Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i'm using the groupings on GR that's i think books 1-4, and then 5-8?
anyway, this will serve as a marker for the first 4 books!
these are so short and really meant for kids new to chapter books, i think, so i feel kind of weird listing them each as separate books toward a goal. i might change it in the future though?! book 2 is basically ALL bullying, and a little bit in the others..also outdated terminology in book 1. but these books are great for when my mental health is meh and i want to feel accomplished and just read a fun, quick book.
a lot of it doesn't make sense, honestly, but it's not written to hold up to my adult logic. it's fun and sweet (mostly) and that's exactly what i want = )
anyway, this will serve as a marker for the first 4 books!
these are so short and really meant for kids new to chapter books, i think, so i feel kind of weird listing them each as separate books toward a goal. i might change it in the future though?! book 2 is basically ALL bullying, and a little bit in the others..also outdated terminology in book 1. but these books are great for when my mental health is meh and i want to feel accomplished and just read a fun, quick book.
a lot of it doesn't make sense, honestly, but it's not written to hold up to my adult logic. it's fun and sweet (mostly) and that's exactly what i want = )
This book was much better than I imagined it would be. I've purchased all the Magic Kitten books for my daughter. For the longest time, these were the only books she would read. I have to admit that I never read them. They were beneath me. All that sparkly, girly magic. Ew, etc. However, the other day I was in awe at all the books Sue Bentley has written in this Magic series. She's sold almost half a million of them! It was time to examine why they were so successful.
The books are very slight with sparse details only reserved for important elements, usually when describing the prosaic lifestyles of the villagers. There are no poetic blocks of descriptive text. Lisa, the main character, doesn't ponder life's meaning. The author doesn't intrude politics or ideology into the narrative. This is a simple chapter book for young readers, loaded with adventure.
The story is told in a limited third person omniscient point of view which allows us to get into the scene with Lisa and know a little of what she is feeling while showing the younger reader more than what might be noticed in a first person point of view. Of course, my daughter didn't care about any of this!
The premise is Prince Flame, a noble feline from a magical realm, is in danger from his dastardly uncle so he must flee for his own safety. Transformed into a fluffy, orange kitten (with sparkles), Flame escapes into our world.
Lisa arrived on scene, surly and crusty, forced to stay with her hayseed aunt in the boonies. Oh, the indignity! Within pages, she meets Flame, he uses magic to delight and save her over and over again, they meet a cheeky boy, gypsies, deer poachers, and peril. A reviewer on Amazon felt this story was too scary for children. I disagree. It is the danger that made the book so appealing. If you expected fluffy magic (with sparkles) and nothing else, as I did, you will find instead a story about a selfish girl who learns to appreciate the world around her, help out with the chores, experience a lot of magic (yes, with sparkles), and who saves the day through her own courage. The peril never lasts more than a page.
The books are formulaic. I do not believe Flame will ever escape his uncle. How else could there be more books in the series? We don't learn anything at all about Flame or his world other than that he is a prince, protected by magic and a mentor, who escapes to earth to stay with troubled girls who need better perspectives. My daughter loved them all. Don't expect Shakespeare, but don't dismiss them offhand because of the Lisa Frankish covers. There is a lot in this volume, particularly, to challenge a young reader and give them a taste of a world outside of their own right here on Earth, minus sparkles.
The books are very slight with sparse details only reserved for important elements, usually when describing the prosaic lifestyles of the villagers. There are no poetic blocks of descriptive text. Lisa, the main character, doesn't ponder life's meaning. The author doesn't intrude politics or ideology into the narrative. This is a simple chapter book for young readers, loaded with adventure.
The story is told in a limited third person omniscient point of view which allows us to get into the scene with Lisa and know a little of what she is feeling while showing the younger reader more than what might be noticed in a first person point of view. Of course, my daughter didn't care about any of this!
The premise is Prince Flame, a noble feline from a magical realm, is in danger from his dastardly uncle so he must flee for his own safety. Transformed into a fluffy, orange kitten (with sparkles), Flame escapes into our world.
Lisa arrived on scene, surly and crusty, forced to stay with her hayseed aunt in the boonies. Oh, the indignity! Within pages, she meets Flame, he uses magic to delight and save her over and over again, they meet a cheeky boy, gypsies, deer poachers, and peril. A reviewer on Amazon felt this story was too scary for children. I disagree. It is the danger that made the book so appealing. If you expected fluffy magic (with sparkles) and nothing else, as I did, you will find instead a story about a selfish girl who learns to appreciate the world around her, help out with the chores, experience a lot of magic (yes, with sparkles), and who saves the day through her own courage. The peril never lasts more than a page.
The books are formulaic. I do not believe Flame will ever escape his uncle. How else could there be more books in the series? We don't learn anything at all about Flame or his world other than that he is a prince, protected by magic and a mentor, who escapes to earth to stay with troubled girls who need better perspectives. My daughter loved them all. Don't expect Shakespeare, but don't dismiss them offhand because of the Lisa Frankish covers. There is a lot in this volume, particularly, to challenge a young reader and give them a taste of a world outside of their own right here on Earth, minus sparkles.
Surprisingly good. Simplistic, as expected of a child's novel, but a fun and quick story. I felt like the book was more centered around Lisa than on Flame. The way the prologue went I thought it would be Flame that the story centered on with Lisa being his companion and side-kick. But it really felt like Flame was there just to get Lisa out of trouble or make things easier for her. Would have been more entertaining if the story had focused more on Flame and his backstory and troubles.
If you didn't think The Lion King could get any weirder, you are wrong. Take talking animal kingdom and replace Simba with Simba 2.0 or Prince Flame, and you have yourself a magical lion on the run from his uncle. It basically is the classic tale you remember, but with a lot more serious topics.
1. Racism against Romany gypsies. We learn halfway through the story that certain white men of privilege, in the village, are pointing fingers and blaming the Romany men for poaching deer. Did no one think a sketchy and unfamiliar van, with a driver that drives like he wants to kill all pedestrians, was suspicious?
2. Kids driving ponies on the wrong side of the road. He almost caused his pony to be seriously injured and our MC could have DIED. Thank kittens that Prince Flame was with him.
3. Guns and violence. These poachers are some kind of serious about poaching if they are willing to off some kids along the way.
4. Infanticide and dethroning. It's not very clear how old Prince Flame really is, but it is clear Uncle Ebony (racist!) wants to kill him and take over his throne, and Flame isn't strong enough to take him on. Every family has its problems, I guess.
After outlining these serious issues in the first book of what promises to be a long-lived series, it is hard to imagine children appreciating the complexity of it all.
JUST SAYING.
1. Racism against Romany gypsies. We learn halfway through the story that certain white men of privilege, in the village, are pointing fingers and blaming the Romany men for poaching deer. Did no one think a sketchy and unfamiliar van, with a driver that drives like he wants to kill all pedestrians, was suspicious?
2. Kids driving ponies on the wrong side of the road. He almost caused his pony to be seriously injured and our MC could have DIED. Thank kittens that Prince Flame was with him.
3. Guns and violence. These poachers are some kind of serious about poaching if they are willing to off some kids along the way.
4. Infanticide and dethroning. It's not very clear how old Prince Flame really is, but it is clear Uncle Ebony (racist!) wants to kill him and take over his throne, and Flame isn't strong enough to take him on. Every family has its problems, I guess.
After outlining these serious issues in the first book of what promises to be a long-lived series, it is hard to imagine children appreciating the complexity of it all.
JUST SAYING.