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marayrr's review
4.0
I am shocked to read that this is a debut novel. The story is incredible. I really enjoyed discovering this new universe. The characters are all, without exception, likeable.
I didn't expect this much from a middle grade's story but here I am.
We are immediately immersed in the plot, which takes a rather serious direction as soon as Jane leaves on her own and starts interacting with other characters.
The narrator did an excellent job and now I really want to read this book again, to fully grasp what I couldn't with the first listening.
Thank you to Jon Tilton, Blueberry Finch and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I didn't expect this much from a middle grade's story but here I am.
We are immediately immersed in the plot, which takes a rather serious direction as soon as Jane leaves on her own and starts interacting with other characters.
The narrator did an excellent job and now I really want to read this book again, to fully grasp what I couldn't with the first listening.
Thank you to Jon Tilton, Blueberry Finch and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
tosmeabook27's review
4.0
4 Star
Can we get into this amazing cover. I absolutely loved it and the descriptions really brought the threat of the metal men on the cover to life.
This book was so so wholesome. The found family between Jane, Timothy and Rodney was just heartwarming.
Honestly, I loved seeing Jane's determination to make sure Gloria got her doll and retained the memories attached to it.
Jane is such a sweet character and she deserves all the good things the Land of Luxury has to offer her
Can we get into this amazing cover. I absolutely loved it and the descriptions really brought the threat of the metal men on the cover to life.
This book was so so wholesome. The found family between Jane, Timothy and Rodney was just heartwarming.
Honestly, I loved seeing Jane's determination to make sure Gloria got her doll and retained the memories attached to it.
Jane is such a sweet character and she deserves all the good things the Land of Luxury has to offer her
bethreneereadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Jane lives on an island of trash. And even though she has to scavenge garbage and deal with sinister robots, she still loves her home. It’s all she’s ever experienced, from her most cherished memories to her foggy past that she can’t quite remember.
But when a doll shows up in the latest batch of garbage, everything changes. Unlike the rest of the junk, the doll is in excellent condition, including its tag which reads, “Please return to Gloria Thatcher.”
Convinced it arrived by accident, Jane vows to return the doll to its rightful owner. There’s just one problem—nobody has left the island before, thanks to the tyrannical robots guarding the Docks, a dangerous place with a mysterious history.
Will Jane find safe passage to the Lands of Luxury? Will she uncover the secrets of her past?
This was a delight to read- a fun dystopian middle-grade adventure tale, enjoyable for kids and adults alike. It’s the first in what’s sure to be a promising series.
I listened to the audiobook, which was adeptly narrated by Talon David.
* I received an ARC of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
But when a doll shows up in the latest batch of garbage, everything changes. Unlike the rest of the junk, the doll is in excellent condition, including its tag which reads, “Please return to Gloria Thatcher.”
Convinced it arrived by accident, Jane vows to return the doll to its rightful owner. There’s just one problem—nobody has left the island before, thanks to the tyrannical robots guarding the Docks, a dangerous place with a mysterious history.
Will Jane find safe passage to the Lands of Luxury? Will she uncover the secrets of her past?
This was a delight to read- a fun dystopian middle-grade adventure tale, enjoyable for kids and adults alike. It’s the first in what’s sure to be a promising series.
I listened to the audiobook, which was adeptly narrated by Talon David.
* I received an ARC of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ante_k's review against another edition
3.0
An utterly adorable book!
Short and sweet but in a horrifying world where people and children are forgotten or ignored on a landfill island. Go along with young girl, afraid of loosing her memories, to a land of excess. Where she just wants to do the right thing by returning something that HAS TO BE precious.
The simple language really does well and the voice of this book is very in tune with the children. We get to see the world through their eyes.
Short and sweet but in a horrifying world where people and children are forgotten or ignored on a landfill island. Go along with young girl, afraid of loosing her memories, to a land of excess. Where she just wants to do the right thing by returning something that HAS TO BE precious.
The simple language really does well and the voice of this book is very in tune with the children. We get to see the world through their eyes.
femsbookshelf's review
4.0
This is a middle grade story about a young girl named Jane. She lives on an island completely filled with trash. One day she finds a beautiful doll with a tag that says “please return to Gloria Thatcher”. Jane is determined to get the doll back to Gloria and embarks on a grand adventure.
I must say that I really enjoyed this book. The world the characters live in is very interesting (but I must admit I really love dystopian stories!) and I’d love to read more about it. The chapters are rather short, there is always a lot going on and it has some important messages - very suitable for children. For me personally, a little more elaboration on the world, the island and the government (why? how? when?) would have been wonderful. But since this is the first book of a new series - who knows what's still to come! I’m very excited to read what’s next for Jane and her friends.
I really think this will be a wonderful new series for children and I really really really hope that it will be translated to Dutch, so that I can add it to our library and my children can read it as well!
A big thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book as an avanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my review in any way.
I must say that I really enjoyed this book. The world the characters live in is very interesting (but I must admit I really love dystopian stories!) and I’d love to read more about it. The chapters are rather short, there is always a lot going on and it has some important messages - very suitable for children. For me personally, a little more elaboration on the world, the island and the government (why? how? when?) would have been wonderful. But since this is the first book of a new series - who knows what's still to come! I’m very excited to read what’s next for Jane and her friends.
I really think this will be a wonderful new series for children and I really really really hope that it will be translated to Dutch, so that I can add it to our library and my children can read it as well!
A big thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book as an avanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my review in any way.
petalpineink's review
3.0
Journey to a new land as Jane leaves her home, garbage-filled Yarborough, to journey to The Lands of Luxury to return a doll marked “Please return to Gloria Thatcher”. Along the way you’ll find Jane’s plans don’t go as intended.
I enjoyed this short audiobook overall. This story certainly reads like a middle grade novel, as intended, but I felt it was a bit to fast at parts of the story. I could have used so more in depth and drawn out explanations of the characters personal histories as well as the lands’ histories. I felt the conflict wasn’t as explained as it could have been and was solved much too quickly for my own liking, but perhaps this is just the right speed and content for its intended middle grade audience.
I enjoyed the messages of family and place and friendship in this story. A good reminder that home isn’t linked to objects but meaning.
Thanks NetGalley for this auidobook ARC to listen to and review.
I enjoyed this short audiobook overall. This story certainly reads like a middle grade novel, as intended, but I felt it was a bit to fast at parts of the story. I could have used so more in depth and drawn out explanations of the characters personal histories as well as the lands’ histories. I felt the conflict wasn’t as explained as it could have been and was solved much too quickly for my own liking, but perhaps this is just the right speed and content for its intended middle grade audience.
I enjoyed the messages of family and place and friendship in this story. A good reminder that home isn’t linked to objects but meaning.
Thanks NetGalley for this auidobook ARC to listen to and review.
lemonix_reads's review
I liked the little descriptions, but I just couldn't get into. The book
rflavin's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
nelli_lakatos's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, what an incredible story! Adventurous, touching and truly inspiring. Jane is an admirable and brave main character, who sticks to her instincts and determined to help others, even when her friends disagree with her ideas.
I really loved this book, I was glued to the page the whole time so intrigued to find out what’s going to happen next. I enjoyed discovering this unique world through Jane’s eyes so much and all the adventures!
I highly recommend reading this adorable book to everyone!
Thank you to @netgalley for providing an AudioARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really loved this book, I was glued to the page the whole time so intrigued to find out what’s going to happen next. I enjoyed discovering this unique world through Jane’s eyes so much and all the adventures!
I highly recommend reading this adorable book to everyone!
Thank you to @netgalley for providing an AudioARC in exchange for my honest review.
kellyjmac's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free ebook copy of this book through Net Galley and Blueberry Finch but my review is my own.
I really loved this sweet book. It is filled with heart and found family and perseverance. I was initially drawn to the cover when I saw it on Net Galley and didn’t know what to expect really. The world building was good and I felt immersed quickly. Jane is lovable and brave and sweet and innocent and made for an excellent main character. I also enjoyed Rodney and Timothy and the banter and camaraderie between them throughout the story. The book is filled with so much heart and I definitely teared up in a few places. But it is set in a dystopian type setting and there are definitely hard moments and topics. My one real con (and it’s a small one really) is that the ending felt a bit rushed to me and I was hoping for more about what happened next. I would recommend this book to other middle grade fans.
I really loved this sweet book. It is filled with heart and found family and perseverance. I was initially drawn to the cover when I saw it on Net Galley and didn’t know what to expect really. The world building was good and I felt immersed quickly. Jane is lovable and brave and sweet and innocent and made for an excellent main character. I also enjoyed Rodney and Timothy and the banter and camaraderie between them throughout the story. The book is filled with so much heart and I definitely teared up in a few places. But it is set in a dystopian type setting and there are definitely hard moments and topics. My one real con (and it’s a small one really) is that the ending felt a bit rushed to me and I was hoping for more about what happened next. I would recommend this book to other middle grade fans.