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mekeisha's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
librarypatronus's review against another edition
4.0
This was cute, but not the kind of MG that I enjoy as much as the child I’m reading to. I didn’t pay enough attention, because I didn’t realize that the grandmother’s illness was thought to be dementia. My own grandma has gotten to the point where speaking is hit or miss, and she clearly has no idea who we are, so the quest for a magic fix gave me bad feelings, personally, and that took some away from my experience. That’s not to say it might not help someone else, especially a child struggling with a similar relationship.
What I did really like: the rep - both racially AND the fact that we see a few types of families in this, both extended (three generations under one roof) and polyamorous (three parents and their kids). Rating bumped up a bit because of the sheer number of delicious sounding food references. I love when people love and eat food in books.
What I did really like: the rep - both racially AND the fact that we see a few types of families in this, both extended (three generations under one roof) and polyamorous (three parents and their kids). Rating bumped up a bit because of the sheer number of delicious sounding food references. I love when people love and eat food in books.
arian_dragonelf's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mswocreader's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this story because the cover really captured my attention early on. The beginning of the story was interesting but it started to fizzle as it got closer to the middle. By the end it really didn't capture my attention. I thought the world building needed to be stronger. I usually like Middle Grade fantasy and prefer it to YA fantasy but the world this was set in was kind of dull. I liked the diversity and Lebanese food mentions.
mrs_eileen's review against another edition
5.0
I need this book in Audio format. I want to be able to close my eyes and visualize what I am reading. While you submerge into this fantasy world defined by its colors you start to reread the descriptions to make sure you are imagining them just right. Sami's grandmother has stopped communicating which causes her family to believe she needs to move into assisted living. Sami is not ready to give up and knows the answer is in her Teta's spell book. Her journey takes her through her mirror to Silverworld. She must restore the balance to the Shadows and the Flickers to save both worlds. A Wrinkle in Time came to mind because it feels like both authors are writing stories so much bigger themselves. This book reminds us we are made up of so many things which have come before us. Our family combined with culture bind our individual self's together. Children ages 13 and up will never look at a mirror the same again.
em_and_em's review against another edition
2.0
Earc from netgalley.
I wanted to like this one, but there are some things that I had a hard time with, like the world building could have been a little better I think.
I wanted to like this one, but there are some things that I had a hard time with, like the world building could have been a little better I think.
naomiysl's review against another edition
2.0
I felt so conflicted about this book, but in the end I come down on the side of not recommending it AND following this author for future reads.
On the plus side, it's #ownvoices about a multiracial child with Lebanese heritage, there is nuance and no magic including "shadow creatures" is bad necessarily, and obstacles are overcome with mindfulness and deep breaths and self knowledge. I love that!
On the minus side, the plot is confusing, and in the end and that really bothers me.
Children who might have grandparents in similar situations would not be helped by this ending, and that is why I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. I would, however, read more this author writes, because as I said above I love the way the magic works, and the #ownvoices aspect really comes singing through beautifully.
On the plus side, it's #ownvoices about a multiracial child with Lebanese heritage, there is nuance and no magic including "shadow creatures" is bad necessarily, and obstacles are overcome with mindfulness and deep breaths and self knowledge. I love that!
On the minus side, the plot is confusing, and in the end
Spoiler
the magic saves the grandmother such that she no longer has dementia. And.. maybe I'm just too much an adult reading this book, but I don't think "saving from dementia" should be a thing. At all. Come to peace with it, find connection and love anyway, grieve as needed, yes to all that. But like the grandmother gets to come home from the care facility she was in because she doesn't have dementia anymoreChildren who might have grandparents in similar situations would not be helped by this ending, and that is why I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. I would, however, read more this author writes, because as I said above I love the way the magic works, and the #ownvoices aspect really comes singing through beautifully.
hexthebookworm's review against another edition
3.0
The prose are good and I like the characters, but the pacing had me dragging my feet on this one. The fantasy elements were inventive and they were what kept me going but the plot itself felt uneven. I would still recommend this to young readers, but I'd ask them to look at the first chapter or two to see if the narrative catches their attention.
hexthebookworm's review
3.0
The prose are good and I like the characters, but the pacing had me dragging my feet on this one. The fantasy elements were inventive and they were what kept me going but the plot itself felt uneven. I would still recommend this to young readers, but I'd ask them to look at the first chapter or two to see if the narrative catches their attention.