What do you think?
Rate this book
Northwood
The dark forest of Northwood has never seen the likes of Cecilia Undergarment before …
Cecilia Undergarment likes a challenge. So when she discovers a sad and neglected dog, she is determined to rescue him. No matter what. But her daring dog rescue lands her in deep trouble. Trouble in the form of being lost in the dark forest of Northwood. A forest where ferocious black lions roam. A forest that hides a secret castle, an unlikely king and many a mystery. A forest where those who enter never return. But Cecilia is determined to find her way home. No matter what.
Cecilia Undergarment likes a challenge. So when she discovers a sad and neglected dog, she is determined to rescue him. No matter what. But her daring dog rescue lands her in deep trouble. Trouble in the form of being lost in the dark forest of Northwood. A forest where ferocious black lions roam. A forest that hides a secret castle, an unlikely king and many a mystery. A forest where those who enter never return. But Cecilia is determined to find her way home. No matter what.
282 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
14 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
May 28, 2014
This book is like a mixture of Howl's moving castle and Alice in wonderland.
A review copy was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
The author made this book feel like I'm really watching a movie. Imagine being away from home and just starting your own adventure in a very, very unexpected way...and please take note that she is just 10! That takes guts and a lot of luck! I appreciate the humor in the narration of the story. I also like the twist in the plot. It was something that I could never have predicted.
I love Cecilia's adventures. She's a lovely child with a big heart and a lot of wit to back it up. I like how she's never afraid of things and always plans ahead. I could relate to her so much since I am also a planner. It's just way more amazing because she's just 10. The other characters also have substance, especially the dog Rocky and the twins. I like how they made the book more colorful. The antagonists are even entertaining too!
I actually love almost everything about this book. Everything but the ending. I don't know if the author plans on having a second book. All I know is that the ending left a lot of things unanswered. It felt abrupt and I was still waiting for something else to happen. I hope there's another epilogue somewhere. :)
All in all, I still recommend it to kids and to those who are young at heart. If you would like to read an adventure of a girl and dog with flying balloons in between, give this one a chance. :)
A review copy was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
The author made this book feel like I'm really watching a movie. Imagine being away from home and just starting your own adventure in a very, very unexpected way...and please take note that she is just 10! That takes guts and a lot of luck! I appreciate the humor in the narration of the story. I also like the twist in the plot. It was something that I could never have predicted.
I love Cecilia's adventures. She's a lovely child with a big heart and a lot of wit to back it up. I like how she's never afraid of things and always plans ahead. I could relate to her so much since I am also a planner. It's just way more amazing because she's just 10. The other characters also have substance, especially the dog Rocky and the twins. I like how they made the book more colorful. The antagonists are even entertaining too!
I actually love almost everything about this book. Everything but the ending. I don't know if the author plans on having a second book. All I know is that the ending left a lot of things unanswered. It felt abrupt and I was still waiting for something else to happen. I hope there's another epilogue somewhere. :)
All in all, I still recommend it to kids and to those who are young at heart. If you would like to read an adventure of a girl and dog with flying balloons in between, give this one a chance. :)
August 20, 2023
Northwood
by Brian Falkner
August 1, 2011
This is a book about Cecilia who finds a neglected dog and decides to rescue him but that means she will have to go into the deep forest of Northwood. A dangerous mysterious place that no child should ever venture. A place where savage wild animals live. Somewhere Cecilia is determined to make it out safely not just herself but also Rocky, the dog.
I was attracted by the cover of the book. Cecilia was a fearless brave character.
Thank you for the advanced readers edition in exchange for my honest opinions.
by Brian Falkner
August 1, 2011
This is a book about Cecilia who finds a neglected dog and decides to rescue him but that means she will have to go into the deep forest of Northwood. A dangerous mysterious place that no child should ever venture. A place where savage wild animals live. Somewhere Cecilia is determined to make it out safely not just herself but also Rocky, the dog.
I was attracted by the cover of the book. Cecilia was a fearless brave character.
Thank you for the advanced readers edition in exchange for my honest opinions.
June 3, 2015
Celia Undergarment is ten yrs old. Her dad owns a balloon factory and her house is made of giant balloons. Her room is on top – a huge clear balloon.
Celia can understand animals and when the neighbour’s Samoyd ‘Rocky’ tells her he’s not being fed since his mistress (Mrs Proctor) left, Celia decides to rescue him. With her nanny’s help she uses balloons to lift Rocky out of his back yard.
Mr Proctor is very cross, and jumps into a bulldozer and crashes into their balloon house. Celia’s clear balloon room dislodges, floats away and lands in Northwood – a deep dark forest where people are said to enter and never return....
Celia's bravery is tested at every turn. This is a wonderful story complimented by Donovan Bixley's excellent illustrations. Two Kiwi authors working together to weave magic!
Celia can understand animals and when the neighbour’s Samoyd ‘Rocky’ tells her he’s not being fed since his mistress (Mrs Proctor) left, Celia decides to rescue him. With her nanny’s help she uses balloons to lift Rocky out of his back yard.
Mr Proctor is very cross, and jumps into a bulldozer and crashes into their balloon house. Celia’s clear balloon room dislodges, floats away and lands in Northwood – a deep dark forest where people are said to enter and never return....
Celia's bravery is tested at every turn. This is a wonderful story complimented by Donovan Bixley's excellent illustrations. Two Kiwi authors working together to weave magic!
November 8, 2017
One of the two stars is because there is a sammy in the book, the reason i've been wanting to read it for several years.
If you're familiar w/sams, this one doesn't behave the way one does. the writing is...
Maybe i was expecting too much in wanting a book co-starring a samoyed to be enjoyable , well written or original. The one thing i can write positive is that at least Father Christmas didn't ride up and tell the people that things were about to be better.
The art was good.
If you're familiar w/sams, this one doesn't behave the way one does. the writing is...
Maybe i was expecting too much in wanting a book co-starring a samoyed to be enjoyable , well written or original. The one thing i can write positive is that at least Father Christmas didn't ride up and tell the people that things were about to be better.
The art was good.
August 26, 2014
This is a review for an uncorrected Advanced Readers Copy.
Cover Blurb: Yes or No? The cover art is very charming – as are the illustrations inside. But I wish the story itself had been as charming as the cover art.
Characters: To be quite honest, the characters of this novel left extremely fleeting impressions. They weren’t necessarily underdeveloped – there just wasn’t anything to set them apart from the myriad of plucky orphans and plucky twins and plucky girl heroines that populate Middle Grade fiction. Cecilia was brave and plucky and went after answers with satisfying determination. But the most I remember about her is her last name: Undergarment. Rocky the dog she rescues might have been more memorable, but his name is so incredibly common. I kept getting the twins mixed up, and King Harry was downright cartoonish. Not that I expect villains in Middle Grade novels to be as evil and intimidating as they are in Young Adult and Adult novels. But some effort can be made to at least make them somewhat bad.
The Romance: There isn’t any!
Plot: Cecilia Undergarment lives in a house made out of balloons. And when she goes on a rescue missing to save Rocky the dog from their mean and sinister neighbor, Cecilia and Rocky accidentally go floating off in one of these balloons and straight into Northwood – a scary, dark place where black lions and other unknown dangers lurk. But Cecilia discovers a surprising secret – that Northwood is not as deserted as people thought. The only problem is no one has ever been able to leave Northwood. But Cecilia is anything but determined. I didn’t have any issue with the plot itself, but more with the presentation. The Author tries to create a charming, but quirky, world, with funny character names, oddities in Northwood, and an omnipotent narrator who tells the Reader that adults say Cecilia’s story isn’t true – but they just might be wrong. I love “children’s whimsy,” but Northwood just fell short. I can’t quite put my finger on why. Maybe it was the characters – the names were common and boring and not quite ridiculous enough to be funny. And many of the characters had “isms” that didn’t work, either. Maybe it was the conclusion, but something just didn’t work. It fell short of Neil Gaiman, Roald Dahl, or any of the other “children’s whimsy” authors.
Believability: Not applicable.
Writing Style: Third person, past tense. There is a bit of an omnipotent narrator – the Author – and it’s a technique I have always enjoyed.
Content: None.
Conclusion: I had an issue with how easily the twists were revealed. Or, rather, how flimsy the “proof” was, but everyone was perfectly willing to accept it as 100% accurate. Paintings are not always the best evidence; sorry. Northwood could have been so much better, and it could have joined the ranks of famously good children’s whimsy books. But it just didn’t quite make it, in my opinion.
Recommended Audience: Girl-and-boy read, six-and-up.
Cover Blurb: Yes or No? The cover art is very charming – as are the illustrations inside. But I wish the story itself had been as charming as the cover art.
Characters: To be quite honest, the characters of this novel left extremely fleeting impressions. They weren’t necessarily underdeveloped – there just wasn’t anything to set them apart from the myriad of plucky orphans and plucky twins and plucky girl heroines that populate Middle Grade fiction. Cecilia was brave and plucky and went after answers with satisfying determination. But the most I remember about her is her last name: Undergarment. Rocky the dog she rescues might have been more memorable, but his name is so incredibly common. I kept getting the twins mixed up, and King Harry was downright cartoonish. Not that I expect villains in Middle Grade novels to be as evil and intimidating as they are in Young Adult and Adult novels. But some effort can be made to at least make them somewhat bad.
The Romance: There isn’t any!
Plot: Cecilia Undergarment lives in a house made out of balloons. And when she goes on a rescue missing to save Rocky the dog from their mean and sinister neighbor, Cecilia and Rocky accidentally go floating off in one of these balloons and straight into Northwood – a scary, dark place where black lions and other unknown dangers lurk. But Cecilia discovers a surprising secret – that Northwood is not as deserted as people thought. The only problem is no one has ever been able to leave Northwood. But Cecilia is anything but determined. I didn’t have any issue with the plot itself, but more with the presentation. The Author tries to create a charming, but quirky, world, with funny character names, oddities in Northwood, and an omnipotent narrator who tells the Reader that adults say Cecilia’s story isn’t true – but they just might be wrong. I love “children’s whimsy,” but Northwood just fell short. I can’t quite put my finger on why. Maybe it was the characters – the names were common and boring and not quite ridiculous enough to be funny. And many of the characters had “isms” that didn’t work, either. Maybe it was the conclusion, but something just didn’t work. It fell short of Neil Gaiman, Roald Dahl, or any of the other “children’s whimsy” authors.
Believability: Not applicable.
Writing Style: Third person, past tense. There is a bit of an omnipotent narrator – the Author – and it’s a technique I have always enjoyed.
Content: None.
Conclusion: I had an issue with how easily the twists were revealed. Or, rather, how flimsy the “proof” was, but everyone was perfectly willing to accept it as 100% accurate. Paintings are not always the best evidence; sorry. Northwood could have been so much better, and it could have joined the ranks of famously good children’s whimsy books. But it just didn’t quite make it, in my opinion.
Recommended Audience: Girl-and-boy read, six-and-up.
April 5, 2014
Northwood
by Brian Falkner (Goodreads Author), Donovan Bixley (Illustrator)
3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 116 ratings · 37 reviews
The dark forest of Northwood has never seen the likes of Cecilia Undergarment before …
Cecilia Undergarment likes a challenge. So when she discovers a sad and neglected dog, she is determined to rescue him. No matter what. But her daring dog rescue lands her in deep trouble. Trouble in the form of being lost in the dark forest of Northwood. A forest where ferocious black lions roam. A forest that hides a secret castle, an unlikely king and many a mystery. A forest where those who enter never return. But Cecilia is determined to find her way home. No matter what.(less)
Review:
I enjoyed reading Northwood by Brian Falkner because of the wonderful storytelling and unforgettable characters. I was provided this book by the publisher for a review. The book is written well and has just enough fairy tale in it to make it appealing. There seems to be a lot going on in the story at times, but it is all neatly worked out in the wonderful ending.
Our heroine, Cecilia, has a good heart and can hear animals talk. Another very "fairy tale" item is that she lives in a house made of balloons. At first I thought "this is just going to be too silly & far fetched, but I didn't stop reading. I am very glad I did not give up. Cecilia bravely saves the dog whose human woman had disappeared & Cecilia finds herself in a world (or a wooded area) of no good.
I hate spoilers, so I will just say that Cecilia makes some new friends where she lands and discovers some old ones. She & her new friends get into a major adventure and discover a major cover up. Cecilia's bravery continues throughout the book. She is faced with bad adults and hungry lions, as well as a past she did not see coming.
This wonderfully a toon packed book is a great read for a mid grader. It has a few illustrations to help carry the story along for young readers who still like a picture now & then. There is enough real life emotion and decision making, friends helping friends, etc. to be both believable and fun with the unbelievable parts. I really liked the story and think mid grade readers will as well.
July 16, 2014
http://iwishidknown.wordpress.com/201...
I received Northwood by Brian Falkner from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the start, I was intrigued by the premise of Northwood. A story about a girl lost in a forest filled with lions? Awesome. But I was still surprised and impressed by the story. Good pacing, some twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion. There were a few loose threads that needed tying, but it didn’t detract from the overall story.
Cecilia is a very independent and smart girl living with her father, stepmother and housekeeper in the town of Brookfield. Her father owns a balloon factory and their house is made up of several large balloons, piled high on top of each other. Cecilia is a perfectly normal girl except for one thing. She can talk to and understand animals. One afternoon, Cecilia hears a dog barking in her neighbor’s house and learns that the dog is being mistreated. While trying to rescue the dog (Rocky), the top portion of Cecilia’s house (the attic, made out of a clear balloon) becomes detached from the house and floats away. Cecilia finds herself and Rocky trapped in the balloon, in the nearby forest of Northwood. This is already an inconvenience, because rumors say that no one who enters Northwood is ever seen again – nor anyone who goes looking for those who are lost. What will Cecilia find there? How will she get home?
Cecilia is a great character to root for – she thinks things through, she is brave and not afraid to stand up for herself or others. The author does a great job of pacing the book – nothing felt too rushed or too slow. With such an even pace, the story never felt heavy-handed – kids reading the book can think for themselves easily about what’s going on instead of just having everything decided for them by the characters. There was one plot thread that didn’t get resolved and I found it to be an important piece – the story would have rounded off nicely if we had found out what happened at the end.
This book is appropriate for readers as young as 9, but more adequately suited for 10-13 year olds, just because of some larger vocabulary throughout the book. A great mystery adventure read for kids (and their parents).
I received Northwood by Brian Falkner from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the start, I was intrigued by the premise of Northwood. A story about a girl lost in a forest filled with lions? Awesome. But I was still surprised and impressed by the story. Good pacing, some twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion. There were a few loose threads that needed tying, but it didn’t detract from the overall story.
Cecilia is a very independent and smart girl living with her father, stepmother and housekeeper in the town of Brookfield. Her father owns a balloon factory and their house is made up of several large balloons, piled high on top of each other. Cecilia is a perfectly normal girl except for one thing. She can talk to and understand animals. One afternoon, Cecilia hears a dog barking in her neighbor’s house and learns that the dog is being mistreated. While trying to rescue the dog (Rocky), the top portion of Cecilia’s house (the attic, made out of a clear balloon) becomes detached from the house and floats away. Cecilia finds herself and Rocky trapped in the balloon, in the nearby forest of Northwood. This is already an inconvenience, because rumors say that no one who enters Northwood is ever seen again – nor anyone who goes looking for those who are lost. What will Cecilia find there? How will she get home?
Cecilia is a great character to root for – she thinks things through, she is brave and not afraid to stand up for herself or others. The author does a great job of pacing the book – nothing felt too rushed or too slow. With such an even pace, the story never felt heavy-handed – kids reading the book can think for themselves easily about what’s going on instead of just having everything decided for them by the characters. There was one plot thread that didn’t get resolved and I found it to be an important piece – the story would have rounded off nicely if we had found out what happened at the end.
This book is appropriate for readers as young as 9, but more adequately suited for 10-13 year olds, just because of some larger vocabulary throughout the book. A great mystery adventure read for kids (and their parents).
June 30, 2014
Cecilia Undergarment lives in a big house shaped like a bunch of balloons. That is because her father is the town's balloon maker. Her neighbor, the mayor, is a grouchy old man that hates everything. Cecilia can't stand how the mayor treats his dog, so one day she rescues it.
Unfortunately the mayor knows who to blame and comes right up to Cecilia's house. When she won't give him the dog, he takes a bulldozer to the home. Cecilia and the dog end up floating away in the up most room, which has somehow turned into a life pod. They float all the way into the dark forest of Northwood, and are stranded in a tree.
Northwood is a forest of nightmares, rumored to never release its victim's. Its trees are made of tar and black lions roam its depths. Cecilia and the little dog find a small group of lost inhabitants, forced to live under the rule of a greedy king. Everyone bows to do his bidding. Everyone but Cecilia, who brings a little spunk to the group and a determination to escape.
My Thoughts-
Okay, who can resist a book where the lead character has the last name Undergarment? That name alone is a clue to just how wacky and wild the book will be. Cecilia is truly the life of the story, a little girl determined to stand up for what's right and to not let people bully other people. I love how she stands up to the king and takes chances that no one else will. She is brave and true.
There is also an element of fantasy included within the story. Cecilia herself has the unique ability to speak to and understand animals. Something that comes in handy when black lions attack. The story of the abandoned castle in the Northwood's tells of a princess who had the same talent, and Cecilia soon gets some shocks.
The last thing I want to give a big thumbs up to are the illustrations by Donovan Bixley. Perfect for younger middle grade readers, the pictures nail it. They truly bring the story to life. Can you imagine a house that looks like a bunch of balloons? No, well, there's an illustration. This book is a great read- 4 stars!
Unfortunately the mayor knows who to blame and comes right up to Cecilia's house. When she won't give him the dog, he takes a bulldozer to the home. Cecilia and the dog end up floating away in the up most room, which has somehow turned into a life pod. They float all the way into the dark forest of Northwood, and are stranded in a tree.
Northwood is a forest of nightmares, rumored to never release its victim's. Its trees are made of tar and black lions roam its depths. Cecilia and the little dog find a small group of lost inhabitants, forced to live under the rule of a greedy king. Everyone bows to do his bidding. Everyone but Cecilia, who brings a little spunk to the group and a determination to escape.
My Thoughts-
Okay, who can resist a book where the lead character has the last name Undergarment? That name alone is a clue to just how wacky and wild the book will be. Cecilia is truly the life of the story, a little girl determined to stand up for what's right and to not let people bully other people. I love how she stands up to the king and takes chances that no one else will. She is brave and true.
There is also an element of fantasy included within the story. Cecilia herself has the unique ability to speak to and understand animals. Something that comes in handy when black lions attack. The story of the abandoned castle in the Northwood's tells of a princess who had the same talent, and Cecilia soon gets some shocks.
The last thing I want to give a big thumbs up to are the illustrations by Donovan Bixley. Perfect for younger middle grade readers, the pictures nail it. They truly bring the story to life. Can you imagine a house that looks like a bunch of balloons? No, well, there's an illustration. This book is a great read- 4 stars!
August 17, 2014
A kids book with enough adventure and tension to make anyone enjoy it.
Cecilia Undergarment grew up in a balloon house. Not an actual balloon, but a house shaped like a balloon. She also had a secret; she can talk to animals. (Very Eliza Thornberry, I know). One day she was playing in the attic when she heard a dog barking wildly. She couldn't tell what the dog was saying (she has to be able to look at the face of the animals she talks to in order to understand them), but she could tell this dog was upset. The dog belonged to Mr. Procter her next door neighbor. Mr. Procter used to be super nice, but then he opened up Proctermart and become a mean selfish man. The dog, Rocky, was telling Cecilia that he hadn't been fed properly. See, Rocky belong to Mr. Procter's wife but she had disappeared along with their daughter a while ago. Mr. Procter never really cared for the dog, so he wasn't taking the time to feed him.
Cecilia was very upset by this and came up with a plan to save Rocky which only angered Mr. Procter into attacking her house with a bulldozer. Cecilia had taken Rocky and the two of them were playing in the attic while this was going on. The attic was built to mimic a balloon and had special compartments both on the inside and the outside that would inflate to save the attic from crumbling into the house if the house was ever damaged. Only, the designer of the house had assumed that if anyone were in the attic when this occurred, they would be the size of adults and not a small girl and an emaciated dog.
So Cecilia and Rocky were swept away by the wind while trapped in the attic/balloon. The wind continued to blow them all across the neighborhood until finally setting them down in the most feared area nearby. The Northwood forest.
The book tells the story of Cecilia and Rocky as they navigate the Northwood forest and discover its secrets.
A quick read that I really enjoyed and highly recommend!
Cecilia Undergarment grew up in a balloon house. Not an actual balloon, but a house shaped like a balloon. She also had a secret; she can talk to animals. (Very Eliza Thornberry, I know). One day she was playing in the attic when she heard a dog barking wildly. She couldn't tell what the dog was saying (she has to be able to look at the face of the animals she talks to in order to understand them), but she could tell this dog was upset. The dog belonged to Mr. Procter her next door neighbor. Mr. Procter used to be super nice, but then he opened up Proctermart and become a mean selfish man. The dog, Rocky, was telling Cecilia that he hadn't been fed properly. See, Rocky belong to Mr. Procter's wife but she had disappeared along with their daughter a while ago. Mr. Procter never really cared for the dog, so he wasn't taking the time to feed him.
Cecilia was very upset by this and came up with a plan to save Rocky which only angered Mr. Procter into attacking her house with a bulldozer. Cecilia had taken Rocky and the two of them were playing in the attic while this was going on. The attic was built to mimic a balloon and had special compartments both on the inside and the outside that would inflate to save the attic from crumbling into the house if the house was ever damaged. Only, the designer of the house had assumed that if anyone were in the attic when this occurred, they would be the size of adults and not a small girl and an emaciated dog.
So Cecilia and Rocky were swept away by the wind while trapped in the attic/balloon. The wind continued to blow them all across the neighborhood until finally setting them down in the most feared area nearby. The Northwood forest.
The book tells the story of Cecilia and Rocky as they navigate the Northwood forest and discover its secrets.
A quick read that I really enjoyed and highly recommend!
April 11, 2014
Here is a book I think many readers can adore! "Northwood" is middle grade novel that is enjoyable for all ages. It is a quick, easy read with an easy vocab, short sentences, and few descriptive details. Gorgeously it includes a few pictures which help with a few of the harder to imagine elements of the book. The story is adorable, with a feeling reminiscent of "A Series of Unfortunate Events", and draws you in quickly with it's quirky world.
I loved the fairy tale elements. Our MC, Cecilia lives in a house made of balloons! Plus she can understand animals. I was already pretty jealous just after the first few chapters. As you continue to read, we discover an abandoned castle, a missing princess, a totally rude king, and a quest to get back home.
"Northwood" has a lot of great character moments. Cecilia was the kind of character who stood up for what was right, defended others, was kind towards all animals, and was clever and brave.
All the scary moments included are not that scary. It helps that it was written in the third person. The forest is home to black lions around every corner. They do give chase a few times, and claws and teeth are mentioned. The most 'offensive' bit was that a pistol is used, but not against any living creature. But it is brandished and used and that could cause a scary, tense moment for sensitive readers.
For older readers, it is a quick, refreshing read that will spark your imagination and capture your heart for middle grade. An easy 4 stars. I hope this one is discovered by many fans of MG!
--I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved the fairy tale elements. Our MC, Cecilia lives in a house made of balloons! Plus she can understand animals. I was already pretty jealous just after the first few chapters. As you continue to read, we discover an abandoned castle, a missing princess, a totally rude king, and a quest to get back home.
"Northwood" has a lot of great character moments. Cecilia was the kind of character who stood up for what was right, defended others, was kind towards all animals, and was clever and brave.
All the scary moments included are not that scary. It helps that it was written in the third person. The forest is home to black lions around every corner. They do give chase a few times, and claws and teeth are mentioned. The most 'offensive' bit was that a pistol is used, but not against any living creature. But it is brandished and used and that could cause a scary, tense moment for sensitive readers.
For older readers, it is a quick, refreshing read that will spark your imagination and capture your heart for middle grade. An easy 4 stars. I hope this one is discovered by many fans of MG!
--I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 27, 2014
I was given a free ARC of Northwood from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I was really impressed by this book. I liked it a lot more than I expected I would. Northwood is written for middle schoolers, but I felt so,e of the content was a bit graphic, like animal abuse. They are some fantasy aspects in this book like the main character's ability to converse with animals, the giant balloon house she lives in and the enchanted forest she in which becomes a prisoner.
I was worried I would become bored with the story as an adult, but it kept me engaged. It was easy to figure out what direction the story was headed in due to the very strong foreshadowing. Overall, I still liked it and would highly recommend it for middle school readers.
I only wish there were more of the beautiful illustrations!
I was really impressed by this book. I liked it a lot more than I expected I would. Northwood is written for middle schoolers, but I felt so,e of the content was a bit graphic, like animal abuse. They are some fantasy aspects in this book like the main character's ability to converse with animals, the giant balloon house she lives in and the enchanted forest she in which becomes a prisoner.
I was worried I would become bored with the story as an adult, but it kept me engaged. It was easy to figure out what direction the story was headed in due to the very strong foreshadowing. Overall, I still liked it and would highly recommend it for middle school readers.
I only wish there were more of the beautiful illustrations!
February 1, 2014
Cecilia Undergarment converses with animals. That's normal for her, but she's aware it's not normal for everyone. She's quite happy and loved in her life. Due to her talent and compassion, she rescues Rocky, her neighbor's dog, who isn't being appropriately cared for. As a result, mayhem ensues sending she and Rocky off to the frightful Northwood where deeper mysteries await.
A delightfully descriptive narrative illustrates scenery, characters, actions, etc allowing a depth of enjoyment for the story and of the characters as they encounter their adventures.
The characters are well formed, authentic for this reality, and intriguing.
Overall, a fantastically fun story!
A delightfully descriptive narrative illustrates scenery, characters, actions, etc allowing a depth of enjoyment for the story and of the characters as they encounter their adventures.
The characters are well formed, authentic for this reality, and intriguing.
Overall, a fantastically fun story!
April 3, 2014
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Capstone Young Readers for early access to this title.
3 1/2 stars - this was quite a cute story! I enjoyed the narration, which is done in a colloquial way to replicate a person talking. The story line is enjoyable and suspenseful, and the ending is quite satisfactory. There are some loose ends that don't get resolved, however, particularly in regards to the neighbors. I would have liked to see that situation addressed and summed up. But overall this is a fun story that kids would enjoy.
3 1/2 stars - this was quite a cute story! I enjoyed the narration, which is done in a colloquial way to replicate a person talking. The story line is enjoyable and suspenseful, and the ending is quite satisfactory. There are some loose ends that don't get resolved, however, particularly in regards to the neighbors. I would have liked to see that situation addressed and summed up. But overall this is a fun story that kids would enjoy.
April 14, 2014
A delightful read! I couldn't put it down. The story was whimsical, a little bit magical, engaging, calm, and suspenseful. The author speaks directly to the reader, middle grade reader, engaging them in the story, and talking in their language and at their level.
I immediately fell in love with Celia Undergarment, the main character. She was such a good hearted, kind, brave, ambitious, outspoken, and fiesty little girl. She may be young, but she is smart, develops fantastic plans, and is persistent.
I can't wait to read more by this author!
I immediately fell in love with Celia Undergarment, the main character. She was such a good hearted, kind, brave, ambitious, outspoken, and fiesty little girl. She may be young, but she is smart, develops fantastic plans, and is persistent.
I can't wait to read more by this author!
April 28, 2014
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Cecilia Undergarment is an ordinary girl – except for the fact that she lives in a balloon house, and can talk to animals.
I found this book fun and truly enjoyable to read. Falkner’s creativity and imagination makes this fantastic story come alive. The illustrations found throughout the book are gorgeous, and lend a greater depth to the story. I loved the narration style, and the sense of clever humor found throughout. Truly a fantastic read for young readers.
Cecilia Undergarment is an ordinary girl – except for the fact that she lives in a balloon house, and can talk to animals.
I found this book fun and truly enjoyable to read. Falkner’s creativity and imagination makes this fantastic story come alive. The illustrations found throughout the book are gorgeous, and lend a greater depth to the story. I loved the narration style, and the sense of clever humor found throughout. Truly a fantastic read for young readers.
January 1, 2015
This was a great story, but was surprisingly far less "fantasy" and much more "adventure" than I thought it would be. All of the fantastical elements were explained using speculative science, so it was even a little more like science fiction than fantasy. I really liked how strong the characters were, and how complicated the plot twists became. It wasn't a phenomenal work of literature, but certainly worth the read!
April 4, 2013
This is my favourite book that I have ever read. I love the mystery and how she lives in a house of balloons. I especially like her travelling companion. I hate the king And I think that the lions are awesome.
June 16, 2016
Something about the writing style reminds me of Lemony Snicket, fans will likely enjoy this tale. The narrator is almost conversational with the reader, calming walking us through harrowing events. Suggested for grades 3+.
May 9, 2013
It was fantastic my fave book ever
July 9, 2014
A definite "two thumbs up" for middle school readers!
September 4, 2022
Okay, I would have loved this as a kid. This is definitely a book that will appeal to younger readers. But even though this is MG, it was still an entertaining read as an adult.
This wasn't a predictable story, I really had no idea how it was going to resolve in the end. I liked how this is a MG story that wasn't "dumbed down for the sake of younger readers. The plot wasn't blatantly obvious, and as a reader, I appreciated that.
Cecelia was the kind of main character I would have adored as a kid, and one I can certainly appreciate now, as well. I wouldn't say she's exactly a strong female character because she had moments of fear and uncertainty. But she's tenacious--she didn't give up when a wrench was thrown in her plans. She worked around it. She was clever, and an all-around good kid. She knew what was right, and she knew what King Harry was doing was wrong. Like I said, though, she wasn't all black and white--there were times when she was afraid and didn't know what to do next.
I liked the supporting characters as well, especially Avery and Evan. Bickering twins are always fun. Avery was the headstrong and in charge one, while Evan was the one who tried to be the "smart" one but adorably misused big words time and again.
There was a good bit of humor in this book, which will definitely keep it light for kids. And to be honest, it was definitely what I would consider "kid" humor. It made me smile, but I wasn't laughing out loud like I would have if I were younger. King Harry was one hilarious "evil" villain. I mean, he was bad, and the kids had to overcome his antics and outsmart him, but with his big belly hanging out in a goofy shirt and a long greasy ponytail, he was pretty laughable. I never felt truly worried by him. Other humor included characters behaving gregariously, like the big hulking mute Tony Baloney going around yelling "Boompah" about everything. And names like Tony Baloney and Cecelia Undergarment? Silly, but kids will love it.
Overall, this was an entertaining and whimsical MG read with a cast of engaging characters. I enjoyed it a lot--it only got 4 stars because it's one of those books I know I would have counted a favorite as a kid, but isn't necessarily my favorite as a grown up. Still, I definitely recommend it for younger readers looking for a good adventure with elements of magical realism.
*I received a free e-galley of this book from Netgalley for review. This in no way affected my review.
This wasn't a predictable story, I really had no idea how it was going to resolve in the end. I liked how this is a MG story that wasn't "dumbed down for the sake of younger readers. The plot wasn't blatantly obvious, and as a reader, I appreciated that.
Cecelia was the kind of main character I would have adored as a kid, and one I can certainly appreciate now, as well. I wouldn't say she's exactly a strong female character because she had moments of fear and uncertainty. But she's tenacious--she didn't give up when a wrench was thrown in her plans. She worked around it. She was clever, and an all-around good kid. She knew what was right, and she knew what King Harry was doing was wrong. Like I said, though, she wasn't all black and white--there were times when she was afraid and didn't know what to do next.
I liked the supporting characters as well, especially Avery and Evan. Bickering twins are always fun. Avery was the headstrong and in charge one, while Evan was the one who tried to be the "smart" one but adorably misused big words time and again.
There was a good bit of humor in this book, which will definitely keep it light for kids. And to be honest, it was definitely what I would consider "kid" humor. It made me smile, but I wasn't laughing out loud like I would have if I were younger. King Harry was one hilarious "evil" villain. I mean, he was bad, and the kids had to overcome his antics and outsmart him, but with his big belly hanging out in a goofy shirt and a long greasy ponytail, he was pretty laughable. I never felt truly worried by him. Other humor included characters behaving gregariously, like the big hulking mute Tony Baloney going around yelling "Boompah" about everything. And names like Tony Baloney and Cecelia Undergarment? Silly, but kids will love it.
Overall, this was an entertaining and whimsical MG read with a cast of engaging characters. I enjoyed it a lot--it only got 4 stars because it's one of those books I know I would have counted a favorite as a kid, but isn't necessarily my favorite as a grown up. Still, I definitely recommend it for younger readers looking for a good adventure with elements of magical realism.
*I received a free e-galley of this book from Netgalley for review. This in no way affected my review.
September 28, 2020
I originally bought this book for two reasons. The first being that Brian Falkner was giving a lecture at the writing course I was taking when I was (I think) 14. The other being that I absolutely adore Donovan Bixley's illustrations. 7 years later and I've finally read it. I adore this book and I know I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read it in primary school. Even though it is a Middle Grade book it isn't predictable like I thought it would be and whilst reading it I couldn't figure out how it was going to end. I would have loved if the ending didn't feel as rushed as it did and if Cecilia and her friends had found more evidence and proof to convince the people of Northwood that what was going on wasn't all as it seemed. I also would have loved to see Cecilia's plans be more crafty and reminiscent of Violet Baudelaire in ' A Series of Unfortunate Events'. The imagery and world building is stunning but the characters didn't quite have enough quirks or personality to set them apart from characters that you would find in most other middle grade titles. A lot of characters were introduced to only be featured in a couple pages, a chapter at most.
May 16, 2021
Words can't describe my love for this book as a child, and because it's a childhood classic for me I don't think I shall even try as I would be totally biased by my memories of it. I read this book over and over when I was younger and I am fairly certain I reread it more recently. It was one of my few novels I owned as a kid, and even though it was a random impulse purchase I believe honestly I love it more than any of the books I so greatly desired and saved up for back then. Certainly, now it wouldn't seem as deep or intriguing as it did then, it's a children's-middle school book, but for that age I think it was brilliant.
June 23, 2021
This was a book my child found in a little free library and after we finished our current read aloud she asked if we could read this one next. My rating is 4 stars, hers is 5.
The story was cute and unique. I had a little trouble reading it aloud because of all the he said, she said, he said conversational parts but overall it was a fun read. We both enjoyed the adventure and the little bits of scary time in the forest forest as well as rooting for Cecelia. I loved her commitment to always being honest.
The story was cute and unique. I had a little trouble reading it aloud because of all the he said, she said, he said conversational parts but overall it was a fun read. We both enjoyed the adventure and the little bits of scary time in the forest forest as well as rooting for Cecelia. I loved her commitment to always being honest.
September 17, 2017
OMG!!! Best book in the world!! Full of adventure, when reading this book I can just imagine the pictures in my head with all the details they give you, it was so good I gave it to my mum to read and she couldn't put the book down!! She loved it and so did I, it not a very long book but still it took me about 5-8 days to read. ( with all the extra bits of having to put it down due chores and stuff like that) AWESOME BOOK!!
August 22, 2019
It’s not like anything I’d read since children’s books tbh but the concept of this was ‘incredibly creative’. You have to have a very big imagination to really appreciate some parts in my opinion and in some places I was thinking ‘this is definitely targeted at children’ but hey, kids books can be just as good as adult books and they both have equally good messages if they’re written well! So use your imagination and read this book today!
April 24, 2022
This was thoroughly pleasant. Falkner's writing is really enjoyable and made me laugh out loud. Loved the creative elements like the balloon house, the explaination of the black lions. Funny characters and a pretty good plot. Some of the action scenes were a bit hard to understand, but overall easy to read. Thank you Brian for signing this for me at a readers cup event eight years ago, and apologies it took me that long to read!
April 24, 2023
One of the first novels I ever read and I absolutely loved it. Also stands as the only book I have ever gone back to read again. The book holds a special place as it represents the peak of my childhood within primary school. The book itself is beautiful and I hope to one day own my very own copy of it.
September 17, 2018
Surprise find, very enjoyable read. Loved the balloon house, intertwined stories and the fact that the main character can speak to animals. And the fact you can make a strong child character without making her cheeky or arrogant.
June 3, 2020
A richly told fantastical story which my 9 year old daughter was so engaged by that I read it to see what she liked about it. The forest and the king comprises a great world that the author has created.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews