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Snowglobe
When daydreamer Clementine discovers a mysterious house standing in the middle of town that was never there before, she is pulled towards it by the powerful sense of a mother she never knew. The place is full of snowglobes, swirling with stars and snow and each containing a trapped magician, watched over by Gan, the bitter keeper of the house. One of these is Dylan, a boy who teases her in the real world but who is now desperate for her help.
So Clem ventures into the snowglobes, rescuing Dylan and discovering her own powerful connection to the magic of these thousand worlds. Vowing to release the magicians from the control of their enchantments, Clem unknowingly unleashes a struggle for power that will not only put her family, but the future of magic itself in danger.
So Clem ventures into the snowglobes, rescuing Dylan and discovering her own powerful connection to the magic of these thousand worlds. Vowing to release the magicians from the control of their enchantments, Clem unknowingly unleashes a struggle for power that will not only put her family, but the future of magic itself in danger.
271 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2018
24 people are currently reading
922 people want to read
About the author
Amy Wilson
9 books103 followersAmy Wilson has a background in journalism and lives in Bristol with her young family. She is a graduate of the Bath Spa MA in Creative Writing and has many owls in her house, from drawer handles to cushions. She is still waiting for them to speak to her...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
December 15, 2018
This book is deliciously magical!
Plot…
12-year-old Clementine lives with her dad and leads a fairly normal life, except her mom left when she was very young and Clem still wonders why. She questions where her mother is, and if she’ll ever return. Clem has a special magic to her which makes her different. She doesn’t have many friends and deals with bullying at school. One day while in class her magic is accidentally misused and she’s suspended from school. Her father seems to be quite understanding about it and gives her a special book that belonged to her mother. The book introduces her to a whole new world of magic which until now has been completely hidden from her. She discovers a house full of snow globes with a different world in each one. When a fellow schoolmate gets trapped inside one of them, Clem has to find a way to save him.
Characters…
Main characters include Clem, Dylan (classmate), Clem’s dad, and her two aunts (Ganymede and Io) which are her mother’s sisters.
Clem is courageous and kind. She wants to do what’s right, but more than anything, she wants to find out what happened to her mom. She’s learning more and more about her own magical powers as time goes on.
We don’t learn a whole lot about her dad, but Clem’s relationship with him is pretty close. He looks out for her, but also allows her the freedom to learn about her mother’s past and to discover her own magic. Clem’s dad loved her mother very much and also wonders why she disappeared.
Dylan is a fellow classmate at school who’s now trapped in one of the snow globe worlds. It took me some time to like his character because he doesn’t stand on his own two feet when it comes to his bullying friend (Jago). As you read more about Dylan, you learn about his past and his behavior is better understood.
Ganymede and Io are Clem’s aunts and both have magical powers with Ganymede having control over all of the snow globe worlds. For some time it’s hard to guess whether they’re good or bad. They don’t seem to have a clue what happened to Clem’s mother/their sister (Callisto). Clem learns more about her aunts throughout the book.
My thoughts...
This is my first book by Amy Wilson. I saw the cover, read the blurb, bought the book, and let me tell you, I absolutely fell in love with this book from the very first pages. It’s so full of magic with such a unique premise! I can say that I’ve never read a story like this before. I’ve always loved snow globes and the thought of jumping into them and entering different worlds is fascinating to me. This is a book I wish I had when I was a kid.
I thought the story was written well, even with a few parts being fairly predictable. It’s action packed at times and I couldn’t wait to see how the book would end. Main themes include loss, family, love, sacrifice, bullying, and friendship.
This beautifully heartwarming story is a perfect middle-grade read for winter. I’d say it’s best for 4th grade and up. If you’re a fan of fantasy and adventure, give this one a try.
4.5*****
See this review @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2018/...
Plot…
12-year-old Clementine lives with her dad and leads a fairly normal life, except her mom left when she was very young and Clem still wonders why. She questions where her mother is, and if she’ll ever return. Clem has a special magic to her which makes her different. She doesn’t have many friends and deals with bullying at school. One day while in class her magic is accidentally misused and she’s suspended from school. Her father seems to be quite understanding about it and gives her a special book that belonged to her mother. The book introduces her to a whole new world of magic which until now has been completely hidden from her. She discovers a house full of snow globes with a different world in each one. When a fellow schoolmate gets trapped inside one of them, Clem has to find a way to save him.
Characters…
Main characters include Clem, Dylan (classmate), Clem’s dad, and her two aunts (Ganymede and Io) which are her mother’s sisters.
Clem is courageous and kind. She wants to do what’s right, but more than anything, she wants to find out what happened to her mom. She’s learning more and more about her own magical powers as time goes on.
We don’t learn a whole lot about her dad, but Clem’s relationship with him is pretty close. He looks out for her, but also allows her the freedom to learn about her mother’s past and to discover her own magic. Clem’s dad loved her mother very much and also wonders why she disappeared.
Dylan is a fellow classmate at school who’s now trapped in one of the snow globe worlds. It took me some time to like his character because he doesn’t stand on his own two feet when it comes to his bullying friend (Jago). As you read more about Dylan, you learn about his past and his behavior is better understood.
Ganymede and Io are Clem’s aunts and both have magical powers with Ganymede having control over all of the snow globe worlds. For some time it’s hard to guess whether they’re good or bad. They don’t seem to have a clue what happened to Clem’s mother/their sister (Callisto). Clem learns more about her aunts throughout the book.
My thoughts...
This is my first book by Amy Wilson. I saw the cover, read the blurb, bought the book, and let me tell you, I absolutely fell in love with this book from the very first pages. It’s so full of magic with such a unique premise! I can say that I’ve never read a story like this before. I’ve always loved snow globes and the thought of jumping into them and entering different worlds is fascinating to me. This is a book I wish I had when I was a kid.
I thought the story was written well, even with a few parts being fairly predictable. It’s action packed at times and I couldn’t wait to see how the book would end. Main themes include loss, family, love, sacrifice, bullying, and friendship.
This beautifully heartwarming story is a perfect middle-grade read for winter. I’d say it’s best for 4th grade and up. If you’re a fan of fantasy and adventure, give this one a try.
4.5*****
See this review @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2018/...
December 8, 2020
This is the 2nd book by Amy Wilson I’ve read. I read & loved A Far Away Magic(Angel & Bavar). I loved this just as much! She has such a magical way of writing. It’s just beautiful to read. The backstory & whole idea of this story is just so imaginative & amazing. The snow globes were fascinating, & I loved every aspect of that. I loved the story of the 3 sisters as well. Our main character Clem comes across a mysterious house that wasn’t there before, full of snow globes. In one of them, she sees Dylan, a boy from school, trapped inside. She vows to find a way to free him. It’s an amazing adventure, & she learns about herself, her family & the past, & a courage she never knew she had. She realizes it’s ok to be different, to be herself, & to trust. Such a great story full of mystery, magic, adventure, friendship, & family. My favorite was Helios. Love that dog. Highly recommend! Such a beautiful cover too!💜
January 16, 2021
"The world never knew of these sisters. Their house went unseen, their stories unheard. And then came chaos."
- Read for the Medievalathon, prompt "read a book with a travel element". Bard level 2: Traveling Troubador. Rank gained: Squire -
I've been waiting to read Snowglobe until it snows and so it finally happened. In the end, the book wasn't very much wintry, but it was full of whimsical and glittering magic, and I really enjoyed it.
The opening paragraphs got me completely drawn into the story and I really loved the idea behind the book. All of the descriptions of the snowglobes and the white house with the three towers were beautiful and dream-like. The whole book had this magical quality that I think any kids will love.
But what also surprised me, is that alongside the magical story, Amy Wilson also included some very realistic themes in this book - such as bullying and a loss of a parent. It was weaved together with the magical storyline very skillfully and still made an impact. I feel like it might both help young readers to have characters they can sympathize with in a difficult situation, as well as just enjoy the imaginative parts of the book.
I'm really happy that I read it and I'm excited to try other books by Amy Wilson :)
- Read for the Medievalathon, prompt "read a book with a travel element". Bard level 2: Traveling Troubador. Rank gained: Squire -
I've been waiting to read Snowglobe until it snows and so it finally happened. In the end, the book wasn't very much wintry, but it was full of whimsical and glittering magic, and I really enjoyed it.
The opening paragraphs got me completely drawn into the story and I really loved the idea behind the book. All of the descriptions of the snowglobes and the white house with the three towers were beautiful and dream-like. The whole book had this magical quality that I think any kids will love.
But what also surprised me, is that alongside the magical story, Amy Wilson also included some very realistic themes in this book - such as bullying and a loss of a parent. It was weaved together with the magical storyline very skillfully and still made an impact. I feel like it might both help young readers to have characters they can sympathize with in a difficult situation, as well as just enjoy the imaginative parts of the book.
I'm really happy that I read it and I'm excited to try other books by Amy Wilson :)
January 8, 2019
This is a charming book with lots of action and beautiful imagery. For me there was something missing in the linking of the narrative I found myself wondering if i had missed something, However my granddaughters will love this
January 17, 2019
Books related to magic always form a delightful read and Snowglobe was a brilliant Middle Grade Fiction that suited my taste for light reads. 12 year old Clementine dscovers her ties with magic and follows a trail of uncanny events. Ignoring her father's warnings, she ventures to discover her truths and there are times when I wished to clap for her. Despite being only 12 her decisions seems mature and intelligent - I wonder why I was so dumb at 12 or even now! This is a perfect book to gift or read at any age due to the fun language and simple writing. Thanks to PanMac for a review copy in exchange of an honest review.
October 30, 2018
The central character of Amy Wilson’s Snowglobe is Clementine, a social misfit in school who is bullied because she is ‘different’ and who readers know have a magical quality about her. We see faint glimpses of Clementine’s magical gift, which she is yet to discover while she tries to hold on to her absent minded father and being a loner at school. Things change when she spies a strange house in town, one she’s never seen earlier. She enters it and finds snow globes hanging around and soon realizes that they have trapped people who have magical powers. Also trapped is Dylan who has never stood up for her in school.
Clementine’s back story of trying to find the whereabouts of her mother who is connected to the world of magic is interspersed with the emotional arc of a desperate need to know why her mother left when she was small. Her mother’s diary gives Clementine an introduction to her mother’s world but it is only when she tries to rescue Dylan from the snowglobe that he’s trapped in that she discovers things about herself and the world of her mother.
Clementine finds out that her aunts have trapped people with magical powers, including her mother in the fear that magic can bring about chaos. In the world outside the strange home, Clementine must try and reach out to Dylan who is yet to take a stand for her, to work on his fears. Clementine’s character growth from someone who is angsty about being a misfit to one who tries to reach out to people; her attempts at reaching out to her father and slowly, how she sees that there are people who can be kind to her and then finally, her wisdom in accepting who she is and how her family is, is a beautiful transition.
I was truly fascinated by the imagery of different snowglobes as prisons that had different elements: from icy cold to warm breeze and autumn air. The writing is fast paced and there is just the emotional quotient with themes around friendship, standing up for people, acts of kindness and loyalty that keeps readers invested. More than magical powers being used to drive the story further, it is more of forging bonds, uniting against odds, facing one’s fears that are given more importance.
Clementine’s back story of trying to find the whereabouts of her mother who is connected to the world of magic is interspersed with the emotional arc of a desperate need to know why her mother left when she was small. Her mother’s diary gives Clementine an introduction to her mother’s world but it is only when she tries to rescue Dylan from the snowglobe that he’s trapped in that she discovers things about herself and the world of her mother.
Clementine finds out that her aunts have trapped people with magical powers, including her mother in the fear that magic can bring about chaos. In the world outside the strange home, Clementine must try and reach out to Dylan who is yet to take a stand for her, to work on his fears. Clementine’s character growth from someone who is angsty about being a misfit to one who tries to reach out to people; her attempts at reaching out to her father and slowly, how she sees that there are people who can be kind to her and then finally, her wisdom in accepting who she is and how her family is, is a beautiful transition.
I was truly fascinated by the imagery of different snowglobes as prisons that had different elements: from icy cold to warm breeze and autumn air. The writing is fast paced and there is just the emotional quotient with themes around friendship, standing up for people, acts of kindness and loyalty that keeps readers invested. More than magical powers being used to drive the story further, it is more of forging bonds, uniting against odds, facing one’s fears that are given more importance.
December 22, 2018
Clementine has always known she has magic inside her, but recently its been getting stronger, and harder to hide.
When she's suspended from school, her father gives her her mother's notebook. Its full of notes, spells, potions and her mother's thoughts. Then she finds the house which has been hidden all these years, her mother's house. It's full of snowglobes and one of them has her classmate, Dylan trapped inside. Before she can do anything to save him, she meets her terrifying aunt, who doesn't even know about her. She's chased out of the house and it disappears again.
Despite all her father's warnings and fears, she goes back, knowing she can't just leave Dylan to his fate.
When she's suspended from school, her father gives her her mother's notebook. Its full of notes, spells, potions and her mother's thoughts. Then she finds the house which has been hidden all these years, her mother's house. It's full of snowglobes and one of them has her classmate, Dylan trapped inside. Before she can do anything to save him, she meets her terrifying aunt, who doesn't even know about her. She's chased out of the house and it disappears again.
Despite all her father's warnings and fears, she goes back, knowing she can't just leave Dylan to his fate.
October 17, 2018
Part mystery, part thriller, part magic, part wonder, part Christmas. This book is filled with so much that it will keep all readers of all ages entertained. It is a really good read and one that is suitable for both adults and young adults.
November 23, 2018
Jago doesn’t like Clementine. There’s something different about her, something just not right.
Clementine knows it too. Except, unlike Jago, she knows what it is.
Magic.
In a futile attempt to ignore her magic, Clem inadvertently gets forced to accept her fate – that her magic is getting stronger – when Jago’s bullying gets too much, and she gets suspended from school (Which is rather convenient, considering what happens in the rest of the book!)
While wandering about the town the following day, she finds herself drawn to a house that wasn’t there before – How could she have missed it?
Following the tried and tested saying “Curiosity killed the cat” (Although no one actually dies), she goes inside and finds herself surrounded by thousands of snowglobes – all containing trapped magicians.
Further exploration leads to a shocking discovery: Dylan, Jago’s best friend, is trapped in a snow globe too.
Snowglobe creates a magical world described with wonder and beautiful imagery - and the multitude of snow globe prisons in Ganymede's house gives Amy Wilson free rein to bring us a truly rich tapestry, in the words of another review.
However, while the concept was strong, and consistent, there were quite a number of elements at play – from the magic, to the snowglobes, the bully befriending the bullied and even a lost Mom, it’s easy to get turned around – Although I’m sure that’s how Clem felt too.
The story was extremely creative, and a stone’s throw away from being one of the most unique novels I’ve read thus far – but it did leave me with questions.
I’m trying my best not to spoil the story, but what happens to Clem and Dylan’s friendship after they succeed in their story? And Clem’s Mom? How did her Dad react?
The conclusion was strikingly effective, and even sweet – But I think having an epilogue after this would have helped tie it off nicely, pretty bow and all.
All in all, the characters are interesting – and I think Clem as a teenager would make for an interesting Young Adult novel – and I think children (who actually read) will enjoy this book filled with unique worlds contained within snowglobes.
Also, there’s a dog. I love dogs!
It certainly makes me wonder – That snow globe I got my Mom with the leprechaun (All the way from Ireland), does that mean there’s a magician in there too??
Amy Wilson’s Snowglobes deserves a 3.5 star rating – it would have been five stars had it been a bit longer, and Clem’s parents reunited.
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The beautifully spellbinding and critically acclaimed story of a thousand magical worlds from the author of A Girl Called Owl and A Far Away Magic.
When daydreamer Clementine discovers a mysterious house standing in the middle of town that was never there before, she is pulled towards it by the powerful sense of a mother she never knew.
The place is full of snowglobes, swirling with stars and snow and each containing a trapped magician, watched over by Gan, the bitter keeper of the house. One of these is Dylan, a boy who teases her in the real world but who is now desperate for her help.
So Clem ventures into the snowglobes, rescuing Dylan and discovering her own powerful connection to the magic of these thousand worlds. Vowing to release the magicians from the control of their enchantments, Clem unknowingly unleashes a struggle for power that will not only put her family, but the future of magic itself in danger.
Clementine knows it too. Except, unlike Jago, she knows what it is.
Magic.
In a futile attempt to ignore her magic, Clem inadvertently gets forced to accept her fate – that her magic is getting stronger – when Jago’s bullying gets too much, and she gets suspended from school (Which is rather convenient, considering what happens in the rest of the book!)
While wandering about the town the following day, she finds herself drawn to a house that wasn’t there before – How could she have missed it?
Following the tried and tested saying “Curiosity killed the cat” (Although no one actually dies), she goes inside and finds herself surrounded by thousands of snowglobes – all containing trapped magicians.
Further exploration leads to a shocking discovery: Dylan, Jago’s best friend, is trapped in a snow globe too.
Snowglobe creates a magical world described with wonder and beautiful imagery - and the multitude of snow globe prisons in Ganymede's house gives Amy Wilson free rein to bring us a truly rich tapestry, in the words of another review.
However, while the concept was strong, and consistent, there were quite a number of elements at play – from the magic, to the snowglobes, the bully befriending the bullied and even a lost Mom, it’s easy to get turned around – Although I’m sure that’s how Clem felt too.
The story was extremely creative, and a stone’s throw away from being one of the most unique novels I’ve read thus far – but it did leave me with questions.
I’m trying my best not to spoil the story, but what happens to Clem and Dylan’s friendship after they succeed in their story? And Clem’s Mom? How did her Dad react?
The conclusion was strikingly effective, and even sweet – But I think having an epilogue after this would have helped tie it off nicely, pretty bow and all.
All in all, the characters are interesting – and I think Clem as a teenager would make for an interesting Young Adult novel – and I think children (who actually read) will enjoy this book filled with unique worlds contained within snowglobes.
Also, there’s a dog. I love dogs!
It certainly makes me wonder – That snow globe I got my Mom with the leprechaun (All the way from Ireland), does that mean there’s a magician in there too??
Amy Wilson’s Snowglobes deserves a 3.5 star rating – it would have been five stars had it been a bit longer, and Clem’s parents reunited.
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The beautifully spellbinding and critically acclaimed story of a thousand magical worlds from the author of A Girl Called Owl and A Far Away Magic.
When daydreamer Clementine discovers a mysterious house standing in the middle of town that was never there before, she is pulled towards it by the powerful sense of a mother she never knew.
The place is full of snowglobes, swirling with stars and snow and each containing a trapped magician, watched over by Gan, the bitter keeper of the house. One of these is Dylan, a boy who teases her in the real world but who is now desperate for her help.
So Clem ventures into the snowglobes, rescuing Dylan and discovering her own powerful connection to the magic of these thousand worlds. Vowing to release the magicians from the control of their enchantments, Clem unknowingly unleashes a struggle for power that will not only put her family, but the future of magic itself in danger.
January 2, 2023
I swear, middle grade books have no right making me this emotional 😤🥹😂 - a great little winter, whimsical read!
November 1, 2018
When a girl's already swirling world is shaken even further she discovers a world of magic that had been hidden from her, and for very good reason.
Amy Wilson's latest book Snowglobe is family drama but not as you know it. When a school bullying incident leads Clementine on a journey of self-discovery she gets involved in more than she bargained for - strange powers, disappearances, and an adventure in a previously-invisible house full of mysterious and macabre snowglobes.
As Clementine untangles her past she embarks on a quest for freedom, not only for herself, but for those whose only hope is her. In order to complete her quest Clem has to wrestle with family alliances, making difficult decisions about friendship and the greater good. The reality of life is never straightforward, especially not for young teenagers and pre-teens, so this book is a great sympathetic exploration of what it is to grow up and to begin to truly get to know oneself.
This adventure really picks up the pace as Clem, Dylan and Helios the dog search a network of enchanted snowglobes where hundreds of people with magical abilities are being held captive. This clever little device allows Wilson to explore a world of settings without the characters ever really leaving the room.
Upper Key Stage 2 children are sure to love the concept of this thrilling tale, and many will identify with Clem's struggles, albeit in a less magical way! A fairly dark tale ending in an explosion of light, this will have readers in its icy grip. A perfect winter read for those long dark days.
Amy Wilson's latest book Snowglobe is family drama but not as you know it. When a school bullying incident leads Clementine on a journey of self-discovery she gets involved in more than she bargained for - strange powers, disappearances, and an adventure in a previously-invisible house full of mysterious and macabre snowglobes.
As Clementine untangles her past she embarks on a quest for freedom, not only for herself, but for those whose only hope is her. In order to complete her quest Clem has to wrestle with family alliances, making difficult decisions about friendship and the greater good. The reality of life is never straightforward, especially not for young teenagers and pre-teens, so this book is a great sympathetic exploration of what it is to grow up and to begin to truly get to know oneself.
This adventure really picks up the pace as Clem, Dylan and Helios the dog search a network of enchanted snowglobes where hundreds of people with magical abilities are being held captive. This clever little device allows Wilson to explore a world of settings without the characters ever really leaving the room.
Upper Key Stage 2 children are sure to love the concept of this thrilling tale, and many will identify with Clem's struggles, albeit in a less magical way! A fairly dark tale ending in an explosion of light, this will have readers in its icy grip. A perfect winter read for those long dark days.
August 13, 2018
Amy Wilson’s Snowglobe is breathtakingly beautiful and without a doubt one of my favourite books of the year so far.
Young Clementine is sure that the curious house she finds in the middle of town was never there before. Drawn to look inside, she discovers hundreds of snowglobes each containing trapped magicians, including her classmate Dylan.
Headstrong Clementine bravely ventures into the worlds of the snowglobes on a mission to rescue Dylan and free those trapped by the house's enchantments. As she struggles against the strange and powerful sisters in charge of the house, Clementine's own magical identity is awakened as she grapples with her own past, present and future.
I loved the complexity of the characters and the strong female lead, the enchanting magical worlds in the snowglobes and the emotive narrative that is gripping from the first page.
Snowglobe is simply spellbinding as Amy Wilson spins her own brand of enticing magic and masterfully demonstrates the charm of middle-grade fantasy at its very best.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy. This book has been chosen for the BooksForTopics 'Ones to Watch' Autumn preview.
Young Clementine is sure that the curious house she finds in the middle of town was never there before. Drawn to look inside, she discovers hundreds of snowglobes each containing trapped magicians, including her classmate Dylan.
Headstrong Clementine bravely ventures into the worlds of the snowglobes on a mission to rescue Dylan and free those trapped by the house's enchantments. As she struggles against the strange and powerful sisters in charge of the house, Clementine's own magical identity is awakened as she grapples with her own past, present and future.
I loved the complexity of the characters and the strong female lead, the enchanting magical worlds in the snowglobes and the emotive narrative that is gripping from the first page.
Snowglobe is simply spellbinding as Amy Wilson spins her own brand of enticing magic and masterfully demonstrates the charm of middle-grade fantasy at its very best.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy. This book has been chosen for the BooksForTopics 'Ones to Watch' Autumn preview.
January 9, 2019
I found this magical middle grade read just charming. A really interesting concept!
I think at first it’s a little slow to get going and to draw the relevant parts together, and it is a little repetitive in places, but the overall fun shines off the page, and I really loved Clem and Dylan.
The story of the sisters was a little harder - largely as we don’t get a lot of history on why their parents started doing it, just on their views changing. Nor do we really get enough on their fighting, though I think it works well enough without that.
Clem however really made the book. She’s determined and strong and a little foolhardy, and I wanted to see more of her learning about her magic! I love her relationship with her dad, that she loves him even though he’s a bit absent.
On a side note I really wanted an epilogue where Clem and Dylan try to convince his mum about the dog 😂😂
I think at first it’s a little slow to get going and to draw the relevant parts together, and it is a little repetitive in places, but the overall fun shines off the page, and I really loved Clem and Dylan.
The story of the sisters was a little harder - largely as we don’t get a lot of history on why their parents started doing it, just on their views changing. Nor do we really get enough on their fighting, though I think it works well enough without that.
Clem however really made the book. She’s determined and strong and a little foolhardy, and I wanted to see more of her learning about her magic! I love her relationship with her dad, that she loves him even though he’s a bit absent.
On a side note I really wanted an epilogue where Clem and Dylan try to convince his mum about the dog 😂😂
June 6, 2018
A winter must-read. Snowglobe will sing to your soul... Amy has created another magical masterpiece, with a world that most authors could only wish of writing where each word is woven with wonder.
December 9, 2019
Clementine Is A Strange Young Girl - This Is How I Saw Her At First And I’m Sad To Say I Didn’t Understand Her.
Yes, This Book Is For Younger Readers Than Myself But I Think It’s Something Adults Can Appreciate Too.
What Drew Me In First Was The Stunning Cover - You Shouldn’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover But That Doesn’t Mean It Can’t Draw You In And This Image Of A Snow Globe Definitely Set The Scene For Beautiful Imagery And (What I Imagine To Be) Beautiful Worlds.
I Think This Book Contains So Many Elements That Can Teach Younger Readers Or That They Can Aspire To Including Bravery, Loyalty, Independence And Following Your Heart
Yes, This Book Is For Younger Readers Than Myself But I Think It’s Something Adults Can Appreciate Too.
What Drew Me In First Was The Stunning Cover - You Shouldn’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover But That Doesn’t Mean It Can’t Draw You In And This Image Of A Snow Globe Definitely Set The Scene For Beautiful Imagery And (What I Imagine To Be) Beautiful Worlds.
I Think This Book Contains So Many Elements That Can Teach Younger Readers Or That They Can Aspire To Including Bravery, Loyalty, Independence And Following Your Heart
May 18, 2020
It must be difficult to write children's fantasy after Harry Potter because nothing can match it. This is a pleasant attempt, kids of twelve or so would probably enjoy it. I liked it well enough. It's a good idea for a book, imprisoning magicians in snowglobes because magic is dangerous, but while I'm not at all too old for Harry Potter, I feel far too old for this one.
December 9, 2020
Perfect for a winters night. This middle grade magical book had lots of mystery and magic, and such an interesting storyline.
Overall, sometimes a little slow paced for me, but a cute story with a lovely ending.
Overall, sometimes a little slow paced for me, but a cute story with a lovely ending.
December 30, 2018
His was a short magical story that is a small snippet into a young girls quest to find her friend and mother.
January 20, 2023
I absolutely loved this story! It was such a cute and cozy fairytale. Truly magical.
January 23, 2019
A YOUNG girl's whole world turns outside in when she sparks her magic and stumbles upon a ruin of a home that is filled with to the brim with strange snowglobes that contain tiny, moving people.
Clementine, or Clem as she is affectionately called by her father, has been without a mom since she was two. Her dad said his mother had powerful magic and, after an argument between them, walked out the door and simply never returned. His love for her has never dulled and Clem hopes wishes for her mom to walk through the door and complete their little family.
Her father believes she has powers of her own but they have yet to manifest properly, that is until she decides to push back against a bully at school. Alongside the mysterious house she stumbles upon, her powers allow her to unlock a whole new set of worlds.
Inside one of these hand-sized worlds, she spots her classmate, a boy she saw only hours earlier. Despite him being a bit of a bully, she feels the need to save him from his glass prison.
The story is about friendship, family and standing up for what is right and, while the book may start off with a bang, it becomes a bit of a patchwork piece. It's narrative is slightly broken and you will have to do a lot of reading between the lines. Readers will see the characters experience whirlwinds of emotions in just one bout of dialogue, to the point of confusion, and there is very little in the way of character development and the magic system is not well thought out.
If you are wanting to get your youngsters into reading, maybe give this one a skip for a more popular titles in this category.
Clementine, or Clem as she is affectionately called by her father, has been without a mom since she was two. Her dad said his mother had powerful magic and, after an argument between them, walked out the door and simply never returned. His love for her has never dulled and Clem hopes wishes for her mom to walk through the door and complete their little family.
Her father believes she has powers of her own but they have yet to manifest properly, that is until she decides to push back against a bully at school. Alongside the mysterious house she stumbles upon, her powers allow her to unlock a whole new set of worlds.
Inside one of these hand-sized worlds, she spots her classmate, a boy she saw only hours earlier. Despite him being a bit of a bully, she feels the need to save him from his glass prison.
The story is about friendship, family and standing up for what is right and, while the book may start off with a bang, it becomes a bit of a patchwork piece. It's narrative is slightly broken and you will have to do a lot of reading between the lines. Readers will see the characters experience whirlwinds of emotions in just one bout of dialogue, to the point of confusion, and there is very little in the way of character development and the magic system is not well thought out.
If you are wanting to get your youngsters into reading, maybe give this one a skip for a more popular titles in this category.
December 30, 2021
A really cute winter themed story about being trapped in a snowglobe.
January 4, 2019
Wowza. What a beautiful book.
A magical tale about a young girl finding her magic and searching for her lost mom as she steps through worlds of snowglobe magic.
A magical tale about a young girl finding her magic and searching for her lost mom as she steps through worlds of snowglobe magic.
March 26, 2019
This is one of my favourite books I’ve ever read! I couldn’t put it down and I enjoyed every second of reading it. I felt like I was really in the magical world of all the snowglobes. I loved the plot and character development. This is an amazing story which anyone who likes fantasy, magic and adventure will absolutely love!
The characters made me care about them and I really felt like I knew them well.
The setting (the mysterious house and the snowglobes) was described so perfectly that I could see them in my mind.
I absolutely love this book and I hope that everyone loves it as much as I do!
The characters made me care about them and I really felt like I knew them well.
The setting (the mysterious house and the snowglobes) was described so perfectly that I could see them in my mind.
I absolutely love this book and I hope that everyone loves it as much as I do!
October 12, 2018
Originally posted at Chain Interaction
I think this was one of the books where the concept was much stronger than the execution. I loved the idea of the magicians trapped in the snowglobes, and the young characters having to journey through them. I loved the creativity of that concept and I thought that this had the recipe for something really interesting.
What I think let this story down was that there were a lot of elements at play, quite a few balls in the air, if you will. There’s the lost mother narrative, the mythological-meets-modern idea, the bully befriending the bullied, there’s the snowglobes – there’s a lot. I actually felt like this book could have benefitted from being a little longer, from having the time to explore those themes in a bit more detail and to really get to grips with how they all intersect. As it was I was very confused for a good portion of this book – which is not something I tend to expect from a middle-grade novel.
That being said, the prose is lovely, the characters are interesting, though I myself didn’t relate to them hugely, I think other children might. There are moments that truly capture the imagination, the idea of thousands of unique worlds contained within the snowglobes certainly caught my mind’s eye. I can envision school children being asked to design their own snowglobe world as either an artistic or creative writing exercise, which I would have loved as a child.
With a firmer hand on the rudder, or perhaps just with a more limited scope, I think this could have been an exceptional middle-grade story. As it is, I think there was just a little too much going on for any one element to shine through. I’m also a little bit biased against stories in which bullies and bystanders get redemption, but that’s personal experience and preference shining through. It does have the trope of a young girl discovering she has magic, and it also has a dog – so it had some of my favourite things too!
I think this will make a good Christmas gift or wintry read for middle-grade readers (by which I mean, readers who read middle-grade) and who like a complex plot and some slightly creepy elements.
My rating: 3/5 stars
I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I think this was one of the books where the concept was much stronger than the execution. I loved the idea of the magicians trapped in the snowglobes, and the young characters having to journey through them. I loved the creativity of that concept and I thought that this had the recipe for something really interesting.
What I think let this story down was that there were a lot of elements at play, quite a few balls in the air, if you will. There’s the lost mother narrative, the mythological-meets-modern idea, the bully befriending the bullied, there’s the snowglobes – there’s a lot. I actually felt like this book could have benefitted from being a little longer, from having the time to explore those themes in a bit more detail and to really get to grips with how they all intersect. As it was I was very confused for a good portion of this book – which is not something I tend to expect from a middle-grade novel.
That being said, the prose is lovely, the characters are interesting, though I myself didn’t relate to them hugely, I think other children might. There are moments that truly capture the imagination, the idea of thousands of unique worlds contained within the snowglobes certainly caught my mind’s eye. I can envision school children being asked to design their own snowglobe world as either an artistic or creative writing exercise, which I would have loved as a child.
With a firmer hand on the rudder, or perhaps just with a more limited scope, I think this could have been an exceptional middle-grade story. As it is, I think there was just a little too much going on for any one element to shine through. I’m also a little bit biased against stories in which bullies and bystanders get redemption, but that’s personal experience and preference shining through. It does have the trope of a young girl discovering she has magic, and it also has a dog – so it had some of my favourite things too!
I think this will make a good Christmas gift or wintry read for middle-grade readers (by which I mean, readers who read middle-grade) and who like a complex plot and some slightly creepy elements.
My rating: 3/5 stars
I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 20, 2018
Clementine is different from other children at her school. Her mother left when she was little & her Pa doesn't spend much time at home with her.
One day she noticed a tall house where there was not one before. Upon entering something feels strange yet familiar. A bit she recognises is inside a freezing snowflake but as she is discovered by the house's occupant Clem leaves vowing to return to save him.
As she realise s her magic has some similarities to the house she returns to find herself able to get into the globe to help her friend Dylan & his dog, Helios.
Ganymede & Io are rulers of the demain & storms sweep through the globes as Clem & Dylan struggle through different scenes to escape.
I loved Clementines boldness & ability to judge characters, her determination throughout & sense of kindness. In the search for an exit she feels strongly that her mother has been bound by the women & works with Dylan to free everyone trapped in the snowflakes in the house.
A bewitching fantasy read that had a merry ending.
One day she noticed a tall house where there was not one before. Upon entering something feels strange yet familiar. A bit she recognises is inside a freezing snowflake but as she is discovered by the house's occupant Clem leaves vowing to return to save him.
As she realise s her magic has some similarities to the house she returns to find herself able to get into the globe to help her friend Dylan & his dog, Helios.
Ganymede & Io are rulers of the demain & storms sweep through the globes as Clem & Dylan struggle through different scenes to escape.
I loved Clementines boldness & ability to judge characters, her determination throughout & sense of kindness. In the search for an exit she feels strongly that her mother has been bound by the women & works with Dylan to free everyone trapped in the snowflakes in the house.
A bewitching fantasy read that had a merry ending.
December 1, 2018
Wonderful magical MG story to disappear into. Loved the strong female characters , young Clementine has a lot in common personality wise with Nevermoor’s Morrigan it would seem. I love snow globes but I’ll be looking at them a little more closely now!
October 13, 2018
In her 3rd novel, Amy Wilson tells the story of Clementine, a daydreaming misfit who is bullied at school as she enters a magical house filled with snow globes that trap magicians, and must put herself inside them to use her newly discovered magic to rescue one of her bully`s friends, Dylan, who doesn`t actively torment her but doesn`t try to stop his friend Jago from doing so either. I found the dynamic between them really interesting, and I enjoyed the alliance they formed to improve their chances of escaping the snow globes and the friendship that followed later. I absolutely loved Clementine as a character and I really sympathised with her situation at school, so it was really wonderful to see her become more confident in herself as the book went on and I loved how kind and clever she was too; I honestly can`t quite put into words how much I admired her. Ganymede, the keeper of the house, was so enigmatic and interesting that getting to learn more about her was great too, and I adored Helios, who is one of the sweetest, most loving animal companions I`ve seen in a while. The magic system of the snow globes was so unique, and the gradual reveal of information about them was something else I really enjoyed, particularly the sections that flash back to when Ganymede was young and her two sisters still lived in the house with her. My favourite part of Snowglobe, however, was definitely the writing style. It was so lyrical and it was perfect for magical realism since it conjures the images of what the house and the snow globes would be like amazingly, as well as being vivid in its description in the sort of way that meant I got totally swept up in the world and could almost forgot I was in the real world a lot of the time, as I truly felt as if I was there beside Clementine, Dylan and Helios and experiencing everything too. If you`re looking for a wintry read to curl up with under a blanket on a chilly day, look no further. 4.5/5
October 10, 2018
I am just so in love with this book! It took me no time to warm up with the main character, Clementine. Her headstrong character that is also brave and kindhearted is easily loved, and I found myself constantly anticipating her next actions. Despite her father's pleads for her to stop giving in to her true powers, she fought for what she think is rightfully hers. I am sure that if I have read this book when I was younger, I would have idolised Clementine.
There are so many good elements being part of this wonderful story. Family love and friendship would be the biggest part of it. The friendship that blooms between Clementine and Dylan warms me up, and I'm actually glad the story focuses only on them being friends. The bond and trust for each other that they created during the times they are trapped in the snowglobes are just delightful. Aside from that, there is also the element of forgiving others and accepting oneself as who they are. I believe that Snowglobe will be able to teach so many goodness to young readers.
Thank you Pansing for providing me with a review copy of this book. The full review is available on my blog ♡
There are so many good elements being part of this wonderful story. Family love and friendship would be the biggest part of it. The friendship that blooms between Clementine and Dylan warms me up, and I'm actually glad the story focuses only on them being friends. The bond and trust for each other that they created during the times they are trapped in the snowglobes are just delightful. Aside from that, there is also the element of forgiving others and accepting oneself as who they are. I believe that Snowglobe will be able to teach so many goodness to young readers.
Thank you Pansing for providing me with a review copy of this book. The full review is available on my blog ♡
October 30, 2018
A story about real life struggles and modern day challenges from a child's perspective. Clem can be anyone, anywhere when inside the magical snowglobes and she uses this to help her rationalise the situations she find herself in at home and at school helping her unite her family after an age of conflict.
Amy Wilson's best novel to date, read in one day and leaving me with a warm fuzzy feeling of satisfaction.
Amy Wilson's best novel to date, read in one day and leaving me with a warm fuzzy feeling of satisfaction.
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