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libreroaming's review against another edition
2.0
This book is a tonal mess. Its selling point as a mystery where a child uses handwriting analysis to help with a neighbor's grandmother sudden disappearance is ruined by so many factors.
The random addition of a talking pigeon. No magical realism. Just...talking pigeon.
The fact that the character Lucy decides to keep a letter written by the grandmother asking for her grandson's help, because she doesn't like the fact that Nicky makes noise above her bedroom. Lucy's fixation on handwriting long stopped being a quirk and mostly became her only defining characteristic, to the point of ignoring actual human feelings.
Even the resolution was sloppily handled when you realize that Nicky's father forged the grandmother's signature and abandoned her in the park. But that's okay because the grandmother wrote a real letter allowing Nicky to own her very expensive musical instrument, which could clearly pay for the father's financial difficulties and allow the grandmother to return to her rightfully owned apartment. And that solves an emotional abusive parent who evicts his elderly mother out into a park, because he said sorry.
Man, when the talking pigeon isn't even the most egregiously mind bending thing...
The random addition of a talking pigeon. No magical realism. Just...talking pigeon.
The fact that the character Lucy decides to keep a letter written by the grandmother asking for her grandson's help, because she doesn't like the fact that Nicky makes noise above her bedroom. Lucy's fixation on handwriting long stopped being a quirk and mostly became her only defining characteristic, to the point of ignoring actual human feelings.
Even the resolution was sloppily handled when you realize that Nicky's father forged the grandmother's signature and abandoned her in the park. But that's okay because the grandmother wrote a real letter allowing Nicky to own her very expensive musical instrument, which could clearly pay for the father's financial difficulties and allow the grandmother to return to her rightfully owned apartment. And that solves an emotional abusive parent who evicts his elderly mother out into a park, because he said sorry.
Man, when the talking pigeon isn't even the most egregiously mind bending thing...
poorashleu's review against another edition
3.0
Originally posted at yAdult Review
I’ve been on a middle grade/grade school book kick lately. I am in the final stretch of graduate school and the only way to not complain as much is to read books of my childhood, or books I wish I had in my childhood. Signed by Zelda is one of those books I had when I was a child.
Lucy has moved to New York City from Savannah, GA. It’s a complete change to her. What helps her through this change is the fact that she has a love of handwriting, and her friends in Georgia sent her with a notebook dedicated to handwriting. She loves signatures and what they mean. As a child, I was on Lucy’s side. I found handwriting fascinating. A group of my classmates and I learned how to write together and yet our handwriting was completely different from one another’s.
This book even gives a few lessons throughout the novel by telling the reader that different aspects of writing mean different things without making it seem like HEY LOOK YOU’RE LEARNING! Which is always awesome for a book of any reading level. Lucy moves into an apartment building, and above her lives Nicky, and above Nicky lives his Grandma, Zelda. One day Grandma Zelda goes missing. Nicky, with the help of Lucy (and her handwriting detective skills), and a talking pigeon (who has their opinions and plenty of them), go on the hunt for Grandma Zelda.
I understand that it sounds weird, but it works. And it works extremely well. With many twists and turns it is an excellent grade school book with the right amount of history, learning and mystery in it.
I’ve been on a middle grade/grade school book kick lately. I am in the final stretch of graduate school and the only way to not complain as much is to read books of my childhood, or books I wish I had in my childhood. Signed by Zelda is one of those books I had when I was a child.
Lucy has moved to New York City from Savannah, GA. It’s a complete change to her. What helps her through this change is the fact that she has a love of handwriting, and her friends in Georgia sent her with a notebook dedicated to handwriting. She loves signatures and what they mean. As a child, I was on Lucy’s side. I found handwriting fascinating. A group of my classmates and I learned how to write together and yet our handwriting was completely different from one another’s.
This book even gives a few lessons throughout the novel by telling the reader that different aspects of writing mean different things without making it seem like HEY LOOK YOU’RE LEARNING! Which is always awesome for a book of any reading level. Lucy moves into an apartment building, and above her lives Nicky, and above Nicky lives his Grandma, Zelda. One day Grandma Zelda goes missing. Nicky, with the help of Lucy (and her handwriting detective skills), and a talking pigeon (who has their opinions and plenty of them), go on the hunt for Grandma Zelda.
I understand that it sounds weird, but it works. And it works extremely well. With many twists and turns it is an excellent grade school book with the right amount of history, learning and mystery in it.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
Thoroughly enjoyable right up until you find out what happened to Zelda. Seriously? I can buy a talking pigeon, but not that.
izzyalexander's review against another edition
5.0
A cute pick-me-up book that made me smile. And really crave a Zeldaberry pie.
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