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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
The ending, while true to the story, left something to be desired.
It's a great middle grade tale of fantasy, adventure, and courage, but it's quite predictable and something about it isn't quite fulfilling. I would have enjoyed it more if the world had been a bit more fleshed out and the ending had more of a resolution to it.
It's a great middle grade tale of fantasy, adventure, and courage, but it's quite predictable and something about it isn't quite fulfilling. I would have enjoyed it more if the world had been a bit more fleshed out and the ending had more of a resolution to it.
Amazing! If only there were more stars to give. This story, featuring alchemy, mystery, adventure, and a liberal dash of hope and love will work its magic on your heart.
Lettie Peppercorn is a young girl who lives out her days in her house on stilts in a harbor town. She cannot go outside, her Ma has told her so in a letter carried to her by pigeon from afar. Right before her Ma disappears forever. Thus our story opens.
Plagued by the drab life of "landlady", acting in her father's stead while he drinks and gambles away the meager earnings, Lettie is intrigued by a mysterious stranger who appears one evening, known as only as "Snow Merchant". He claims to be the greatest alchemist ever to have lived and wishes to sell her something not seen before; snow. But what is his intention? And what is his connection to Lettie's long lost Ma?
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Enjoyable for adults and children, read it aloud to someone you love as soon as possible..
Lettie Peppercorn is a young girl who lives out her days in her house on stilts in a harbor town. She cannot go outside, her Ma has told her so in a letter carried to her by pigeon from afar. Right before her Ma disappears forever. Thus our story opens.
Plagued by the drab life of "landlady", acting in her father's stead while he drinks and gambles away the meager earnings, Lettie is intrigued by a mysterious stranger who appears one evening, known as only as "Snow Merchant". He claims to be the greatest alchemist ever to have lived and wishes to sell her something not seen before; snow. But what is his intention? And what is his connection to Lettie's long lost Ma?
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Enjoyable for adults and children, read it aloud to someone you love as soon as possible..
The story moves along quickly with fantastical situations; it's truly for the fantasy adventure reader. The best part of the book is the strong, courageous young girl who drives the story.
i borrowed this book from my sixth grade teacher and never gave it back. she said it reminded her of studio ghibli and i don't remember enough about the book to say for certain
Look at that cover. Seriously, look at it. Doesn't it scream "Pick me up and read me?!"
The ideas in this book seemed refreshingly new to me. When it comes to a Children's- or Middle-Grade book, it's very important to come up with something that hasn't already been done before. Imagination is the key! And there's absolutely nothing wrong with the imagination level in the Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn. For example, there's a boat which used to be a physical part of someone's grandmother. How cool is that?
The artwork is stunning. Did you see that cover? *blinks* The illustrations in the book are just like it. There aren't a whole lot of them, but I think there's a nice balance text-illustration wise.
The characters are pretty great. The alchemist/snow merchant can fill the role of the typical villain in any children's story nicely. Lettie is brave and smart, as a true heroine should be, and is already running an inn at the age of twelve because her dad's a drunk idiot who's gambling away their money every night. Noah's just adorable, yet brave as well. The two old ladies who are staying at Lettie's inn could've stepped right out of a Roald Dahl story. I noticed I had some issues in keeping them apart, characterwise, though, but nothing that couldn't be overlooked.
Now, as you may have already seen, I've given this book a rating of 3 stars. It means I liked it, enjoyed it and will recommend it to the right kind of people for it. The reasons to, despite my initial enthusiasm here above, not rating it any higher are the following:
1. Inconsistency. For example, in the beginning, we learn that snow is something which can only be created by following a certain recipe and under certain strict requirements. However, later on, the cloud used for making the snow can produce it on its own accord all of a sudden. It doesn't need anyone to roll dice and add salt anymore. I know, it's Fantasy, anything is possible, yet these kinds of inconsistencies make me frown through the rest of the book.
2. The ending. It was a bit of an open ending and I would've loved to see certain things fixed, at least. Or explained a bit more thoroughly. It just felt quite unsatisfactory, which is a shame because the key elements to the story have such great potential!
I would recommend this as a great book for children, ages 6-12 (I know it officially says 8-12 on Simon&Schuster's website, but I think most 6- and 7-year olds will enjoy it as well) and to people who would like to read a cozy, yet adventurous, children's story, especially during the cold winter months!
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The ideas in this book seemed refreshingly new to me. When it comes to a Children's- or Middle-Grade book, it's very important to come up with something that hasn't already been done before. Imagination is the key! And there's absolutely nothing wrong with the imagination level in the Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn. For example, there's a boat which used to be a physical part of someone's grandmother. How cool is that?
The artwork is stunning. Did you see that cover? *blinks* The illustrations in the book are just like it. There aren't a whole lot of them, but I think there's a nice balance text-illustration wise.
The characters are pretty great. The alchemist/snow merchant can fill the role of the typical villain in any children's story nicely. Lettie is brave and smart, as a true heroine should be, and is already running an inn at the age of twelve because her dad's a drunk idiot who's gambling away their money every night. Noah's just adorable, yet brave as well. The two old ladies who are staying at Lettie's inn could've stepped right out of a Roald Dahl story. I noticed I had some issues in keeping them apart, characterwise, though, but nothing that couldn't be overlooked.
Now, as you may have already seen, I've given this book a rating of 3 stars. It means I liked it, enjoyed it and will recommend it to the right kind of people for it. The reasons to, despite my initial enthusiasm here above, not rating it any higher are the following:
1. Inconsistency. For example, in the beginning, we learn that snow is something which can only be created by following a certain recipe and under certain strict requirements. However, later on, the cloud used for making the snow can produce it on its own accord all of a sudden. It doesn't need anyone to roll dice and add salt anymore. I know, it's Fantasy, anything is possible, yet these kinds of inconsistencies make me frown through the rest of the book.
2. The ending. It was a bit of an open ending and I would've loved to see certain things fixed, at least. Or explained a bit more thoroughly. It just felt quite unsatisfactory, which is a shame because the key elements to the story have such great potential!
I would recommend this as a great book for children, ages 6-12 (I know it officially says 8-12 on Simon&Schuster's website, but I think most 6- and 7-year olds will enjoy it as well) and to people who would like to read a cozy, yet adventurous, children's story, especially during the cold winter months!
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The things I liked about this book: it's a truly fantastical adventure, and wildly imaginative. Lettie and her friends are kind and careful. However, the wildly imaginative part makes the plot hang together poorly -- it's kind of a crazy trip into wonderland, without much in the way of believable motivations, and the characters also lack depth.
Advanced reader copy provided by edelweiss.
Advanced reader copy provided by edelweiss.