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mehsi's review against another edition
3.0
“You were born raging, Frances Frida Ripley. That’s what happens when you’re born in a storm.”
I was so delighted that my library finally had the newest book by Nicola Skinner in stock! I really enjoyed Bloom so I was eager to find out if I would like Storm as well!
In Storm we meet with strong-willed and stormy Frances. She is a ghost. Well, in the beginning of the book she is a normal girl… until a freak disaster hits and she loses it all. I just wanted to hug her so badly. I can only imagine how much pain it must have been, to wake up in your own house. But you are dead. No one can see you. We see how she tries to get through those first days before she takes that sleeping potion that will set the time forward to 100 years (and 2) later. We meet Jane/Jill (sorry, I also forgot her name and mostly because Frances gets it wrong). And then 100 years later we meet many other people. Because Frances’s house has turned into a museum.
I was so delighted that my library finally had the newest book by Nicola Skinner in stock! I really enjoyed Bloom so I was eager to find out if I would like Storm as well!
In Storm we meet with strong-willed and stormy Frances. She is a ghost. Well, in the beginning of the book she is a normal girl… until a freak disaster hits and she loses it all. I just wanted to hug her so badly. I can only imagine how much pain it must have been, to wake up in your own house. But you are dead. No one can see you. We see how she tries to get through those first days before she takes that sleeping potion that will set the time forward to 100 years (and 2) later. We meet Jane/Jill (sorry, I also forgot her name and mostly because Frances gets it wrong). And then 100 years later we meet many other people. Because Frances’s house has turned into a museum.
b00kh0arder's review against another edition
5.0
What happens to strong emotions when you're not allowed to feel them?
Frankie Ripley was born on a beach in the middle of a storm (because her rather impractical parents didn't think to bring anything they might need, y'know, like a car or a phone) and it seems like she's been raging ever since. (Though, honestly, can you balme her?) Then Frankie, her family and whole twon are wiped out in a freak natural disaster, and her ghost is left stuck at their home, waiting for her family to return. 100 years later, the cottage is turned into a visitor atttaction and she's stuck with strangers gawping at and traipsing through her home. Is it any wonder then she becomes a poltergheist? All her life Frankie had been told to smother her anger, to calm down, unallowed to feel or explore it. Now here's the perfect opportunity, but she's unaware it's put her in danger.
I liked Bloom but I REALLY loved Storm! An incredibly moving and funny book full of ghosts, that touches lightly and skillfully on for some some what might be some dark and uncomfortable subjects, that's just as beautifully illustrated inside as it is out.
Highly recommend.
(Also, do read this excellent article from the author on why literature needs more angry girls: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/childrens-books-angry-girls-storm-little-women-malory-towers-a9400241.html)
Frankie Ripley was born on a beach in the middle of a storm (because her rather impractical parents didn't think to bring anything they might need, y'know, like a car or a phone) and it seems like she's been raging ever since. (Though, honestly, can you balme her?) Then Frankie, her family and whole twon are wiped out in a freak natural disaster, and her ghost is left stuck at their home, waiting for her family to return. 100 years later, the cottage is turned into a visitor atttaction and she's stuck with strangers gawping at and traipsing through her home. Is it any wonder then she becomes a poltergheist? All her life Frankie had been told to smother her anger, to calm down, unallowed to feel or explore it. Now here's the perfect opportunity, but she's unaware it's put her in danger.
I liked Bloom but I REALLY loved Storm! An incredibly moving and funny book full of ghosts, that touches lightly and skillfully on for some some what might be some dark and uncomfortable subjects, that's just as beautifully illustrated inside as it is out.
Highly recommend.
(Also, do read this excellent article from the author on why literature needs more angry girls: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/childrens-books-angry-girls-storm-little-women-malory-towers-a9400241.html)
cosy_novel_niche's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 This book was a very enjoyable read. It's an unexpected trip that takes twist and turns so that you're never fully sure where the story leads.
The only downside for me was that I didn't feel any attachment to the characters, however it's a great middle grade.
The only downside for me was that I didn't feel any attachment to the characters, however it's a great middle grade.
adamskiboy528491's review against another edition
4.0
Easy come easy ghost. [b:Storm|48836391|Storm|Nicola Skinner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583391829l/48836391._SY75_.jpg|74216133] by [a:Nicola Skinner|18648010|Nicola Skinner|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1548626643p2/18648010.jpg] follows the story of an 11-year-old girl, Frankie, who is angry. Human emotions can be quite an obstacle. Fear can make you unable to face the danger. Compassion can help you pity a person who has no home. Love can make you dumb, crazy, let alone, it hurts. And then there are such things as anger or hatred. Anyway, emotions cloud your mind and impede logical thought. Sometimes anger is not enough. Anyone who has been pushed past the point of caring knows that it can make them do incredibly if scary things. Uninhibited by reason, strength subconsciously kept in check is released in a burst of unmaintainable strength. Just as she feels all these emotions, Frankie dies in a natural disaster…sort of. Her anger becomes transformed as a poltergeist in her home for over a century, where her house becomes a tourist attraction. And that's all I'll say from there!
A poltergeist (from the German polter, meaning "to rumble", "to make a noise" and geist, meaning "ghost" or "spirit") is a type of ghost or other supernatural entity that manifests by creating noise or moving objects. Ghosts are usually people who have died, but their spirits are still lingering around. Some are friendly, some are neutral, and some are scary and vengeful. It all depends on what kind of story is being told. As literal spirits of the dead, and metaphorical personifications of death itself, ghosts often induce unreasonable fear in anyone in their presence, above and beyond any reasonable fear they may cause. This often results in cowering, psychological paralysis, terror or even madness. All of these subtextual feelings that Frankie associates with are demonstrated within the extraordinary page designs by illustrator Flavia Sorrentino.
What I especially found interesting is that I had no idea where it was going. Once you read the description at the back of the book, you couldn't possibly predict what's going to happen, much like the introduction of a film through a trailer without actually giving away specific plot points. I went into this story completely blind, which made it better! I'm thrilled that we finally got a children's book that tackles this theme of death, the passage of time and how it all makes sense in the end.
bcaine23's review against another edition
4.0
i wish i could give this 3.5...at times I devoured it and at times it was slow going. the UK edition has a subtitle: the smashing afterlife of frances ripley, and i think that context added SO MUCH for me. without it, the many, many years over which the story takes place are surprising and off-putting given the description on the back cover.
stephanimichelle's review against another edition
5.0
Tent udder! Beautiful, haunting and heart warming. Frankie is a brilliant character, and this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.
mariethelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, what an entertaining and fun book! I loved it! Also a sweet story about family and anger.
juliette_d_03's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ntharpta1's review against another edition
3.0
This book was all over the place. I liked our main girl and thought I was in for a spooky story with some sort of lesson on family and friendship, but I wasn't expecting the time-capsule house museum, poisoning people for entertainment, ghosts for hire, and everywhere else this book went. It had a great start and by the end I forgot this was even the same book.
rozanne_visagie's review against another edition
5.0
*Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted a copy of this book by Jonathan Ball Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
'You've got a storm inside you, haven't you, Frances? Isn't it time you let it out?'
If you are in the mood for a fun middle grade read with the cutest illustrations, look no further! Storm: The Smashing Afterlife of Frances Ripley written by Nicola Skinner and illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino is about a young girl, Frances Ripley, who tragically dies in a tsunami that wipes out her village. The story takes a turn when Frances doesn't die properly and wakes up in her house as a ghost.
While Frances was alive, she had a short temper and she came to the conclusion it was because her parents weren't prepared for her birth and she was born on a beach during a storm. Now all alone in her home, Frances is filled with questions about the whereabouts of her family, why she didn't die properly and what's going to happen next, all the while trying to control her temper. During this confusion, a bus arrives who picks up children twelve years and under, children who didn't die properly and aren't old enough to be alone. Jill, the death guardian, tries to persuade Frances to board the bus by answering some of her questions, but Frances refuses to board the bus. Jill gives Frances a sleeping potion that allows her to sleep and to wake up in the presence of other people, alive or dead. Frances takes the sleeping potion and wakes 100 years later when her house is transformed into a museum.
Being surrounded by strangers every day, Frances loses it. Her temper flares and she starts smashing things until a regular visitor warns her to stop attracting attention to herself. But as stubborn as Frances is, she doesn't listen. Intrigued by the idea that someone can see her, she pursues this strange boy named Scanlon, against his warnings, and soon finds herself in a new dilemma.
The story has a good pace and is told from Frances' POV. The writing style is easy to follow and the chapters are short, accompanied by cute illustrations. This book is a joy to read! There is laugh out loud moments, sad moments and angry moments, but every moment leaves the reader entertained. This is such an enjoyable read and even adults will learn a moral lesson after reading this book. This story is suitable for readers 10-12 years and older; even though the main character is a ghost, it isn't scary. I highly recommend this read! It's my favourite middle grade read for the year.
A storm isn't always a bad thing and Frances shows us why.
Do yourself a favour and read this book!
This review is posted on my blog:
https://willowscornerbook.wordpress.com/2021/06/09/storm-the-smashing-afterlife-of-frances-ripley-by-nicola-skinner-book-review/
'You've got a storm inside you, haven't you, Frances? Isn't it time you let it out?'
If you are in the mood for a fun middle grade read with the cutest illustrations, look no further! Storm: The Smashing Afterlife of Frances Ripley written by Nicola Skinner and illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino is about a young girl, Frances Ripley, who tragically dies in a tsunami that wipes out her village. The story takes a turn when Frances doesn't die properly and wakes up in her house as a ghost.
While Frances was alive, she had a short temper and she came to the conclusion it was because her parents weren't prepared for her birth and she was born on a beach during a storm. Now all alone in her home, Frances is filled with questions about the whereabouts of her family, why she didn't die properly and what's going to happen next, all the while trying to control her temper. During this confusion, a bus arrives who picks up children twelve years and under, children who didn't die properly and aren't old enough to be alone. Jill, the death guardian, tries to persuade Frances to board the bus by answering some of her questions, but Frances refuses to board the bus. Jill gives Frances a sleeping potion that allows her to sleep and to wake up in the presence of other people, alive or dead. Frances takes the sleeping potion and wakes 100 years later when her house is transformed into a museum.
Being surrounded by strangers every day, Frances loses it. Her temper flares and she starts smashing things until a regular visitor warns her to stop attracting attention to herself. But as stubborn as Frances is, she doesn't listen. Intrigued by the idea that someone can see her, she pursues this strange boy named Scanlon, against his warnings, and soon finds herself in a new dilemma.
The story has a good pace and is told from Frances' POV. The writing style is easy to follow and the chapters are short, accompanied by cute illustrations. This book is a joy to read! There is laugh out loud moments, sad moments and angry moments, but every moment leaves the reader entertained. This is such an enjoyable read and even adults will learn a moral lesson after reading this book. This story is suitable for readers 10-12 years and older; even though the main character is a ghost, it isn't scary. I highly recommend this read! It's my favourite middle grade read for the year.
A storm isn't always a bad thing and Frances shows us why.
Do yourself a favour and read this book!
This review is posted on my blog:
https://willowscornerbook.wordpress.com/2021/06/09/storm-the-smashing-afterlife-of-frances-ripley-by-nicola-skinner-book-review/