wanderwithabook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
darlareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
lazygal's review against another edition
5.0
There were so many references here to other books (most obvious: the Mellifluous Orchestra / Chroma's symphony in The Phantom Tollbooth) and yet this was very fresh. I loved meeting all the aunts and watching Bronte have all those extremely inconvenient adventures. While there were some Kingdoms/Empires I would enjoy reading more about, it's good that this is a one-off book.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
snazel's review against another edition
4.0
Super adorable road-trip middle grade, would be absolutely fantastic to read aloud.
I did find it kinda political that we met more than 20 adult characters in various careers, cultures, and areas, their romantic lives are several times a plot point, and absolutely none of them were confirmed to be anything other than straight, but oh well, books sometimes have blind spots.
I did find it kinda political that we met more than 20 adult characters in various careers, cultures, and areas, their romantic lives are several times a plot point, and absolutely none of them were confirmed to be anything other than straight, but oh well, books sometimes have blind spots.
teacher2library's review against another edition
4.0
"I was ten years old when my parents were killed by pirates. This did not bother me as much as you might think - I hardly knew my parents."
Pulled me in from the first page and wouldn't let me put it down! Bronte is such a delightful middle grade heroine. Forced by the faery cross stitch in her parents' will to trek across the kingdoms and deliver last gifts to her aunts, Bronte soon discovers there's more to her parents (and her story) than she ever imagined.
Kirkus thinks the novel has too many aunts and too much whimsy, but I never thought the story "stalled" or found the whimsy too "cloying." I thought it was just right.
Pulled me in from the first page and wouldn't let me put it down! Bronte is such a delightful middle grade heroine. Forced by the faery cross stitch in her parents' will to trek across the kingdoms and deliver last gifts to her aunts, Bronte soon discovers there's more to her parents (and her story) than she ever imagined.
Kirkus thinks the novel has too many aunts and too much whimsy, but I never thought the story "stalled" or found the whimsy too "cloying." I thought it was just right.
sjlizzio's review against another edition
5.0
Jaclyn Moriarty is a refreshing middle grade writer. This story is filled with whimsical energy as readers follow along with protagonist, Bronte, and her incredibly interesting adventures. Yes, I said interesting not inconvenient!
Bronte’s voice is unique and spot-on for a young girl in a fantastical world. I don’t read middle grade too often but judging by how enchanting this book was, I’ll be picking up middle grade fantasy a lot more going forward. I also can’t wait to read more of Jaclyn’s novels!
Bronte’s voice is unique and spot-on for a young girl in a fantastical world. I don’t read middle grade too often but judging by how enchanting this book was, I’ll be picking up middle grade fantasy a lot more going forward. I also can’t wait to read more of Jaclyn’s novels!
riverdogbookco's review against another edition
5.0
Fresh, fun, and fantastical! Rational, sensible Bronte was living an idyllic life with her Aunt Isabelle, when her absent parents get killed by pirates. Their will decrees that Bronte must travel through various kingdoms on a very specific schedule, delivering gifts to her 10 other aunts. How inconvenient! And yet – as Bronte saves a drowning baby, rescues an aunt in prison, learns how to speak dragon, and makes friends with water sprites, she also hears tales of her parents, learns of her family heritage, and starts to suspect there may be more to this journey (and her parents' deaths...?) than she was first led to believe. Absolutely charming read for all ages to enjoy though intended for ages 8-12.
mmmbakes's review against another edition
4.0
Whimsical! Exuberant! Exclamatory!
Despite being a children's novel, I found this magical and enjoyable. While it was perhaps a bit predictable. . . was it not all about the journey?
Despite being a children's novel, I found this magical and enjoyable. While it was perhaps a bit predictable. . . was it not all about the journey?
my_library_view's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-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