watchlist)
So overall - well written, unique, engrossing, completely twisted. Solid horror novel.
This is classified as a young adult novel but it is NOT for younger teens - there is a lot of language and other material that calls for a more mature audience....more
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