Reviews

Afternoon of the Elves by Janet Taylor Lisle

gossamer_lens's review against another edition

4.0

Read this in a middle grade library book club and fell in love.

lisakimmence3's review against another edition

3.0

"Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be an elf?" Hillary asked Sara-Kate. "I mean, how it would feel to be so strange and little?"
Sara-Kate's eyes jumped to Hillary's face.
"What do you mean 'strange and little'?" she inquired sharply. "If you were an elf you wouldn't feel strange or little. You'd feel like a normal, healthy elf."

Sometimes the smallest of books pack the biggest lessons.

carynbeck's review against another edition

4.0

One of my fav's from when I was little, just re reading another oldie but goodie.

fallingletters's review against another edition

3.0

Originally posted 31 December 2012 on Falling Letters.

***

One of my earliest favourite books (from when I was six or seven, probably) is [b:The Lost Flower Children|1020887|The Lost Flower Children|Janet Taylor Lisle|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1180292557s/1020887.jpg|2985172]. I thought it a delightful little tale, but for some reason I never picked up the author's other books. I decided it was about time, and I blazed through this one. I'm glad I did not read it as a child. I would have been highly disappointed to find there were actually no fairies in it. I was still disappointed! But at my age I was able to see this wasn't that sort of book and I was able to appreciate it more for what it actually is. I did wonder what I would have thought of the book had I read it at its intended age level? Would I have believed that what Harriet saw was what she said she saw? It was easy to understand that there weren't actually any elves, despite the story being told from Harriet's perspective, but I wonder if I would have realized it as quickly at a younger age. Final note: I thought Sara-Kate was very well-written, an intriguing character truly impossible to decipher.

rebelbelle13's review against another edition

3.0

This is one of those novels that hits you differently depending on when you read it. If you happen to stumble upon it in your youth, say, between the ages of 8 and 13, you might read this and see the real magic in it- that the elves truly exist in Sara-Kate's backyard, that she herself might be an elf, and there is indeed wonderful things happening next door. If you read this as an adult, you might see a troubled, poor young girl who's struggling to take care of her mother, and distracting herself by building an elf village in her backyard in an effort to make friends with her younger, more well off neighbor. Or, both can be true- it depends on which angle you see it from. Sara-Kate's situation is compelling, to be sure, and there are certain moments where you think that the elves just might exist- and you want them to, almost as bad as Hillary does. Their interactions are sweet, and the friendship that builds between them is beautiful, in its own way, and sadly, too brief. I have a feeling that this little gem will stick with me for quite a few years to come.

toffeetink's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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.

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!