Reviews

Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery, and a Very Strange Adventure by Lissa Evans

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readwithdj's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

thejoyofbooking's review against another edition

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4.0

Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms is an utterly charming middle grade novel, featuring the mischief and shenanigans of Stuart Horten and his annoying next door neighbors April, May, and June.

It seems to me the type of book that would appeal to a fan of Hugo Cabret, or any fan of magic (and, really, what ten year old is not a fan of magic?). With a few twists and turns and some cleverly imagined characters, this book holds a lush imaginative world for pre-teen readers – and it’s one their parents won’t mind visiting during storytime, either.

opticflow's review against another edition

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4.0

I stuck with this book even though I really wanted the miraculous mechanisms to be more scientific and less magical. I loved the scavenger hunt and puzzle elements and really pictured Stuart whizzing around town putting it all together. I didn't get much enjoyment from the girls. Are they friend or foe? Two were left underdeveloped. Guess the sequel(s) will tell but I'll have moved on to another series before I find out. Also possibly I read an American version of the story for there seemed to be a lot of weird inconsistencies in language. Ugh, I hate vernacular edits. Publishers, please stop doing this. If the language was instead the fault of the author, then detract a star from my rating.

gaillypoo's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

lindageorge's review against another edition

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4.0

Loved this book and didn't think I would. I also didn't realize it was a series, this being the first book. Anyway it was great fun. Kids should enjoy it very much.