Since I’m taking part in Believathon this month, I’m reading quite some middle grades. I often do not write long reviews for those, so I taught I would combine some!
Title: The Serpen’t Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1)
Author: Sayantani DasGupta.
Format: Audiobook.
Publisher: Scholastic.
Page count: 351.
Release day: February 27th 2018.
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy.
Rating: 2 stars.
GoodReads Summary here!
I loved the Indian mythology (I think it is Bengali folklore if I’m not mistaken) in this book, definitely learned something about it! Loved learning about the different creatures and stories implemented in this book.
Unfortunately I was not a big fan of the actual story. Main reason for this was the main character. I really disliked her.. She felt kinda flat, and I didn’t really like her way of thinking/talking. She didn’t like pink, which is fine, but she made it sound like it was a bad thing to like pink, thing like that! I also didn’t really care for any of the side characters. Also she lived in our world without knowing she is actually a princess, although her parents keep telling her. But tbh I could not tell you right now what she is a princess off?!
I really enjoyed the idea behind the story, I just don’t think it was done that well. There was no point in this book were the writing really grabbed me, not did the actual story.
Besides, I really do not recommend the audiobook.. The author narrates the audiobook herself, but I really did not like the voices she did at certain times. Especially for this bird like character, It really made me dislike him. And sometimes she did these very high voices for the main character, which just made me cringe..
My favourite part of the book was by far the Author’s note, where the author talks about her inspiration with the mythology, which I really like to hear!
Title: Matilda.
Author: Roald Dahl.
Format: Hardcover.
Publisher: Puffin Clothbound classic.
Page count: 232.
Release day: October 1st 1988.
Genre: Middle Grade.
Rating: 4 stars.
GoodReads summary here!
Can you believe I actually never read this before?! I’ve seen the movie, maybe even more than once, while babysitting, so I knew the story. But I thought it was about time to actually read the book!
I enjoyed this one so much! I had a great time reading it! Of course there are some parts in the book that did not age very well, like the fat shaming in the beginning. But I just loved the character Matilda a lot that I overlooked that! Of course it was also a bit weird that Miss Honey treated Matilda as an equal, and told her her life story haha. And 5 year old Matilda understanding everything and giving advice. But of course it is a children book so it will always be a bit unrealistic!
I haven’t read any other Roald Dahl books, and I’ve heard that many of his books have not aged well. Any books I should pick up from him?
Title: Ghost Squad.
Author: Claribel A Ortega.
Format: Audiobook.
Publisher: Scholastic.
Page count: 288.
Release day: April 7th 2020.
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
GoodReads summary here!
This was such a fun and original book to listen to! I really enjoyed the friendship between Lucely and Syd! I really liked the authors take on ghosts and witches!
I wish the book was a little bit longer so that the resolving part took a little bit longer! And then there could have been a little bit more action!
I don’t have much to say about this one, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’m excited to see what she will write next!
Ghost Squad is on my tbr! I definitely want to read it with my daughter.
I relly recommend it!