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saidtheraina's review
2.0
Great cover, great opening line, great early creepy vibe.... but ultimately disappointing.
I really dig the ideas here. An ignorable kid, gaia mythology, magical realism in juvenile fiction. It just didn't quite work. And the continuity problems drove me to flabbergast.
AND the cover gives away the climax. Which I've ranted about before.
I really dig the ideas here. An ignorable kid, gaia mythology, magical realism in juvenile fiction. It just didn't quite work. And the continuity problems drove me to flabbergast.
AND the cover gives away the climax. Which I've ranted about before.
librariandest's review
3.0
Honestly, this book frustrated me. In my mind, there's a limit to how long the author should keep the reader in suspense, and TMTSOJ mostly exceeded that limit. I was more than halfway through when I grew so frustrated I actually said, "Come on! Get on with it!" out loud. In a way that's a good thing. I cared enough about the characters and the plot to feel as confused and impatient as the character Jack himself probably did. On the other hand, I obviously disliked the overlong setup. So I'm not crazy about this book, but it did hold my interest.
Basically, the premise of the book is that there's something magical about a little town in Iowa, but what exactly is it? Our title character, Jack, is taken from his home in San Francisco to this little Iowa town and slowly realizes he is at the heart of some dangerous dealings. Children disappear, houses shimmer and move as if alive, and it's clear there are people out to get Jack. But Jack is happy in Iowa because, for the first time in his life, people actually see him. For as long as he can remember, he's been mostly invisible to everyone around him, even his family, even when he's standing right in front of them.
The ending left room for a sequel, but I never completely bought into the world Barnhill created, so I'm not too excited about it. Still, this may appeal to kids who like dark fantasy/fairy tale stuff.
Basically, the premise of the book is that there's something magical about a little town in Iowa, but what exactly is it? Our title character, Jack, is taken from his home in San Francisco to this little Iowa town and slowly realizes he is at the heart of some dangerous dealings. Children disappear, houses shimmer and move as if alive, and it's clear there are people out to get Jack. But Jack is happy in Iowa because, for the first time in his life, people actually see him. For as long as he can remember, he's been mostly invisible to everyone around him, even his family, even when he's standing right in front of them.
The ending left room for a sequel, but I never completely bought into the world Barnhill created, so I'm not too excited about it. Still, this may appeal to kids who like dark fantasy/fairy tale stuff.
booksnorkel's review
2.0
This book was garbled, confused, and kinda made me not want to read first person narrative for a while. Aimed at 4th graders on up, but really the plot was vague and mixed up so there really isn't a market. I loved absolutely loved -Iron Hearted Violet- and was super pumped about this book.
So Jack is a kid who is dump off in Iowa because his parents are getting divorced. His Aunt and Uncle live in a purple house. Wendy is a twin whose brother was taken and four years later returned with a heinous facial scar and refuses to talk. There's also a bully and a kid named Anders for some reason and two cats, and an old school house, and a sleeping magic guardian, and a skate board, and corn, and and and and
So all these things are somehow connected to this story that there is a guardian of magic and this guy got her to trade kids with him and both children died so that the guy would get money and influence and the guardian now had an active evil side who does things? And this book is just a tangled mess of half thought out ideas. I really wanted to like this book and it just didn't work for me.
So Jack is a kid who is dump off in Iowa because his parents are getting divorced. His Aunt and Uncle live in a purple house. Wendy is a twin whose brother was taken and four years later returned with a heinous facial scar and refuses to talk. There's also a bully and a kid named Anders for some reason and two cats, and an old school house, and a sleeping magic guardian, and a skate board, and corn, and and and and
So all these things are somehow connected to this story that there is a guardian of magic and this guy got her to trade kids with him and both children died so that the guy would get money and influence and the guardian now had an active evil side who does things? And this book is just a tangled mess of half thought out ideas. I really wanted to like this book and it just didn't work for me.
crey18's review against another edition
1.0
I kept waiting for the author to reveal more, for the pieces to fit together and I felt unsatisfied by the time I finished the last page.
crystal_reading's review
4.0
This book kept me guessing so it kept me reading. I think it is difficult to discuss without giving things away. Sometimes I wondered if it would be a bit frustrating for a young reader to be kept waiting so long for things to be explained, but that was certainly part of why it was compelling.
katherina_lei's review
I didn't actually finish it because it was due back at the library and I had had it for forever. I think it was a good story, but because it was well below my reading level and I didn't have a ton of time to devote to reading, it wasn't the most engaging thing for me to read. But I may have to give it another chance when I have more time.
indywonder05's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this book and there were parts that were very interesting. The basic plot of the story is facinating. However, I could not like Jack. Strange that the invisiable chracter was drawn so well that he was just ... there. I loved Wendy and agree with another reviewer that it might have been better written from her POV. It is interesting and well written, just not my cup o' tea I guess.
i_will_papercut_a_bish's review
5.0
This was one of the most interesting and truly unique MG fiction books I've read in a long time, and 3/4 of it had my neck prickling in anticipation of the next chapter. The final 1/4 had me wanting to shake the thing until all the answers fluttered out, and then slap it for good measure for acting so bloody coy. :P It lost a bit of traction at the end, I think, and I was left with lots of questions. That said, this book fascinated me with it's rich world and unique mystery in a way that I haven't been drawn in for quite some time.