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anniefwrites's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
This was really a delight. It’s a perfect light read for Christmastime, and the illustrations were lovely (especially that cover—wow!). The book reminded me a lot of the middle grade mysteries I loved as a kid, like “Chasing Vermeer” and “Shakespeare’s Secret,” along with the aspect of sneaky children trying to figure out the adults’ secrets of “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” Just when I thought it was starting to drag a little, I got hit with the twist, which I didn’t see coming at all. I’m interested in reading the rest of the books in this series, and not just because I worked with the author at a bookstore for a bit!
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Confinement and Alcohol
amarchetta's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Such a cute holiday mystery! I know it’s for kids, but I do wish the villain had a little more dimension beyond pure evil. I also wanted Clem and Georgie to be lesbians and fall in love rather than fight over the same guy. Seemed way more plausible based on their initial chemistry (and colorful hair!)
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders
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