hewbear13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lauraedosanjh's review
2.0
Whimsical and cute, though not very engaging. I found myself struggling to stay focused through some parts of the book, part due to the slow moving plot and part due to a yawning writing style.
The overall idea, the river troll characters, and the conclusion are very cute though. It's not a book you'll want to read more than once, though.
The overall idea, the river troll characters, and the conclusion are very cute though. It's not a book you'll want to read more than once, though.
gabs_myfullbookshelf's review
2.0
This review (and others) can be found on My Full Bookshelf
This book was definitely more quirky than funny, and not the good kind of quirky, either. It was the kind that makes you scratch your head and wonder what the heck you just read. Yes, the story is inventive; I will give the book that much. But it's still pretty bizarre, and I just could not bring myself to care for the characters in the slightest bit.
First, there is Claire. Claire's an overall 'meh' kind of character. I didn't not like her, I didn't like her all that much either. I wish her personality would have been fleshed out more; she started out as a character with a lot of potential; tomboy, can't relate to her sisters, loves frogs, turtles, and the like; but there really wasn't a lot of development from her at all throughout the book, and honestly, I personally don't think she contributed a lot to the story in the first place. She was just kind of a bystander in how everything ended up playing out, except for the very beginning.
Duke; he reminded me a lot of Dudley Dursley. He was mean, a bit of an idiot, and there was one scene where he just kept chowing down on food. I didn't feel any great love for Duke. Like at all. He was supposed to be unlikeable, though, so not a terrible thing.
The trolls, however, really annoyed me. I liked Frozen's take on them infinitely better; there was only one who was even slightly likeable in here.
The humor was simply put, bad. Not one thing registered as funny to me in this whole book, which is really kind of sad, especially when both the blurb and the cover claim this book is funny. It's not that it wasn't my kind of humor, either; the book really isn't that funny.
The storyline was really bizarre but really unique, I'll say that. I don't think I've ever read a book even slightly like this. Trolls themselves aren't something I see a lot in kid's/teen's books, but even if they were, I think this book would stand out. However, the storyline was so strange that I really never got into the book.
The one thing that I without a doubt loved was the illustrations. I never pay attention to the little pictures at the beginning of chapters, but with this book I would practically study them. They were adorable. And of course, this cover is just the cutest. I am seriously thinking of buying more of the illustrator's books just so I have the illustrations (and covers) to brighten up my day.
I'm giving this two stars because it was pretty imaginative, but other than that there weren't a lot of 'pluses' for me with this book.
This book was definitely more quirky than funny, and not the good kind of quirky, either. It was the kind that makes you scratch your head and wonder what the heck you just read. Yes, the story is inventive; I will give the book that much. But it's still pretty bizarre, and I just could not bring myself to care for the characters in the slightest bit.
First, there is Claire. Claire's an overall 'meh' kind of character. I didn't not like her, I didn't like her all that much either. I wish her personality would have been fleshed out more; she started out as a character with a lot of potential; tomboy, can't relate to her sisters, loves frogs, turtles, and the like; but there really wasn't a lot of development from her at all throughout the book, and honestly, I personally don't think she contributed a lot to the story in the first place. She was just kind of a bystander in how everything ended up playing out, except for the very beginning.
Duke; he reminded me a lot of Dudley Dursley. He was mean, a bit of an idiot, and there was one scene where he just kept chowing down on food. I didn't feel any great love for Duke. Like at all. He was supposed to be unlikeable, though, so not a terrible thing.
The trolls, however, really annoyed me. I liked Frozen's take on them infinitely better; there was only one who was even slightly likeable in here.
The humor was simply put, bad. Not one thing registered as funny to me in this whole book, which is really kind of sad, especially when both the blurb and the cover claim this book is funny. It's not that it wasn't my kind of humor, either; the book really isn't that funny.
The storyline was really bizarre but really unique, I'll say that. I don't think I've ever read a book even slightly like this. Trolls themselves aren't something I see a lot in kid's/teen's books, but even if they were, I think this book would stand out. However, the storyline was so strange that I really never got into the book.
The one thing that I without a doubt loved was the illustrations. I never pay attention to the little pictures at the beginning of chapters, but with this book I would practically study them. They were adorable. And of course, this cover is just the cutest. I am seriously thinking of buying more of the illustrator's books just so I have the illustrations (and covers) to brighten up my day.
I'm giving this two stars because it was pretty imaginative, but other than that there weren't a lot of 'pluses' for me with this book.
rachel_abby_reads's review
1.0
Random, boring and unengaging. It was supposed to be funny, but it was weird. It wasn't even interestingly weird. If I have to flog myself that hard to keep reading it, it isn't worth the time I'm giving it.
rebekaha's review against another edition
1.0
I cant even give this book a single star.....Worst book I have ever read........ever
odet137's review
4.0
This book was really cute. I loved the illustrations. It was fun and darkish, and teaches a great lesson to children about bullying.
esmeep's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dlightfull's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
crowyhead's review
4.0
When Claire's bully of a counsin, Duke, sprouts a rhino horn where his nose should be, it's a pretty sure bet that there's "something rivery" going on. The problem grows exponentially (along with Duke's nose) when Duke's parents are turned to stone and Duke runs off with some river trolls. Claire follows, because she needs the trolls to turn her aunt and uncle back, and besides, the rest of the family probably doesn't want Duke going all trollish, anyway...
This is a hilarious and original YA fantasy -- one of the most unique I've read in quite some time. In a world where young British wizards are a dime a dozen, there's something fantastic about finding this novel, which is set firmly on the Minnesota bluffs hedging the Misssissippi River.
This is a hilarious and original YA fantasy -- one of the most unique I've read in quite some time. In a world where young British wizards are a dime a dozen, there's something fantastic about finding this novel, which is set firmly on the Minnesota bluffs hedging the Misssissippi River.