turrean's review
3.0
The horror elements in the novel were the most effective. Amelia’s anger at the way she’s been uprooted makes her the perfect target for the monsters that prey on her family. I found every aspect of the calendar houses fascinating, and once their significance became clear, VERY chilling.
The uneasy relationship among the family members is realistically drawn, though I was impatient with the way Amelia’s parents and teachers responded to her. Her parents are clearly overwhelmed by the events, but do so little to prepare her for the move, the sale of her house, and her isolation at her new school. There are so many moments where they just helplessly tell Amelia, “We’ll talk about it later, darling!” The classroom teacher in particular was a clod. (Who sends a child to the principal for telling a fanciful story? I’d have sent her to the counselor.)
Sadly, I found Amelia’s isolation and her unrelenting resentment made her very difficult to identify with. She has no one. Her parents don’t notice there are icicles in the basement in the summer, let alone that their child is being overcome by evil forces. The pacing was part of the issue: I wanted there to be a gradual thaw, not an instant change, in Amelia‘s relationship with her cousins, but their reconciliation happens in the last ten pages of the book! I kept looking dubiously at the number of pages that remained, and wondering how on earth the author was going to pull off any kind of resolution.
The uneasy relationship among the family members is realistically drawn, though I was impatient with the way Amelia’s parents and teachers responded to her. Her parents are clearly overwhelmed by the events, but do so little to prepare her for the move, the sale of her house, and her isolation at her new school. There are so many moments where they just helplessly tell Amelia, “We’ll talk about it later, darling!” The classroom teacher in particular was a clod. (Who sends a child to the principal for telling a fanciful story? I’d have sent her to the counselor.)
Sadly, I found Amelia’s isolation and her unrelenting resentment made her very difficult to identify with. She has no one. Her parents don’t notice there are icicles in the basement in the summer, let alone that their child is being overcome by evil forces. The pacing was part of the issue: I wanted there to be a gradual thaw, not an instant change, in Amelia‘s relationship with her cousins, but their reconciliation happens in the last ten pages of the book! I kept looking dubiously at the number of pages that remained, and wondering how on earth the author was going to pull off any kind of resolution.
_surri_'s review against another edition
2.0
The pacing in this book felt off. There was a lot of slow build up even past the point that I'd figured out what was going on and the resolution felt rushed and not clearly explained. Interesting concept, though, and I love the use of calendar houses in the magic. I don't think I've ever read something where the details of the magic system was left so much up to the reader. Maybe it's that I'm an adult reading a middle grade book, but it fell flat for me, sadly. I'd love to see this concept reworked and developed further.
rhodesee's review against another edition
3.0
I had really high hopes for this. I loved Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times and this began with the same promise as that. For me however it didn't live up to it. I'm torn though, in how to review it; the premise was very interesting and I really liked Amelia and our introduction to her. Emma Trevayne writes children really well. I empathized with her and felt her frustration. I also really felt and understood Owen's actions and how his grief informed them. The build up was fantastic. This was a one sitting read for me, I picked it up to check out the first chapter and just kept going and that is usually a good thing. For this book, it was a good thing right up until the end when, it just ends. Most of the book is build up and then it wraps up in the final 30 pages or so. I think it would have benefited from the ending being drawn out a bit more. It all made sense and felt true to the characters and the story but, it just happened and it was done. So I did enjoy this read but I wanted a little more from it. It did have a mildly creepy feel with interesting and genuine feeling characters.
I was reminded a little of Coraline as well as the author's previous work, Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times. These are all stories about precocious children who find something that seems to offer them an escape from troubles at home. They then must decide if it truly solves their problems or if it only gives them more. Any middle-grader who enjoyed those works, others like them or books that offer fantasy with a splash of horror will enjoy it.
I was reminded a little of Coraline as well as the author's previous work, Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times. These are all stories about precocious children who find something that seems to offer them an escape from troubles at home. They then must decide if it truly solves their problems or if it only gives them more. Any middle-grader who enjoyed those works, others like them or books that offer fantasy with a splash of horror will enjoy it.
alaspooriorek's review against another edition
2.0
I really liked the idea of this book, but by the half way mark I just felt disconnected and very slightly freaked out instead of engrossed. I finished it because it was a quick read, but I'm glad it's not a series.
kashvm's review against another edition
3.0
- Loved the concept of the calender house.
- moving to a new country myself, I could relate to a lot of amelia's fears and resentment
- Owen and Matthew crying over not being able to remember their parents BROKE MY HEART
- Horatio's "yes, miss amelia?" gave me serious Mr. Jarvis / Ms. Carter Vibes
- Loved the concept of the shadow people, and the eating memories. Gave me 'The Secret Series' & 'Coraline vibes' (espeically the whole 'going though the little door, being lured away by the promise of adventure' thing
- bittersweet but cyclical ending was nice
- moving to a new country myself, I could relate to a lot of amelia's fears and resentment
- Owen and Matthew crying over not being able to remember their parents BROKE MY HEART
- Horatio's "yes, miss amelia?" gave me serious Mr. Jarvis / Ms. Carter Vibes
- Loved the concept of the shadow people, and the eating memories. Gave me 'The Secret Series' & 'Coraline vibes' (espeically the whole 'going though the little door, being lured away by the promise of adventure' thing
- bittersweet but cyclical ending was nice
kcelena's review against another edition
3.0
The story focuses on Amie Howling, a young girl who is upset that she and her parents must move to their cousins house, after a car accident left their parents dead. At first Amie's antipathy towards the house is just surface anger, but the longer she's there the more she realizes the house is not normal. And then, a man named Horatio steps out of the shadows and introduces himself as the builder of the (100+ year old) house. He tells Amie what makes it so magical, and takes her on adventures to see Queen Victoria, pirate ships, and medieval knights jousting. He tells Amie she can become like him, have the power to travel anywhere through time. He does not tell her though, that all magic comes with a price.
So first, this was not a sweet, easy read. While the majority of the book was focused on the magical, there were snippets of children dealing with the loss of their parents, adults struggling with the loss of their siblings and trying to adjust to a completely new, permanent life, and Amie's grief over her own life being upended. I did think that Trevayne covered those harsh realities quite well. The story itself was entertaining, and I am quite intrigued with the idea of a Calendar House. I kind of wish one really existed.
So first, this was not a sweet, easy read. While the majority of the book was focused on the magical, there were snippets of children dealing with the loss of their parents, adults struggling with the loss of their siblings and trying to adjust to a completely new, permanent life, and Amie's grief over her own life being upended. I did think that Trevayne covered those harsh realities quite well. The story itself was entertaining, and I am quite intrigued with the idea of a Calendar House. I kind of wish one really existed.
jjandherbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I thought this book wasn't that great. I don't mean that it was that bad because it was two stars, I gave it two stars because two stars=it was ok.
So basically, this girl is living in a new house with her cousins, and she is struggling with anger issues (????). So then she meets a guy who offers her an opportunity to become magical.
I think that this was a good book because finding that guy gave her an opportunity to bond with her cousins and realize her history. I didn't really like it because she only bonded at the end of the book, which I thought was kind of useless. The girl was ok, I guess, but I don't think I just really favored the main character.
Overall, it's worth reading, (the writing style is great) but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
So basically, this girl is living in a new house with her cousins, and she is struggling with anger issues (????). So then she meets a guy who offers her an opportunity to become magical.
I think that this was a good book because finding that guy gave her an opportunity to bond with her cousins and realize her history. I didn't really like it because she only bonded at the end of the book, which I thought was kind of useless. The girl was ok, I guess, but I don't think I just really favored the main character.
Overall, it's worth reading, (the writing style is great) but I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
emason1121's review against another edition
3.0
That quickly turned from a whimsical novel into a harrowing zombie horror and back again, sort of like when you see Voldemort's head on the back of Professor Quirrel's. I'm not yet sure how I feel about it.
booksandbosox's review against another edition
3.0
This was not really at all what I expected, but it's nice and creepy for kids who like that sort of thing. Not sure I love the ending but this is definitely something I can see those looking for a unique spooky story getting into.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via Edelweiss.
caitief's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful, wonderful book. Recommend to anyone who loves middle grade.