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wardo2700's review
4.0
This is a mostly enjoyable fantasy story. My only objection was it is too long of a book. The author could easily have cut a quarter of the book out just by not repeating the portion where the main character didn't like Wales. She told his dislike over and over for page after page and it didn't help the story at all. Once she had the character change his focus it became a book I didn't want to put down. The mixing of current day happenings with actual scenes from the past was well done. The exciting conclusion was excellent and contained a few surprises. I'd recommend this book to any reader 8 and older, especially those lovers of fantasy fiction.
kirstenrose22's review
5.0
I unexpectedly loved this. The setting feels magical and really makes me want to visit Wales. The story itself feels timeless - apart from the fact that it is clearly pre-smartphone. The story is a good one. I loved the depiction of grief and depression here, and how each person deals with it. I wanted to kick the father in the head for not paying more attention to his grieving children (but that plotline evolved nicely, and by the end, that whole part worked too). I couldn’t put this down!
roseleaf24's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. David, the father, was difficult to read about to begin with because he had so little understanding of his children's grief. But he came around as the family grew closer. And the rest of the story was great; I loved the weaving of the story of Taliesin, and the Welsh magic. The characters were likeable and full.
tamara_danielle's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
desushi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
basbleu_dans_labiblioteque's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ehays84's review
4.0
We picked this one up randomly at a little library or from a used bookstore, and had it lying around in the basement for a while. I knew that it was a Newbery Honor winner, so every once in a while, I would get it out and look at it, and it finally rose to the top of my reading list. I am very glad that it did.
This book is definitely the closest I have read to something by Madeline L'Engle, so if you are a fan of hers (and why wouldn't you be?), you should definitely read this. The main connections to her work are a well-written family with lots of strong character development and development as a family overall and a world in which fantasy and magic blend in with real life in ways that the characters don't always understand. And in both, the fantasy element is a part of helping the family and character growth.
But probably the strongest element of this book is its portrayal of Wales. I grew up loving the Lloyd Alexander books, so I have always had a love for Wales and Welsh mythology from that time (not to mention that my first name is Welsh). And there is plenty of that in this book because Taliesin is essentially a character in this book. But this portrayal of Wales is much more real to modern times--at least I have a strong feeling that it is not having been there myself (yet). She manages, quite well, to portray the, in many ways, prosaic (or perhaps even dreary) reality of the weather and life in general in Wales while at the same time capturing its beauty and charm. To me, that sort of complicated reality is what things are actually life in real life, and she draws this out so well about Wales. She lived for a while in the area that she wrote about, but I think I also connect with this book because she, like myself, is an American who grew up loving the British Isles. For Bond, and myself, the British Isles are the place where fantasy and reality meet in our imaginations. And I think ultimately the reason for that is that Britain's history goes back beyond the edges of our human stories and memories, unlike here in America for those of us whose families come originally from Europe.
I really can't find anything too critical to say about this book, and if you are someone who is a fan of children's books overall, or fantasy overall, or mythology, or books about Wales/Great Britain, you should add this one to your reading list.
This book is definitely the closest I have read to something by Madeline L'Engle, so if you are a fan of hers (and why wouldn't you be?), you should definitely read this. The main connections to her work are a well-written family with lots of strong character development and development as a family overall and a world in which fantasy and magic blend in with real life in ways that the characters don't always understand. And in both, the fantasy element is a part of helping the family and character growth.
But probably the strongest element of this book is its portrayal of Wales. I grew up loving the Lloyd Alexander books, so I have always had a love for Wales and Welsh mythology from that time (not to mention that my first name is Welsh). And there is plenty of that in this book because Taliesin is essentially a character in this book. But this portrayal of Wales is much more real to modern times--at least I have a strong feeling that it is not having been there myself (yet). She manages, quite well, to portray the, in many ways, prosaic (or perhaps even dreary) reality of the weather and life in general in Wales while at the same time capturing its beauty and charm. To me, that sort of complicated reality is what things are actually life in real life, and she draws this out so well about Wales. She lived for a while in the area that she wrote about, but I think I also connect with this book because she, like myself, is an American who grew up loving the British Isles. For Bond, and myself, the British Isles are the place where fantasy and reality meet in our imaginations. And I think ultimately the reason for that is that Britain's history goes back beyond the edges of our human stories and memories, unlike here in America for those of us whose families come originally from Europe.
I really can't find anything too critical to say about this book, and if you are someone who is a fan of children's books overall, or fantasy overall, or mythology, or books about Wales/Great Britain, you should add this one to your reading list.
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
As a new children's librarian, I read this when it first came out and loved it. This time around, I found it very slow. I was also taken aback that the 15-year-old daughter becomes the family housekeeper when she decides to stay in Wales after the holidays - this felt very dated. But the fantasy worked for me. I loved Peter's glimpses of the sixth century world. And I especially loved the descriptions of the Welsh countryside and the natural world - though it might not have been so enthralling if I had not just returned from Wales.
kxu65's review against another edition
3.0
This book is about the aftermath of 3 siblings when their mom dies, and 2 of them has to stay with their dad in Ireland, while the oldest stays back to live with their aunt and uncle in New England, but then reunite for the holidays at their dad's house. During the holidays, one of the siblings find a mysterious object that allows myth and history to be seen.
This book is not so great because I felt there was no conflict within the book, and what was there was made up in order to fill the void of needing one. I felt no danger or be connected with the characters more because of the so called conflict.
P. S. I didn't like or find it great that in child's book when they call adults by their first name, especially with a parent, and then other adults are called by their last name like they should be.
This book is not so great because I felt there was no conflict within the book, and what was there was made up in order to fill the void of needing one. I felt no danger or be connected with the characters more because of the so called conflict.
P. S. I didn't like or find it great that in child's book when they call adults by their first name, especially with a parent, and then other adults are called by their last name like they should be.