Review: The Diamond in the Window

5 stars. This book captivated me when I was younger - both my sister and I inherited it as a particular favorite of our mother’s. A family mystery, dream clues, an attic bedroom tucked away? We re-read it many times. We were also read other books in Jane Langton's repertoire (I can practically hear my dad's voice...) and enjoyed them all immensely. So I opened this with intense curiosity, hoping it would hold up. And it was... a fascinating experience.

Eleanor and Edward live in a very special house in Concord with their Aunt Lily and Uncle Freddy. They live a peaceful if somewhat sad family life, as several relatives are missing - having disappeared under mysterious circumstances years ago. When two very unpleasant townspeople threaten to repossess the house due to taxes owed, the children embark on a vivid, fantastic, dangerous treasure hunt to find their family and save their house.

From a writing perspective, this book is pretty much perfect. The descriptions are imaginative and colorful and captivating, the pacing is great for kids, and the way E&E's real-life experiences informed the dream games was honestly really fun. There are some important lessons embedded maybe not so subtly around selflessness, sacrifice, identity, knowledge, and choices - I stand by them. 

But I don't love that Eleanor's mirror path led her to motherhood, and Edward's reflected him as President. There were some odd religious overtones (or maybe undertones?)… just some intense/weird religious imagery that confused me... but honestly didn't phase me for a second as a kid. That stuff went right over my head - I never once connected it to religion in any way. So much for being “exposed” to dangerous concepts... I guess I was too dumb to be "corrupted."

So, yes, halfway through I was feeling 4 stars. But the ending wraps things up so beautifully - so, so beautifully - I can’t help but give it 5. It's a wonderful, transporting, adventure story. There are some dark and spooky moments which only add to the thrill. And these characters - you cannot help but love them, deeply. Uncle Freddy forever.

The Diamond in the Window on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Review: The Egypt Game

5 stars. Could not have enjoyed this more - it had me staying up late, "one more chapter" and all that! I wonder if this book kickstarted my Egypt phase, back in the day? Regardless, I highly, highly recommend this for readers of all ages - it's a timeless classic, an important story, and a ridiculously fun, good time. I cried at the end (pregnant). 

When young April Hall moves to town, she quickly befriends Melanie Ross, discovering a mutual love for all things Ancient Egypt. Together with Melanie's younger brother Marshall they invent The Egypt Game, adopting an old storage shed behind a junk shop for their rituals and ceremonies. But as the Game grows, strange things happen, and the players start to wonder if they've conjured the magic of Ancient Egypt after all...

I actually cannot believe how well-written and clever this is. The author really channels - successfully - the quirks and voices of the kids, infusing some really important and powerful lessons into the narrative. The representation - for a book published in 1967 - is incredible, and I nearly dropped the book when I realized there's a MURDER SUBPLOT?! What do you mean? Could this book be any further up my alley?

There's plenty for adults. It's a throwback to the joy of immersive, imaginative play, and there are clever references to the tensions of its time: the Civil Rights movement, for example. I don't think it's an accident that the murderer turned out to be a white ginger from a well-respected family. It's funny, and insightful without knocking you over the head, and don't even get me started on Mr. Ross calling April "the cruelest month...." 

I loved this book as a kid, and I love it now. There's so much to read, out there, but let this be a sign: revisit the good ones, occasionally. It's very rewarding.

The Egypt Game on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Review: The Great Ghost Rescue

5 stars. 1 for being delightfully dark and spooky, which spoke to me as a kid (I can see so vividly my horror-loving origins); 1 for its heartfelt message against displacing populations who are different from your own - and forgiveness; 1 for its atmospheric setting; 1 for its tight pacing and writing; and 1 for the bravery of its two unlikely heroes: Rick and Humphrey the Horrible. 

Ghosts across Britain are facing a crisis. Uprooted by technology, modern society, industry, and capitalism - and all the buildings and highways that come with - these creatures are torn from their peaceful haunts and essentially made homeless. One family, forced by their Scottish ancestral home, has the good fortune to encounter a young boy who wants to help. Together, they hatch a plan to create a safe place for wandering souls: a sanctuary. Shenanigans ensue. 

Eva Ibbottson is one of the greats - I hate that she was marketed to "fans of J.K. Rowling" when I was a kid (which you can still find on the covers). To me, she is better. Sure, she has a sort of similar quirky sense of dark humor and whimsy when it comes to the supernatural (if you squint your eyes), and I guess they're both... British, but she's just simply a much better writer - from the big picture premise down to the sentence level. 

It holds up. Very funny, very witty, and very spooky. I have this weird anxiety around somehow "forcing" my kids to consume the media I enjoyed as a kid (dooming them to a torturously "uncool" existence, out of the loop on all current playground obsessions), but these are classics, right?! They aren't even problematic, right?! Being spooky is genetic, right?! It's actually my duty to give her a well-rounded, foundational education, right?!

The Great Ghost Rescue on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph

Review: The Outsiders

5 stars. I was never assigned this, but I see why it's so often included in middle grade curriculum. It's just full of devastating lessons kids should kick around until they absorb them, maybe years later, maybe even when they are adults. My heart was in my throat by the end of the first chapter. Compulsively captivating, and incredibly deep, The Outsiders is the most emotional reading experience I've had in a long time. 

Ponyboy belongs to a group of guys called "Greasers," considered lower class than the affluent "Socs." These two groups are essentially rival gangs, often clashing in fights and other violent ways. The youngest of three Greaser brothers, Ponyboy, is booksmart and sensitive and well in tune with the rules - spoken and unspoken - of the streets. When he and his best friend Johnny get in trouble, they run away, escalating an inevitable confrontation between their enemies and the group they consider family.

Reading the reviews for this is actually fascinating - from the "mehs" to the queer interpretations to the political fear mongering to the outright denial of harsh truths to the glowing praise to the unhealthily obsessed. I do wish I'd been assigned - I'd love to unpack this in a classroom setting.

I'm unsure if you can respond to, or evaluate, this book without taking into account that the author was a teenager when she wrote it. Does this factor account for its brilliance, its style? Her age undoubtedly informed the book's perspective, but it's tremendously mature, and wise... it captures perfectly the way young people crash up against the loss of innocence, certainty, and hope. There are also components of it that do seem immature, or overly simple, or reminiscent of a young person's perception or imagination. No less important, though, or without merit.

This book also presents an incredibly interesting depiction of young men. I don't know if I've encountered a similar exploration of masculinity: the way men fight, seek connection and comfort, identify or relate to each other, how they dream and deal with those dreams, or the loss of those dreams. And of course - I've been thinking a lot about this lately, as I think a lot of Americans are - the class and social warfare aspect, the haves and the have-nots...

I could go on and on. Of particular interest to me was the way adults were depicted - not as a reliable and universal authority, but capable of good and bad, which was again fascinating from a young person's point of view. And the idea of honor... and the cycles of violence... as I said, I could go on and on.

Highly recommend.

The Outsiders on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Race the Sands

5 stars. Aww, this was amazing. It's a fantasy book that leads with kindness and offers a warm escape. Made me feel good. Reminded me of the fantasy books I grew up with - easygoing but sophisticated and immersive at the same time. Layered and complex without seeming too academic or pretentious. Heroes to root for and villains to hate. Maybe a lesson or two. Very readable - I inhaled it. It's fun.

The inhabitants of Becar, a desert kingdom, are on edge. The Emperor has died, and his brother is poised to take the throne. He cannot until the previous Emperor's soul is found, reborn into a creature as-yet-unknown. Augers, powerful soul-readers who keep the peace, search high and low. Meanwhile, they prepare for the kingdom's major tournament, a monster race. Trainer Verlas, an ex-rider with a stubborn streak and a checkered past, is determined to find a rider motivated enough to help her win, securing stability for herself and her young daughter. She finds it in Raia, a young and brave girl seeking freedom from her toxic family. But not everything is as it seems in Becar: together they must navigate insidious plots, secret identities, dangerous threats and mortal enemies to claim the big prize.

Really, really appreciated the multiple POVs in this one. Not only was the perspective of the coach refreshing (her age - a maternal heroine! - motives, and driving forces struck me as atypical compared to what's popular these days - and, very, very importantly, they didn't seem OTT intentional or token-y), but each character had a truly distinct voice, plus a reason to be there! It just flowed. Nothing out of place. Nothing obvious or forced. 

I hesitate to express this, but I've been thinking a lot recently about the ~ state of things ~ in the book world, and about how with technology and social media we have gained so much: self-published authors! a sense of community and pride! book sales! rediscovered classics! random viral moments! lightweight ereaders! instant recommendations! terms to describe the tropes we know and love but couldn't identify or articulate before! 

And also lost so much: a sense of quiet, or privacy, around reading, even writing; full autonomy and ownership over content; a reliable, accepted concept of artistic trust and license; perhaps an author's freedom to play around and incorporate things and publish something without needing to do a trope reveal, a cover reveal, a blurb reveal; without needing to post the teasers or seek the viral moment so desperately - and yes, authors, it does come across as desperate. I don't blame you. These are desperate times. 

That was a very long, roundabout way of saying simply this: I really loved reading about a found family without feeling like it was being shoved down my throat.

If I had one teeny, tiny, itsy bitsy complaint, it would be that it ran on a teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy bit too long. Maybe one episode could've been cut? Maybe one minor character's POV chapter? IDK - it's irrelevant. This was absolutely a five star read. Consider this an extremely enthusiastic recommendation. 

Race the Sands on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Programming note: I took a little forced hiatus from reading due to some major life and health reasons, which really, really impacted my reading habits. More soon, when I can stomach it. Feeling rusty but let's get to it.

5 stars. In this beloved 1967 children's story/urban fairy tale, Claudia Kincaid and her younger brother Jamie run away and settle in at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Resourceful and delighted by their freedom, they quickly find ways to stay clean, fed, and "educated," for the most part. And even better - helpful, to the Met, as they try to help prove that its latest acquisition is actually a piece of work by Michaelangelo. 

Can you imagine this story had it been written today? In modern times? There's no way - it's an interesting thought exercise that only leads to depressing outcomes. Despite feeling very classic, and more classic every time I read it, many of the lessons and feelings it evokes still resonate. It's funny, too, looking back on this and wondering if it even partially inspired an interest in art history and museums. I didn't even know how to pronounce Michaelangelo when I read it the first time, but maybe it sparked something that still burns decades later.

It's really nice to see the kids' competence and intelligence on full display. They each have slightly different approaches to problem-solving, but they do fit together nicely. They are so witty, and smart, and capable, and driven by wonderfully relatable motives. I know this isn't considered a perfect piece of writing - complaints about the narrator's role, for example, and the plot structure - but I didn't spend a single minute considering any of that while reading. I was way too entertained.

Looking for more of this energy in 2024.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found

5 stars. Okay. Thinking through things, I guess it's fair to say that the end of 2022 got really challenging and I really lost my mojo, so to speak. I'm exhausted. My brain is still kind of in recovery mode, operating in fits and starts and not at all at full capacity. I'm still reading Wounds and loving it, but in a moment of sheer panic I picked up this throwback and absolutely loved it.

For many recent years, this book flew around in the back of my mind, but I couldn't remember any specific details. Finally I Googled something like "young adult novel comic book uncle rat margaret" and the internet delivered. I bought a second-hand copy from a library immediately. Between Top Gun and Willow and National Treasure, there's a lot of delicious nostalgia to go around, and this was no different.

This is kind of a classic coming-of-age story about a girl named Margaret and her younger sister Sophie. After their father died in a horrible drowning tragedy a few years ago, their mother sunk into a deep depression (depicted fairly and sensitively) and the family exists on a sort of quiet, day-to-day survival basis. Then, one day, their mother piles them in the car and they drive to an old mansion in the middle of nowhere and stick a for sale sign on the lawn. Margaret and Sophie are spooked and curious and decide to follow the clues to find answers about the house and their dad, and end up making a few friends along the way.

Like I said, I loved it. It's vivid and funny and creative and fresh, with wonderful characters and unpredictable plotlines. I think it stuck with me for all these years because it's really spooky, too. It obviously tickled my interests back then as it would now. I adored the ending. The book contains a few comic book illustrations and they are delightful. Little Kelly had excellent taste.

How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Harriet the Spy

4 stars. Oops, seemed to have stumbled onto something controversial. What book published in the 60s isn't going to attract some lightning, though? A couple of things: 1) I entered this having remembered reading and enjoying it as a kid but quickly discovered that every memory of the book was completely washed away by memories of the movie adaptation instead... SO, I read this - basically - fresh. 2) I actually understand all of the arguments here. I would just say that there's a difference between a "bad book" and a "book you don't like." Finally, 3) sometimes a book can have wonderful aspects and also not-so-wonderful aspects. Like maybe every book ever. Like maybe every person ever.

Published in 1964, Harriet the Spy is about Harriet M. Welsch, a precocious, intelligent, headstrong 11-year-old determined to be a spy or a writer or some combo of both. She records her observations and thoughts - unfiltered - in a notebook. It's really a coming-of-age story as we witness Harriet experience intense change, face consequences for her actions, and learn several lessons about how messy life can be.

I have to say I really, really enjoyed it. It's hilarious, clever and refreshing... a couple of reviewers have noted that Harriet was a hugely different type of female protagonist for the 60s. She still feels different today, in a good way. No, Harriet isn't sweet, docile, obedient, or filtered in any way. She's stubborn, loud, nosy, confused, extremely critical and judgmental - kind of a toxic friend, too. The ending didn't sit totally right with me, but I think it was the right ending for her, if that makes sense.

I don't think this book - or any book - should be taken as a literal guide for one's behavior. Of course redemption arcs have their time and place, but I think kids are smart enough to be able to distinguish between when a hero isn't acting heroic, no? And smart enough to navigate action and consequence when it isn't perhaps as straightforward? As it isn't typically IRL? Who knows. Not me. But I do know that reading this book was an endlessly entertaining experience that I'd recommend to kids and adults alike. It's a classic for a reason.

Harriet the Spy on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Regarding the Fountain

It's time for a THROWBACK THURSDAY! I'm not a very, shall we say, sentimental person, but because the most vivid and joyful memories of my childhood involve books, I sometimes feel a strong pull toward my old favorites. I've dabbled in fun re-reads before, but I'd like to make it more of a priority: books shouldn't just sit on the shelf! They should be enjoyed! So here we are. Throwback Thursday.

5 stars. All the stars. This is the cleanse I needed. If you have an hour to spare and want to escape from all the gloom, doom, anxiety, panic, chaos, and office politics, start here. I read this as a kid - many times - and it's just as charming and funny as I remembered. The last page almost made me fucking emotional. I think it hit me like that because the Klise World is so beautiful, lovely, and warm, full of low stakes and happy endings and tangible justice - so different from reality. I'm ready to jump into these pages and never leave.

The water fountain in Dry Creek Middle School has sprung a leak! Principal Walter (not Wally) Russ reaches out to Florence Waters, world-renowned fountain architect and globetrotting adventuress, for an estimate on a new one. But there's trouble afoot in Dry Creek, and some "concerned" citizens are insisting that a new fountain isn't needed. Thankfully Sam N.'s Fifth Grade class is on the case, and they are determined to figure out why exactly there's so much controversy regarding the fountain!

Ahh, it's really a Kelly Classic. Epistolary, clever, inspiring. And it's got a downright heartwarming message. Florence is my hero and the kids are so creative and cute. The *mystery* is incredibly fun and the illustrations are absolutely perfect - right down to the facial expressions and witty details. I just cannot say enough about what a good read this is, for all ages. For anyone in need of a boost. Cheers to art, generosity, and living life to the fullest in a fun, flowing fountain!

Regarding the Fountain on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads

Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (HP #1)

Feeeeeeeelings. Like many of you, I grew up with Harry. These books were read aloud to me as a young person and I revisited them many, many, many times after. I was there for the midnight releases, the casting announcements, the movie premieres, the fanfiction, the websites, the art, the wonder, the excitement, the tinkering, the raised eyebrows, the broken promises, the disappointments, and then the ultimate betrayal. The ongoing betrayal. That sounds ridiculously dramatic, but let's not be vague about it: the creator of this generation-defining series expressed narrow-minded, transphobic beliefs and then doubled down. It's a painful story and it's one that I can't really seem to look away from, because it's interesting and horrible and bruising.

I am not trans, and so I cannot even begin to understand the depths of personal and public trauma she has caused for some and continues to cause. But I still feel the need to process it ... to sort through the *gestures* big mess of it all. I really started considering a re-read when I hit the Pandemic Wall, like so many of us have in the past few weeks, under a few conditions: (1) I'll read my physical copies to avoid leaving a data footprint that could benefit her in any capacity (lol), (2) I'll read with a more critical eye and try to learn from it and (3) I'll let myself enjoy the books if it feels right. There are a lot of articles and think pieces about reconciling art with its artist (or separating it), and I'm going to lean on them if things get weird. They will.

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Reviewing would be pretty much impossible, so here are my notes:

• Almost right away - Chapter 1 - there are clues. Not too many, and not enough to make things confusing, but the level of planning JKR did is astounding.

• The tone here is so playful and clever and humorous. I know the books get darker because the wizarding world gets darker (and the characters get older), but I'm going to miss the easy, readable flow she uses in Book 1.

• The characters are distinct and arrive fully fleshed out, which I find to be rare in fiction, when every individual comes from the same mind.

• I wonder how influential the editing process was on this before it was published, and how little it influenced the later books. At some point it must've reached a point where the publishers were like, okay, just let her do her thing, which probably led to the extreme bloat toward the end of the series. I wonder what Harry Potter as a whole would've looked like had every book been packaged as neatly as this one.

• I know this resonates with everyone but reading about how a letter could arrive one day offering you a literal escape from your horrible life into a magical one is so vivid and hopeful I could almost taste it.

• Things that surprised me: there are very few spells mentioned or described. Some, but not nearly as many as I remembered or expected. Also, the early appearance of the centaurs.

• How much could have or would have been different had Dumbledore just been honest with Harry from the beginning?

• This book - the imagery, the dialogue, the faces of the characters - is so, so, so intertwined with the first movie. They are inseparable in my brain, partly because I think the first movie matches so closely what I saw in my head reading it for the first time. It's a shame movies 3-8 don't subscribe to that tone for consistency's sake.

• Ultimately, there's no denying that this gave to me and many others an incredible doorway. I really enjoyed re-reading. There's plenty of heart, soul and magic to be found in these wonderful books, despite the actions of their author.

Note: I won’t be including any links to purchase on HP-related posts.