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kat_smith24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Xenophobia
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
kmsander4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
4.5
This story is unlike any other you'll ever read. It's mythical and fantastical while being firmly planted in our reality. It's about magical creatures and it's about every day people. Those that are different and outcasts. Ones who don't belong and ones who find their family along the way.
It's a tale about love and acceptance but also hatred and prejudice. The metaphors are abundant but every single one hits perfectly.
I cannot wait to pick up the next book in this series and dive back into this incredibly rich and beautifully bright world and the characters that inhabit it.
It's a tale about love and acceptance but also hatred and prejudice. The metaphors are abundant but every single one hits perfectly.
I cannot wait to pick up the next book in this series and dive back into this incredibly rich and beautifully bright world and the characters that inhabit it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Abandonment
gemloukay's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
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
5.0
Linus Baker is a Case Worker for the Department of Magical Youth, whose job it is to inspect the Orphanages where they often live. When he gets sent on a special assignment by Extremely Upper Management, he finds himself on an island with some very special and potentially very dangerous youngsters, and the master of their home, Arthur Pernassus. But as he gets to know them all, he must decide between his head and his heart.
A beautiful story, full of hope and plenty of heart. I adored both the story and the characters, and can’t wait to read the sequel.
A beautiful story, full of hope and plenty of heart. I adored both the story and the characters, and can’t wait to read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Violence
tatjanasbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, and Physical abuse
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
sierrabowers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
If I could rate this book a 6, I would! This was a great read that included so much diversity and I loved the message it was trying to present. The theme being: love others no matter what, even if you don’t understand them. I also believe the author included another theme: people are afraid of what they don’t understand. As someone who works with children and sees the corrupt foster care system, I encourage all to read. It is enlightening and also very funny. It was lighthearted while also touching on important subjects!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Fatphobia, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Violence and Cannibalism
lucia2's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
weepy_iskwew's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This book is light-hearted, whimsical, sweet, with some obvious ‘lessons’ that are still worth talking about. I enjoyed reading it. I also enjoyed the stylized form of writing, a little Lemony Snicket adjacent. I enjoyed the humor, the queer relationships, the mature and wholesome romance subplot, the found family vibes, loved all the children etc. etc. I also loved the scenery, worldbuilding etc. It was very vivid and could easily be translated into a show or movie someday.
However…
I read this book knowing about the controversy surrounding the author’s inspiration for the story. As an Indigenous person, I tend to avoid arguments about who should tell stories related to our history because I don’t have all the answers either. But, what I do know is that if you are going to tell our stories you better do it justice.
The following are some flaws that I feel got in the way of this being higher rated for me. Especially if we look at this as a story inspired by the 60s scoop and other Indigenous history. Covering this whole section as spoilers just in case - read at your own risk!
Ultimately, I think in favour of whimsy, and ‘feel-good’ story, Klune left out many of the deeper, more meaningful, and challenging parts of the history that he was inspired by. Which is a choice that an author is allowed to make, and one that some may like. But not really one that makes me excited.
That being said, I do wonder if some of this deeper story could be explored in the sequel. I’d reread this story, and I’ll be adding the sequel to my wishlist. However, I wasn’t so charmed by the whimsy or so convinced that this author has something significant to say that I’ll be rushing out to get it on release.
- Linus is sweet, but ultimately the most boring character to explore the world through. Everything happens to him, and he does very little until the very end. He begins with certain beliefs and standards, but they are so comically ‘bad’ and he lets go of them so quickly it’s a wonder he hadn’t gone through this journey already. He’s kind of a nothing character to me which is unfortunate.
- Also, Linus succeeds in the face of this supposedly crazy oppressive government department; which is a great success for the story but felt a little too easily resolved for my preference. Also, the resolution of the confrontation with the villagers felt a little unrealistic to me.
- Linus (and a few others) hold problematic beliefs due to ignorance and once the ignorance bubble is ‘popped’ through exposure, the problematic beliefs and behaviors can and should be forgiven. Honestly, this is a perspective that many of my Elders would agree with and teach themselves. But, the radical side of me wants to say that ignorance is a choice, and not an excuse despite the forces that might be in place to keep you there. Someday, I’ll be as gracious as my Elders are lol.
- Ultimately, there is no deeper analysis of the system and how it results in the children having no family or community to care for them. There are brief mentions of a deeper history, like boarding schools, and some of the individual stories of the children and how they came to this orphanage. However, it seemed like all the children were in care because of legitimate reasons (aka their parents were dead or presumed dead; to be fair some related to mistreatment by the non-magical government). However, the reasons why children were brought into care during the 60s scoop were much more nuanced, and a direct result of residential schools, racist policies, and systemic discrimination resulting in systemic poverty.
Ultimately, I think in favour of whimsy, and ‘feel-good’ story, Klune left out many of the deeper, more meaningful, and challenging parts of the history that he was inspired by. Which is a choice that an author is allowed to make, and one that some may like. But not really one that makes me excited.
That being said, I do wonder if some of this deeper story could be explored in the sequel. I’d reread this story, and I’ll be adding the sequel to my wishlist. However, I wasn’t so charmed by the whimsy or so convinced that this author has something significant to say that I’ll be rushing out to get it on release.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and Cultural appropriation
mbrogs2024's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Murder
iane_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, and Gaslighting
Minor: Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
dillonsees's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is in my top 100 books of all time! It invites you on this journey with many fun and very lovable characters. Its reminds you it’s the little things like a button or a song, maybe a touch of someone’s hand in yours or even a dance with someone you care for.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism