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Michaela's Gift
Michaela Cochran and her family make the trip to her father’s ancestral home every year, but this year is special. Michaela is now twelve, the age when every girl in the family receives a special gift. When Aunt Sharon explains that Michaela’s gift is a magical ability to bring one of her drawings to life, Michaela begins making plans. What she wants most is a castle high on the mountain, where her family can live together. But if she can’t figure out how to resolve the growing hostility between herself and her mother, her gift is meaningless.
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First published June 14, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 19, 2013
WALKI'S REVIEW Update: 3/19/2013
4 STARS
A family holiday Michaela is looking forward to. She's just had her twelfth birthday and now she is about to receive her 'gift', the gift that every woman in her family --on her father's side--, receives at the age of twelve. However she is about to discover that there are more secrets in her family than her mysterious 'gift'.
This novel for pre-teens is a gentle mixture of reality and fantasy. The mother has migraines, the canary can speak, and I'm not sure how old the dog is. There is a touch of history with the origins of Michaela's family in Scotland, and an important choice for Michaela to make.
Michaela's Gift', while being simply written, is captivating and rich in emotions, that'll make the readers feel good and leave them with a dream or two.
LYN'S REVIEW
4 STARS
As a former English teacher, I've always taken a keen interest in stories for the pre-teen age group and still often get asked to make recommendations for younger readers. What I look for in these stories is a plot that is unique enough to fire the imagination during these formative years, appealing characters who will create a positive impression and craftsmanship that will impart good language habits while simultaneously engrossing and entertaining the reader. "Michaela's Gift" ticked all these boxes and I would happily recommend it for this age group.
It's a delightful story of twelve year old Michaela coming to terms with many major changes in her life. The magical elements are charmingly interwoven with some very real and at times painful issues about families and relationships which Michaela has to face. The fantasy setting is enchanting and so finely drawn as to make it powerfully visual. A haunted house on a magic mountain might not convince all 10-12 year olds, but I'm willing to bet most will suspend disbelief long enough to be drawn in by the escalating mysteries and intrigues.
What will hold younger readers' fascination the most will be Michaela's surprising gift - handed down through the female line of the family when a girl reaches the age of twelve - how this came about and, most importantly, how Michaela will use it. To say any more would be to spoil the pleasure of discovery.
My only reservation was that at times the dialogue didn't quite convince - particularly with the three year old Chloe, who was, incidentally, trusted far too much to Michaela's care for my liking.. Occasionally, too, Michaela's speech and mannerisms showed a mature understanding which I felt was beyond her years and made her a bit of a Goody Two Shoes. However this was a minor irk and didn't spoil the overall reading experience.
In fact "Michaela's Gift" is a delightful story and I would happily recommend it as middle grade reader. I would also recommend watching out for more stories from Cordelia Dinsmore as I suspect this is an author young readers will demand more of in the future.
4 STARS
A family holiday Michaela is looking forward to. She's just had her twelfth birthday and now she is about to receive her 'gift', the gift that every woman in her family --on her father's side--, receives at the age of twelve. However she is about to discover that there are more secrets in her family than her mysterious 'gift'.
This novel for pre-teens is a gentle mixture of reality and fantasy. The mother has migraines, the canary can speak, and I'm not sure how old the dog is. There is a touch of history with the origins of Michaela's family in Scotland, and an important choice for Michaela to make.
Michaela's Gift', while being simply written, is captivating and rich in emotions, that'll make the readers feel good and leave them with a dream or two.
LYN'S REVIEW
4 STARS
As a former English teacher, I've always taken a keen interest in stories for the pre-teen age group and still often get asked to make recommendations for younger readers. What I look for in these stories is a plot that is unique enough to fire the imagination during these formative years, appealing characters who will create a positive impression and craftsmanship that will impart good language habits while simultaneously engrossing and entertaining the reader. "Michaela's Gift" ticked all these boxes and I would happily recommend it for this age group.
It's a delightful story of twelve year old Michaela coming to terms with many major changes in her life. The magical elements are charmingly interwoven with some very real and at times painful issues about families and relationships which Michaela has to face. The fantasy setting is enchanting and so finely drawn as to make it powerfully visual. A haunted house on a magic mountain might not convince all 10-12 year olds, but I'm willing to bet most will suspend disbelief long enough to be drawn in by the escalating mysteries and intrigues.
What will hold younger readers' fascination the most will be Michaela's surprising gift - handed down through the female line of the family when a girl reaches the age of twelve - how this came about and, most importantly, how Michaela will use it. To say any more would be to spoil the pleasure of discovery.
My only reservation was that at times the dialogue didn't quite convince - particularly with the three year old Chloe, who was, incidentally, trusted far too much to Michaela's care for my liking.. Occasionally, too, Michaela's speech and mannerisms showed a mature understanding which I felt was beyond her years and made her a bit of a Goody Two Shoes. However this was a minor irk and didn't spoil the overall reading experience.
In fact "Michaela's Gift" is a delightful story and I would happily recommend it as middle grade reader. I would also recommend watching out for more stories from Cordelia Dinsmore as I suspect this is an author young readers will demand more of in the future.
December 31, 2012
3.5/5 stars.
As a fan of middle-grade novels, I am always pretty excited when an author of one contacts me about a possible review. My interest in Michaela's Gift was piqued when I read the summary; I adore books with magical elements, and a special gift that is passed down to the girls in a particular family sounded pretty awesome. I'm happy to say that the book didn't disappoint. Michaela's Gift is a solid book, which - while including some definite supernatural elements - is mostly focused on a girl's search for her place in the world and trying to reconcile with a mother she doesn't understand.
This book is basically a family drama; Michaela and her family travel to her grandparents' home, where Michaela is promised a special gift that is passed down when the girls in the family turn twelve. There is quite a bit of strife between Michaela and her mother, and we get lots of introspection as Michaela tries to figure out why her mother is so angry all the time. Throw in her artistic aunt, who her mom really seems to have issues with, and the main plot of the story is basically set. Surprisingly, though, the book wasn't tedious in the slightest; it's written in a way that moves everything along nicely and never gets bogged down with too much personal drama. Michaela was perhaps a bit too "old" in the way she talked, considering that she's only twelve, but I was willing to overlook that because the story itself was written in a way that was compelling and interesting. Once the magical elements were introduced - and I absolutely loved the story of the family's background and how the gift came into existence - the book really picked up and I basically read it straight through without stopping.
I also want to mention how well the setting was described; the places on the mountain were written in a way that made them easy for the reader to see in their minds. I would have loved to see the fruit tree, the pond, and the cave with the swimming pool! There was quite a bit of creativity that went into developing the setting for the story, and it definitely helped keep the reader engaged.
Michaela's Gift is a very quick read with a main character you wanted to root for from beginning to end. If you like creative and unique magic, and don't mind the general simplicity found in middle-grade novels, then you'd most likely enjoy this story. While I didn't walk away from it absolutely blown away, it was certainly a nice way to spend a couple of hours, and I'm glad I got to take a trip to Michaela's world.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
As a fan of middle-grade novels, I am always pretty excited when an author of one contacts me about a possible review. My interest in Michaela's Gift was piqued when I read the summary; I adore books with magical elements, and a special gift that is passed down to the girls in a particular family sounded pretty awesome. I'm happy to say that the book didn't disappoint. Michaela's Gift is a solid book, which - while including some definite supernatural elements - is mostly focused on a girl's search for her place in the world and trying to reconcile with a mother she doesn't understand.
This book is basically a family drama; Michaela and her family travel to her grandparents' home, where Michaela is promised a special gift that is passed down when the girls in the family turn twelve. There is quite a bit of strife between Michaela and her mother, and we get lots of introspection as Michaela tries to figure out why her mother is so angry all the time. Throw in her artistic aunt, who her mom really seems to have issues with, and the main plot of the story is basically set. Surprisingly, though, the book wasn't tedious in the slightest; it's written in a way that moves everything along nicely and never gets bogged down with too much personal drama. Michaela was perhaps a bit too "old" in the way she talked, considering that she's only twelve, but I was willing to overlook that because the story itself was written in a way that was compelling and interesting. Once the magical elements were introduced - and I absolutely loved the story of the family's background and how the gift came into existence - the book really picked up and I basically read it straight through without stopping.
I also want to mention how well the setting was described; the places on the mountain were written in a way that made them easy for the reader to see in their minds. I would have loved to see the fruit tree, the pond, and the cave with the swimming pool! There was quite a bit of creativity that went into developing the setting for the story, and it definitely helped keep the reader engaged.
Michaela's Gift is a very quick read with a main character you wanted to root for from beginning to end. If you like creative and unique magic, and don't mind the general simplicity found in middle-grade novels, then you'd most likely enjoy this story. While I didn't walk away from it absolutely blown away, it was certainly a nice way to spend a couple of hours, and I'm glad I got to take a trip to Michaela's world.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
October 20, 2012
This is a book I was given in exchange for a review. It’s a cute story about a twelve-year-old girl who is on the brink of inheriting a magical ability. But more important than magic, it’s about discovering oneself and about love and family.
Michaela is so excited to be visiting the mountain where Granny and Grandpa live. And bonus! Aunt Sharon will be there too, along with her big dog, Blackie. But things don’t go quite according to plan. Mom can’t seem to get along with Aunt Sharon for anything, she’s so distrustful of the dog that Michaela’s not even allowed to touch it, and she absolutely refuses to believe that the supernatural family gift even exists. She’s short-tempered and unreasonable, and after two days she announces that they’re leaving. Michaela’s furious! But things have a way of working out when your family sticks together like Michaela’s does.
I enjoyed the sweetness of this story. And I liked the way Michaela thinks for herself, speaks for herself, and acts for herself, even when some big surprises catch her off guard. She grows into her gift, and I do appreciate a character who learns and changes. The story makes sense. It comes together well. The prose flows easily enough. And the setting and characters are quite satisfactory. My only complaint is that the story just isn’t very snappy. All those things I mentioned are very nice; they’re simply not exceptional in any way. It’s not a story that will stay with me.
But I do love the cover. (What’s not to love about a Newfie?) And I commend Ms. Dinsmore on the age-appropriateness of her work, even when it delves into the supernatural. I think kids ages 9-12 will enjoy the read. I did. It’s easily worth its 2.99 price tag.
Michaela is so excited to be visiting the mountain where Granny and Grandpa live. And bonus! Aunt Sharon will be there too, along with her big dog, Blackie. But things don’t go quite according to plan. Mom can’t seem to get along with Aunt Sharon for anything, she’s so distrustful of the dog that Michaela’s not even allowed to touch it, and she absolutely refuses to believe that the supernatural family gift even exists. She’s short-tempered and unreasonable, and after two days she announces that they’re leaving. Michaela’s furious! But things have a way of working out when your family sticks together like Michaela’s does.
I enjoyed the sweetness of this story. And I liked the way Michaela thinks for herself, speaks for herself, and acts for herself, even when some big surprises catch her off guard. She grows into her gift, and I do appreciate a character who learns and changes. The story makes sense. It comes together well. The prose flows easily enough. And the setting and characters are quite satisfactory. My only complaint is that the story just isn’t very snappy. All those things I mentioned are very nice; they’re simply not exceptional in any way. It’s not a story that will stay with me.
But I do love the cover. (What’s not to love about a Newfie?) And I commend Ms. Dinsmore on the age-appropriateness of her work, even when it delves into the supernatural. I think kids ages 9-12 will enjoy the read. I did. It’s easily worth its 2.99 price tag.
June 19, 2012
This was a very sweet story. Almost twelve-year-old Michaela makes her yearly trip to visit her grandparents at her father’s ancestral home in the mountains. Very interesting (unexpected) things happen there, and as is the custom for the twelve-year-old girls in her family, she’s about to receive a gift. (But not an ordinary gift; this one has a bit of magic attached).
Michaela and her mother butt heads, as many mothers and daughters do. She seems like a realistic pre-teen who wants to be independent but who still needs her mother. And there are a few mysteries that the reader wants to get to the bottom of. (Like why are there ghosts in a certain room of her grandparents' house?) I don’t want to spoil the plot here, but I will say that the story was unique and held my interest. I think this book would work especially well for readers aged 8 to 12.
Michaela and her mother butt heads, as many mothers and daughters do. She seems like a realistic pre-teen who wants to be independent but who still needs her mother. And there are a few mysteries that the reader wants to get to the bottom of. (Like why are there ghosts in a certain room of her grandparents' house?) I don’t want to spoil the plot here, but I will say that the story was unique and held my interest. I think this book would work especially well for readers aged 8 to 12.
October 14, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this story about 12-year-old Michaela when she reaches the age where she receives her family "gift." As Michaela butts heads with her mother, I was a little confused in the beginning of this story about the way her mother acted toward her daughter. But as the story progressed, it all became clear. Lots of plots twists and turns, a few touches of unique magic, and some very interesting animals make this a fun story, where the importance of family shines through. A very enjoyable read, and great for middle-graders.
May 17, 2013
My daughter and I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Michaela has come with her family to her Grandparent's to receive the gift that all girls in her family receive on their 12th birthday. While she is excited that she is going to finally get her gift, she doesn't understand why her mother is so upset about her gift and is so angry with her.
I really enjoyed this story. It is full of magic of all sorts, from magical gifts to the magic of a family's love for each other. There were some very good twists and turns throughout the book that kept it interesting. I thought this author did a good job of portraying the tension that was between Michaela and her mother as well as showing how families can overcome difficult circumstances and still care for each other.
I originally thought that some of the the issues in the book might be a bit heavy for the reading level but after my daughter read it and I read it wasn't a concern any longer. The only thing that I was left wanting was to know more about how the gift worked.
DeAnnah's review (4 bookworms)
Michaela's Gift is a mix of magic, fun, family and a bit of mystery. There were some shocking moments in the book to. I loved this book so much that I read it in a matter of hours! Sean, Michaela's brother, is funny and sometimes clever. Michaela is smart and resourceful. I'm really glad that I read this book.
Michaela has come with her family to her Grandparent's to receive the gift that all girls in her family receive on their 12th birthday. While she is excited that she is going to finally get her gift, she doesn't understand why her mother is so upset about her gift and is so angry with her.
I really enjoyed this story. It is full of magic of all sorts, from magical gifts to the magic of a family's love for each other. There were some very good twists and turns throughout the book that kept it interesting. I thought this author did a good job of portraying the tension that was between Michaela and her mother as well as showing how families can overcome difficult circumstances and still care for each other.
I originally thought that some of the the issues in the book might be a bit heavy for the reading level but after my daughter read it and I read it wasn't a concern any longer. The only thing that I was left wanting was to know more about how the gift worked.
DeAnnah's review (4 bookworms)
Michaela's Gift is a mix of magic, fun, family and a bit of mystery. There were some shocking moments in the book to. I loved this book so much that I read it in a matter of hours! Sean, Michaela's brother, is funny and sometimes clever. Michaela is smart and resourceful. I'm really glad that I read this book.
November 5, 2012
Michaela couldn’t wait to learn about her special gift. Her family told her that every girl on her father’s side gets a gift when they turn twelve. The gift the girls get is no ordinary gift, they get a magical power. Michaela is very excited about it and is able to talk to her Aunt Sharon about it, but her mom doesn’t want to hear anything about the gift. Michaela and her mother argue and her mom says there is no such things as special powers. Michaela knows what she wants to do with her gift but somehow has to convince her mom.
I liked the uniqueness of the plot in this story. It isn’t the action-packed adventure I usually get into, but it was a nice read. I thought Michaela’s “gift” was very cool (I don’t want to give it away) and I wish I had that gift! I really liked the Michaela character. She seemed nice and a super fast learner and I like that in main characters. Ms. Dinsmore’s writing style kept me interested in the story and kept me reading. The book is a clean read would be good for young advanced readers. I think kids 9+ would like this book!
*Note I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I liked the uniqueness of the plot in this story. It isn’t the action-packed adventure I usually get into, but it was a nice read. I thought Michaela’s “gift” was very cool (I don’t want to give it away) and I wish I had that gift! I really liked the Michaela character. She seemed nice and a super fast learner and I like that in main characters. Ms. Dinsmore’s writing style kept me interested in the story and kept me reading. The book is a clean read would be good for young advanced readers. I think kids 9+ would like this book!
*Note I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
May 15, 2013
Michaela's Gift is a mix of magic, fun, family and a bit of mystery. There were some shocking moments in the book. I loved this book so much that I read it in a matter of hours! Sean, Michaela's "brother", is funny and sometimes clever. Michaela is smart, resourceful and, well, like most teenagers. I'm really glad that i read this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews