jenmat1197's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story of Hannah Jordan and Maggie Dunlap. Hannah lives in a mansion that was turned into a museum. It is the Elms in Newport, Rhode Island. Hannah's father is the caretaker of the museum, and Hannah has spent her time learning about the family that lived there. She seems to know more than ever the guides who take visitors through the museum.
The biggest mystery of the Elms is an art heist that took place in 1905. It involved the 12 year old niece of the homeowners - Maggie Dunlap - and a painting of her that her aunt had commissioned. Hannah has always been fascinated by the story of the heist, and Maggie. One day, she is cleaning a mirror and touches a spot on the mirror that sends her swirling into the past. The next thing she knows - she is Maggie in 1905 and Maggie is her.
The girls have no idea why this happened, but they are determined to find out. Hannah gets her wish to see what it was like to live at the Elms while it was a house and Maggie gets a chance to see what it is like in the future. The girls think that the art heist is the heart of the reason they were switched, and now they must work together - and quickly - to set things right.
This was a great book. I actually know the author, Kristine Asselin quite well. She is an amazing person in real life, and her personality shines in this book. There is a nice message woven within the pages of the mystery, and my daughter, especially, was tuned into that. Plus, there are a lot of true to life elements in the book that I was drawn to. (The Elms, The Berwinds, Maggie, etc - all real places and people).
I am glad we had a chance to read it and I cannot wait to see what Kris writes in the future. Bravo!
The biggest mystery of the Elms is an art heist that took place in 1905. It involved the 12 year old niece of the homeowners - Maggie Dunlap - and a painting of her that her aunt had commissioned. Hannah has always been fascinated by the story of the heist, and Maggie. One day, she is cleaning a mirror and touches a spot on the mirror that sends her swirling into the past. The next thing she knows - she is Maggie in 1905 and Maggie is her.
The girls have no idea why this happened, but they are determined to find out. Hannah gets her wish to see what it was like to live at the Elms while it was a house and Maggie gets a chance to see what it is like in the future. The girls think that the art heist is the heart of the reason they were switched, and now they must work together - and quickly - to set things right.
This was a great book. I actually know the author, Kristine Asselin quite well. She is an amazing person in real life, and her personality shines in this book. There is a nice message woven within the pages of the mystery, and my daughter, especially, was tuned into that. Plus, there are a lot of true to life elements in the book that I was drawn to. (The Elms, The Berwinds, Maggie, etc - all real places and people).
I am glad we had a chance to read it and I cannot wait to see what Kris writes in the future. Bravo!
melodierhae's review against another edition
4.0
Cute historical fiction, but I couldn't help feel like Hannah's voice crossed the line from "a child's voice" to "adult voice trying to sound childlike". Excellent resources in the back to add background knowledge for young historical fiction readers!
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Twelve year olds Hannah Jordan and Maggie Dunlop both live in Newport, Rhode Island in the same house, except Maggie lives there in 1905 and Hannah lives there now. Maggie is the niece of the estate's owner, and enjoys the many luxuries (and restrictions) of a girl from upper class society in the gilded age. Hannah is the daughter of the caretaker of the museum that the house has become. Through a twist of fate, the two girls manage to switch bodies and places in time. Suddenly, Hannah is in Maggie's body in 1905, living in the world she has been obsessed with for years. For Maggie the future is a strange place indeed, but she begins to enjoy the freedom that girls have in many aspects of their lives (No corsets! Wearing pants! Running on the soccer field! Running for president!). Hannah decides that they must have been switched so that she can stop a theft from happening, but it is not as easy it seemed to be from the future. A very fun time-travel, body-swapping adventure! Highly recommended to grades 4 and up.
jbrooxd's review against another edition
4.0
Fun historical fantasy! The characters are great and the adjustments to the new time period felt on target. But to me the best part was the girl-power piece. Great resources in the author’s note for kids who want to read more.
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
4.0
I explained this book to a group of students today and a boy raised his hand and said, “it’s kind of like Freaky Friday?” Yes, it is.
Maybe because I’m an art major and I spent my honeymoon in Newport, RI, I enjoyed this story of girls who trade physical bodies to try to prevent a painting from being stolen. I love the focus on important women (including Mary Cassatt). I had never thought about how weird it would be to physically be in someone else’s body. This book did a good job helping students to really think it through.
I think this book will spark creative thinking in readers. I enjoyed both viewpoints and the thoughtfulness of explaining time periods, too.
Maybe because I’m an art major and I spent my honeymoon in Newport, RI, I enjoyed this story of girls who trade physical bodies to try to prevent a painting from being stolen. I love the focus on important women (including Mary Cassatt). I had never thought about how weird it would be to physically be in someone else’s body. This book did a good job helping students to really think it through.
I think this book will spark creative thinking in readers. I enjoyed both viewpoints and the thoughtfulness of explaining time periods, too.
stacikristine's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of this story was very promising, but I feel like the slang and mannerisms of the "present day" girl were too exaggerated. It could be that I'm completely out of touch with how pre-teen girls talk these days, but I've been reading a lot of middle-grade novels this year (I'm reading all of the books nominated for the Sequoyah award this year), and I didn't get that feeling with the others. That being said, it was a cute story with a "Freaky Friday meets mystery" feel.
camreads10's review against another edition
This book has a lot of humor and was fun to read. I thought the authors did a nice job imagining what life in 1905 would be like for a modern girl, and what life nowadays would be like for a girl from the Gilded Age. The scenes where Maggie tries to live Hannah's life were very funny. I’d recommend this for fans of Downton Abbey, art, time-travel, and books about “girl power.”
wordnerd153's review against another edition
4.0
A fun time travel mystery told in alternating chapters from the two main characters’ POVs. Great feminist message.
elemenoreed's review against another edition
1.0
So...I hated everything about this book. It's pretty terrible. I was bored the whole way through. Every plot point was obvious. It was evident that this book was written by an adult trying to sound like an eleven year old. The biggest problem with this book was, by far, the completely vapid main character and the sad shells of characters that follow her lead.
Hannah is one of what is supposed to be two main characters, but the book really is all about her. In fact, according to Hannah, the whole world is about her. She's obnoxious and full of herself. She lives in The Elms, a turn-of-the-century mansion that has been turned into a museum. Her dad is the caretaker there. Hannah is obsessed with the house and the time period and knows everything there is to know about it. She follows the docents around while they're giving tours so she can correct them if they mess up any historical facts. She is highly irritated that no one thinks a kid is capable of giving tours, so she uses this huge chip on her shoulder to guide her behavior...like a kid. This is the heart of my issue with Hannah. She is so miffed that no one takes her and her knowledge seriously, that she is treated like a child. Well...she acts like a child. A really, really immature child. There is one docent that particularly irritates her and she makes it her mission to frustrate him daily. When she concocts a plan to find the painting, she says, "I will finally, finally get the respect I deserve from the docents and everyone else who thought I was just a bratty kid getting in their way." Yet a few paragraphs before that she details how this docent she doesn't like took issue with her swimming in the fountain on the grounds after hours, so she puts on a werewolf mask, hides out in a wardrobe, and jumps out to scare him while he's giving a tour. Yeah, if that isn't bratty behavior, I don't know what is. Hannah is an entitled brat and she doesn't grow at all by the end of the novel. I really disliked her and she isn't a character that I would want my kids model themselves after.
Maggie is the other character in this book. She is zipped forward into Hannah's time and Hannah's body in this story. I think that her part of the story was supposed to have been interesting because she would be exploring what the future would look like and feel like to someone from the past. Honestly, this was an opportunity wasted. I feel like this was supposed to be a platform for women's rights and equality, but it was poorly handled.
Jonah is the third major player in this story and he is nothing. There is no substance to him and he exists merely to move the "plot" forward. He does everything that Hannah as Maggie tells him to do. He's mild-mannered and good-humored. After he is completely betrayed by Hannah, he forgives her instantly. He takes a few trinkets of Maggie's to pawn, moves out west, and changes his name. Whole new life. Everything wrapped up in a nice, neat, little, unbelievable bow.
Don't read this.
Hannah is one of what is supposed to be two main characters, but the book really is all about her. In fact, according to Hannah, the whole world is about her. She's obnoxious and full of herself. She lives in The Elms, a turn-of-the-century mansion that has been turned into a museum. Her dad is the caretaker there. Hannah is obsessed with the house and the time period and knows everything there is to know about it. She follows the docents around while they're giving tours so she can correct them if they mess up any historical facts. She is highly irritated that no one thinks a kid is capable of giving tours, so she uses this huge chip on her shoulder to guide her behavior...like a kid. This is the heart of my issue with Hannah. She is so miffed that no one takes her and her knowledge seriously, that she is treated like a child. Well...she acts like a child. A really, really immature child. There is one docent that particularly irritates her and she makes it her mission to frustrate him daily. When she concocts a plan to find the painting, she says, "I will finally, finally get the respect I deserve from the docents and everyone else who thought I was just a bratty kid getting in their way." Yet a few paragraphs before that she details how this docent she doesn't like took issue with her swimming in the fountain on the grounds after hours, so she puts on a werewolf mask, hides out in a wardrobe, and jumps out to scare him while he's giving a tour. Yeah, if that isn't bratty behavior, I don't know what is. Hannah is an entitled brat and she doesn't grow at all by the end of the novel. I really disliked her and she isn't a character that I would want my kids model themselves after.
Maggie is the other character in this book. She is zipped forward into Hannah's time and Hannah's body in this story. I think that her part of the story was supposed to have been interesting because she would be exploring what the future would look like and feel like to someone from the past. Honestly, this was an opportunity wasted. I feel like this was supposed to be a platform for women's rights and equality, but it was poorly handled.
Jonah is the third major player in this story and he is nothing. There is no substance to him and he exists merely to move the "plot" forward. He does everything that Hannah as Maggie tells him to do. He's mild-mannered and good-humored. After he is completely betrayed by Hannah, he forgives her instantly. He takes a few trinkets of Maggie's to pawn, moves out west, and changes his name. Whole new life. Everything wrapped up in a nice, neat, little, unbelievable bow.
Don't read this.