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jemilyhugh's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Puns galore!
scrunge's review
5.0
favourite book as a kid. illustrations are beautiful, story weird and wonderful. adore it still
sofia_santana's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
robin_nescu's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
lovely_99's review
3.0
3.5⭐
Muy bonito y divertido. Un mundo super extraño y lleno de personajes con personalidades extravagantes. Me encariñe mucho con Ada y el final fue un poco agridulce para mi pero súper lindo✨
Voy a continuar con los libros. Captaron lo suficiente mi atención, me recuerdan mucho a los libros que solía leer en mi infancia, mas qué todo lo que senti al leer el jardín secreto
Muy bonito y divertido. Un mundo super extraño y lleno de personajes con personalidades extravagantes. Me encariñe mucho con Ada y el final fue un poco agridulce para mi pero súper lindo✨
Voy a continuar con los libros. Captaron lo suficiente mi atención, me recuerdan mucho a los libros que solía leer en mi infancia, mas qué todo lo que senti al leer el jardín secreto
audreylee's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
While much of the humor felt aimed at a more adult audience, the resolution felt overly simplistic. Fun but forgettable. The format change to ebook played mix and match with the text and footnotes. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
katykelly's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
As ever, Chris Riddell's illustrations are stunning: imaginative and beautiful to look at. The cover art and hardback design are great - purple edges a lovely touch. A pleasure to hold and admire.
It's inside I was a little puzzled. It was like watching a Pixar movie, but one in which every joke flew over the heads of the intended audience of youngsters. As an adult I smirked and smiled to recognise the references (and even I know I didn't know them all), but will a ten-year-old really understand the 'mad, bad and dangerous to gnomes' line? Or the mouse introducing himself as "Call me Ishmael"? One could argue that they might be there for parents reading with their children, but at that age there can't be many parents reading alongside their kids (I hope to be but who knows).
I'm sure young readers will still enjoy the story, the characters, the humour but it did feel strange that so much will fly past the majority of them.
The plot is fun - motherless Ada in her huge Ghastly-Gorm Hall (get it?) with only her grieving father for company discovers a nefarious plot is afoot for the upcoming Indoor Hunt. Ada picks up ghostly friends and explores her huge house and grounds and must try to save the day. Her story starts with the discovery of a ghostly mouse Ishmael, and though he's sweet, I personally saw no need for him to be in the plot at all, other than for the author to include the (frankly marvellous Gulliver-like) mini-book of his previous adventures in the cover.
Overall, I was confused. Who was the target audience? There's lots for a child to enjoy but it really seemed aimed at older readers looking for a light read in many ways. Surprised it won the Costa award. Fantastic illustrations and lots of sly in-jokery.
I'm sure to be proved wrong as I know that I as a smart enough kid would have enjoyed the book but know that so much would have gone over my head.
As ever, Chris Riddell's illustrations are stunning: imaginative and beautiful to look at. The cover art and hardback design are great - purple edges a lovely touch. A pleasure to hold and admire.
It's inside I was a little puzzled. It was like watching a Pixar movie, but one in which every joke flew over the heads of the intended audience of youngsters. As an adult I smirked and smiled to recognise the references (and even I know I didn't know them all), but will a ten-year-old really understand the 'mad, bad and dangerous to gnomes' line? Or the mouse introducing himself as "Call me Ishmael"? One could argue that they might be there for parents reading with their children, but at that age there can't be many parents reading alongside their kids (I hope to be but who knows).
I'm sure young readers will still enjoy the story, the characters, the humour but it did feel strange that so much will fly past the majority of them.
The plot is fun - motherless Ada in her huge Ghastly-Gorm Hall (get it?) with only her grieving father for company discovers a nefarious plot is afoot for the upcoming Indoor Hunt. Ada picks up ghostly friends and explores her huge house and grounds and must try to save the day. Her story starts with the discovery of a ghostly mouse Ishmael, and though he's sweet, I personally saw no need for him to be in the plot at all, other than for the author to include the (frankly marvellous Gulliver-like) mini-book of his previous adventures in the cover.
Overall, I was confused. Who was the target audience? There's lots for a child to enjoy but it really seemed aimed at older readers looking for a light read in many ways. Surprised it won the Costa award. Fantastic illustrations and lots of sly in-jokery.
I'm sure to be proved wrong as I know that I as a smart enough kid would have enjoyed the book but know that so much would have gone over my head.
dg_trout's review
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0