blakehalsey's review
4.0
This book took a few chapters to get going, but it ended up to be a pretty good book. Seemingly unrelated stories pulled themselves together in, some predictable, some not, ways.
mrs_gale's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A book for children but I really enjoyed it! More fantasy based than I expected, but I loved the quirkiness.
sandraagee's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite what I was expecting, but definitely excellent. Olivia has moved for the fourth time in two years and is feeling sad and alone. When she is locked out of her aparement, she begins to have a series of adventures as she uncovers the extraordinary and amazingly interconnected lives of her new neighbors. Olivia is also coping with a death in her family and is desperately trying to get in touch with her brother in the afterlife.
Olivia's adventures are zaney and flow one right into the next, kind of like Alice in Wonderland. Very cool book. Not quite a transition novel, but very, very close.
Olivia's adventures are zaney and flow one right into the next, kind of like Alice in Wonderland. Very cool book. Not quite a transition novel, but very, very close.
wiseowl33's review against another edition
5.0
What an imaginative story! Love Olivia. We listened to the audio version and my kids were totally enthralled! Wonderful characters. Great story!
jdiedrichs628's review
3.0
We all liked it but there's a rather ruthless pirate that likes to drown people and a couple of ghosts and it was a bit scary for my daughter who's a bit sensitive. It's all very absurdist and I think most kids would probably find it okay.
kevinhendricks's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book to this kids and it took about 75 pages before the story started to make any sense. The beginning is just too random and disconnected. It all starts to come together in the end, but you have to put up with a lot of randomness until then. That kind of put a damper on the story.
jane_denn's review against another edition
5.0
Ellen Potter has been one of my favourite authors since I was about eight years old (I'm 14 now). I believe I started with Olivia Kindey and my oh my is it ever magical. The cast of characters are so unique and beautiful and Olivia herself has just the best personality. And by best I mean she's snarky and stubborn and hilarious. I love all the other characters and their stories too. The lady with the glass apartment and the lady with lizard house that's set at 100 degrees. How does she come up with this stuff? Totally recommended this and the two other companions!
mandi_m's review
4.0
This was such a fun, quirky read. Olivia is navigating a new school and a new home yet again as she moves with her Dad who is a building maintenance man. This has an entertaining cast of characters who are all dealing with a range of issues and they all contrast with Olivia and her own grief.
line_so_fine's review against another edition
3.0
This was odd and trippy. Olivia lives in an apartment building inhabited by magical tenants. Not magical in a fairyland rainbow way- darker than that. I think this would appeal to super imaginative kids who don't need a linear story but just want weird stuff to happen.
_bambi_'s review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0