Josh
One of my pet peeves in publishing is when a book is slotted into an age demographic where it doesn’t quite belong. Each category whether it be middle grade, YA, or adult, comes with its own expectations for tone, themes, and complexity. Mismatching them can really skew a first impression. Going into this book, I initially felt a bit let down for that reason. To me, it sits solidly in the Middle Grade space. It was only later, after reading the acknowledgements, that I discovered Ursula Vernon felt the same way, but the publishers disagreed, considering it “too dark” for MG.
The book does have a genuine all ages appeal, but it shines when treated as the Middle Grade story I believe it to be. It's witty, warm, and filled with charming ideas around the magic system and such. The cast isn't huge, but there's enough variety to keep things lively and the themes are simple, clear, and engaging.
Overall, it's an easy, enjoyable read with a lot of charm. 3.5 gingerbread men with attitude out of 5.
One of my pet peeves in publishing is when a book is slotted into an age demographic where it doesn’t quite belong. Each category whether it be middle grade, YA, or adult, comes with its own expectations for tone, themes, and complexity. Mismatching them can really skew a first impression. Going into this book, I initially felt a bit let down for that reason. To me, it sits solidly in the Middle Grade space. It was only later, after reading the acknowledgements, that I discovered Ursula Vernon felt the same way, but the publishers disagreed, considering it “too dark” for MG.
The book does have a genuine all ages appeal, but it shines when treated as the Middle Grade story I believe it to be. It's witty, warm, and filled with charming ideas around the magic system and such. The cast isn't huge, but there's enough variety to keep things lively and the themes are simple, clear, and engaging.
Overall, it's an easy, enjoyable read with a lot of charm. 3.5 gingerbread men with attitude out of 5.