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The Restorationists #1
Beneath the Swirling Sky
A house full of paintings, a missing sister, and a family secret send a boy and his cousin into a world where art is the key in this fantasy adventure perfect for fans of The Wingfeather Saga and Pages & Co.
“A delightful adventure, excellent for reading aloud. This book will make you want to study Van Gogh and get out the paintbrushes!”—Sarah Mackenzie, founder and host of Read-Aloud Revival® and author of The Read-Aloud Family
After an experience he’d rather forget, Vincent is determined to be done with art. So when he and his little sister, Lili, spend spring break with their art conservator great-uncle, Vincent's plan is to stay glued to his phone.
That is, until Lili disappears into one of the world's most famous paintings and Vincent learns his parents have been hiding something from Their family is the last of The Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings—and a duty to protect them from evil forces.
With Lili’s safety on the line, leaving art behind is no longer an option. Vincent must team up with his know-it-all second-cousin Georgia, wrestle with why his parents lied to him, and confront both his past and a future he never wanted. Young readers are invited into a captivating universe where paintings become a portal—and adventure and danger lurk beyond every canvas.
“A delightful adventure, excellent for reading aloud. This book will make you want to study Van Gogh and get out the paintbrushes!”—Sarah Mackenzie, founder and host of Read-Aloud Revival® and author of The Read-Aloud Family
After an experience he’d rather forget, Vincent is determined to be done with art. So when he and his little sister, Lili, spend spring break with their art conservator great-uncle, Vincent's plan is to stay glued to his phone.
That is, until Lili disappears into one of the world's most famous paintings and Vincent learns his parents have been hiding something from Their family is the last of The Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings—and a duty to protect them from evil forces.
With Lili’s safety on the line, leaving art behind is no longer an option. Vincent must team up with his know-it-all second-cousin Georgia, wrestle with why his parents lied to him, and confront both his past and a future he never wanted. Young readers are invited into a captivating universe where paintings become a portal—and adventure and danger lurk beyond every canvas.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2023
69 people are currently reading
4446 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Leiloglou
6 books164 followersCarolyn Leiloglou is the award-winning author of the middle grade fantasy series The Restorationists series beginning with Beneath the Swirling Sky (Waterbrook 2023), and the picture book Library’s Most Wanted (Pelican 2020), a 2021 WILLA Award Finalist.
Her picture book manuscript Ruler of the Craft Table was a finalist for the 2018 Katherine Paterson Prize, and her poems and stories have appeared in children's magazines around the world including Highlights, Cricket, The School Magazines in Australia and Clubhouse Jr.
Carolyn lives in a house full of bookworms (also the name of her blog) with her husband Demetrios, their four children, whom she homeschools, and their dog Nugget. You can find Carolyn at www.housefullofbookworms.com and www.carolynleiloglou.com and on social media as House full of Bookworms.
Her picture book manuscript Ruler of the Craft Table was a finalist for the 2018 Katherine Paterson Prize, and her poems and stories have appeared in children's magazines around the world including Highlights, Cricket, The School Magazines in Australia and Clubhouse Jr.
Carolyn lives in a house full of bookworms (also the name of her blog) with her husband Demetrios, their four children, whom she homeschools, and their dog Nugget. You can find Carolyn at www.housefullofbookworms.com and www.carolynleiloglou.com and on social media as House full of Bookworms.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
September 29, 2023
3 stars, personally. Interesting concept and I can see many who may enjoy this book (and those who may avoid it).
About this book:
“After an experience he’d rather forget, Vincent is determined to be done with art. So when he and his little sister, Lili, spend spring break with their art conservator great-uncle, Vincent's plan is to stay glued to his phone.
That is, until Lili disappears into one of the world's most famous paintings and Vincent learns his parents have been hiding something from Their family is the last of The Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings—and a duty to protect them from evil forces.
With Lili’s safety on the line, leaving art behind is no longer an option. Vincent must team up with his know-it-all second-cousin Georgia, wrestle with why his parents lied to him, and confront both his past and a future he never wanted. Young readers are invited into a captivating universe where paintings become a portal—and adventure and danger lurk beyond every canvas.”
Series: Book #1 in “The Restorationists” series.
Spiritual Content- Vincent’s family only goes to church a few times a year and thinks about when he was staring at the Pacific Ocean that “God felt close but transcendent, like being enveloped in a cloud”; Georgia shares that Vincent van Gogh felt close to God through nature (which is why the church is dark in one of his paintings and the sky is bright) & says that she feels closer to God with art; Vincent and Georgia go into two paintings that are based off of Biblical events (Belshazzar’s Feast and The Storm on the Sea of Galilee); Georgia is excited to have witnessed a miracle of Jesus’ in one of the paintings; In the later painting, Jesus stares at Vincent and he feels like Jesus could see all of the parts of his soul and expected Jesus to look away in disgust, but has an idea of the new person he’d like to be and Jesus nods in approval (he whispers Thank you to Jesus); In the author’s note, she says about creating being one way we exhibit the image of God; Mentions of God, Jesus, & forgiveness; Mentions of those & events in the Bible (and paintings of them); Mentions of churches in paintings; Mentions of callings (to be a Restorationsts or a calling from God); A few mentions of a woman (Lilias Trotter) who went to help people in Africa because God called her to do that; A couple mentions of Heaven & angels (thinking a place and someone are those, but are not actually); A mention of someone Thanking God; A mention of God’s art (creation);
*Note: Vincent becomes in a trace when looking at some paintings (Georgia says it’s like he’s under a spell) and after touching them, is able to go into the painting (called “Traveling” and is a hereditary ability that his family can do; Those who use it for good are called the “Restorationsts” and those who use it to destroy or alter paintings are called “Distortionists”); Restorationsts have different Gifts that can help them restore a painting (Navigation that remember all the details of paintings and where they are currently stored, Restorer who can fix a painting from inside or outside, Artists who are able to paint whatever they envision and it come to life, etc.); Distortionists steal art, create propaganda and destabilize societies with the gift of Traveling into a painting (they alter the paintings to spread hatred and distrust which make people susceptible to misinformation and can go as far as leading others to do shootings or terrorism); Even though Georgia says there’s no such thing as magic, Vincent calls Traveling magic and the paintings magical often & adds that he feels likes he’s been told that magic was real and he was a wizard (which he thinks should make him feel amazing, but feels nauseated because of falling into a painting); The phrases “magic” and “magical” are used often about Traveling into paintings, but it’s written as more of a genetic ability (“magic running through his blood”) than spells; *Spoiler* ; Vincent paints in anger of a scary dragon and it scares him because of the potential for evil in his heart; When Vincent gets handed art tools to use with his Gift, he wonders where the magic wands and stones of power were instead; Vincent calls the hand writing on the wall in the painting Belshazzar’s Feast a “wizard hand” and Georgia corrects it to “Angel hand”; *Spoiler* ; Georgia teases Lili about the boogeyman and doing what she’s told or she’ll vanish (Vincent tells her not to scare Lili because she easily has bad dreams); Mentions of evil & those with evil intent; Mentions of paintings with fantastical creatures (like unicorns and dragons); A mention of an artist haunting their paintings; A mention of dial-up being called “Stone-Age internet”.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘darn’, a ‘gosh darn it’ (said by an adult), an ‘idiot’, a ‘shush’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘stinking’, a ‘what in tarnation’, an unfinished ‘what in the…’, two ‘heck’s (said by an adult), three ‘dumb’s, three ‘stupid’s; Some name-calling between Vincent and Georgia (“idiot” and “dumb”); Eye rolling & Sarcasm (between pre-teens); Vincent and Georgia yell at each other a couple of times when emotions are high; Vincent attempts to eavesdrop on adults’ conversations but stops before he is caught; Vincent has a bit of an attitude for the beginning of the book (thinking about his mom and Uncle Leo bugging/pestering and lecturing him about painting again, thinking his second cousin is a weird homeschooler and looks like a homeless person because of the mud all over her, and is rude to another boy); Vincent fells like his parents have lied about his talent in painting and is very upset and hurt by it (thinking he can’t trust what his mom says and that he isn’t good enough; *Spoiler* ); A couple talks about some people painting for their pride and praise from others and other painters painting just for art and for others to experience it (this is a realizes for Vincent as he realizes that he wanted people to praise him); There is an adult that badmouths Vincent’s mom a bit and also tempts Vincent to join her side, but he recognizes that she has evil intent (*Spoiler* ; Vincent thinks about getting adults to help him and Georgia, *Spoiler* ; Vincent doesn’t want to be a hero, he just wants his family safe, but Georgia and Lili want to help others (*Spoiler* ); Georgia acts like a know-it-all at times *Spoiler* ; A villain’s minion tases Vincent and he feels pain before passing out (up to semi-detailed); Fighting/Sparring & Pain (including playing dirty, up to semi-detailed); There are a few close calls in the paintings (dangerous situations but do not feel very scary; including seeing someone going underwater, being chased by a creepy guard that has been given an evil face by the Distortionsts (Vincent and Georgia capture the guard and have to scrape the paint off of his face, barely-above-not-detailed), and being stuck in a black hole); Vincent is told that if they die in a painting, they die (not like a video game where they could try again; Georgia says she won’t let fear decide what she’s going to do); A lesson on creating booby traps and wrecking paintings by a villain group; A boy thwacks another boy on the back of the head; Many mentions of stolen paintings, stealing, robberies, thieves, & criminals; Mentions of a fire & deaths (Uncle Leo comments on the art that was in the home being such a loss, but Vincent comments on the lives that were lost were more important); Mentions of World War II, Nazis, & swastika (some Distortionsts painted them into a picture to change what a person feels when looking at the picture); Mentions of kidnappings & kidnapped children being kept in a prison/institution-like place; Mentions of children being threatened with being tased by the villain’s minions; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of graffiti & littering (including a few mentions of cusswords being painted in paintings to deface them); Mentions of the bad guys using art to control people (their emotions to lead them into causing trouble); A few mentions of terrorism; A few mentions of almost drownings; A few mentions of rumors (including one that the villains will beat the kidnapped children if they try to runaway and their injuries); A few mentions of fighting dirty & cheating in a sparring match; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of meanness from classmates; A few mentions of nightmares/bad dreams; A couple mentions of a massacre; A couple mentions of thinking someone was dead (in a dangerous situation); A couple mentions of protesters throwing food at priceless paintings; A couple mentions of arrests; A couple mentions of pipes & smoking; A mention of someone having another’s hide if something went wrong; A mention of shootings; A mention of a Mexican cartel; A mention of the mob; A mention of bloody paintings;
*Note: Vincent plays video games and really enjoys them (including playing with friends and mentions of Minecraft, Tetris, & Zelda); Vincent is twelve years old and has a cell phone (he plays games on it); Georgia is homeschooled but calls it “road-schooled” because her and her parents are always on the road (she takes online classes and seems sad about not having in-real-life friends, which Vincent thinks it would be miserable to not have friends you could see most days; When Vincent asks if her hobby of pottery is what “all the cool homeschoolers do”, Georgia shares she doesn’t care about being cool because it’s more important to do what you like and not worry what others think); The word “cops” is used more than “police” when referring to law enforcement; All about many, many mentions of artists & paintings (Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Paul Cezanne, Georgia O’Keeffe, Lilias Trotter, Leonardo da Vinci, Artemisia Gentileschi, Adelaide Labille-Guiard, Norman Rockwell, M. C. Escher, Rembrandt, Pissarro, Manet, & Jules Dupre); A couple mentions of a suicide mission; A couple mentions of zombies; A mention of a picture of creepy gravestones; A mention of wine (in a painting); A mention of a place being “for hicks”; A mention of Wikipedia; A mention of YouTube; A mention of Romeo and Juliet; A mention of Vincent not wanting Lili to ever feel scared again about her new family disappearing like she did when she first came home.
Sexual Content- See Note below;
*Note: Mentions of nude paintings (which Vincent does not want to go Travel into and when Georgia asks if he’s scared about that, he thinks that he’s seen pictures of nude paintings before but it made him uncomfortable and it’s gross to pose for something like that; Georgia says that she hadn’t thought of it like that and “naked people are part of art. You get used to it. But maybe that’s not a good thing.”; They go through the painting with something over their heads to cover most of the view; In the author’s note at the end, she says if you research paintings, there may be paintings or sketches of nude, but that doesn’t mean you have to look at any art that makes you uncomfortable and have a parent help when searching for images because there’s a lot of great art and she would hate for someone to miss out on it just to avoid those few that have naked people in them).
-Vincent, age 12
P.O.V. of Vincent
305 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
I’m instantly interested in any new Christian Middle-Grade book releasing because there aren’t many published nowadays, but I was especially interested in this book due to the mention of being good for fans of the secular middle-grade series, “Pages and Co” (which I enjoyed until LGTBQ content was added in)—and I can see why it’s aimed for fans of that series because it’s very similar in the world and creativity and villains.
I had very high hopes for this book and they decently met them. I do have some things to note, though.
There isn’t much Christian Faith content throughout this story. There are a couple paintings that Vincent and Georgia go into are of Biblical events including one depicting a miracle of Jesus’ (Belshazzar’s Feast and The Storm on the Sea of Galilee). We have more faith content towards the very end because of that painting and Vincent feelings as if Jesus in the painting sees his soul and when Jesus doesn’t turn away in disgust, Vincent has an image of what kind of person he wants to be. A few mentions of God and Jesus elsewise throughout the story.
While the words “magic” and “magical” are used often (by Vincent, because Georgia says that there’s no such thing as magic), the ability to fall into paintings is said to be genetic. *Spoiler* .
Some parents might not like the lack of good adults (or even just adults) in this book. Vincent is also hurt by his mom always telling him he’s a good artist, but then he “learns the truth” when his classmates taunt him for one of his paintings; that happened about a year and a half before this book starts and Vincent now doesn’t paint or fully trust his parents when they tell him something. It’s noted that it could have been because they thought they were protecting him, but it “wrecked his trust”. We never see a conclusion or discussion about his feelings with his parents about this except for at the very end when his mom says they wanted to keep him safe by not telling him about these abilities *Spoiler* .
Good vs evil shown and even though Vincent is tempted by an offer, he realizes that person has evil intent and does not allow himself to be swayed, realizing himself that that person doesn’t have his interests at heart nor is a good person.
My favorite part of this book was seeing Vincent and his little sister’s relationship (six year age gap) and seeing how much he cares for her (she was adopted three years prior from China and he says that some people think it’s weird that they’re so close, but she’s still his sister regardless). He’s very protective of her and there’s no name calling between them, which I really appreciated seeing a healthy sibling dynamic and loved those parts.
All of this said, I would most likely try out the next book in the series when it releases, but this is also one I could see why some families may avoid and others may enjoy.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Waterbrook) for this honest review.
About this book:
“After an experience he’d rather forget, Vincent is determined to be done with art. So when he and his little sister, Lili, spend spring break with their art conservator great-uncle, Vincent's plan is to stay glued to his phone.
That is, until Lili disappears into one of the world's most famous paintings and Vincent learns his parents have been hiding something from Their family is the last of The Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings—and a duty to protect them from evil forces.
With Lili’s safety on the line, leaving art behind is no longer an option. Vincent must team up with his know-it-all second-cousin Georgia, wrestle with why his parents lied to him, and confront both his past and a future he never wanted. Young readers are invited into a captivating universe where paintings become a portal—and adventure and danger lurk beyond every canvas.”
Series: Book #1 in “The Restorationists” series.
Spiritual Content- Vincent’s family only goes to church a few times a year and thinks about when he was staring at the Pacific Ocean that “God felt close but transcendent, like being enveloped in a cloud”; Georgia shares that Vincent van Gogh felt close to God through nature (which is why the church is dark in one of his paintings and the sky is bright) & says that she feels closer to God with art; Vincent and Georgia go into two paintings that are based off of Biblical events (Belshazzar’s Feast and The Storm on the Sea of Galilee); Georgia is excited to have witnessed a miracle of Jesus’ in one of the paintings; In the later painting, Jesus stares at Vincent and he feels like Jesus could see all of the parts of his soul and expected Jesus to look away in disgust, but has an idea of the new person he’d like to be and Jesus nods in approval (he whispers Thank you to Jesus); In the author’s note, she says about creating being one way we exhibit the image of God; Mentions of God, Jesus, & forgiveness; Mentions of those & events in the Bible (and paintings of them); Mentions of churches in paintings; Mentions of callings (to be a Restorationsts or a calling from God); A few mentions of a woman (Lilias Trotter) who went to help people in Africa because God called her to do that; A couple mentions of Heaven & angels (thinking a place and someone are those, but are not actually); A mention of someone Thanking God; A mention of God’s art (creation);
*Note: Vincent becomes in a trace when looking at some paintings (Georgia says it’s like he’s under a spell) and after touching them, is able to go into the painting (called “Traveling” and is a hereditary ability that his family can do; Those who use it for good are called the “Restorationsts” and those who use it to destroy or alter paintings are called “Distortionists”); Restorationsts have different Gifts that can help them restore a painting (Navigation that remember all the details of paintings and where they are currently stored, Restorer who can fix a painting from inside or outside, Artists who are able to paint whatever they envision and it come to life, etc.); Distortionists steal art, create propaganda and destabilize societies with the gift of Traveling into a painting (they alter the paintings to spread hatred and distrust which make people susceptible to misinformation and can go as far as leading others to do shootings or terrorism); Even though Georgia says there’s no such thing as magic, Vincent calls Traveling magic and the paintings magical often & adds that he feels likes he’s been told that magic was real and he was a wizard (which he thinks should make him feel amazing, but feels nauseated because of falling into a painting); The phrases “magic” and “magical” are used often about Traveling into paintings, but it’s written as more of a genetic ability (“magic running through his blood”) than spells; *Spoiler* ; Vincent paints in anger of a scary dragon and it scares him because of the potential for evil in his heart; When Vincent gets handed art tools to use with his Gift, he wonders where the magic wands and stones of power were instead; Vincent calls the hand writing on the wall in the painting Belshazzar’s Feast a “wizard hand” and Georgia corrects it to “Angel hand”; *Spoiler* ; Georgia teases Lili about the boogeyman and doing what she’s told or she’ll vanish (Vincent tells her not to scare Lili because she easily has bad dreams); Mentions of evil & those with evil intent; Mentions of paintings with fantastical creatures (like unicorns and dragons); A mention of an artist haunting their paintings; A mention of dial-up being called “Stone-Age internet”.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘darn’, a ‘gosh darn it’ (said by an adult), an ‘idiot’, a ‘shush’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘stinking’, a ‘what in tarnation’, an unfinished ‘what in the…’, two ‘heck’s (said by an adult), three ‘dumb’s, three ‘stupid’s; Some name-calling between Vincent and Georgia (“idiot” and “dumb”); Eye rolling & Sarcasm (between pre-teens); Vincent and Georgia yell at each other a couple of times when emotions are high; Vincent attempts to eavesdrop on adults’ conversations but stops before he is caught; Vincent has a bit of an attitude for the beginning of the book (thinking about his mom and Uncle Leo bugging/pestering and lecturing him about painting again, thinking his second cousin is a weird homeschooler and looks like a homeless person because of the mud all over her, and is rude to another boy); Vincent fells like his parents have lied about his talent in painting and is very upset and hurt by it (thinking he can’t trust what his mom says and that he isn’t good enough; *Spoiler* ); A couple talks about some people painting for their pride and praise from others and other painters painting just for art and for others to experience it (this is a realizes for Vincent as he realizes that he wanted people to praise him); There is an adult that badmouths Vincent’s mom a bit and also tempts Vincent to join her side, but he recognizes that she has evil intent (*Spoiler* ; Vincent thinks about getting adults to help him and Georgia, *Spoiler* ; Vincent doesn’t want to be a hero, he just wants his family safe, but Georgia and Lili want to help others (*Spoiler* ); Georgia acts like a know-it-all at times *Spoiler* ; A villain’s minion tases Vincent and he feels pain before passing out (up to semi-detailed); Fighting/Sparring & Pain (including playing dirty, up to semi-detailed); There are a few close calls in the paintings (dangerous situations but do not feel very scary; including seeing someone going underwater, being chased by a creepy guard that has been given an evil face by the Distortionsts (Vincent and Georgia capture the guard and have to scrape the paint off of his face, barely-above-not-detailed), and being stuck in a black hole); Vincent is told that if they die in a painting, they die (not like a video game where they could try again; Georgia says she won’t let fear decide what she’s going to do); A lesson on creating booby traps and wrecking paintings by a villain group; A boy thwacks another boy on the back of the head; Many mentions of stolen paintings, stealing, robberies, thieves, & criminals; Mentions of a fire & deaths (Uncle Leo comments on the art that was in the home being such a loss, but Vincent comments on the lives that were lost were more important); Mentions of World War II, Nazis, & swastika (some Distortionsts painted them into a picture to change what a person feels when looking at the picture); Mentions of kidnappings & kidnapped children being kept in a prison/institution-like place; Mentions of children being threatened with being tased by the villain’s minions; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of graffiti & littering (including a few mentions of cusswords being painted in paintings to deface them); Mentions of the bad guys using art to control people (their emotions to lead them into causing trouble); A few mentions of terrorism; A few mentions of almost drownings; A few mentions of rumors (including one that the villains will beat the kidnapped children if they try to runaway and their injuries); A few mentions of fighting dirty & cheating in a sparring match; A few mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of meanness from classmates; A few mentions of nightmares/bad dreams; A couple mentions of a massacre; A couple mentions of thinking someone was dead (in a dangerous situation); A couple mentions of protesters throwing food at priceless paintings; A couple mentions of arrests; A couple mentions of pipes & smoking; A mention of someone having another’s hide if something went wrong; A mention of shootings; A mention of a Mexican cartel; A mention of the mob; A mention of bloody paintings;
*Note: Vincent plays video games and really enjoys them (including playing with friends and mentions of Minecraft, Tetris, & Zelda); Vincent is twelve years old and has a cell phone (he plays games on it); Georgia is homeschooled but calls it “road-schooled” because her and her parents are always on the road (she takes online classes and seems sad about not having in-real-life friends, which Vincent thinks it would be miserable to not have friends you could see most days; When Vincent asks if her hobby of pottery is what “all the cool homeschoolers do”, Georgia shares she doesn’t care about being cool because it’s more important to do what you like and not worry what others think); The word “cops” is used more than “police” when referring to law enforcement; All about many, many mentions of artists & paintings (Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Paul Cezanne, Georgia O’Keeffe, Lilias Trotter, Leonardo da Vinci, Artemisia Gentileschi, Adelaide Labille-Guiard, Norman Rockwell, M. C. Escher, Rembrandt, Pissarro, Manet, & Jules Dupre); A couple mentions of a suicide mission; A couple mentions of zombies; A mention of a picture of creepy gravestones; A mention of wine (in a painting); A mention of a place being “for hicks”; A mention of Wikipedia; A mention of YouTube; A mention of Romeo and Juliet; A mention of Vincent not wanting Lili to ever feel scared again about her new family disappearing like she did when she first came home.
Sexual Content- See Note below;
*Note: Mentions of nude paintings (which Vincent does not want to go Travel into and when Georgia asks if he’s scared about that, he thinks that he’s seen pictures of nude paintings before but it made him uncomfortable and it’s gross to pose for something like that; Georgia says that she hadn’t thought of it like that and “naked people are part of art. You get used to it. But maybe that’s not a good thing.”; They go through the painting with something over their heads to cover most of the view; In the author’s note at the end, she says if you research paintings, there may be paintings or sketches of nude, but that doesn’t mean you have to look at any art that makes you uncomfortable and have a parent help when searching for images because there’s a lot of great art and she would hate for someone to miss out on it just to avoid those few that have naked people in them).
-Vincent, age 12
P.O.V. of Vincent
305 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Four Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
I’m instantly interested in any new Christian Middle-Grade book releasing because there aren’t many published nowadays, but I was especially interested in this book due to the mention of being good for fans of the secular middle-grade series, “Pages and Co” (which I enjoyed until LGTBQ content was added in)—and I can see why it’s aimed for fans of that series because it’s very similar in the world and creativity and villains.
I had very high hopes for this book and they decently met them. I do have some things to note, though.
There isn’t much Christian Faith content throughout this story. There are a couple paintings that Vincent and Georgia go into are of Biblical events including one depicting a miracle of Jesus’ (Belshazzar’s Feast and The Storm on the Sea of Galilee). We have more faith content towards the very end because of that painting and Vincent feelings as if Jesus in the painting sees his soul and when Jesus doesn’t turn away in disgust, Vincent has an image of what kind of person he wants to be. A few mentions of God and Jesus elsewise throughout the story.
While the words “magic” and “magical” are used often (by Vincent, because Georgia says that there’s no such thing as magic), the ability to fall into paintings is said to be genetic. *Spoiler* .
Some parents might not like the lack of good adults (or even just adults) in this book. Vincent is also hurt by his mom always telling him he’s a good artist, but then he “learns the truth” when his classmates taunt him for one of his paintings; that happened about a year and a half before this book starts and Vincent now doesn’t paint or fully trust his parents when they tell him something. It’s noted that it could have been because they thought they were protecting him, but it “wrecked his trust”. We never see a conclusion or discussion about his feelings with his parents about this except for at the very end when his mom says they wanted to keep him safe by not telling him about these abilities *Spoiler* .
Good vs evil shown and even though Vincent is tempted by an offer, he realizes that person has evil intent and does not allow himself to be swayed, realizing himself that that person doesn’t have his interests at heart nor is a good person.
My favorite part of this book was seeing Vincent and his little sister’s relationship (six year age gap) and seeing how much he cares for her (she was adopted three years prior from China and he says that some people think it’s weird that they’re so close, but she’s still his sister regardless). He’s very protective of her and there’s no name calling between them, which I really appreciated seeing a healthy sibling dynamic and loved those parts.
All of this said, I would most likely try out the next book in the series when it releases, but this is also one I could see why some families may avoid and others may enjoy.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Waterbrook) for this honest review.
August 14, 2024
4.5 Stars! I had so much with this read, I mean, being able to travel through paintings? Who isn't curious about how that's going to turn out? It's such a cool concept!
Characters:
Vincent is a great main character and his internal struggle through the whole story really drew me in. Wondering if he's good enough to be an artist is such a relatable flaw, and can I say how awesome it is that this MG book explores that. It was done so well and Vincent was great! I loved how protective he was of Lili!
Georgia is the homeschooled character I've been waiting my whole life to read! She's fun, cool, and has that little bit of quirkiness that makes her so endearing! I loved her character and how she just needed someone to believe in her! Awww, that was so cute!
Lili si adorable and I love the little gal!
I also loved Ravi and I'm interested to see where his story goes...
Themes:
Doing the right thing no matter how hard that is and not letting fear or anger control or dictate your decisions, but the themes were woven in so well! Not in your face way that a lot of Middle Grade books end up doing but subtly. Beautiful!
Language:
Few uses of what my family calls side words, like heck, and I think there might have been dang, all by adults, never the kids. I think it was just trying to get across that Uncle Leo is a Texan...lol...but just in case anyone doesn't want the kids reading those I've noted it.
Romance:
N/A
Overall:
This was a really cool book! The concept is just fantastic and I'll definitely be reading book two whenever I get around to purchasing it!
The author is a Christian, but this book isn't very Christian, which I think is a good thing for the story at the moment, also we all know most middle graders aren't going to stick around for a sermon in their books, they want the story. And this delivers a great story with some awesome morals as well as plenty of discussion topics, it would make a fantastic read-aloud!
Characters:
Vincent is a great main character and his internal struggle through the whole story really drew me in. Wondering if he's good enough to be an artist is such a relatable flaw, and can I say how awesome it is that this MG book explores that. It was done so well and Vincent was great! I loved how protective he was of Lili!
Georgia is the homeschooled character I've been waiting my whole life to read! She's fun, cool, and has that little bit of quirkiness that makes her so endearing! I loved her character and how she just needed someone to believe in her! Awww, that was so cute!
Lili si adorable and I love the little gal!
I also loved Ravi and I'm interested to see where his story goes...
Themes:
Doing the right thing no matter how hard that is and not letting fear or anger control or dictate your decisions, but the themes were woven in so well! Not in your face way that a lot of Middle Grade books end up doing but subtly. Beautiful!
Language:
Few uses of what my family calls side words, like heck, and I think there might have been dang, all by adults, never the kids. I think it was just trying to get across that Uncle Leo is a Texan...lol...but just in case anyone doesn't want the kids reading those I've noted it.
Romance:
N/A
Overall:
This was a really cool book! The concept is just fantastic and I'll definitely be reading book two whenever I get around to purchasing it!
The author is a Christian, but this book isn't very Christian, which I think is a good thing for the story at the moment, also we all know most middle graders aren't going to stick around for a sermon in their books, they want the story. And this delivers a great story with some awesome morals as well as plenty of discussion topics, it would make a fantastic read-aloud!
May 21, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for an advance copy of this book in exchange of an honest review!
3.25 stars!
Beneath the Swirling Sky tells the story of Vincent who comes from a family of Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings and restore (or save) them. After a horrible experience from his past, Vincent swears he's done with art. That is, until Lili disappears into one of the most famous paintings that he has to pick up his brush and face his past.
It feels good to read a book that awakens the inner child in me. The fact that I cannot put this book down, finishing this in just a day, tells how much I enjoy this book. To some, art is boring (no offense, but in reality, this is how others view art especially paintings). So it's a wonder how the author will execute art into a novel and make it interesting. Every time an art is mentioned, I head to Google right away and search. I can't help but get curious on how the paintings actually look like outside of the author's imagination [and description]. Love the system of magic and worldbuilding. The book's just in a right pace. I cannot find a part where the story may have lagged or rushed.
Vincent paints to impress. That's how the problem starts. Artists put emotion to their creations and that is something Vincent lacks and fails to recognize. As the story progresses, he must learn the true meaning of art if he ever wishes to go back to that path again. So aside from rescuing Lili, Vincent aims for self-discovery as well.
I love the dynamic duo of Vincent and Georgia. They are opposite sides of a coin. One cannot pass through the hurdle without the other. But are 12 year-olds supposed to be as whiny as Vincent? Sometimes I can't stand him yelling at Georgia when things don't go the way as planned, but their rocky relationship improved eventually. I only thought (first impression and all) that Georgia tend to be the reckless one between the pair. Vincent is more on talking and less on thinking. Georgia's more adventurous, but is the rational one.
Vincent's reaction to his first travel inside the painting is monotonous. For something strange, he accepted it quite easily. Although it was later on revealed that he thought of it as a dream. It was even harder for me accept Uncle Leo's letting Vincent and Georgia go to rescue Lili themselves without so much of a fight. Like as a responsible adult--even though he cannot Travel himself and if he had any sense in him--wouldn't he be defiant and wait for Georgia's parents to arrive like originally planned? I had one eyebrow raised knowing he's OK with it. It may just be me but sneaking off would be a lot more sensible and exciting, no matter how cliche that may be. You know... heroes breaking rules and sneaking into the night to save the world.
Right. Dangerous people. All the more reason Uncle Leo should have allowed them to go.
By the end of the book, a few questions still lingered that I think are not properly addressed. What is Adelaide's real purpose? How did those children end up in those paintings? It isn't clear if they are children who carry genes of Distortionists or Restorationists. But I'm betting they are from the former because because it is stated in the book that Vincent's family is the only living Restorationists. Another possible explanation is that there is a magic anomaly. I don't know why we didn't get the answers to this but I think the author chose to hide it on purpose since this book will be a part of a series.
As for the ending, it simple that I think it didn't the book's conclusion a justice.
If you're looking for a fun and easy read, then be sure to check out this book.
Quotes: ✨✨✨
~Boredom breeds creativity
~"Van Gogh felt closer to God through nature," she said. "That's why the sky is so alive but the church is dark."
~"Pottery is what I do. And I don't care about being cool. I think it's more important to do what you like and not worry what other people think."
~It takes practice. Art isn't about being perfect.
~"Art is powerful. It has always had the power to draw people in."
~Art expresses beauty and truth," Georgia said. "It's a gift. It's meant to be experienced and interacted with, not use."
~But wasn't hiding from danger what made his mom keep this world from him in the first place? He was done hiding.
~Mom had told him that all people wanted to leave their marks and that some people thought that was the whole point of making art. But she believed the best art created when artists forgot about themselves and just focused on the truth they were trying to capture.
~"There's a difference between making art and making a name for yourself. Making art focuses outside yourself, on the art itself and the people who will experience it. Making a name for yourself just focuses inward, on what the art can do for you."
3.25 stars!
Beneath the Swirling Sky tells the story of Vincent who comes from a family of Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings and restore (or save) them. After a horrible experience from his past, Vincent swears he's done with art. That is, until Lili disappears into one of the most famous paintings that he has to pick up his brush and face his past.
It feels good to read a book that awakens the inner child in me. The fact that I cannot put this book down, finishing this in just a day, tells how much I enjoy this book. To some, art is boring (no offense, but in reality, this is how others view art especially paintings). So it's a wonder how the author will execute art into a novel and make it interesting. Every time an art is mentioned, I head to Google right away and search. I can't help but get curious on how the paintings actually look like outside of the author's imagination [and description]. Love the system of magic and worldbuilding. The book's just in a right pace. I cannot find a part where the story may have lagged or rushed.
Vincent paints to impress. That's how the problem starts. Artists put emotion to their creations and that is something Vincent lacks and fails to recognize. As the story progresses, he must learn the true meaning of art if he ever wishes to go back to that path again. So aside from rescuing Lili, Vincent aims for self-discovery as well.
I love the dynamic duo of Vincent and Georgia. They are opposite sides of a coin. One cannot pass through the hurdle without the other. But are 12 year-olds supposed to be as whiny as Vincent? Sometimes I can't stand him yelling at Georgia when things don't go the way as planned, but their rocky relationship improved eventually. I only thought (first impression and all) that Georgia tend to be the reckless one between the pair. Vincent is more on talking and less on thinking. Georgia's more adventurous, but is the rational one.
Vincent's reaction to his first travel inside the painting is monotonous. For something strange, he accepted it quite easily. Although it was later on revealed that he thought of it as a dream. It was even harder for me accept Uncle Leo's letting Vincent and Georgia go to rescue Lili themselves without so much of a fight. Like as a responsible adult--even though he cannot Travel himself and if he had any sense in him--wouldn't he be defiant and wait for Georgia's parents to arrive like originally planned? I had one eyebrow raised knowing he's OK with it. It may just be me but sneaking off would be a lot more sensible and exciting, no matter how cliche that may be. You know... heroes breaking rules and sneaking into the night to save the world.
The book quotes: "Vincent wondered now whether the Distortionists had started the fire that killed his grandmother--Uncle Leo's sister--along with Vincent's grandfather and aunt. He shuddered. These were dangerous people."
Right. Dangerous people. All the more reason Uncle Leo should have allowed them to go.
By the end of the book, a few questions still lingered that I think are not properly addressed. What is Adelaide's real purpose? How did those children end up in those paintings? It isn't clear if they are children who carry genes of Distortionists or Restorationists. But I'm betting they are from the former because because it is stated in the book that Vincent's family is the only living Restorationists. Another possible explanation is that there is a magic anomaly. I don't know why we didn't get the answers to this but I think the author chose to hide it on purpose since this book will be a part of a series.
As for the ending, it simple that I think it didn't the book's conclusion a justice.
If you're looking for a fun and easy read, then be sure to check out this book.
Quotes: ✨✨✨
~Boredom breeds creativity
~"Van Gogh felt closer to God through nature," she said. "That's why the sky is so alive but the church is dark."
~"Pottery is what I do. And I don't care about being cool. I think it's more important to do what you like and not worry what other people think."
~It takes practice. Art isn't about being perfect.
~"Art is powerful. It has always had the power to draw people in."
~Art expresses beauty and truth," Georgia said. "It's a gift. It's meant to be experienced and interacted with, not use."
~But wasn't hiding from danger what made his mom keep this world from him in the first place? He was done hiding.
~Mom had told him that all people wanted to leave their marks and that some people thought that was the whole point of making art. But she believed the best art created when artists forgot about themselves and just focused on the truth they were trying to capture.
~"There's a difference between making art and making a name for yourself. Making art focuses outside yourself, on the art itself and the people who will experience it. Making a name for yourself just focuses inward, on what the art can do for you."
July 6, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I learned a lot about art (even though I didn't know what all of the paintings looked like), and I liked the way that the characters acted. I appreciated that they didn't purposely leave the adults out of the loop, but by necessity, only the children could save the day. I also loved that the protagonists were cousins so there wasn't any chance for romance (one of my pet peeves in middle grade/YA).
I would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good book about art.
Content: one painting with nudity that is discussed. I think she did a great job of discussing it, both in the book and in the author's note.
I would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good book about art.
Content: one painting with nudity that is discussed. I think she did a great job of discussing it, both in the book and in the author's note.
October 30, 2023
Story Enjoyment Rating: 8/10 Christian Faith Rating: 1.5/3
Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou is marketed on Amazon as a middle-grade book. It follows Vincent, who used to like art but now doesn’t. He and his sister are sent to stay with a relative, who has many paintings on the walls. Vincent discovers he can travel into the paintings. Then his sister disappears, and he has to get her back.
I liked the creativity of this book. I liked the magical elements of being inside a painting, and I think there is scope for that to be developed further in future books. I enjoyed the character growth of Vincent and his cousin. I liked their friendship, and I also enjoyed finding out about the world.
The book feels part fantasy, part contemporary, part mystery and suspense, and part dystopian.
I enjoyed reading it as an adult.
There were a couple of moments where the Christian faith came through into the plot. I’m not sure whether this is aimed at Christians or those who are seeking faith but find church boring.
**Content for children (**contains possible spoilers) — the book contains some violence and some themes of bullying/school troubles. There is a brief discussion about nudity in art, and the story also mentions the death of loved ones. Some of the things they experience in the paintings feel a bit creepy and a little unsettling.
Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou is marketed on Amazon as a middle-grade book. It follows Vincent, who used to like art but now doesn’t. He and his sister are sent to stay with a relative, who has many paintings on the walls. Vincent discovers he can travel into the paintings. Then his sister disappears, and he has to get her back.
I liked the creativity of this book. I liked the magical elements of being inside a painting, and I think there is scope for that to be developed further in future books. I enjoyed the character growth of Vincent and his cousin. I liked their friendship, and I also enjoyed finding out about the world.
The book feels part fantasy, part contemporary, part mystery and suspense, and part dystopian.
I enjoyed reading it as an adult.
There were a couple of moments where the Christian faith came through into the plot. I’m not sure whether this is aimed at Christians or those who are seeking faith but find church boring.
**Content for children (**contains possible spoilers) — the book contains some violence and some themes of bullying/school troubles. There is a brief discussion about nudity in art, and the story also mentions the death of loved ones. Some of the things they experience in the paintings feel a bit creepy and a little unsettling.
July 27, 2025
This was really fun to read and I enjoyed learning so much more about paintings in the process! A good, clean adventure with wholesome family portrayal.
April 4, 2024
Vincent is forced to spend his vacation with his eccentric uncle, who collects art. The uncle doesn't have internet or cell phone service so Vincent is forced to find other ways to occupy his time. One day Vincent finds his cousin Georgia *inside* a painting. in that moment, Vincent's whole life changed. Georgia won't answer his questions about how on earth he ended up in the painting so Vincent thinks he must be dreaming.
But then when Vincent's little sister, Lilli, disappears in a painting, Vincent forces Georgia and his uncle to explain what's going on. It turns out Vincent is from a family of Restorationists, a group of artists whose job is to protect famous works of art. Each Restorationist has a special gift that allows him or her to work as a team.
Vincent and Georgia have to work together to go into a series of paintings in order to find and rescue Lilli. Can they work together to save Lilli? Will Vincent accept his responsibility as a Restorationist?
But then when Vincent's little sister, Lilli, disappears in a painting, Vincent forces Georgia and his uncle to explain what's going on. It turns out Vincent is from a family of Restorationists, a group of artists whose job is to protect famous works of art. Each Restorationist has a special gift that allows him or her to work as a team.
Vincent and Georgia have to work together to go into a series of paintings in order to find and rescue Lilli. Can they work together to save Lilli? Will Vincent accept his responsibility as a Restorationist?
March 21, 2024
A light fantasy with art history and redemption and such creativity. When a book can take a subject ( such as art history) which you previously had no interest in,and make you want to know more about it.. that is a winner!
March 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. A must read for fans of classic art.
August 6, 2023
This brand-new middle-grade fantasy was a total pleasure to read! This is a real gem for homeschool families who want a fun book that ties in art history, Bible, and even geography.
Our young protagonist, Vincent, is spending a week at his elderly uncle's house, along with his adopted sister, Lili, while his parents go on vacation. Soon, Vincent realizes that his parents have been keeping a big secret from him. (Sounds a little like Fablehaven, huh?) Their family has the ability to travel through paintings—this is revealed VERY early on in the book.
Speaking of which, the pacing of this book was just great. It's a pet peeve of mine when the author takes too long to get the story moving, especially when the cover art and marketing copy spoil some of the early action. No need to draw out the reveal when we all know what's coming. The swift pacing held true throughout the book, with quite a few twists and turns that I wasn't expecting.
There's a great faith element in this book. It's overt, not hidden in the least. But it's also handled with care.
Vincent loves art, and his parents always told him he was good at it. But, Vincent's peers don't agree that he's all that talented, and Vincent decides to give up on the hobby he loves. I think that most kids can relate to this. Our parents encourage us and love us and tell us that we're important and talented...but contact with the outside world makes us doubt all that they say. (It's often easier to believe the bad stuff.) This story is about embracing your talents and using them for a good purpose—not to shine the spotlight on yourself.
I also like how the author touches on the whole idea of agenda-driven art vs. truth-driven art. This is a neat way for kids to interact with this concept.
Thank you, Carolyn & Team for the super-cool bookmail galley! What a fun idea!
Our young protagonist, Vincent, is spending a week at his elderly uncle's house, along with his adopted sister, Lili, while his parents go on vacation. Soon, Vincent realizes that his parents have been keeping a big secret from him. (Sounds a little like Fablehaven, huh?) Their family has the ability to travel through paintings—this is revealed VERY early on in the book.
Speaking of which, the pacing of this book was just great. It's a pet peeve of mine when the author takes too long to get the story moving, especially when the cover art and marketing copy spoil some of the early action. No need to draw out the reveal when we all know what's coming. The swift pacing held true throughout the book, with quite a few twists and turns that I wasn't expecting.
There's a great faith element in this book. It's overt, not hidden in the least. But it's also handled with care.
Vincent loves art, and his parents always told him he was good at it. But, Vincent's peers don't agree that he's all that talented, and Vincent decides to give up on the hobby he loves. I think that most kids can relate to this. Our parents encourage us and love us and tell us that we're important and talented...but contact with the outside world makes us doubt all that they say. (It's often easier to believe the bad stuff.) This story is about embracing your talents and using them for a good purpose—not to shine the spotlight on yourself.
I also like how the author touches on the whole idea of agenda-driven art vs. truth-driven art. This is a neat way for kids to interact with this concept.
Thank you, Carolyn & Team for the super-cool bookmail galley! What a fun idea!
April 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I was captivated by the story, by the characters, and by the mystery.
I would definitely use this book in my class of middle graders. I enjoyed that it spoke of art and why artists are compelled to do their art.
I definitely will continue with the series!
I would definitely use this book in my class of middle graders. I enjoyed that it spoke of art and why artists are compelled to do their art.
I definitely will continue with the series!
September 18, 2023
Book 1 in a thrilling middle grade series that makes art accessible through a fab fantasy tale for young readers and adults young at heart. Highly recommended!
July 13, 2025
I opened this book with the intent of just doing a quick “pre-read” for my 7 year old daughter who is a voracious reader, but after a chapter or two I couldn’t put it down! This is a wonderfully written book that combines fantasy, faith, and the art of Van Gogh. I’d highly recommend it to adult and young friends alike! Now I’m off to find book 2 in the series!
September 12, 2023
Thanks to @waterbrookmultnomakids for the advance reader copy of Beneath the Swirling Sky.
The premise of the story is that there are magical art groups in our world: The Restorationists, who seek to protect art so it can be enjoyed by everyone, and the Distortionists, who seek to manipulate art. The main characters, Vincent (named for Van Gogh) and Georgia (named for O'Keefe) have the power to travel into paintings. They learn about the power of art, how it can be used to build up or to destroy, and how art can be nurtured in each of our lives.
I won't go into the details here, but I found it really intriguing and imaginative, and I loved how the design of the book reflected certain travel locations as the pages changed from white to gray to black. There was obviously a lot of thought and care in the design of this book, and young readers are sure to love the illustrations sprinkled throughout.
I had a few little plot and pacing quibbles, but I do think this is a book that middle grade readers will find exciting. This reminded me so much of Tilly and the Bookwanderers, in which the main character's family can travel into books. If you liked that series, this is one you will likely enjoy too.
The premise of the story is that there are magical art groups in our world: The Restorationists, who seek to protect art so it can be enjoyed by everyone, and the Distortionists, who seek to manipulate art. The main characters, Vincent (named for Van Gogh) and Georgia (named for O'Keefe) have the power to travel into paintings. They learn about the power of art, how it can be used to build up or to destroy, and how art can be nurtured in each of our lives.
I won't go into the details here, but I found it really intriguing and imaginative, and I loved how the design of the book reflected certain travel locations as the pages changed from white to gray to black. There was obviously a lot of thought and care in the design of this book, and young readers are sure to love the illustrations sprinkled throughout.
I had a few little plot and pacing quibbles, but I do think this is a book that middle grade readers will find exciting. This reminded me so much of Tilly and the Bookwanderers, in which the main character's family can travel into books. If you liked that series, this is one you will likely enjoy too.
July 11, 2025
I love this book. Once I got to the halfway point, there was no putting it down.
You can easily find a full summary of the story to see if it would be a good fit for your reader! But I would say in my mind it is kind of a combination of the James Mayhew’s “Katie and the Mona Lisa” (with being able to enter into paintings)…combined with the mystery, mission and undercover work of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” and yet also it reminded me a bit of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” in some ways (dragon reference).
My oldest is about to turn 7, and I don’t think he would quite be ready for this story as it does have several intense and stressful moments. But I am absolutely planning to read it with him in a few years. I cannot wait to find the next book in the series.
Adding it to my book stack of recommendations for middle-schoolers!
You can easily find a full summary of the story to see if it would be a good fit for your reader! But I would say in my mind it is kind of a combination of the James Mayhew’s “Katie and the Mona Lisa” (with being able to enter into paintings)…combined with the mystery, mission and undercover work of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” and yet also it reminded me a bit of “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” in some ways (dragon reference).
My oldest is about to turn 7, and I don’t think he would quite be ready for this story as it does have several intense and stressful moments. But I am absolutely planning to read it with him in a few years. I cannot wait to find the next book in the series.
Adding it to my book stack of recommendations for middle-schoolers!
August 17, 2025
Would definitely recommend for any middle graders who are artists, writers, or creatives of any kind! The themes, which are woven in so well, point creatives back to the reason we create in a beautiful way, with reminders that art is worth creating regardless of skill level or others’ opinions. The worldbuilding was so fun and engaging, and I really enjoyed the balance between exploring the world and the moments with friends and family!
July 30, 2025
I wasn't fully convinced I was going to like this because Vincent's attitude for the majority of the book was so negative. But then the last 15% happened and I could see it all had purpose. The integration of the art was really cool but some parts were a little too intense for me to recommend it to my daughters at this point. Overall, pretty enjoyable for me, though.
January 7, 2026
The kids and I enjoyed this adventurous story.
It is a fantasy involving kids who can travel through works of art. It has some tidbits of art history that can be used in introducing kids to famous works of art.
E says “It is four stars and if you love art, you should read it. It is really interesting and surprising.”
It is a fantasy involving kids who can travel through works of art. It has some tidbits of art history that can be used in introducing kids to famous works of art.
E says “It is four stars and if you love art, you should read it. It is really interesting and surprising.”
November 19, 2024
My kids are really into the Katie books by James Mayhew — picture books where a little girl goes to art galleries and jumps into famous paintings and interacts with the people and places. They’re wonderful little books which ignited our Art Era in 2024.
Beneath the Swirling Sky is the middle grade novel version of the Katie books. Fun little book that features famous works of art.
Beneath the Swirling Sky is the middle grade novel version of the Katie books. Fun little book that features famous works of art.
August 10, 2023
4.5 I loved the mode of travel here, the artwork, the characters. Such fun!
September 25, 2023
I received this physical ARC through a Goodreads promo with the author & publisher. I gave this to my 5th grader to read and rate! She gives it a shining 5 stars for the mystery, story telling, immersive world, and characters. Thank you for this opportunity, this is her unbiased opinion!
August 14, 2024
I loved this story! I came in with almost no expectations but I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was a well spun story with great surprises along the way!
March 7, 2025
Fun read! I actually teared up at one point when Vincent was in Rembrandt’s painting The Storm on the Sea of Galilee.
September 28, 2023
Absolutely fascinating premise! I loved the character arc of Vincent. There was a twist in the middle that made me gasp out loud. Plenty of adventure and a fair amount of art history snuck in there. Can't wait to read the next book and see where the author takes us next!
March 11, 2024
My ten-year-old absolutely loved this book. When she finished it and I had to tell her that the second one wasn’t out yet, she collapsed on the bed and said, “What am I supposed to do with my life now??”
If that’s not a recommendation, then I don’t know what is.
If that’s not a recommendation, then I don’t know what is.
May 8, 2023
I was intrigued to pick this up after seeing it compared to Andrew Peterson’s masterful Wingfeather Saga, which I have been reading to my son lately. After having read Carolyn Leiloglou’s Beneath the Swirling Sky myself, I have to say that in my opinion it is not much like Peterson’s books except that it’s aimed at roughly the same age range, and it has a similar moral lens. That’s actually a good thing, though! It’s fresh and interesting rather than trying to just mimic somebody else’s work.
The story revolves around Vincent, his sister Lili, and their cousin Georgia sent to the middle of nowhere Texas for the week of spring break where their uncle can watch them while Vincent’s parents go on a cruise. What initially looks to be a very boring week turns out to be a fantastical adventure, though, when they discover they can literally fall into artwork when they touch it. But then when Lili is abducted by the evil Distortionists, Georgia and Vincent have to set off on a globe-spanning quest to rescue her using their magical art powers.
Along the way, we’re also invited into Vincent’s troubled relationship with art. What had once been an enjoyable pastime when he was little had since soured into something that he wanted nothing to do with (although it's something of a gradually revealed mystery as to why). Through the course of the story, he has to wrestle with the place of art in his life and what it even means to create art. Is it a means of self-expression, as so many art teachers had told him? Or is it something else?
I keep my eye out for books that my children can read that are engaging while also having something of substance to say to them about the lives they lead. I'm definitely having them read this one!
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.
The story revolves around Vincent, his sister Lili, and their cousin Georgia sent to the middle of nowhere Texas for the week of spring break where their uncle can watch them while Vincent’s parents go on a cruise. What initially looks to be a very boring week turns out to be a fantastical adventure, though, when they discover they can literally fall into artwork when they touch it. But then when Lili is abducted by the evil Distortionists, Georgia and Vincent have to set off on a globe-spanning quest to rescue her using their magical art powers.
Along the way, we’re also invited into Vincent’s troubled relationship with art. What had once been an enjoyable pastime when he was little had since soured into something that he wanted nothing to do with (although it's something of a gradually revealed mystery as to why). Through the course of the story, he has to wrestle with the place of art in his life and what it even means to create art. Is it a means of self-expression, as so many art teachers had told him? Or is it something else?
I keep my eye out for books that my children can read that are engaging while also having something of substance to say to them about the lives they lead. I'm definitely having them read this one!
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.
September 25, 2023
Thank you to Waterbrook and Netgalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.
Beneath the Swirling Sky is a fun but also reflective middle grade book.
We meet Vincent who is being driven towards their great-uncle for their vacation with his adoptive sister Lili. Their parents are taking a cruise and think this vacation is a great way for Vincent's great-uncle to get Vincent back into painting. Too bad that Vincent absolutely does not want that to happen.
On the surface this book seems like an easy way to get kids more interested in art and to get them to learn a little about it. But beneath that surface I think this book is also reflective. Kids who might have been ridiculed for their hobby at school like Vincent, will find a lot of understanding in this book. Adults don't often understand what happens to their kid in those situations. And while this book focuses on painting and paintings, there is an open door to other arts and crafts being just as great and just as creative and just as 'art' as paiting. Like Georgia and her pottery.
What was a downside to this book however was that the only relationship that felt developed was the one between Georgia and Vincent. It was clearly to focal point. I didn't quite feel the relationship, the great one as said by text, that Vincent and his younger sister had or that Georgia had spend a lot of time with their great-uncle. I hope that in its sequel, that I expect is coming, this will be remedied.
Beneath the Swirling Sky is a fun but also reflective middle grade book.
We meet Vincent who is being driven towards their great-uncle for their vacation with his adoptive sister Lili. Their parents are taking a cruise and think this vacation is a great way for Vincent's great-uncle to get Vincent back into painting. Too bad that Vincent absolutely does not want that to happen.
On the surface this book seems like an easy way to get kids more interested in art and to get them to learn a little about it. But beneath that surface I think this book is also reflective. Kids who might have been ridiculed for their hobby at school like Vincent, will find a lot of understanding in this book. Adults don't often understand what happens to their kid in those situations. And while this book focuses on painting and paintings, there is an open door to other arts and crafts being just as great and just as creative and just as 'art' as paiting. Like Georgia and her pottery.
What was a downside to this book however was that the only relationship that felt developed was the one between Georgia and Vincent. It was clearly to focal point. I didn't quite feel the relationship, the great one as said by text, that Vincent and his younger sister had or that Georgia had spend a lot of time with their great-uncle. I hope that in its sequel, that I expect is coming, this will be remedied.
November 24, 2024
"Art expresses beauty and truth. It's a gift. It's meant to be experienced and interacted with, not used."
Language: N/A. Just h*ck.
Violence: Nope.
Magic: Characters have the ability to travel through paintings.
This was sooooooooo GOOODDDDDD!!! ARTTTT!💖💖🤩 (Also, can we talk about how GORGEOUS this cover is too???🤩💖) Wow! The themes in this book were great, art is soooo powerful!💖✍
Vincent was a great MC! His sarcasm was golden😂 and his love and desire to protect his little sister was beautiful! Such a great portrayal of a sibling bond, no matter if you share the same blood or not, your sibling is the most important thing to you💖💖💖 and his arch...WOW!!!!! Soooo amazing!!!💖🤩
Georgia was great too, I loved her!! Finally a homeschooler representation that isn't just weird💖👌 Her spunk was great and how she kept forgetting to tell Vincent things, man, poor guy, but I'd totally do the same thing to be honest, I'm so bad at explaining things to Georgia...lol😂
As an artist this book was just...yeah, it was AWESOME! Traveling through paintings?? Yes please! Too cool!💖💖🤩🤩🤩 The descriptions were beautiful and bonus, Van Gogh is one of my favs!💖 The story was very beautifully done too! The twist at the end, like WHAT?! Did not see that one coming!! This was such a great and wild ride, I absolutely loved every second of this fast-paced, art, and comedy filled adventure!!!!!!!💖
Highly recommend...like if your an artist like myself or love art in general you need to READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!!! ITS PERFECT!💖✍🤩🤩🤩🤩
8+
Language: N/A. Just h*ck.
Violence: Nope.
Magic: Characters have the ability to travel through paintings.
This was sooooooooo GOOODDDDDD!!! ARTTTT!💖💖🤩 (Also, can we talk about how GORGEOUS this cover is too???🤩💖) Wow! The themes in this book were great, art is soooo powerful!💖✍
Vincent was a great MC! His sarcasm was golden😂 and his love and desire to protect his little sister was beautiful! Such a great portrayal of a sibling bond, no matter if you share the same blood or not, your sibling is the most important thing to you💖💖💖 and his arch...WOW!!!!! Soooo amazing!!!💖🤩
Georgia was great too, I loved her!! Finally a homeschooler representation that isn't just weird💖👌 Her spunk was great and how she kept forgetting to tell Vincent things, man, poor guy, but I'd totally do the same thing to be honest, I'm so bad at explaining things to Georgia...lol😂
As an artist this book was just...yeah, it was AWESOME! Traveling through paintings?? Yes please! Too cool!💖💖🤩🤩🤩 The descriptions were beautiful and bonus, Van Gogh is one of my favs!💖 The story was very beautifully done too! The twist at the end, like WHAT?! Did not see that one coming!! This was such a great and wild ride, I absolutely loved every second of this fast-paced, art, and comedy filled adventure!!!!!!!💖
Highly recommend...like if your an artist like myself or love art in general you need to READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!!! ITS PERFECT!💖✍🤩🤩🤩🤩
8+
October 16, 2023
Dive into a world where art comes alive in this adventurous new middle-grade series!
Vincent and his sister, Lili, go to visit their art restorationist great uncle and get swept into a high stakes world of intrigue and art along with their spunky cousin, Georgia.
I love discovering a new middle grade series to recommend, and this one hits the marks for me. An engaging adventures that draws the readers in with compelling characters and a rich landscape of art history, with a devious. Excellent world building with a creative fantasy premise, that was well presented and fun. I loved the themes of using your gifts for good, not letting your emotions rule you, as well as seeds of faith that I hope will grow as the series progresses.
A well written adventure that kept pulling me back in, I liked how we see Vincent's heart changes over the course of the story, as well as how he sees his quirky cousin. Georgia is a take charge kind of girl, courageous and ready to face down monsters. I liked her quick thinking, and how she doesn't give up on Vincent.
Overall, a fantastic read perfect for middle grade readers, I loved learning cool tidbits of art history along the way. A great start to a new series, with plenty of room to expand. I hope many find this great new series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Vincent and his sister, Lili, go to visit their art restorationist great uncle and get swept into a high stakes world of intrigue and art along with their spunky cousin, Georgia.
I love discovering a new middle grade series to recommend, and this one hits the marks for me. An engaging adventures that draws the readers in with compelling characters and a rich landscape of art history, with a devious. Excellent world building with a creative fantasy premise, that was well presented and fun. I loved the themes of using your gifts for good, not letting your emotions rule you, as well as seeds of faith that I hope will grow as the series progresses.
A well written adventure that kept pulling me back in, I liked how we see Vincent's heart changes over the course of the story, as well as how he sees his quirky cousin. Georgia is a take charge kind of girl, courageous and ready to face down monsters. I liked her quick thinking, and how she doesn't give up on Vincent.
Overall, a fantastic read perfect for middle grade readers, I loved learning cool tidbits of art history along the way. A great start to a new series, with plenty of room to expand. I hope many find this great new series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 15, 2023
To give a brief synopsis, Vincent and his cousin Georgia are tasked with a rescue mission to save the kidnapped Lili, Vincent's younger sister. By using the power to travel through paintings, the two kids work their way through works from Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and other famous artists to find out where Lili could be, unraveling a heinous plot and several family secrets along the way...
Firstly, I found the overall worldbuilding to be very refreshing and quite original. Leiloglou also did a fantastic job crafting humorous dialogue and descriptions throughout the book, and I personally found Vincent's videogame references very enjoyable. The plot was done well, leaving things open for possible sequels while at the same time being more than capable of being a standalone novel.
And the illustrations! I have to congratulate the illustrator and the entire formatting team for pulling off such a feat. The changes from white to gray to black pages depending on where the main characters were throughout the book was incredibly immersive, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the small images of painting supplies, picture frames, and even Lili's stuffed animal throughout the work.
All in all, I would recommend this book for any artistic kids out there around the 9-12 year range.
Firstly, I found the overall worldbuilding to be very refreshing and quite original. Leiloglou also did a fantastic job crafting humorous dialogue and descriptions throughout the book, and I personally found Vincent's videogame references very enjoyable. The plot was done well, leaving things open for possible sequels while at the same time being more than capable of being a standalone novel.
And the illustrations! I have to congratulate the illustrator and the entire formatting team for pulling off such a feat. The changes from white to gray to black pages depending on where the main characters were throughout the book was incredibly immersive, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the small images of painting supplies, picture frames, and even Lili's stuffed animal throughout the work.
All in all, I would recommend this book for any artistic kids out there around the 9-12 year range.
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