I am certainly not an outdoorsy person, but I loved this book so much! What an adventure to live off the land all alone in the woods!
The writing is charming, Sam's character is full of pluck and resourcefulness, and I was completely involved in every little woodsy adventure.

The author is a master at bringing an emotion to the forefront of the story with just a few simple words, and making the reader care desperately what happens next. The story flows from one chapter to the next as Sam settles into his new wilderness life and learns how to survive independently.

The best parts were when Sam interacted with other humans. His emotions run very high then, either wanting them to go away, or being confused about his own need for human contact and conversation. There is the fear of discovery, that he will be forced back into society, but also the fear of being alone for too long. I love how Sam makes his own society though, with the creatures of the forest.

I loved this book from start to finish! Just brilliant, beautiful writing!

This is such a fantastic book! A perfect companion novel to SideKicked. This story is told from the perspective of the "bad guys" and criminals, hoping not to be caught by the superheroes. It's not a sequel to SideKicked though, because all the characters are new. Different people, different city, different story.

I thought it was very interesting that the word "minion" comes from and old French word "mignon" meaning "darling". It explores the meaning of good and evil and the limits of family relationships, friendships, and romance. Really deep stuff, but told with such an action-filled plot and beautifully complex characters. This book tugged at my soul!

Michael Morn is an orphan, whose adopted father is a genius scientist who makes gadgets for criminals. So Michael is in the criminal world sort of by default. He hasn't really decided to be evil, but as circumstances fall into place around him, he gets sucked deeper into the criminal agenda. His character is so delightfully thoughtful and introspective. He really soaks in the world around him, and we get to experience the ups and downs of the story through his eyes and heart.

Every supporting character is so weird and different and interesting! You never really know what to expect from these separate hierarchies of bad guys. Some are really evil, some are small-time, some are basically good guys in bad circumstances. Then there are the actual superheroes and cops, who are supposed to be the ones shining the light of goodness on the world, but they also have choices to make that put them in gray areas. It's all so deliciously complicated and convoluted, then it comes down to that one moment of decision for our main character. Just gorgeous writing!

I really loved reading about the relationship between Michael and his adopted father. They have this wonderful trust and love between them that colors the entire the story. Of course, Michael is a teen finding his way, rebelling against authority, discovering his identity both 'with' and 'apart from' his father. So the father-son relationship is rocky at times, but there's this assurance that those two will always have each other's back.

I would have given it 5 stars, but the author uses two of my pet peeves- he bad-mouths religion, and leaves the ending hanging. I need a solid ending with plenty of closure, not this open-ended, artsy, poignant stuff! I need every loose thread tied up in a neat bow at the end! However, I can appreciate that the ending is well-written and it IS poignant. It's not the style I happen to like, but other people would probably love it.

I love love love this author! Can't wait to read more of his work!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher or author in exchange for a free and honest review.

I adore all the Green Knowe books, but this one was especially good!

This time Tolly meets the ghosts of Susan, a blind girl, and Jacob, a black boy rescued from slavery, and we are transported to the ancient days of Green Knowe through the enchanting stories. Tolly is searching for the lost jewels of Lady Maria, because only the ancient treasure will save Green Knowe, repair the roof, rescue the family paintings, and keep the old castle from crumbling.

Tolly is such a curious, daring little person. I love following his adventures and discoveries! I like how he feels so attached to the house of Green Knowe, and how he is connected to all those who lived there before him.

As always, Boston's writing is enchanting and delightful! I adore reading her books, and I listened to this one on audiobook.

Fascinating! Marvelous!

I adored this book from start to finish! It surprised me, made me laugh, tugged at my heartstrings, and made me think about the meaning of good and evil. Brilliant writing, a delightful story, and a compelling and likable main character! I love it!

The story is told from Drew's perspective, who is a teen sidekick-in-training with a super that has abandoned the superhero community. As Drew tries to convince his super to come back and fight against evil, the other sidekicks are having difficulties as well, especially once an old archenemy returns and begins kidnapping supers. The best thing about it is that Drew's superpower is his supersenses; super-hearing, super-smell, and super-sight.

I loved Drew's character, because I always love the underdog. I immediately connected with him, his angst and self-doubt, his unexpected courage and clear-thinking, his loyalty and tenacity. The plot forces him to really think about the superhero world and what it means to be super, but he also has the funniest one liners and silly situations he gets into. He discovers and changes and learns and takes risks with his heart and throws himself headlong into danger! I adore this character so much!

All the supporting characters have their own voices too. Each character is well-developed and unique within just a few chapters. And Drew's relationship with each of them, whether friendly or otherwise, is wonderfully explored and fleshed out through the rest of the book. We never know who to trust, and it's evident that someone has betrayed the supers, but I never guessed who it was. That plot twist completely surprised me!

One of my favorite things is that one of the sidekicks is deaf, and that does not stop him from kicking butt and being completely awesome! His deafness is never treated as a disability, and there's some hilarious deaf humor in the book. (Someone shouts, "Everybody shut up!", and the deaf hero sits on his hands. haha!) This reminds me strongly of the way Toph's blindness was presented in Avatar:The Last Airbender, never as a disability, but as a strength for that character. Beautifully done!

Drew and Jenna... ah, what can I say? Blossoming teen romance or devastating friendship-gone-wrong? I still can't decide. Those two are so brilliant together though. Jenna is such a complex character, and seeing Drew trying to figure her out just brings the tension mounting through the whole story. Absolutely incredible writing!

There's a perfect balance between serious material and humor, fighting action and personal drama. Most of all, the story is just plain entertaining! The writing has wry humor, dry humor, puns, and slapstick humor and every kind of humor in between. Even in the most tense moments, I just laughed and chuckled and rolled my eyes at everything!

The theme is definitely that good and evil are not black and white. Moral dilemmas get complicated sometimes. There are gray areas, but you have to be careful that those gray areas don't lead you into complete darkness.

I cannot think of a single thing that I didn't like about this book. So I must give it 5 stars!

This was everything I hoped for! The puzzles and hidden messages and codes were so much fun to figure out! Some of them were easy, some more difficult, but there are always the hints in the back of the book if you get stuck. Every puzzle is so different, and some of them really make you think! The design and layout are beautiful, and I loved the quotes from the novels as well as a closer look at each character.
A delightful companion book to the series!

I love it! I read this book all in one sitting, and was perfectly delighted with every chapter. The absurd plot and witty banter are just perfection! There are so many imaginative details in this book that all come together for a truly interesting plot. The writing is so dignified and humorous; it's like this sugary froth of words.

I adore Uncle Augustus, and I liked how sweet and caring he is to his niece. His insect "problem" was just hilarious! I loved seeing his character develop throughout the story.

Petronella is just wonderful; she's brave and full of humor and curiosity. I especially loved it when she would get angry, and quietly "cut" someone with either a sharp remark or her extreme politeness to them. She is poised and in control no matter the wild circumstances, and above all, she uses that brilliant brain of hers to save the day.
I did get a little tired of her raptures over the handsome James, but that was nicely counter-pointed by her occasional annoyance with him too.

I loved Petronella's friendship with Jane! Those two are just charming, planning escapades in cahoots with each other. I want to be BFFs with them! My favorite was when they would exchange this knowing look, like they have little secrets amongst themselves, and have a perfect understanding of each other's thoughts and feelings. They are a delightful example of true friendship.

I really liked James. He is written with such a crisp balance to him. Sometimes he's smart, and sometimes he's a bit slow. He's always gentlemanly, gallant, brave, and resourceful. He's a little thoughtless, but not selfish. He says the witty thing, but he's never rude or mean. He truly cares about people. He is almost too perfectly heroic for interest, but has a spark to him that makes him really appealing. I can see why Petronella likes him!

I can't wait to read more about Petronella! I want to live inside Jen Corace's illustrations. So beautiful!

Very imaginative, but the writing is not as enchanting as her other works. I loved the characters, and the plot is full of great action and twists. Well worth reading, and most enjoyable! I loved it even more reading it the second time.

This entire trilogy is mesmerizing and magical and terrifying and a complete delight! The rich writing, the unique characters, the adventure and suspense, and just the... wildness of it all! I can't even describe the brilliance of this book; just take my word for it! Amazingness is overflowing from each page!

Prue and Esben are priceless! I love their weird friendship at the beginning of the book.

And the backstory of the Governess Alexandra and her son Nicolai... Seldom have I read such a touching death scene. Just beautiful! (This is not a spoiler since it is common knowledge before the first book.)

I never cared much about Rachel and Elsie's storyline, but I was very happy with their developing plot in this book.
Through half the book I was asking, "Where is Curtis? I need me some more Curtis and Septimus." But he finally made his way onto center stage, and I was very proud of him and delighted with his story.

I was about to scream and be so angry at the ending, but then the last two paragraphs saved it. Way to keep me in suspense till the extreme end! Genius!

Fave quote: "Our numbers may be small, but our courage needs must be the size of mountains." - Brendan, the Bandit King

Wonderfully imaginative and inventive! I love the new characters and the old ones! I just can't get over the beautifully rich writing style. Every word, every sentence is masterfully crafted into a perfect painting. Absolutely amazing in every particular!