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The Uncommoners #1
The Crooked Sixpence
When Ivy Sparrow’s grandmother Sylvie is rushed to hospital, Ivy and her annoying big brother Seb cannot imagine what lies in store for them. Returning to Sylvie’s house, they find it has been ransacked by unknown intruders – then a mysterious feather scratches an ominous message onto the kitchen wall, and a very strange policeman is determined to apprehend them . . . with a toilet brush. Ivy and Seb make their escape – only to find themselves in a completely uncommon world.
The forces of evil are closing in fast, and if Ivy and Seb are ever to see their parents again, they must get to the bottom of a family secret as shameful as it is incredible . . . before it’s too late.
The forces of evil are closing in fast, and if Ivy and Seb are ever to see their parents again, they must get to the bottom of a family secret as shameful as it is incredible . . . before it’s too late.
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2016
273 people are currently reading
5131 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Bell
81 books151 followersLondoner Jennifer Bell began working in children’s books as a specialist bookseller at Foyles, Charing Cross Road, one of the world’s most famous bookstores. After having the privilege of listening to children talk about their favorite books for many years, she started writing a book of her own on her lunch breaks.
For other authors with the same name, see Jennifer^^Bell.
For other authors with the same name, see Jennifer^^Bell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
August 30, 2016
4.5
What a delightful surprise this book was! Having seen it as a Waterstones' children book of the month, I thought I would give it a try, but I never expected this!
First of all, this is not a story of kids at school a la Harry Potter. Imagine instead something not unlike Diagon Alley and London Below, but incredibly bigger and with more depth. Then add every day items, such as combs, toilet brushes, bells, that have some very unusual properties and uses: a candle that makes you invisible; a suitcase that let's you travel great distances in a blink. Yes, exactly... :0). The whole concept of uncommon objects and uncommon people is absolutely brilliant. Jennifer Bell has created an incredibly fascinating and complex world deep underneath the capital, partly inspired by nursery rhymes and Cockney lore. The result is something that feels old, full of history, and yet new too.
The story follows Ivy Sparrows, 11, and her elder brother Seb, who are staying with their beloved grandmother, who is rushed to hospital after a fall. Events soon spiral out of control, with kidnappings, death threats, creepy figures with rotted hands, monsters (grim-wolves to goulds) and a race against the clock to uncover an old mystery. The siblings have a typical love-hate relationships but ultimately will do anything to help each other. It is Ivy however who steals the show with her intelligence, courage and pragmatism. The rest of the cast is as good, with friends and enemies, which are not always clearly delineated. Scratch is one of the best, in my opinion, with his back to front speech - loved him.
So, amazing world building, great characters, fast-paced action, thrilling adventure and very scary moments. What is there not to like? And this is a trilogy, which in this case is a good thing since I love Lundinor and badly want to go back there :0)
What a delightful surprise this book was! Having seen it as a Waterstones' children book of the month, I thought I would give it a try, but I never expected this!
First of all, this is not a story of kids at school a la Harry Potter. Imagine instead something not unlike Diagon Alley and London Below, but incredibly bigger and with more depth. Then add every day items, such as combs, toilet brushes, bells, that have some very unusual properties and uses: a candle that makes you invisible; a suitcase that let's you travel great distances in a blink. Yes, exactly... :0). The whole concept of uncommon objects and uncommon people is absolutely brilliant. Jennifer Bell has created an incredibly fascinating and complex world deep underneath the capital, partly inspired by nursery rhymes and Cockney lore. The result is something that feels old, full of history, and yet new too.
The story follows Ivy Sparrows, 11, and her elder brother Seb, who are staying with their beloved grandmother, who is rushed to hospital after a fall. Events soon spiral out of control, with kidnappings, death threats, creepy figures with rotted hands, monsters (grim-wolves to goulds) and a race against the clock to uncover an old mystery. The siblings have a typical love-hate relationships but ultimately will do anything to help each other. It is Ivy however who steals the show with her intelligence, courage and pragmatism. The rest of the cast is as good, with friends and enemies, which are not always clearly delineated. Scratch is one of the best, in my opinion, with his back to front speech - loved him.
So, amazing world building, great characters, fast-paced action, thrilling adventure and very scary moments. What is there not to like? And this is a trilogy, which in this case is a good thing since I love Lundinor and badly want to go back there :0)
May 2, 2022
Can we stop comparing every middle grade book to Harry Potter? Can we stop comparing every young adult book to Twilight or The Hunger Games? Cuz that would be great. The Goodreads book page for The Crooked Sixpence is littered with negative reviews and one star ratings comparing this book to Harry Potter. I suspect most of them are sock puppets, but even so, why do people do this? Because a book shares a few tropes, reviews accuse the author of plagiarism, when really, the book is nothing like Harry Potter. Reviewers that do this are dishonest to their readers, and frankly, they should be ashamed.
But back to THIS book because it should be about that. The Crooked Sixpence is a wonderful tale with vivid characters and inventive world-building that I really enjoyed. Ivy and Seb discover a secret underground world that has been hidden from them for years since their grandmother got in a car accident and lost her memory.
In the present, Granma Silvie has another accident, this one at home, and she is rushed to the hospital. She’s okay, but her home is ransacked, and Ivy and Seb have to flee for their lives. They travel through a suitcase and arrive in this peculiar world. They find out that their parents have been kidnapped, and the only way to free them is to find this uncommon object (called The Great Uncommon Good) that the kidnappers are searching for.
This wasn’t a completely perfect book for me, because I wasn’t as invested in it as I wanted to be, but it was still a fantastic story and an escape into a world that I wouldn’t mind visiting myself someday. I think it was missing some emotion, but that’s a hard thing to inject into a story as a first-time author, and it can come with more experience.
The Crooked Sixpence doesn’t bring anything new to middle grade, as it’s about kids saving the world, but it’s a unique adventure with some interesting mythology, and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for the next book.
But back to THIS book because it should be about that. The Crooked Sixpence is a wonderful tale with vivid characters and inventive world-building that I really enjoyed. Ivy and Seb discover a secret underground world that has been hidden from them for years since their grandmother got in a car accident and lost her memory.
In the present, Granma Silvie has another accident, this one at home, and she is rushed to the hospital. She’s okay, but her home is ransacked, and Ivy and Seb have to flee for their lives. They travel through a suitcase and arrive in this peculiar world. They find out that their parents have been kidnapped, and the only way to free them is to find this uncommon object (called The Great Uncommon Good) that the kidnappers are searching for.
This wasn’t a completely perfect book for me, because I wasn’t as invested in it as I wanted to be, but it was still a fantastic story and an escape into a world that I wouldn’t mind visiting myself someday. I think it was missing some emotion, but that’s a hard thing to inject into a story as a first-time author, and it can come with more experience.
The Crooked Sixpence doesn’t bring anything new to middle grade, as it’s about kids saving the world, but it’s a unique adventure with some interesting mythology, and I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for the next book.
April 5, 2017
Middle grade, or children's, fantasy is one of my favorite genres. Unfortunately, it is a genre that runs hot and cold. There are really bad books out there that belittle readers, follow a format/template, or just are not that great. For every bad book out there, there is that one gem that is amazing. I read numerous children's fantasy books a year looking for that one gem. Sometimes I find them, sometimes I don't. This year, I found one early on – The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell.
Jennifer Bell worked in a children's bookstore. She spent years listening to children (and adults) about what they liked and didn't like about books. After a while, she decided to write her own novel and thus The Crooked Sixpence was born.
The Crooked Sixpence is a debut novel that doesn't feel like a writer's first novel at all. It is magical, has amazing world building, and characters that you just immediately want to follow through their adventures. Within the first few chapters, I had a very "Harry Potter" feeling about the book. No, it wasn't because it was a knockoff of Harry Potter, but I felt that magical feeling that I had (and still have) when reading Harry Potter.
One of the things that Jennifer Bell has said she tried to do is take elements that were a favorite of readers and put them into her novel. She achieved that with The Crooked Sixpence. Readers will be able to notice the influence that other children's novels had on this book, but there is a certain unique feel to the book.
For example, there is a very magical world that is hidden from non-magic people. The magical world relies upon objects that are typically thought of as normal, but some of them are special and have magical powers. A milk jug, for example, could be normal or if it is special in the magical world it is used as a lamp. Other examples include the magic folk have unique terms and sayings, the 'weird' clothing, and special shops and districts where the magic folk go to shop for their goods.
Crooked Sixpence is filled with action and adventure, but it doesn't overshadow the world building or even the plot. There is a very real and dangerous threat that is present, but it isn't too scary or too dark for younger readers. Older readers will even find the threat dangerous to the magical world.
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I expected to like it, I didn't know I would walk out with a book that I loved. It is one of those books I can certainly see myself reading over and over again with each reread I am sure I will grow to love it even more. Jennifer Bell certainly came onto the children's literature scene with a bang and I look forward to seeing what she brings in the future. It is still relatively early, but I can see this being one of the top books for 2017.
If you liked Harry Potter and are looking for a new novel that has the magic and charm of Harry Potter, The Crooked Sixpence is the place to look. It properly captures the magic without making it feel like a failed knockoff. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!
Jennifer Bell worked in a children's bookstore. She spent years listening to children (and adults) about what they liked and didn't like about books. After a while, she decided to write her own novel and thus The Crooked Sixpence was born.
The Crooked Sixpence is a debut novel that doesn't feel like a writer's first novel at all. It is magical, has amazing world building, and characters that you just immediately want to follow through their adventures. Within the first few chapters, I had a very "Harry Potter" feeling about the book. No, it wasn't because it was a knockoff of Harry Potter, but I felt that magical feeling that I had (and still have) when reading Harry Potter.
One of the things that Jennifer Bell has said she tried to do is take elements that were a favorite of readers and put them into her novel. She achieved that with The Crooked Sixpence. Readers will be able to notice the influence that other children's novels had on this book, but there is a certain unique feel to the book.
For example, there is a very magical world that is hidden from non-magic people. The magical world relies upon objects that are typically thought of as normal, but some of them are special and have magical powers. A milk jug, for example, could be normal or if it is special in the magical world it is used as a lamp. Other examples include the magic folk have unique terms and sayings, the 'weird' clothing, and special shops and districts where the magic folk go to shop for their goods.
Crooked Sixpence is filled with action and adventure, but it doesn't overshadow the world building or even the plot. There is a very real and dangerous threat that is present, but it isn't too scary or too dark for younger readers. Older readers will even find the threat dangerous to the magical world.
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I expected to like it, I didn't know I would walk out with a book that I loved. It is one of those books I can certainly see myself reading over and over again with each reread I am sure I will grow to love it even more. Jennifer Bell certainly came onto the children's literature scene with a bang and I look forward to seeing what she brings in the future. It is still relatively early, but I can see this being one of the top books for 2017.
If you liked Harry Potter and are looking for a new novel that has the magic and charm of Harry Potter, The Crooked Sixpence is the place to look. It properly captures the magic without making it feel like a failed knockoff. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!
November 6, 2017
4,5 stars! This is such a fun and interesting fantasynovel! Its funny, has heartwarming characters and lots of twists and turns! So creative and imaginative! It gave me Dahl vibes as well as fairytale vibes! Looking forward to more of this series!
August 28, 2017
Rather easy but wonderful. It actually reminded me of Harry Potter in places (in the quaint antiquity of the traders' market) and so I recommend it to the potterheads!
August 6, 2016
I really wanted to like The Crooked Sixpence. I mean, it has a blurb from the author of The School for Good and Evil, which is a book I really enjoyed (despite not being a huge fan of middle grade novels) AND it's being compared to JK Rowling. I thought I would enjoy this one. Unfortunately for me, this didn't really happen.
The Good: I thought Ivy was feisty and I really like that in a heroine. The world building in The Crooked Sixpence was extremely elaborate and very few aspects were brushed off. You really do get to know the world of Ludinor.
The Not-so-good: The pacing in The Crooked Sixpence is all over the place. There are a few parts in this book that were engaging and off-putting (in a good way), but there were way more parts where the pacing lags. I spent most of this book wishing that the pace would pick back up so that I wouldn't be so bored. I never felt like that happened. I never really clicked with what was happening. Another thing that bothered me was Ivy. While I liked her feisty nature, she never really screamed 11 year old to me. She was written in a way where she seemed much older. Not in a precocious way, but rather in a way where you start to think "This isn't just your smart/mature for her age 11 year old. This is someone who's not really 11."
Overall, I wasn't a big fan of The Crooked Sixpence. I was bored throughout and thought that the book lagged quite a bit.
The Good: I thought Ivy was feisty and I really like that in a heroine. The world building in The Crooked Sixpence was extremely elaborate and very few aspects were brushed off. You really do get to know the world of Ludinor.
The Not-so-good: The pacing in The Crooked Sixpence is all over the place. There are a few parts in this book that were engaging and off-putting (in a good way), but there were way more parts where the pacing lags. I spent most of this book wishing that the pace would pick back up so that I wouldn't be so bored. I never felt like that happened. I never really clicked with what was happening. Another thing that bothered me was Ivy. While I liked her feisty nature, she never really screamed 11 year old to me. She was written in a way where she seemed much older. Not in a precocious way, but rather in a way where you start to think "This isn't just your smart/mature for her age 11 year old. This is someone who's not really 11."
Overall, I wasn't a big fan of The Crooked Sixpence. I was bored throughout and thought that the book lagged quite a bit.
November 25, 2020
How fun! The whole concept of common and uncommon was so cool. I had a jolly good time with this! 🖤
February 26, 2017
This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.
==
THE CROOKED SIXPENCE is the first in a new middle grade fantasy series. The cover blurb calls it “part Tim Burton, part J.K. Rowling,” and I have to say, I agree 100% with that.
From the first page, I was swept along with Ivy into Lundinor, a secret city. In Lundinor, Ivy encounters common objects, such as suitcases or belts, that have uncommon abilities. You travel to another place in a suitcase and belts carry you in the air. It’s like magic to eleven year old Ivy, but she doesn’t have long to wonder about everything. She has to rescue big brother Seb, who was arrested when they arrived in Lundinor. And that’s just the beginning -- soon Ivy and Seb are in the thick of solving a decades old mystery in the uncommon city.
I’m explaining it badly, but I quite enjoyed the author’s concept of common objects being uncommon and having special abilities. The explanation for uncommon objects caught me off guard, but as the book went on and I learned more about Lundinor and its citizens, it fit better.
I liked the colorful cast of characters in THE CROOKED SIXPENCE. From Ivy to Granma Sylvie, Ethel, and Violet, everyone was quirky and interesting. I particularly liked that Ivy respected older characters. Granma Sylvie’s amnesia and the Twelfth Night mystery in Lundinor went together very well, and I enjoyed the adventure of learning the truth right along with Ivy. I also have to say, I’ve never read such creepy versions of selkies, and the villains in the book were quite villainous!
Along with the descriptive writing, the illustrations really helped bring THE CROOKED SIXPENCE to life for me. Very rarely do I take much notice of illustrations, but here, I spent time looking at each one, enjoying the little details and the general style. For the first time ever, I want to look for more of an illustrator’s work.
I’m looking forward to the next volume in The Uncommoners series, so that I can return to Lundinor with Ivy and Seb!
==
Disclosure:
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration; this did not influence my review in any way.
See more of my reviews:
==
THE CROOKED SIXPENCE is the first in a new middle grade fantasy series. The cover blurb calls it “part Tim Burton, part J.K. Rowling,” and I have to say, I agree 100% with that.
From the first page, I was swept along with Ivy into Lundinor, a secret city. In Lundinor, Ivy encounters common objects, such as suitcases or belts, that have uncommon abilities. You travel to another place in a suitcase and belts carry you in the air. It’s like magic to eleven year old Ivy, but she doesn’t have long to wonder about everything. She has to rescue big brother Seb, who was arrested when they arrived in Lundinor. And that’s just the beginning -- soon Ivy and Seb are in the thick of solving a decades old mystery in the uncommon city.
I’m explaining it badly, but I quite enjoyed the author’s concept of common objects being uncommon and having special abilities. The explanation for uncommon objects caught me off guard, but as the book went on and I learned more about Lundinor and its citizens, it fit better.
I liked the colorful cast of characters in THE CROOKED SIXPENCE. From Ivy to Granma Sylvie, Ethel, and Violet, everyone was quirky and interesting. I particularly liked that Ivy respected older characters. Granma Sylvie’s amnesia and the Twelfth Night mystery in Lundinor went together very well, and I enjoyed the adventure of learning the truth right along with Ivy. I also have to say, I’ve never read such creepy versions of selkies, and the villains in the book were quite villainous!
Along with the descriptive writing, the illustrations really helped bring THE CROOKED SIXPENCE to life for me. Very rarely do I take much notice of illustrations, but here, I spent time looking at each one, enjoying the little details and the general style. For the first time ever, I want to look for more of an illustrator’s work.
I’m looking forward to the next volume in The Uncommoners series, so that I can return to Lundinor with Ivy and Seb!
==
Disclosure:
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration; this did not influence my review in any way.
See more of my reviews:
May 19, 2016
Very good, hit all the right spots & did fill the Hogwarts hole for a read.
Ivy, 11 & her brother Seb, 14 are in hospital after their granma has a fall. The parents are on their way from jobs in London so the children go home... only to find the smell of wet dog in the house & 2 men arriving carrying what can only be described as toilet brushes?!
Yes, of course I was hooked. I had no idea what was going to happen next everything was crazy and new. Travelling through bags Ivy & Seb find themselves thrown in with a petty thief called Valiant Kaye in an underground London type trading place of uncommon things.
I would think it aimed at 9-12yrs as no rude words are in it, it's the Mum part of me thinking if my 8yr old is ready for it just yet, there is kidnapping and mild threat of violence if you count scratches on faces, the sonic punch drumsticks are cool, although the ghouls and other beings are mean the most horrid thing for me was a pulled off fingernail - yuck!
I think this is something special for readers. I will be looking out for book 2 for surely they need to return, the uncommon adventure has just begun!
The nearest books like this I have read are The Map Of Everywhere ( now a trilogy I must hunt down & finish) and John Masefield's The Midnight Folk as they also have unexpected things talking.
Ivy, 11 & her brother Seb, 14 are in hospital after their granma has a fall. The parents are on their way from jobs in London so the children go home... only to find the smell of wet dog in the house & 2 men arriving carrying what can only be described as toilet brushes?!
Yes, of course I was hooked. I had no idea what was going to happen next everything was crazy and new. Travelling through bags Ivy & Seb find themselves thrown in with a petty thief called Valiant Kaye in an underground London type trading place of uncommon things.
I would think it aimed at 9-12yrs as no rude words are in it, it's the Mum part of me thinking if my 8yr old is ready for it just yet, there is kidnapping and mild threat of violence if you count scratches on faces, the sonic punch drumsticks are cool, although the ghouls and other beings are mean the most horrid thing for me was a pulled off fingernail - yuck!
I think this is something special for readers. I will be looking out for book 2 for surely they need to return, the uncommon adventure has just begun!
The nearest books like this I have read are The Map Of Everywhere ( now a trilogy I must hunt down & finish) and John Masefield's The Midnight Folk as they also have unexpected things talking.
May 26, 2016
I haven't read a kid's book for years but picked this up and thoroughly enjoyed it. My other book wasn't read in my lunch hour because of The Crooked Sixpence! The Uncommoners has a feel of Harry Potter, as entertaining as the boy wizard and highly readable. However, there isn't a wizard or wand in sight, and no magic! Instead there are common and uncommon objects and common and uncommon people. The uncommoners operate under the city of London buying and selling, mixing with ghouls, spirits and other mystical creatures. And at the core of the story is a group of heros who are fighting evil whilst following a quest.
December 31, 2020
For me this book was an amazing surprise! It was a mix of Alice in Wonderland, Nevermoor, and I will never look at a toilet brush the same way!
I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for an adventure, with kids discovering a world totally different to their but not that far away, with random and ordinary objects hiding secret powers, with a family secret AND with villains!
Will continue with the series!
I would definitely recommend this book if you're looking for an adventure, with kids discovering a world totally different to their but not that far away, with random and ordinary objects hiding secret powers, with a family secret AND with villains!
Will continue with the series!
March 18, 2017
>[List of food in this book]<
Review STILL WIP
I usually don't give out 5s for first books in series, but I honestly think people are being way too unreasonably harsh on this book! I don't know if it just got incredibly bad luck to attract mostly people who don't appreciate it to rate, but I think the considerable low rating would seriously let other people miss out on this good stuff! Should this book one day reach the average rating of 3.8, I may lower mine to a 4, but until then, the 5 stays. It's not going to do much, but that's the least I can do.
A digitized ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is what I've been looking for all this time I wanted another journey into a different magical world! I would have bathed in it were I a kid, and I'm still pretty much digging it as an (unwilling-to-admit-being-one) adult. A lot of the reviews were... well, while not outright using the word plagiarize, that's the accusation I hear... And being a hardcore HP fan, I want to laugh at their faces.
I always knew I don't read enough, but I have the sense to NOT egotistically think everything ELSE is copying from the books I've read. To me, those kind of comments would only reveal how common senseLESS you are. Anyways, I'll be honest and admit that after seeing those reviews, it's hard not to intentionally look for parallels, but I can say that at least to me, nothing was on the level of "straight out of an HP book" as some of the reviews claimed.
I'd love to have an uncommon suitcase, thank you very much.
Ugh... There's so much more I want to break down, but my ARC copy expired and I currently don't have time to go into detail. I feel like this series would make a beautiful box set, which is why I'm also not in a hurry of buying the physical copy. Below are a few keywords that hopefully will be efficient enough to trigger my memory when I do have time to write a full review. (They aren't all words from this book, mind you, just something related to what I plan on writing.)
Ariel | fork | Alice | Wonderland
the crooked sixpence |
uncommon feathers |
Valian's uncommon suitcase |
Hundred Punch |
uncommon maps |
the Wrench Mansion |
The secret room in the Wrench Mansion that actually isn't circular |
And well, it may look really discouraging, and I'm not gonna lie, a lot of times my mind did go to subjects from existing works, but honestly, what exactly is truly original nowadays? Have you not heard of "great minds think alike"?
Review WIP
isbn: 9780553498431
E-isbn: 9780553498455
Review STILL WIP
UPDATES: Important notice! I was right that something wrong was going on. Previously there were around 600+ ratings, with the average going as low as 3.14; I've sent in a report to GR cuz I feel like I was actually a great mount of spam accounts doing damage, which was confirmed. GR has removed the spam accounts. As of the point of this update, we have 490+ ratings with the average being 3.80. See how big of a difference it made? I'll be keeping my rating a while longer in case someone was feeling supremely malicious again.
I usually don't give out 5s for first books in series, but I honestly think people are being way too unreasonably harsh on this book! I don't know if it just got incredibly bad luck to attract mostly people who don't appreciate it to rate, but I think the considerable low rating would seriously let other people miss out on this good stuff! Should this book one day reach the average rating of 3.8, I may lower mine to a 4, but until then, the 5 stays. It's not going to do much, but that's the least I can do.
A digitized ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is what I've been looking for all this time I wanted another journey into a different magical world! I would have bathed in it were I a kid, and I'm still pretty much digging it as an (unwilling-to-admit-being-one) adult. A lot of the reviews were... well, while not outright using the word plagiarize, that's the accusation I hear... And being a hardcore HP fan, I want to laugh at their faces.
I always knew I don't read enough, but I have the sense to NOT egotistically think everything ELSE is copying from the books I've read. To me, those kind of comments would only reveal how common senseLESS you are. Anyways, I'll be honest and admit that after seeing those reviews, it's hard not to intentionally look for parallels, but I can say that at least to me, nothing was on the level of "straight out of an HP book" as some of the reviews claimed.
I'd love to have an uncommon suitcase, thank you very much.
Ugh... There's so much more I want to break down, but my ARC copy expired and I currently don't have time to go into detail. I feel like this series would make a beautiful box set, which is why I'm also not in a hurry of buying the physical copy. Below are a few keywords that hopefully will be efficient enough to trigger my memory when I do have time to write a full review. (They aren't all words from this book, mind you, just something related to what I plan on writing.)
Ariel | fork | Alice | Wonderland
the crooked sixpence |
uncommon feathers |
Valian's uncommon suitcase |
Hundred Punch |
uncommon maps |
the Wrench Mansion |
The secret room in the Wrench Mansion that actually isn't circular |
And well, it may look really discouraging, and I'm not gonna lie, a lot of times my mind did go to subjects from existing works, but honestly, what exactly is truly original nowadays? Have you not heard of "great minds think alike"?
Review WIP
isbn: 9780553498431
E-isbn: 9780553498455
July 21, 2020
As middle grade books go this one was very good. I think I lack the imagination to visualize all the weird and magical elements of the story. I appreciated the magical undead very much.
August 9, 2016
The only thing that kept me going through this book (besides my stubbornness) was "literally anything could happen and I want to know what shit the author threw together to get this published" It's like. Really bad fanfiction about misused muggle artefacts that weren't reported. All these random details and pointless twists and fucking ~toilet brushes as weapons lololol so funnyyyy~ ugh.
Protagonist was just so slow (like, slower than Harry), and like I said before there were zero likeable characters besides a bike bell with a speech impediment, and that's barely even in it.
Kids' books do not need to be so.. dumb. ~Silly~ is great, but this book was so dumbed down it was almost patronising.
Protagonist was just so slow (like, slower than Harry), and like I said before there were zero likeable characters besides a bike bell with a speech impediment, and that's barely even in it.
Kids' books do not need to be so.. dumb. ~Silly~ is great, but this book was so dumbed down it was almost patronising.
September 7, 2016
Wacky and wonderful, this book is a great adventure and mystery packaged in a beautifully illustrated cover!
June 25, 2017
First, I have to thank the lovely bookseller at Waterstones who recommended this book to me on my last trip to Amsterdam!
I really loved the world-building in this one! The characters were awesome and the dynamic between them made this book a very nice and compelling read.
I really loved the world-building in this one! The characters were awesome and the dynamic between them made this book a very nice and compelling read.
March 13, 2021
Bookopoly 2021. - Middlegrade
Sto godina sam ju čitala. Bila mi je totalno nezanimljiva.
Sto godina sam ju čitala. Bila mi je totalno nezanimljiva.
January 23, 2020
Read- July 2019 for The Book Junkie Trials (The Drowning Deep) and Reading Rush (read an authors first book)
- This was a book that I have wanted to read for such a long time and I don't even know why. I never even knew the plot of the book before I started it but I've just always wanted to read it and now I finally have. I honestly did really enjoy this book (as we all know, a 3 star rating isn't bad) but there was just a few things that felt off to me.
The world building really wasn't great, I found myself getting confused so many times with how the world works. Also the plot was quite confusing and difficult to keep track of at times. However, by the end of the book I felt like I really got to grips with the world and the plot so I'm very excited to jump into the next book because I feel like it will be an easier read.
- This was a book that I have wanted to read for such a long time and I don't even know why. I never even knew the plot of the book before I started it but I've just always wanted to read it and now I finally have. I honestly did really enjoy this book (as we all know, a 3 star rating isn't bad) but there was just a few things that felt off to me.
The world building really wasn't great, I found myself getting confused so many times with how the world works. Also the plot was quite confusing and difficult to keep track of at times. However, by the end of the book I felt like I really got to grips with the world and the plot so I'm very excited to jump into the next book because I feel like it will be an easier read.
June 3, 2016
I don't usually read middle grade, but I couldn't resist the allure of this book's jacket. Such a charming little book, full to the brim with adventure, magic, and intrigue. It has a teeny tiny Harry Potter vibe to it which I loved! Can't wait to read more in this series.
October 6, 2016
A must read for anyone who is willing to find out about a world that is much more uncommon than our own.
August 14, 2020
4.5 ⭐
Sjajno!
Sjajno!
March 22, 2017
I enjoyed this book a lot. That cover is stunning, and the book was amazing inside too. I didn't fully love it, so I'm giving it three stars, but there were parts that I loved a lot. I found the story to be so good and interesting and I wanted to know more so badly. I will be reading the next books in this series for sure. So excited.
I found the writing in this to be great. I enjoyed it at all times. And the characters were awesome. I liked Ivy and her brother Seb a whole bunch. There were things I didn't like about how some of the characters were written, felt a bit silly at times, but mostly I liked them all, and enjoyed getting to know them. So interesting.
This book tells the story of eleven year old Ivy. And her fourteen year old brother Seb. And eee, I liked both characters so much. Ivy was adorable. And I loved that this book was from her point of view. I loved that she's smart and kind and just awesome. But I didn't like how she treated one character. Hmph. But besides that, she was awesome. And Seb was a pretty good character too. I'm curious about him. I adored their relationship with each other. Such awesome siblings. They are staying with their grandmother, who just had an accident, and is now going to the hospital. Which starts the whole story. There is so much happening, and bad people are coming after Ivy and Seb, and it's so exciting too. I enjoyed figuring out what all the bad people wanted.
Not going to say too much about the plot, but it's so interesting. Ivy is trying to figure out what happened around forty years ago, when her grandma had a bad accident and lost all her memory of her life before. Because Ivy have just learned what her life was like before the accident, but not why she got hurt. And it was so interesting to try to figure it all out. So much happens in this book. For the most part I loved all of it. There were a lot of exciting moments. And the ending was pretty good too. I liked the mystery of it all.
The plot in this book is set under London, sort of. There is a whole different world under there. Not magic. But like it, even so. There are uncommon objects, which can do amazing things. Not going to describe it, but it was awesome to read about. I liked learning what each item could do. It was exciting. And I really enjoyed the talking bells. They were adorable. Especially Scratch. Liked that tiny bell a bunch. There are also ghosts. Which was interesting. And some other creatures as well. I liked reading about all of them.
The reason for why I'm giving this book three stars is because I had a few issues with some things. I felt like the book was a bit too much like Harry Potter at times, though I did enjoy that, it as just a little bit too much, with the villains and such. But still good. I had some issues with the new boy they meet, Valian. I liked him right away. And wanted to know more of him. But they treat him pretty badly, and I felt like his character could have been done better. Hope that is fixed in book two. I need more of this curious boy.
I just adored some of the characters in this book. Ivy was so sweet. And I liked Seb too. And Valian was my favorite. I just wish I knew more about him; that he had been written a little bit better. But still. I can't help it. I ship him and Ivy, lol. But guessing that won't ever happen, as she's eleven, and he is fifteen. Aw. But still, I hope. There are also lots of other people in this one. Like their grandmother. I liked her. But she wasn't written fully well enough for me. Still, I liked her a lot. And Ethel too. Liked a lot of the others too.
I'm really glad that I read this book. I hadn't heard of it before the publisher sent it to me, ack. So glad that I got it in the mail. Because then I got to read this gorgeous book. I'm really curious about the next books too. Hoping book two will be better at the things I disliked in this one. Fingers crossed. Either way, I'm so excited. Huge thank you to the publisher for sending me this ARC to review while I was in Chicago. The Crooked Sixpence is full of adventure and has such a stunning story. I enjoyed it a lot. You must read it.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2017/0...
I found the writing in this to be great. I enjoyed it at all times. And the characters were awesome. I liked Ivy and her brother Seb a whole bunch. There were things I didn't like about how some of the characters were written, felt a bit silly at times, but mostly I liked them all, and enjoyed getting to know them. So interesting.
This book tells the story of eleven year old Ivy. And her fourteen year old brother Seb. And eee, I liked both characters so much. Ivy was adorable. And I loved that this book was from her point of view. I loved that she's smart and kind and just awesome. But I didn't like how she treated one character. Hmph. But besides that, she was awesome. And Seb was a pretty good character too. I'm curious about him. I adored their relationship with each other. Such awesome siblings. They are staying with their grandmother, who just had an accident, and is now going to the hospital. Which starts the whole story. There is so much happening, and bad people are coming after Ivy and Seb, and it's so exciting too. I enjoyed figuring out what all the bad people wanted.
Not going to say too much about the plot, but it's so interesting. Ivy is trying to figure out what happened around forty years ago, when her grandma had a bad accident and lost all her memory of her life before. Because Ivy have just learned what her life was like before the accident, but not why she got hurt. And it was so interesting to try to figure it all out. So much happens in this book. For the most part I loved all of it. There were a lot of exciting moments. And the ending was pretty good too. I liked the mystery of it all.
The plot in this book is set under London, sort of. There is a whole different world under there. Not magic. But like it, even so. There are uncommon objects, which can do amazing things. Not going to describe it, but it was awesome to read about. I liked learning what each item could do. It was exciting. And I really enjoyed the talking bells. They were adorable. Especially Scratch. Liked that tiny bell a bunch. There are also ghosts. Which was interesting. And some other creatures as well. I liked reading about all of them.
The reason for why I'm giving this book three stars is because I had a few issues with some things. I felt like the book was a bit too much like Harry Potter at times, though I did enjoy that, it as just a little bit too much, with the villains and such. But still good. I had some issues with the new boy they meet, Valian. I liked him right away. And wanted to know more of him. But they treat him pretty badly, and I felt like his character could have been done better. Hope that is fixed in book two. I need more of this curious boy.
I just adored some of the characters in this book. Ivy was so sweet. And I liked Seb too. And Valian was my favorite. I just wish I knew more about him; that he had been written a little bit better. But still. I can't help it. I ship him and Ivy, lol. But guessing that won't ever happen, as she's eleven, and he is fifteen. Aw. But still, I hope. There are also lots of other people in this one. Like their grandmother. I liked her. But she wasn't written fully well enough for me. Still, I liked her a lot. And Ethel too. Liked a lot of the others too.
I'm really glad that I read this book. I hadn't heard of it before the publisher sent it to me, ack. So glad that I got it in the mail. Because then I got to read this gorgeous book. I'm really curious about the next books too. Hoping book two will be better at the things I disliked in this one. Fingers crossed. Either way, I'm so excited. Huge thank you to the publisher for sending me this ARC to review while I was in Chicago. The Crooked Sixpence is full of adventure and has such a stunning story. I enjoyed it a lot. You must read it.
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This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2017/0...
June 20, 2020
Just finished this today, & wow!! Before reading Wonderscape, I wanted to read her first series that she wrote. The first book was AMAZING! So different! I loved everything about it! And Scratch has my heart & soul! Lol Such a great mystery...I didn’t know what was going to happen, & I didn’t want to put it down. Love this cover too of course!!😍😍 HIGHLY recommend! Can’t wait to start the 2nd book later today!!💜💜
Synopsis of 1st book in series: Welcome to a world where nothing is quite as it seems…
When their grandmother Sylvie is rushed to the hospital, Ivy Sparrow and her annoying big brother Seb cannot imagine what adventure lies in store. Soon their house is ransacked by unknown intruders, and a very strange policeman turns up on the scene, determined to apprehend them . . . with a toilet brush.
Ivy and Seb make their escape only to find themselves in a completely uncommon world, a secret underground city called Lundinor where ordinary objects have amazing powers. There are belts that enable the wearer to fly, yo-yos that turn into weapons, buttons with healing properties, and other enchanted objects capable of very unusual feats.
But the forces of evil are closing in fast, and when Ivy and Seb learn that their family is connected to one of the greatest uncommon treasures of all time, they must race to unearth the treasure and get to the bottom of a family secret . . . before it’s too late.
Synopsis of 1st book in series: Welcome to a world where nothing is quite as it seems…
When their grandmother Sylvie is rushed to the hospital, Ivy Sparrow and her annoying big brother Seb cannot imagine what adventure lies in store. Soon their house is ransacked by unknown intruders, and a very strange policeman turns up on the scene, determined to apprehend them . . . with a toilet brush.
Ivy and Seb make their escape only to find themselves in a completely uncommon world, a secret underground city called Lundinor where ordinary objects have amazing powers. There are belts that enable the wearer to fly, yo-yos that turn into weapons, buttons with healing properties, and other enchanted objects capable of very unusual feats.
But the forces of evil are closing in fast, and when Ivy and Seb learn that their family is connected to one of the greatest uncommon treasures of all time, they must race to unearth the treasure and get to the bottom of a family secret . . . before it’s too late.
December 24, 2020
I thought this book was very creative and had a very unique one of a kind plot. I’ll be honest tho, this book took me a while to really get into it, but I don’t think that is the books fault I just haven’t been in that much of a reading groove lately. I can’t decide if I want this to have a 3 or 4 star rating, so I’ll settle on 3.5. Overall good book I recommend but definitely not a favorite of mine.
June 4, 2019
This book have some incredible ideas and a amazing story. Well, I dont feel attachment to any character but I will read further parts.
September 1, 2021
A great read. Setting it up as filling a Harry Potter void led to disappointment at first, and does the book a disservice. After realizing this is a very different kind of fantasy the disappointment wore off and I could enjoy the book on its own merits. Beware the intensity of the battles if you are considering this for younger kids. I plan to red the next book in the series.
March 2, 2017
The first thing that really struck me while reading The Uncommoner's was the cover, I really love the color scheme and how it alludes to some darkness. It's also easy to notice the similarities it shares to the Harry Potter series, invisibility item, a manor that will reveal itself only to a member of the family and maps that show you the location of people to name a few. Yet, there are differences as well. There's no Hogwarts School of Magic, and really no wands or magic per se. There is a world of Uncommon objects that have certain abilities, like a button that can heal you, and bells that can speak and give directions. I also like the premise that uncommon objects hold a piece of a person's soul and certain Uncommon people, Whisperers can sense these uncommon objects. There's also a bit of a mystery to solve linked to Ivy and Seb's Granma's car accident and their families past in Lundinor. Of all the characters, Scratch, the bicycle bell with his back-to-fronted speaking problem was one of my favorites, he adds much of the humor. I also really want to learn more about Valian, and about his scouting abilities and what other uncommon objects are out there in Lundinor. There's even some delightfully creepy characters amongst the Dirge, and action that kept the story moving along nicely. An excellent introduction to this new series.
November 28, 2017
Also posted on Eva Lucias blog
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Den bøjede mønt (De Ualmindelige #1) af Jennifer Bell er en bog, som blev ved med at dukke op alle steder. Jeg så den hos boghandlere, reklamer for den og på de sociale medier. Den så spændende ud og endelig fik jeg fat i den, og begyndte læsningen. Det har jeg slet ikke fortrudt! Det er en mærkværdig, men ufattelig skøn fortælling, som jeg virkelig kan anbefale. Og hvorfor? Læs med her!
Fortællingen foregår primært i en magisk verden under London. Allerede her tænker man: YES! Den sidste roman jeg læste, som fandt sted under London, var Neil Gaimans Neverwhere, som også var rigtig fed. Men først finder de to søskende, Ivy og Seb, deres bedstemors hus i en mærkelig tilstand, hvor alt er blevet rodet igennem og de finder desuden en besked skrevet af en flyvende fjer.
De finder snart ud af, at bedstemoren har noget med den magiske verden at gøre, men det bliver en lang søgen på at finde ud af, hvordan det hele hænger sammen. Her er man som læser så heldig at følge med som fluen på væggen og det er spændende, så man bladrer sider hurtigt.
Det er en roman, som blander realisme og magi. Der er magiske toiletbørster, som bruges som våben og bøjede mønter (og listen fortsætter!) Sproget er humoristisk og taler til mange målgrupper, både børn og voksne. Beskrivelserne er spot on, så alt føles levende, hvilket det sjovt nok er (= mange magiske og skøre ting). Intet er som det ser ud og Ivy og Seb bliver ofte nødt til at tænke ud af boksen. Det er underholdende, men man må også holde tungen lige i munden.
Jeg vil anbefale denne roman til folk, som er vild med Harry Potter. Det skal lige siges, at Den bøjede mønt og Harry Potter IKKE kan sammenlignes, men jeg synes, at Den bøjede mønt giver en feel good-følelse a la Harry Potter. Der er magi, skønne karakterer og det er et univers, som hurtigt giver mening, fordi den blander hverdagselementer og magi. Det fungerer rigtig godt. Jeg er sikker på, at de helt yngste læsere og de ældre Harry Potter-fans vil synes om denne serie.
Jeg synes i hvert fald, at det var en skøn læseoplevelse. Dog ville jeg ønsket, at min læseoplevelse ikke var blevet afbrudt hele tiden af, at hverdagen blandede sig. Jeg burde have haft en bøjet mønt, så jeg kunne stoppe tiden – bare en side mere.
Anden del i serien udkommer i foråret 2018.
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Tak til Høst & Søn for anmeldereksemplaret!
Den bøjede mønt (De Ualmindelige #1) af Jennifer Bell er en bog, som blev ved med at dukke op alle steder. Jeg så den hos boghandlere, reklamer for den og på de sociale medier. Den så spændende ud og endelig fik jeg fat i den, og begyndte læsningen. Det har jeg slet ikke fortrudt! Det er en mærkværdig, men ufattelig skøn fortælling, som jeg virkelig kan anbefale. Og hvorfor? Læs med her!
Fortællingen foregår primært i en magisk verden under London. Allerede her tænker man: YES! Den sidste roman jeg læste, som fandt sted under London, var Neil Gaimans Neverwhere, som også var rigtig fed. Men først finder de to søskende, Ivy og Seb, deres bedstemors hus i en mærkelig tilstand, hvor alt er blevet rodet igennem og de finder desuden en besked skrevet af en flyvende fjer.
De finder snart ud af, at bedstemoren har noget med den magiske verden at gøre, men det bliver en lang søgen på at finde ud af, hvordan det hele hænger sammen. Her er man som læser så heldig at følge med som fluen på væggen og det er spændende, så man bladrer sider hurtigt.
Det er en roman, som blander realisme og magi. Der er magiske toiletbørster, som bruges som våben og bøjede mønter (og listen fortsætter!) Sproget er humoristisk og taler til mange målgrupper, både børn og voksne. Beskrivelserne er spot on, så alt føles levende, hvilket det sjovt nok er (= mange magiske og skøre ting). Intet er som det ser ud og Ivy og Seb bliver ofte nødt til at tænke ud af boksen. Det er underholdende, men man må også holde tungen lige i munden.
Jeg vil anbefale denne roman til folk, som er vild med Harry Potter. Det skal lige siges, at Den bøjede mønt og Harry Potter IKKE kan sammenlignes, men jeg synes, at Den bøjede mønt giver en feel good-følelse a la Harry Potter. Der er magi, skønne karakterer og det er et univers, som hurtigt giver mening, fordi den blander hverdagselementer og magi. Det fungerer rigtig godt. Jeg er sikker på, at de helt yngste læsere og de ældre Harry Potter-fans vil synes om denne serie.
Jeg synes i hvert fald, at det var en skøn læseoplevelse. Dog ville jeg ønsket, at min læseoplevelse ikke var blevet afbrudt hele tiden af, at hverdagen blandede sig. Jeg burde have haft en bøjet mønt, så jeg kunne stoppe tiden – bare en side mere.
Anden del i serien udkommer i foråret 2018.
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June 2, 2016
First thought: This is surprisingly darker than the cover and description would have you believe; a bit like Neil Gaiman before he started sucking.
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I really loved the world building in this, that when we die parts of our souls live on through our beloved objects and turn them into something magical, something 'uncommon.' The sheer scope of imagination and how inventive every use for otherwise mundane objects was truly delightful, I especially loved the buttons that could heal people, with each hole representing the amount of times it could be used. Also, the talking bells were fabulous.
The main character Ivy was also a great protagonist. A firm sense of morality, but also with a streak of pragmatism that is rare to see in a lot of heroes. Even knowing she might end up losing her parents, Ivy went on to choose the lives of hundreds of thousands instead. It was a refreshing change of pace from protags throwing themselves into the hands of the villains over every minor acquaintance. The character that felt the weakest to me was her brother, he just felt a little shallower, which is why the book dropped a star.
Other than that! A thoroughly imaginative, awesome mystery and adventure, with wonderful creatures and magic systems.
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I really loved the world building in this, that when we die parts of our souls live on through our beloved objects and turn them into something magical, something 'uncommon.' The sheer scope of imagination and how inventive every use for otherwise mundane objects was truly delightful, I especially loved the buttons that could heal people, with each hole representing the amount of times it could be used. Also, the talking bells were fabulous.
The main character Ivy was also a great protagonist. A firm sense of morality, but also with a streak of pragmatism that is rare to see in a lot of heroes. Even knowing she might end up losing her parents, Ivy went on to choose the lives of hundreds of thousands instead. It was a refreshing change of pace from protags throwing themselves into the hands of the villains over every minor acquaintance. The character that felt the weakest to me was her brother, he just felt a little shallower, which is why the book dropped a star.
Other than that! A thoroughly imaginative, awesome mystery and adventure, with wonderful creatures and magic systems.
December 3, 2018
When Granma Sylvie takes a fall and is rushed to the hospital, Ivy and her brother Seb have no way of knowing their world is about to change. Within hours, the siblings are tumbled into the strange and secret world of Lundinor, a world where uncommon versions of everyday objects can do any number of magical things. The world that Granma Sylvie came from, that she can’t remember, and that wants something she took from it very, very badly. Soon Ivy and Seb are in a race against the clock with the powerful guild, the Dirge, who have kidnapped their parents, as they all search for the powerful item Granma Sylvie lost.
In The Crooked Sixpence, Bell has created a world both whimsical and slightly horrifying, perfect for younger readers who like their horror with a dash of humor – or their humor with a dash of horror. Younger fans of Harry Potter will enjoy the magical setting, although older readers may find some of the magical object gags a touch young for their taste. Rich and nuanced setting elevate this somewhat standard tale, and the end clearly sets readers up for a sequel.
In The Crooked Sixpence, Bell has created a world both whimsical and slightly horrifying, perfect for younger readers who like their horror with a dash of humor – or their humor with a dash of horror. Younger fans of Harry Potter will enjoy the magical setting, although older readers may find some of the magical object gags a touch young for their taste. Rich and nuanced setting elevate this somewhat standard tale, and the end clearly sets readers up for a sequel.
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