mollyxmiller's review against another edition
5.0
Yet another book which was pivotal in my young adult life. This is a retelling of Cinderella and one of my favorites. It's about a girl who literally lives within the walls of her house. It's awesome.
kellysmaust's review against another edition
4.0
Not really like any other YA coming of age I've read. A strange, sad little magical realist story.
ktusagi16's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
natureinspired's review against another edition
4.0
Anna is no ordinary girl. As she grew up, Anna found herself terrified of the people unknown to her on the outside of her home. She is deteremined not to go to school, even though she approaches the ages of seven. When worst comes to worst, and Anna fears she will have no choice, she uses her cleverness and extraordiary talents to build herself her own little house inside the darkest corners of her home. The house was inherited by her mother, and therefore, many of the rooms haven't been touched since their arrival. Not only will Anna manage to pull this off, she manages to extend her home continuously. However, no one must ever know she has borded herself up in the walls. Both her mother and sister believe her to be dead. If she turned up now, the questions and also the poeple would quite possible drive her insane. But a piece of paper and a secret doorway is all one needs to find out Anna's well-kept-secret.
lazygal's review against another edition
5.0
The conceit of someone small enough to be thought of as a doll, and who then hides in the walls of her house, really got me. I also liked how she "comes of age" despite being (literally) walled away, and her emerging into the real world.
I've recommended it many times to my students and they've all enjoyed it.
I've recommended it many times to my students and they've all enjoyed it.
quietly_killing_thyme's review against another edition
4.0
I have thought about this coming of age novel ever since I read it at 14 years old.
buffy87's review against another edition
2.0
I originally read this book back in junior high, and remember being quite attached to it after I finished it. I always thought about it and over time my memory regarding the finer details of the book got lost - so all I recalled were the feelings I had whilst reading it.
One day, I was browsing a used book store and saw this title! I immediately grabbed it and proceeded to nestle it on my book shelf between other books I have yet to read. Now that I'm done my hell week I gave it a go. Like a mental palette cleanser or something. What I remember the book being about was better than the actual re-read. It has been about 15 years so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I imagined it to be more heavily focused on the family, but it ended up taking a weird turn in there. I also was not too fond of the ending. It seemed there was a lot of build up and then BAM END OVER. I almost wish there was a bit more conversation because I really wanted to hear more from Andrea and the mother.
I really liked the initial concept of the book. I think it's a great way of looking at so many different issues that adolescents face. In fact, I could see some of the theory play it out in the book! However, I was less than excited about the "F" aspect of the book and it really took away from who I hoped A would be. In essence, she ends up seeming like a weak female protagonist because of that interaction with F.
The best thing: the concept
The worst thing: weak female character
Recommended: young pre-teens/teens
One day, I was browsing a used book store and saw this title! I immediately grabbed it and proceeded to nestle it on my book shelf between other books I have yet to read. Now that I'm done my hell week I gave it a go. Like a mental palette cleanser or something. What I remember the book being about was better than the actual re-read. It has been about 15 years so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I imagined it to be more heavily focused on the family, but it ended up taking a weird turn in there. I also was not too fond of the ending. It seemed there was a lot of build up and then BAM END OVER. I almost wish there was a bit more conversation because I really wanted to hear more from Andrea and the mother.
I really liked the initial concept of the book. I think it's a great way of looking at so many different issues that adolescents face. In fact, I could see some of the theory play it out in the book! However, I was less than excited about the "F" aspect of the book and it really took away from who I hoped A would be. In essence, she ends up seeming like a weak female protagonist because of that interaction with F.
The best thing: the concept
The worst thing: weak female character
Recommended: young pre-teens/teens
librarypatronus's review against another edition
4.0
I read this many times as a young teen, but hadn’t picked it up in years and got the urge to reread it. Just found it in Hoopla and knew it was time
conspystery's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I read this book when I was maybe eight or nine years old? I remembered liking how ghostly the main character was; it’s such a profoundly weird story, with the line between what’s real and what’s figurative consistently blurry throughout the book. From a literary standpoint, it’s a really interesting thing to see in a kids’ book, which I think is why I liked it so much when I was younger. This isn’t profound classic children’s literature or anything by a long shot, but it does have the same delightfully strange atmosphere you might expect to find in a classic like that. Overall, I liked it.
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this book is a child. Now however, I find it somewhat lackluster. There's something missing and I can't quite put my finger on it. The first part of the story where Anna is independent and doing things on her own is great. But then I feel like she becomes dependent on a man (F), which irritates my feminist sensibilities. Maybe dependent is the wrong word. But either way she listens to him way too much, especially for someone she just met. The love story element of it is just a little too picturesque for my taste. Also I find the idea of a family completely forgetting about one of their daughters just too unbelievable, fiction aside.