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mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
Received the book from the publisher on Netgalley for an honest review.
A little town, a boy, and a girl and her family and store with magical items. Also features, giants, mysteries and friendship. Does that sound fun? Then this book is great for you.
I was really excited to see a new series by the same author of the Ulysses Moore series. Which I liked (though I stopped at book 5 since translations were slow and the story just got different).
This book was really fun. It starts of slow though, so you have about 50 or so pages that are mostly about our main character Finley, and after that it is Finley and Aiby. And then it gets fun.
I really liked Finley, in the beginning he was really a lazy bum, but he changed, he started working, he met Aiby and he became a great and strong character. I also loved Patches, though I am surprised that everyone allowed him in (post office and other places).
Aiby, well I don't really have an opinion on her, it is neutral, she was fun but a lot is still a mystery about her and her family. Maybe in the next book we will know more.
I will be sure to read the next book, and I will keep an eye on this series.
Recommended to everyone liking: magic, friendship, magic stores, giants, scary ruins and great characters.
A little town, a boy, and a girl and her family and store with magical items. Also features, giants, mysteries and friendship. Does that sound fun? Then this book is great for you.
I was really excited to see a new series by the same author of the Ulysses Moore series. Which I liked (though I stopped at book 5 since translations were slow and the story just got different).
This book was really fun. It starts of slow though, so you have about 50 or so pages that are mostly about our main character Finley, and after that it is Finley and Aiby. And then it gets fun.
I really liked Finley, in the beginning he was really a lazy bum, but he changed, he started working, he met Aiby and he became a great and strong character. I also loved Patches, though I am surprised that everyone allowed him in (post office and other places).
Aiby, well I don't really have an opinion on her, it is neutral, she was fun but a lot is still a mystery about her and her family. Maybe in the next book we will know more.
I will be sure to read the next book, and I will keep an eye on this series.
Recommended to everyone liking: magic, friendship, magic stores, giants, scary ruins and great characters.
lilawood's review against another edition
4.0
This book filled my expectations just as I expected. Nothing more nothing less. The main character, Finley McPhee is a very likeable boy that would rather spend time enjoying the beautiful nature in the good weather of his little village, Applecross instead of going to school. For the reader's information, there is a beautiful map on the first chapter so that you can enjoy the views and feel like Finley about school. But, of course, he is going to get some kind of punishment.
Being a postman doesn't feel like punishment to me, to be honest, and less to somebody that likes to be outside. And there starts the magic. Finley gets to interact with new people in town that make his life more interesting. Specially Aiby, the new mysterious girl.
The story is great. The good amount of magic, fantasy, adventure and realism. The characters were all very likeable and evolved in a very special way. I can't wait to read the second part to know how they keep evolving and if their personality is still so unique.
Being a postman doesn't feel like punishment to me, to be honest, and less to somebody that likes to be outside. And there starts the magic. Finley gets to interact with new people in town that make his life more interesting. Specially Aiby, the new mysterious girl.
The story is great. The good amount of magic, fantasy, adventure and realism. The characters were all very likeable and evolved in a very special way. I can't wait to read the second part to know how they keep evolving and if their personality is still so unique.
bookslucyking's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
I expected something completely different but no matter what it turned out to be a nice story, not perfect, not 5 stars, but nice. It took me a while to get into the book as in the beggining everything was confusing and not much happened, I did not know what to think about it but in the end it turned out to be pretty interesting and the second half of the book I did not put it down until I finished it, but still it could be more detailed, the actual magical objects could make a bigger appearance.
I expected something completely different but no matter what it turned out to be a nice story, not perfect, not 5 stars, but nice. It took me a while to get into the book as in the beggining everything was confusing and not much happened, I did not know what to think about it but in the end it turned out to be pretty interesting and the second half of the book I did not put it down until I finished it, but still it could be more detailed, the actual magical objects could make a bigger appearance.
sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
4.0
This is how you write a first book in the series! Mr. Baccalario is very good at world building. And he's quite a tease, too.
This is a story of Finley McPhee, who skipped one class too many at school and was forced to act as the town mailman for the summer. But that only lead to the discovery of the Enchanted Emporium - a store that sells and repairs all magical objects in the world - and Aiby, the owner's daughter. The store is about to open, but it's missing some key components, and Finley is perhaps just the man for the job.
Great story! Very smooth and fun and exciting and I want to find out more about the mysterious owner, Mr Lily, his daughter of course, and their enigmatic customers. There was plenty of fairy tale adventure in this book, and I am excited to explore this world in the books to come. There are tantalizing questions that I can't wait to have answered. Fair warning: Baccalario is a tease.
One star off for the unclear story of the Dutchman and the lack of character development for Meb, the town dressmaker, who played a bigger role than expected. Hopefully this will all be fixed in subsequent books.
-I got a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-
This is a story of Finley McPhee, who skipped one class too many at school and was forced to act as the town mailman for the summer. But that only lead to the discovery of the Enchanted Emporium - a store that sells and repairs all magical objects in the world - and Aiby, the owner's daughter. The store is about to open, but it's missing some key components, and Finley is perhaps just the man for the job.
Great story! Very smooth and fun and exciting and I want to find out more about the mysterious owner, Mr Lily, his daughter of course, and their enigmatic customers. There was plenty of fairy tale adventure in this book, and I am excited to explore this world in the books to come. There are tantalizing questions that I can't wait to have answered. Fair warning: Baccalario is a tease.
One star off for the unclear story of the Dutchman and the lack of character development for Meb, the town dressmaker, who played a bigger role than expected. Hopefully this will all be fixed in subsequent books.
-I got a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-
junghoseok's review against another edition
3.0
Well well well this book takes place in Scotland, too, I just love how these books seem to find me
froydis's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Capstone Young Readers for early access to this title.
Fun read! I enjoyed all the magical elements, and found the characters to be fun, for the most part. I don't think it resolved the boy's school situation very well at all. I would have liked to see that addressed better. Maybe it will be in the next books. Also, there were a few places where the tenses were mixed up, and that was a little distracting. Perhaps the copy I got needed a bit more editing. I LOVED the illustrations! Iacopo Bruno was the illustrator, although he's not credited on Goodreads yet. He also illustrated "The Book of Lost Things" which I read last September and really enjoyed. I think this would be a fun book for kids who enjoy books like Harry Potter, with the magic and a boy who's resourceful yet also human.
Fun read! I enjoyed all the magical elements, and found the characters to be fun, for the most part. I don't think it resolved the boy's school situation very well at all. I would have liked to see that addressed better. Maybe it will be in the next books. Also, there were a few places where the tenses were mixed up, and that was a little distracting. Perhaps the copy I got needed a bit more editing. I LOVED the illustrations! Iacopo Bruno was the illustrator, although he's not credited on Goodreads yet. He also illustrated "The Book of Lost Things" which I read last September and really enjoyed. I think this would be a fun book for kids who enjoy books like Harry Potter, with the magic and a boy who's resourceful yet also human.
marylou1993's review against another edition
3.0
Ο Pierdomenico Baccalario είναι ένας ιδιαίτερα γνωστός συγγραφέας παιδικών βιβλίων και ειδικότερα από τη σειρά Οδυσσέας Μουρ την οποία θέλω πολύ να τη διαβάσω αν καταφέρω επιτέλους κάποια στιγμή να βρω το πρώτοβιβλίο στη βιβλιοθήκη, καθώς είναι συνεχώς δανεισμένο.Εγώ λοιπόν ξεκίνησα τη γνωριμία μου μαζί μέσα από το emporium και μπορώ να πω πως οι πρώτες εντυπώσεις είναι αρκετά θετικές.
Ο Φίνει είναι ένα νεαρο αγορί που ζεί σε ένα χωριό της Σκοτίας μαζί με την οικογένεια του.Αν και περιμένει με ανυπομονησία τις καλοκαιρινές του διακοπές, τα σχέδια του θα ανατραπούν καθώς η συχνή αουσία του από το σχολείο θα τον αφήσει στην ίδια τάξη και θα τον αναγκάσει να πιάσει δουλειά ως ταχυδρόμος του χωριού ως τιμώρια.Ο δρόμος του θα τον οδηγήσει σε ένα απομονωμένο μαγαζί έξω από το χωρό που άνοιξε πρόσφατα και το οποίο κρύβει πολλά μυστικά.Η γνωριμία του με τη κόρη του ιδιοκτήτη, την Έιμπι θα εισάγει τον Φίνλει σε ένα νέο κόσμο όπου η μαγεία και τα παραμύθια φαίνεται να γίνονται πραγματικότητα.
Ομολογώ πως ξεκινώντας το βιβλίο δεν είχα μεγάλες προσοδκίες και όσο περισσότερο συνέχιζα τόσο πιο βαρετό το έβρισκα μέχρι και τη μέση όπου οι εξελίξεις και οι ανατροπές άρχισαν να γίνονται καταιγιστικές και επιτέλους το μυθιστόρημα άρχισα να αποκτά περιεχόμενο και σκοπό.
Όπως συμβαίνει δυστυχώς στα περισσότερα βιβλία που απευθύνονται σε νεαρότερες ηλικίες, η γλώσσα είναι αρκετά απλοική και αφελείς πράγμα που το κατανοώ αλλά αυτό δεν σημαίνει πως και η δομή των παραγράφων πρέπει να ακολουθεί την ίδια ασαφή πορεία γιατί αυτό δεν ενοχλεί μόνο τους ενήλικους αναγνώστς αλλά και τουςμικρότερους.Θα ήθελα λοιπόν συνολικάη γραφή να είναι πιο μεστή γιατί πραγματικά φαίνεται πως ο συγγραφέας έχει ταλέντ και είναι κρίμα να το χαραμίζει προκειμένου να κάνει την ιστορία πιο παιδιάστικη.
Όσο αφορά τους χαρακτήρες δεν βρήκα κάτι ενδιαφέρον σε κανέναν από αυτούς, καθώς και οι μικροί και οι μεγάλοι ήρωες μοιάζουν πολύ συμβατικά πλασμενοι, περιλαμβάνουν όλα τα κλισέ που συναντούμε σε τέτοιου είδους βιβλία.Ο Φίνλει είναι ιδιαίτερα εκνευριστικός, πολλές είναι οι φορές που αισθάνθηκα ότι θα ήθελα να του χώσω ένα χαστούκι μπας και ηρεμήσει και ακούσει επιτέλους τους γύρω του.Θα ήταν πρροτιμότερο ο υγγραφέας να δημιουργήσει έναν ήρωα πιο έξυπνο , πιο ώριμο και πιο καλόκαρδο που να μπορεί να κερδίσει κιόλας την συμπάθεια των αναγνωστών.
Θα απορείτε γιατί τελικά έβαλα τρία αστεράκια εφόσον βρήκα τόσο πολλά προβλήματα στους ήρωες και την γραφή.Γιατί για μένα αυτό που μετράει περισσότερο σε ένα μυθιστόρημα είναι η ιδέα και η ιστορία κια αυτή τη βρήκα πολύ έξυπη και πρωτότυπη.Στο χώρο του φανταστικού είναι δύσκολο πλέον να βρεί κανείς ια καινούργια ιδέα, ο Baccalario όμως πλάθει ια πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα περιπέτεια,η οποιά αν και έχει κάποια κλισέ, συνεχίζει να είναι αυθεντική και φρέσκια.Ο συγγραφέας μ ε οδηγό τη φαντασία του και μόνο αποδεικνύει πως μπορεί ακόμη και μετά τη μεγάλη αναπαραγωγή του είδους να δημιουργηθεί κάτι εξίσσου απολαυστικό και πρωτότυπο!
Το emporium είναι ένα μυθιστόρημα φαντασίας που σίγουρα θα γοητεύσει τους νεαρούς ααγνώστες αλλά δεν νομίζω ότι θα καταφέρει να κερδίσει πλήρως το ενήλικο κοινό που θα παά την πρωτότυπη ιστορία θα βρεί γενικά την ιστορία αρκετά αφελή και παιδιάστικη.Εγώ πάντως πέρασα αρκετά ευχάριστα διαβάζοντας το και θα ήθελα στο μέλλον να συνεχίσω με τα επόμενα της σειράς.
Ο Φίνει είναι ένα νεαρο αγορί που ζεί σε ένα χωριό της Σκοτίας μαζί με την οικογένεια του.Αν και περιμένει με ανυπομονησία τις καλοκαιρινές του διακοπές, τα σχέδια του θα ανατραπούν καθώς η συχνή αουσία του από το σχολείο θα τον αφήσει στην ίδια τάξη και θα τον αναγκάσει να πιάσει δουλειά ως ταχυδρόμος του χωριού ως τιμώρια.Ο δρόμος του θα τον οδηγήσει σε ένα απομονωμένο μαγαζί έξω από το χωρό που άνοιξε πρόσφατα και το οποίο κρύβει πολλά μυστικά.Η γνωριμία του με τη κόρη του ιδιοκτήτη, την Έιμπι θα εισάγει τον Φίνλει σε ένα νέο κόσμο όπου η μαγεία και τα παραμύθια φαίνεται να γίνονται πραγματικότητα.
Ομολογώ πως ξεκινώντας το βιβλίο δεν είχα μεγάλες προσοδκίες και όσο περισσότερο συνέχιζα τόσο πιο βαρετό το έβρισκα μέχρι και τη μέση όπου οι εξελίξεις και οι ανατροπές άρχισαν να γίνονται καταιγιστικές και επιτέλους το μυθιστόρημα άρχισα να αποκτά περιεχόμενο και σκοπό.
Όπως συμβαίνει δυστυχώς στα περισσότερα βιβλία που απευθύνονται σε νεαρότερες ηλικίες, η γλώσσα είναι αρκετά απλοική και αφελείς πράγμα που το κατανοώ αλλά αυτό δεν σημαίνει πως και η δομή των παραγράφων πρέπει να ακολουθεί την ίδια ασαφή πορεία γιατί αυτό δεν ενοχλεί μόνο τους ενήλικους αναγνώστς αλλά και τουςμικρότερους.Θα ήθελα λοιπόν συνολικάη γραφή να είναι πιο μεστή γιατί πραγματικά φαίνεται πως ο συγγραφέας έχει ταλέντ και είναι κρίμα να το χαραμίζει προκειμένου να κάνει την ιστορία πιο παιδιάστικη.
Όσο αφορά τους χαρακτήρες δεν βρήκα κάτι ενδιαφέρον σε κανέναν από αυτούς, καθώς και οι μικροί και οι μεγάλοι ήρωες μοιάζουν πολύ συμβατικά πλασμενοι, περιλαμβάνουν όλα τα κλισέ που συναντούμε σε τέτοιου είδους βιβλία.Ο Φίνλει είναι ιδιαίτερα εκνευριστικός, πολλές είναι οι φορές που αισθάνθηκα ότι θα ήθελα να του χώσω ένα χαστούκι μπας και ηρεμήσει και ακούσει επιτέλους τους γύρω του.Θα ήταν πρροτιμότερο ο υγγραφέας να δημιουργήσει έναν ήρωα πιο έξυπνο , πιο ώριμο και πιο καλόκαρδο που να μπορεί να κερδίσει κιόλας την συμπάθεια των αναγνωστών.
Θα απορείτε γιατί τελικά έβαλα τρία αστεράκια εφόσον βρήκα τόσο πολλά προβλήματα στους ήρωες και την γραφή.Γιατί για μένα αυτό που μετράει περισσότερο σε ένα μυθιστόρημα είναι η ιδέα και η ιστορία κια αυτή τη βρήκα πολύ έξυπη και πρωτότυπη.Στο χώρο του φανταστικού είναι δύσκολο πλέον να βρεί κανείς ια καινούργια ιδέα, ο Baccalario όμως πλάθει ια πολύ ενδιαφέρουσα περιπέτεια,η οποιά αν και έχει κάποια κλισέ, συνεχίζει να είναι αυθεντική και φρέσκια.Ο συγγραφέας μ ε οδηγό τη φαντασία του και μόνο αποδεικνύει πως μπορεί ακόμη και μετά τη μεγάλη αναπαραγωγή του είδους να δημιουργηθεί κάτι εξίσσου απολαυστικό και πρωτότυπο!
Το emporium είναι ένα μυθιστόρημα φαντασίας που σίγουρα θα γοητεύσει τους νεαρούς ααγνώστες αλλά δεν νομίζω ότι θα καταφέρει να κερδίσει πλήρως το ενήλικο κοινό που θα παά την πρωτότυπη ιστορία θα βρεί γενικά την ιστορία αρκετά αφελή και παιδιάστικη.Εγώ πάντως πέρασα αρκετά ευχάριστα διαβάζοντας το και θα ήθελα στο μέλλον να συνεχίσω με τα επόμενα της σειράς.
limabean74's review against another edition
3.0
The characters in this book are cute. Finley is a bit of a troublemaker and is just a typical boy. Aiby is a cute quirky character. They really grow quite a bit especially Finley starting out as a trouble maker he starts to show more responsibility and a bit grown up. I felt all the characters were written very well and the bad guys I felt you needed more of them. I felt they just kind of appeared and without the entire story it was hard to really judge. They just kind of showed up then disappeared. Usually the villain had the back-story and it did but it didn't make any sense to me.
The story was really interesting but the vagueness of what was going on was mind numbing. Even by the end of the book I still didn't have all the information I wanted and I realize this is a series but it was so frustrating. It is maybe, I hope, a set up to the next book that will give more explanation? The illustrations in the book are fantastic. I loved the pencil designs and I found seeing the magical items with the minor explanations helpful at least for the items but not the story in a whole.
I gave Staircase of Stars 3 stars as much as it was a bit slow for me I think maybe a middle grader will love this story and really connect with Finley. I will recommend this to my son when he is looking for a fun read targeted for him. I realize it's not meant for my age but I usually enjoy a fun quirky middle grade read. This is a new series that has great potential but I don't think I'll be running to the store for book number 2 for myself.
The story was really interesting but the vagueness of what was going on was mind numbing. Even by the end of the book I still didn't have all the information I wanted and I realize this is a series but it was so frustrating. It is maybe, I hope, a set up to the next book that will give more explanation? The illustrations in the book are fantastic. I loved the pencil designs and I found seeing the magical items with the minor explanations helpful at least for the items but not the story in a whole.
I gave Staircase of Stars 3 stars as much as it was a bit slow for me I think maybe a middle grader will love this story and really connect with Finley. I will recommend this to my son when he is looking for a fun read targeted for him. I realize it's not meant for my age but I usually enjoy a fun quirky middle grade read. This is a new series that has great potential but I don't think I'll be running to the store for book number 2 for myself.
tsundokuoflua's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ciska's review against another edition
4.0
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book on Netgalley from the publisher in return for an honest review*
Author
P. D. Baccalario was born in Acqui Terme, a beautiful little town in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. He grew up in the middle of the woods with his three dogs and his black bicycle. He loves seeing new places and discovering new lifestyles, although, in the end, he always returns to the comfort of familiar ones.
Review
Look at that cute cover and try to tell me you do not want to pick up this book!
The book starts with an introduction of Finlay, his family and his very big imagination. He is about to turn 13 and he loves to go you and have adventures or go fishing on his special spot. I had a harder time with Aiby. Surrounded by a bit to much mystery it was difficult to get a grip on her.
The story is not as filled with fairy tales and magical items as the synopsis might imply. Still it was a great adventure book for both boys and girls. There are great graphics to explain the magical items used in the story. There are mentions of internet and cell phones but they felt forced to make the story more contemporary so I was happy that it was not mentioned often.
Author
P. D. Baccalario was born in Acqui Terme, a beautiful little town in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. He grew up in the middle of the woods with his three dogs and his black bicycle. He loves seeing new places and discovering new lifestyles, although, in the end, he always returns to the comfort of familiar ones.
Review
Look at that cute cover and try to tell me you do not want to pick up this book!
The book starts with an introduction of Finlay, his family and his very big imagination. He is about to turn 13 and he loves to go you and have adventures or go fishing on his special spot. I had a harder time with Aiby. Surrounded by a bit to much mystery it was difficult to get a grip on her.
The story is not as filled with fairy tales and magical items as the synopsis might imply. Still it was a great adventure book for both boys and girls. There are great graphics to explain the magical items used in the story. There are mentions of internet and cell phones but they felt forced to make the story more contemporary so I was happy that it was not mentioned often.