Wide-Eyed Reader

Before I get started, I did want to note that I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review! You'll also be able to find this review there. So, I was born in 1997. I was alive for the end of the 90's, but I don't recall any of it. Therefore, I know very little about 90's culture in general, much less 1991, the year this novel is set it. However, I was excited by the prospect of a book set entirely in a mall, which were a staple of my childhood, and to learn a little about the early 90's! And I have to say, I was not let down. This book is a treasure. Let's get into it! CHARACTERS The Mall  has a moderate cast of characters, told in the first-person perspective of Cassie Worthy, recent high school graduate and only child of two dentists. She suffered from a case of mono in her final month of high school, but she's set to work at America's Best Cookie in the local mall with her boyfriend Troy all summer, before both o...

While this is a middle-grade story, its magic and wonder really captured me, and I loved every minute of it. The main word I use to describe this book is "cute", and if you also like charming stories about the love between children and their pets, you'll think so too! CHARACTERS The story is mainly told from the perspective of Lin, and eleven-year-old girl who finds a magic key marked with the word "Twistrose". This means that she is special, and able to enter the magical world of Silver. Lin is a very good example of an eleven-year-old, in my opinion. She's sweet at times, insistent that she knows what she's doing, loves her pet dearly, and very determined. She has her share of flaws and strengths, and is a very believable character. I think she's great. Her narration is also very good, never giving the reader more than what Lin herself knows and being sure to sound like a girl of eleven. When not focused on Lin, the story occasionally takes...

I know I'm super behind the hype on this one, but I've wanted to read it since high school, I promise! And I'm so glad I was finally able to, because I think it totally lives up to the hype! CHARACTERS This book has so many characters, it was a little difficult to keep track of them. But the ones we need to really concern ourselves with are: Celia, her father, Marco, Mr. A. H---, Isobel, Chandresh, Tara, the clockmaker whose name I have difficulty spelling, Tsukiko, Bailey, and the twins Poppet and Widget. Now, even that's a lot, but Chandresh, Tara, the clockmaker, and Tsukiko are more minor - they just happen to have huge hands in the plot! And that's one thing I like about this novel - each character does something. They are not just set pieces for the plot to happen to, they move the plot forward. Some more than others, of course, but in general each character has something to do with the plot as a whole. Personally, my favorite character in The Night Ci...

This was the first book I read for  The Reading Frenzy's  "Run Away With the Circus" July challenge, fulfilling the "Menagerie" prompt. You can read about the challenge in my last post! I really loved this book - it was an absolute delight to read, and I find myself already craving more! I have plans to order the next book in the series very soon. CHARACTERS Each of the characters in this novel gets their chance to shine and share their perspective, but the main character is Vasilisa - Vasya for short - the youngest child of her parents and a rather odd girl, who is referred to as anything from a witch to a wood spirit. She is a bit of a wild girl in her connection to the nature surrounding her home, but it is quite clear that she loves her family and the villagers, and wants to protect them in any way she can - that just happens to be by talking to the house spirits and those of the woods. I love her so much, and would gladly read much more about her. ...