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Book Review: Seven-Day Magic

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Seven-Day Magic
Seven-Day Magic by Edward Eager

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In this last book of the series, a whole new set of characters take center stage for another magical adventure! These children love visiting the library every week and checking out piles of books, and when Susan finds a mysterious old book without a title, she opens it to discover that the book is all about her and her friends making wishes and going on adventures! The children take turns making their wishes on the book with mixed results. Wizards and dragons are not all they seem to be, and when they begin mixing the magic with other books and modern-day events, things get out of hand until the children can learn to follow the magical rules and find their own happy endings.

Yet another wonderful book in this series! The winsome and wild writing takes you to a new world of magic and fantasy, every page drawing the reader into the story. The characters are complex and delightful, making you truly care about each of them.

I love how there are many many references to classic books like Robinson Crusoe, the Wizard of Oz, and countless others. As always, Edward Eager highlights several children’s books by Edith Nesbit, which these characters have all read, of course!

Reading it for the second time was just as entertaining as the first!

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Book Review: The Well-Wishers

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The Well-Wishers
The Well-Wishers by Edward Eager

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The five children are back for more magic from their wishing well. But this time the magic is including all sorts of unsuitable people in their adventures, and the children aren’t sure if they can accept these new people encroaching on their magic business.

Can the school bully really be reformed by the magic, or does he deserve to be punished for his previous schoolyard crimes? Will the children try to help an extremely annoying opera diva, or will they avoid her like the plague? And what about the crazy witch-lady from the local insane asylum? Surely, the magic wouldn’t expect them to make friends with a dangerous witch! But somehow the magic pulls through, the children find the courage and resourcefulness to overcome every obstacle, and they spread some good magic around their neighborhood while still having fun! They learn that anyone can become a friend if only you show them acceptance and kindness. Continue reading →

Manga Review: Magic Knight Rayearth II, Vol. 1-3

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Magic Knight Rayearth II, Vol. 1Magic Knight Rayearth II, Vol. 3Magic Knight Rayearth II, Vol. 2
Magic Knight Rayearth II, Vol. 1 by CLAMP

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The three magical girls are back in the mysterious land of Cephiro for a second adventure! They don’t know who summoned them to this alien world, but they have their weapons and the Mashin spirits to help them fight, this time against invaders from neighboring worlds. Without a Pillar to hold the planet together, Cephiro is literally falling apart, and only the three Magic Knights can defend this world until someone new can take on the job of being the Pillar.

All the same things that I liked and disliked about the first volumes still hold true. The plot is obvious, the characters lack depth, and the action artwork is confusing. But the girls are cute! and I like the pretty artwork, and the adorable characters and their sweet friendships. Continue reading →

Book Review: Aunt Dimity Down Under

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Aunt Dimity Down Under
Aunt Dimity Down Under by Nancy Atherton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another delightful and lovely book in this series! This time Lori is on her way to New Zealand to find the long-lost brother of the Pym sisters, and naturally she is taking her stuffed bunny, Reginald, along with her, in addition to the journal through which her deceased Aunt Dimity communicates with Lori from the beyond.

Be sure to read this book with a map and Google nearby, because you will want to look up photos and maps of all the beautiful places that Lori visits in New Zealand! The way the writer describes the natural beauties of the mountains, oceans, and sweet little towns, makes you want to look it up. And it’s all real and true-to-life, right down to the massive carrot Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: The Wendy Project

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The Wendy Project
The Wendy Project by Melissa Jane Osborne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is so beautiful and sweet and sad. Gorgeous artwork and a bittersweet story.

Wendy and her brothers are in a car crash, and Wendy swears she saw her youngest brother Michael flying off with Peter Pan, but no one believes her. She gets in trouble at school, and sort of connects with a weird guy named Peter. He’s enigmatic and unreliable, only interested in having fun, but Wendy believes he could lead her to her brother. Wendy’s therapist tells her to draw in a journal, and she begins to document the things she sees that makes her believe her brother is alive somewhere in Neverland. Continue reading →

Review: Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility

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Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility
Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility by Stacy King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this manga adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic story! The manga follows the original story pretty closely, and the artwork is beautiful.

There’s a lot of crying in this book! I mean, I suppose there’s a lot of crying in the original story too, but seeing almost all the characters constantly collapsing into violent tears, hysterics, and/or fits of depression was over-the-top dramatic. Then again, Marianne Dashwood is the epitome of drama! haha!

The artwork is really lovely, and I liked seeing all the pretty costumes of the ladies. The villains and nasty people, like Lucy Steele, have ugly grotesque expressions sometimes that just make you hate them. I love the way the artwork really enhances the characters! Continue reading →

Review: Manga Classics: Emma

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Manga Classics: Emma
Manga Classics: Emma by Stacy King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love that this manga adaptation of one of my favorite classics kept somewhat closely to the original story, even using some of the original dialogue. Jane Austen is one of my favorite classic authors, and “Emma” is my favorite of all her books, so I was really excited to read this one!

The artwork is really lovely and the characters are all so distinct. I love their costumes and the pretty scenery. Sometimes I think the drama goes a little bit overboard though, as though the characters are shouting at each other with wild expressions, or looking dramatically shocked and amazed with wide eyes and open mouths. It just ends up looking a little silly! But most of the time, the characters expressions match the dialogue in a more demure and subtle way.

I enjoyed this manga so much, and it’s a great way to revisit one of my favorite stories! Can’t wait to read more Manga Classics!

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.

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Book Review: Life Charmer: Koda’s Quest

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Life Charmer: Koda's Quest
Life Charmer: Koda’s Quest by Kristal Shaff

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Koda picks up an ancient Native American arrowhead, he is endowed with the power of the Life Charmer, and is able to control the life force of animals. He can carve a wooden totem or likeness and summon the spirit of a living animal into the wood. But because of these god-like powers, Koda is being hunted by monsters of Native American myth and legend, and he must find allies in unlikely places among the tribes if he is to defeat his enemies and prove himself to the gods. The tribal council of elders sends Koda on a quest to prove his worth, and while Koda is still learning about his abilities, he will need the help of his new friends to stay alive.

This book reminds me strongly of the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. Koda is sarcastic and funny, and he surrounds himself with a variety of delightfully weird characters. The book mixes the modern-day world with ancient myth and magic. And of course, there is nothing quite like a heroic quest against monsters! Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: The Three Things

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The Three Things
The Three Things by Annie Ruygt

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is such a cute little children’s book! Three friends, (Something, Everything, and Nothing) are all determined to prove that their own way of creating a world is the best way. But their creations don’t turn out quite the way they had hoped, and they realize that it’s only when they work together and appreciate their differences that the world will be balanced and beautiful.

The artwork is whimsical and delightful! It really draws your eye and brings a bright feeling to the story. Such lovely lines and colors! I especially liked how the background is made of book pages with some kind of watercolor over it. (I guess it’s watercolor? I know nothing about art, except that it looks pretty and I like it.) It looks so cool! Everything is sort of hazy and swirly, like the magic of creation pushing into being.

My only problems with this book were several Continue reading →

Book Review: Heartless

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Heartless
Heartless by Marissa Meyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Catherine is being courted by the King of Hearts, but he is a silly idiot, and she only wants to pursue her dream to open a bakery of her own. When Catherine meets the dashing court Jester, she soon learns that he is full of impossible secrets, and the two embark on a wild adventure of romance and deceit that will lead them to their frightful destiny.

This book completely broke my heart! The worst part was seeing the characters all so happy and hopeful in the beginning, knowing that the ending would be tragic. I can’t even write a review about it. My heart is so full of conflicting emotions, and my brain is revolving around and around this story, every word they said to each other, the silly riddles, the shy moments, the terrible violence and tragedy. Can’t. My heart.

One of the best things about this book is the little details of a life in Wonderland. A clock that talks, the weird conversations with Wonderland characters, the Cheshire cat popping up everywhere, and all the strange recipes. So many times, I said to myself, Oh, so THAT’s why that thing is that way in Wonderland. That’s why the cook uses too much pepper! That’s why the baby turned into a pig! I loved all those details that explained some of the weirdness encountered by Alice. haha! Loved it!

I love the sweet and witty dialogue, and the wonderfully delicious setting! But oh my goodness, the emotional turmoil!

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