mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
Welcome to TopSea, beware the tides, the rubberduckies (especially those with rubbed-out eyes), and oh hey is that a seaweed on your shoulder that is winking at me?
I had the happy opportunity to participate in the Blog Tour for book 2, and that is what led to me wanting to read this series. So here I am, just finished book 1 and loving it to bits. It was weird, it was magical, it was confusing, it was fun. It reminded me, the writing style that is, a lot of Lemony Snicket's stories. It was just as weird, but then on the other hand so serious. I loved it.
I first thought that we would only see the weird town from the new boy's POV, but instead we see all his friends. Which made me happy, it gave us a chance to see the other characters who don't find Topsea weird, but instead find it fabulous and who find the things Davy find normal weird. Yep.
I wasn't sure how I felt on how Davy was treated by his new friends. Why why did they get his name wrong? And not just his new friends, but EVERYONE. I thought we would get some reason why, but nothing. Plus, I was very confused, because at one point, near the end, they do get his name right, and then he is confused because that is not his name? Um? Did I miss something?
While I did love that his locker was at the bottom of the sea, um pool, I do wonder why that was done by the school? I get the whole Davy Jones locker thing but it seemed weird. For a long moment I thought there was something going on with Davy, but I guess not. It would have been fun if there was a big twist about him, but it seems he is just normal, not Topsea normal, but normal normal. :P
I am happy that Davy eventually got more and more into Topsea and while he still found it strange, he learned to go with the flow. Just be open to new things. That is also what we see with the surveys, they change each time and I was happy to see that change.
Plus, I am happy that he was able to find friends, and that he was finally opening up more to them.
It was fun to get to know Quincy, Runa, Finn, Jules, Nia. See what made them tick. From pigs to writing down all the questions to tall tales. I was even getting excited to see who would be the MC for the next chapter. Was it Davy? Was it Quincy? Was it someone else? Oh my! And what kind of things would they do, what adventures would they have. It was also fun to see their interactions and friendships and how they lived their lives in this weird and unique town.
I loved the inbetween parts with posters, information on the town, newspapers, PTA stuff, what tide was happening (yep, this town has tons of different tides!). I got to know the town more and more through those parts and I was eager to find out what other tidbits we would find out over the course of the book.
Oh man, I just want to live in Topsea now. It seems weird and strange, but I love the uniqueness of it all, and I want to find out all the secrets and stories.
I also need to discuss the art, it was just great, I so love the style and how well it fits with this unique stories. There was one illustration that didn't seem to match with the description. Namely, on page 167 we see Quincy and his sister floating around, however on page 169 we read that the highchair, which is floating on that illustration, is actually bolted down.
All in all, I so so need the second book in this series. Let's see if I can wait until the paperback comes out or if I give in and buy the hardcover. I would highly recommend this unique and weird and funny book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I had the happy opportunity to participate in the Blog Tour for book 2, and that is what led to me wanting to read this series. So here I am, just finished book 1 and loving it to bits. It was weird, it was magical, it was confusing, it was fun. It reminded me, the writing style that is, a lot of Lemony Snicket's stories. It was just as weird, but then on the other hand so serious. I loved it.
I first thought that we would only see the weird town from the new boy's POV, but instead we see all his friends. Which made me happy, it gave us a chance to see the other characters who don't find Topsea weird, but instead find it fabulous and who find the things Davy find normal weird. Yep.
I wasn't sure how I felt on how Davy was treated by his new friends. Why why did they get his name wrong? And not just his new friends, but EVERYONE. I thought we would get some reason why, but nothing. Plus, I was very confused, because at one point, near the end, they do get his name right, and then he is confused because that is not his name? Um? Did I miss something?
While I did love that his locker was at the bottom of the sea, um pool, I do wonder why that was done by the school? I get the whole Davy Jones locker thing but it seemed weird. For a long moment I thought there was something going on with Davy, but I guess not. It would have been fun if there was a big twist about him, but it seems he is just normal, not Topsea normal, but normal normal. :P
I am happy that Davy eventually got more and more into Topsea and while he still found it strange, he learned to go with the flow. Just be open to new things. That is also what we see with the surveys, they change each time and I was happy to see that change.
Plus, I am happy that he was able to find friends, and that he was finally opening up more to them.
It was fun to get to know Quincy, Runa, Finn, Jules, Nia. See what made them tick. From pigs to writing down all the questions to tall tales. I was even getting excited to see who would be the MC for the next chapter. Was it Davy? Was it Quincy? Was it someone else? Oh my! And what kind of things would they do, what adventures would they have. It was also fun to see their interactions and friendships and how they lived their lives in this weird and unique town.
I loved the inbetween parts with posters, information on the town, newspapers, PTA stuff, what tide was happening (yep, this town has tons of different tides!). I got to know the town more and more through those parts and I was eager to find out what other tidbits we would find out over the course of the book.
Oh man, I just want to live in Topsea now. It seems weird and strange, but I love the uniqueness of it all, and I want to find out all the secrets and stories.
I also need to discuss the art, it was just great, I so love the style and how well it fits with this unique stories. There was one illustration that didn't seem to match with the description. Namely, on page 167 we see Quincy and his sister floating around, however on page 169 we read that the highchair, which is floating on that illustration, is actually bolted down.
All in all, I so so need the second book in this series. Let's see if I can wait until the paperback comes out or if I give in and buy the hardcover. I would highly recommend this unique and weird and funny book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
lareinadehades's review
emotional
inspiring
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
thebumblegirl's review
4.0
It has been too long since I have read an interesting quirky middle-grade book just for fun! Full of interesting diverse characters, a magical world that kept getting better and better... and, a very smart and endearing watch-hog! (Have you ever heard of a watch-hog? Me either! And now I'm sure you'll want to find out what one is...)
Davy and his mom have moved to Topsea to start fresh, and Davy is doing his absolute best to adjust and fit in. However, Topsea is not like any place he's ever been to or heard of - according to everyone who lives here - Mermaids are extinct, dogs are myths, seaweed may be the main ingredient in ALL of your foods and your school locker may be found at the bottom of the swimming pool!
Davy soon begins to realize that what is not normal to him is actually normal here. And once you start to accept what is happening, no matter how odd and out of place it may seem, it's actually not. This makes Davy feel better, as he used to be the odd one back at home and now he's the most normal person at Topsea. While Davy starts to accept his new normal, he also begins to mourn and accept the loss of his father.
The writing and flow of the story are so wonderfully unique! Our main character is Davy and we see Topsea mostly from his perspective. But, we also get to see Topsea through his new friends too, the local kids who have lived here their entire lives and don't see Topsea as weird. Included are the school's newspaper and local alerts letting us know what is happening in school and in the town - weather and other local news. The authors also include some "history" of Topsea through excerpts of what I believe may be a book called "Everything You Need to Know About Topsea" which helps the reader gain knowledge to understand why Topsea is the way it is before Davy does.
The illustrations fit the story so well! Amusing and quite charming, each sketch and image brought the book to life!
Another fun little tidbit about this book - adults will absolutely love all of the jokes and symbolism that the authors threw in; as most kids in this age group may not know who Davy Jones or Jo King were... this is the perfect book to "buddy read" with your child or class and then discuss!
This book is for the overly imaginative dreamer! Topsea is the place to go to when you want to let go of everything you believe in and just "go with the flow"... it's meant to be light-hearted and whimsical quick fun read.
*A hardcover copy was sent to me by the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for an honest review.
Davy and his mom have moved to Topsea to start fresh, and Davy is doing his absolute best to adjust and fit in. However, Topsea is not like any place he's ever been to or heard of - according to everyone who lives here - Mermaids are extinct, dogs are myths, seaweed may be the main ingredient in ALL of your foods and your school locker may be found at the bottom of the swimming pool!
Davy soon begins to realize that what is not normal to him is actually normal here. And once you start to accept what is happening, no matter how odd and out of place it may seem, it's actually not. This makes Davy feel better, as he used to be the odd one back at home and now he's the most normal person at Topsea. While Davy starts to accept his new normal, he also begins to mourn and accept the loss of his father.
The writing and flow of the story are so wonderfully unique! Our main character is Davy and we see Topsea mostly from his perspective. But, we also get to see Topsea through his new friends too, the local kids who have lived here their entire lives and don't see Topsea as weird. Included are the school's newspaper and local alerts letting us know what is happening in school and in the town - weather and other local news. The authors also include some "history" of Topsea through excerpts of what I believe may be a book called "Everything You Need to Know About Topsea" which helps the reader gain knowledge to understand why Topsea is the way it is before Davy does.
The illustrations fit the story so well! Amusing and quite charming, each sketch and image brought the book to life!
Another fun little tidbit about this book - adults will absolutely love all of the jokes and symbolism that the authors threw in; as most kids in this age group may not know who Davy Jones or Jo King were... this is the perfect book to "buddy read" with your child or class and then discuss!
This book is for the overly imaginative dreamer! Topsea is the place to go to when you want to let go of everything you believe in and just "go with the flow"... it's meant to be light-hearted and whimsical quick fun read.
*A hardcover copy was sent to me by the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for an honest review.
branpender12's review
5.0
A Friendly Little Town That’s Almost Always By The Ocean
My Summary:It’s tough moving to a new town, especially when you’re the only one that’s “normal”! Davey Jones is new to Topsea and isn’t sure how to fit in. Davey’s mom keeps assuring him that once he gets used to living there that everything will be okay. How when you live in a town where the peer is endless, cats have run the dogs into the ocean never to be seen again, watch hogs rove the town, mysterious crabs have invaded and run off the local crabs, there’s a troll under the pier, and nothing is what it seems especially the tides! Not to mention no one can even remember his name! Never trust the rubber ducks but more importantly don’t look directly into their eyes!
Strange things are continuously happening to Davey -like having his locker at the bottom of the swimming pool because the principal assured him it was the most suited for new students. Or having all of the class laugh at him when he says the dogs are not a myth! Because everyone in Topsea knows that mermaids are real, but dogs are a complete myth! Plus, all of his friends have their own unique, quirky personality that Davey is reluctant to trust. I believe this comes from being in a new town and worrying that no one really likes you, so Davey is afraid that since they can’t remember his name that they are not really his friends.
The Breakdown!
I really loved this little story of coming-of-age and finding out who you are. Davey has just been through the most traumatic events of his life, the loss of his father and the upheaval of his ordinary lifestyle to a completely new place. Where he came from, Davey was the oddball kid and didn’t fit in but in a Topsea he seems to be the only normal person.I think my favorite parts of the story were the bulletins, the newsletter, the ever-changing tides, and the fun side characters. This whole story has so many allegories that I cannot name them all! I love that the principal’s name is Josephine (Jo) King – I see what you did there!- that the new kid is named Davy Jones and his locker is at the bottom of the pool and completely unattainable! (hmmm those authors are sly devils!) I look forward to new chapters to see what kind of tied the town was going to have! Kids are going to eat this book up! There is so much to discuss and so many things to discover I believe you reread this book so that I can go back and find all of the other fun allegories!
Characters I ADORED!
Earl Grey is a “teacup piglet” (I love this too! Earl Grey tea/teacup pig? YES’) who is actually a watch hog and grows to be very big by eating his bowl of oatmeal.
The story would not be complete without the misadventures of the watch hog Earl Grey! He “squeals” on the cats when they were stealing the milk from the school and helps thin get untangled from the chewing gum wall that was trying to devour him! But my favorite part has to be on Unstable Gravity day when pigs really do fly!Jules is an investigative reporter and discovers the mystery behind the big black crabs that have invaded Topsea! I really enjoyed reading her bulletins and featured pages in the newsletter!
Davey Jones is a very relatable and likable character; his flaws are easy for kids to pick up on and relate to. He’s very hesitant to fit into his new role in the town and at school. It’s almost as if he feels that if he doesn’t completely fit in then it all cannot be real, and he will go back to his former life and his dad will be there. He even struggles with who he is and tries to be exactly like his friends but when that doesn’t work out he realizes that he himself is special in his own way with the help of the cook Ricky or Nicky. (those two confused me!)
The reason I gave this book a four-star was because the characters never seemed to really find their Zen and I got them a little muddled. I think if he had half the number of friends that the story would’ve been okay. I also believe that kids may not get all of the jokes and allegories because there’s so many of them and they aren’t very obvious. Though as an adult reading it I really enjoyed it, kids could have a tougher time following along and really appreciating the punchline. Even the town’s name Topsea because everything there is topsy-turvy.
Conclusion:
Overall, I would recommend this story in a heartbeat and I’m going to purchase a copy for my son’s fifth-grade class, so I can read it with them on parent involvement day! This book would be perfect for third to sixth-grade students! Any kids over that might think it’s a bit childish but that age group would simply adore it!
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
5.0
This quick book is a fun change of pace. When I picked it up, I wasn’t thinking topsy-turvy but it is every bit of that... in the veins of Sideways Stories or the fun Weird School series. These clever characters with unique attributes (like the love of questions) make the story super fun to read - you never know WHAT could happen next. Stars might fall out of ice cream, what is normal is abnormal, and what is abnormal is hilarious. Looking forward to book #2.
theintrovertedintrovert's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Great little book! Wayside Stories meets... Welcome to Nightvale.
Looking forward to reading the sequel!
Looking forward to reading the sequel!
aubrooke's review
5.0
Such a cute read! Showing kids that "normal" is a relative term, and it's okay to be different. This story and town was such a whimsical place I look forward to reading more in the series!
aseleener's review
3.0
A little too goofy for me, but my daughters (8 & 11) loved it. They laughed out loud everytime someone called Davy by the wrong name. For me there was not enough of a plot, just one weird incident after another, and the shifting of the perspective from one character to another constantly was confusing.
moggmogg's review
4.0
Davy is new to Topsea and is having some trouble fitting in. He is a normal kid in an odd town. But things aren't just odd and different --they are vaguely menacing at times. A slightly creepy, warm hearted story about a boy making friends and trying to figure things out. MG Friendship; Fantasy; School Story; Grief