sandraagee's review against another edition
3.0
After getting a request for this book from a kid who has proven to have excellent taste (she's a regular at the library, and we've done a lot of book talking!), I finally picked up May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson. I was kind of impressed with the book. May is a friendless 10-year-old girl who has a vivid imagination...and the threat of being sent to boarding school looming over her shoulder. One day while walking in the woods near her home, she falls into a lake and is sucked into the "Ever After," home of ghosts, specters, and ghouls. May finds herself instantly hunted by Bo Clevil, who has outlawed the living from remaining in the Ever After. Teamed up with Pumpkin (the ghost who has haunted May's house for years) and trailed by May's pet Somber Kitty, the two set out to find the Book of the Dead, which will hopefully tell May how she can return home.
This engaging story is perhaps a little slow to set up, but May's adventures in Ever After are exciting and fraught with danger. The characters that May meets up with along the way are diverse and well-drawn, each with their own distinct and endearing personalities. There are lots of interesting dead spirits to be found here, but is not a scary book. It would, however, be a good tone-setting for those looking to get into the Halloween spirit but who don't necessarily want to have their pants scared off.
This engaging story is perhaps a little slow to set up, but May's adventures in Ever After are exciting and fraught with danger. The characters that May meets up with along the way are diverse and well-drawn, each with their own distinct and endearing personalities. There are lots of interesting dead spirits to be found here, but is not a scary book. It would, however, be a good tone-setting for those looking to get into the Halloween spirit but who don't necessarily want to have their pants scared off.
opiumvampire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This is one of the most important books of my childhood and I literally would not be the person I am today without it. I reread it almost annually and love it more each time. I highly recommend this book to any lonely little girl obsessed with ghost stories, but be warned that they will never be the same again.
bookworm32's review against another edition
3.0
An all around easy and fun read. May Bird is a great hero to some of the girls who just don't fit in. She comes into her own eventually and helps save the day....well, that is until another problem pops up.
onegirlreads's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this story, it follows a 10 year old girl who ends up in the after life (The Ever After) and meets a whole bunch of crazy ghostly characters on her adventure to get back home. But it never really drew me in and while I enjoyed the idea and the world, it wasn’t complex enough for me and didn’t stand up to some other middle grade stories that I enjoyed more. However, I personally think it’s a pretty good story as far as middle grade goes and I would recommend it to someone close to the age group it was intended for.
itsybitsyfrog's review against another edition
5.0
I remember when I was younger I loved this book! I should reread it at some point.
mrsschwii's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kaitlin_g's review against another edition
Read aloud with my students. School ended before we could finish it!
browncharlotte18's review against another edition
5.0
I vaguely remember reading this book a few years ago and really enjoyed it.
The story is fast-paced and has a great cast of characters. I also enjoyed her world-building and felt it was well-done. Her writing and story have a bit of darker twist than most children's fantasy, and that's what makes it more unique.
This is definitely a great read for anyone who is young and enjoys darker fantasy stories that aren't too horrifying, or those who even enjoy movies like Pan's Labyrinth. Like Pan's Labyrinth, the story is very childlike and whimsical, with a twist. However, it is definitely not as gruesome.
The story is fast-paced and has a great cast of characters. I also enjoyed her world-building and felt it was well-done. Her writing and story have a bit of darker twist than most children's fantasy, and that's what makes it more unique.
This is definitely a great read for anyone who is young and enjoys darker fantasy stories that aren't too horrifying, or those who even enjoy movies like Pan's Labyrinth. Like Pan's Labyrinth, the story is very childlike and whimsical, with a twist. However, it is definitely not as gruesome.
queenbeau's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was my favorite childhood book. I related to May as a lonely misunderstood child.
The book is funny asl in a lot of aspects, but it’s dark, too. Not batman dark, but it’s definitely not a fairytale princess story.
The book is funny asl in a lot of aspects, but it’s dark, too. Not batman dark, but it’s definitely not a fairytale princess story.