susannah_knox's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I read this as a child and now again with my 7yo, and I have to confess... I'm still a bit disappointed that this book isn't reeeaaaallllly about elves. However, the child's POV is very convincing and it's refreshing to read a book from this perspective confronting difficult topics with some ambiguity that feels realistic.
katjabookdragon's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
calistareads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I got this book from the 'Book Thing', the free book shop in Baltimore. I told my Niece she should read it and see what she thinks. It's a Newbery Honor book after all. She said if I read it first and thought she would enjoy it, she would read it. So, I'm reading it.
It's a whole lot different than I thought it was going to be. There is this whole thing with the Elf village that is set up. Really, the story is about a young girl, Hillary who is thrown into an adult situation and not really capable of handling it. Sara-Kate is the neighbor girl and she is the one who has the Elf village in her wild back yard. She only has Hillary over, she never visits Hillary. Something is off about Sara-Kate, or is she simply an Elf.
Sara-Kate is 9 or 10 and she is having to deal with this adult situation at home that could change her life. She's doing the best she can. It's an intersting story. Some things, an adult really does have to handle and help.
I am not recommending Niece read this story.
PS, my book has the old 80s Apple Paperbacks cover. I loved those things. Good memories.
It's a whole lot different than I thought it was going to be. There is this whole thing with the Elf village that is set up. Really, the story is about a young girl, Hillary who is thrown into an adult situation and not really capable of handling it. Sara-Kate is the neighbor girl and she is the one who has the Elf village in her wild back yard. She only has Hillary over, she never visits Hillary. Something is off about Sara-Kate, or is she simply an Elf.
Sara-Kate is 9 or 10 and she is having to deal with this adult situation at home that could change her life. She's doing the best she can. It's an intersting story. Some things, an adult really does have to handle and help.
I am not recommending Niece read this story.
PS, my book has the old 80s Apple Paperbacks cover. I loved those things. Good memories.
ren_the_hobbit's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
This is a very thoughtful children’s book. I really enjoyed it!
emperorcupcake's review against another edition
3.75
Another strange vintage middle grade (like Tuppenny) that so perfectly captures that off-kilter feeling of childhood we forget as soon as we grow up. This book doesn't give you any satisfying answers, yet I was completely satisfied with it. It was weirdly unsettling, with a nice hint of magic that may or may not have been real. This would have been a better fall read than summer, with the little leaf-roof houses, but a good read for any time. I am really feeling these weird vintage kids' paperbacks right now, so thanks little free libraries for providing them!
mariciel0's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book so much better in 5th grade. The protagonist Hillary is just so naive!!! And she thinks way more about the elves than she actually does of Sara-Kate. I also wish that it switched povs, but what can I do? I do like the writing style though, and the plot idea. But honestly, I should have just chosen another book
vermidian's review against another edition
I had a tremendously difficult time getting into this book, despite it being so short. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Some of the messages the book is trying to convey are absolutely valid, though I'm not sure, as I skipped to the end to see what the thesis of the book might be, how well presented or how well handled those issues were. It's not a book I am likely to recommend and it's not a book I'll be keeping on my shelf. May it find a loving home with someone who enjoys it more than I.
clstrifes's review against another edition
4.0
Gave it 4 stars due to childhood nostalgia, growing up I was a bit of a book nerd (still am obviously) but I remembered this book being one of my childhood favorites. Rereading it now, I can see the issues with this book when it came to scene jumping to another scene out of no where but eventually I got use to it,I suppose that was normal for a children/ young adults book during the 1980’s, who knows really. I still enjoyed the story though and I relate a bit to Sara-Kate’s character a bit even as an adult and I felt sorry for her in the end of the book.
cthulhussy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tjwallace04's review against another edition
4.0
I had previously read this book one time in elementary school (about thirty years ago now), and the concept of the story had stayed with me all that time as something magical, wonderful, and memorable. After some googling ("book elves back yard"), I was able to rediscover "Afternoon of the Elves" and purchase it...ostensibly for my children but really so I could reread it.
Well, I think I understand now why it made such an impression on me. What an unusual children's book! There is so much ambiguity, and it has an abrupt, unresolved ending. Hillary doesn't know quite what to make of Sara-Kate, and I probably didn't either as a child reading the book. As an adult, I feel like I can see another layer.. The best part of the book to me is how Sara-Kate teaches Hillary to look at things with different eyes and to consider things from different perspectives...that what is normal to Hillary may not be what is normal to an elf...or to another family. This is an important lesson for both childrens and adults and it is given seamlessly.
I am honestly not sure if this book will work its magic on my children the way it did on me, as it's not funny or exciting in a traditional sense, but I will be reading it with them soon.
Well, I think I understand now why it made such an impression on me. What an unusual children's book! There is so much ambiguity, and it has an abrupt, unresolved ending. Hillary doesn't know quite what to make of Sara-Kate, and I probably didn't either as a child reading the book. As an adult, I feel like I can see another layer.
Spoiler
She is literally starving (which is why she lights up and becomes gregarious when Hillary brings her balogna and other food) but also starving for friendship. It is a sad but powerful plot.I am honestly not sure if this book will work its magic on my children the way it did on me, as it's not funny or exciting in a traditional sense, but I will be reading it with them soon.