Cozy, charming, & hopeful!

I found Howl's Moving Castle to be incredibly endearing and uplifting. I haven't (yet) seen the movie, but I found the simplicity of the narration leant itself to some vivid imaginings of the castle & characters & settings. 

Sophie is a hoot (I love how she both lives with what is and holds her ground), and it's delightful to watch how she herself changes and also impacts the lives of Howl and Calcifer and Michael.

I feel like this is a story that appeals to all ages - you'll find yourself connecting to different characters and moments during different moments of your life.

It's a lighthearted story, though it does explore some difficult concepts – but due to the whimsy and writing style I felt entirely safe as a reader.

CW: death, murder, death of parent, body horror, confinement, violence, alcohol, war