What do you think?
Rate this book
Giada the Healer #1
How to Heal a Gryphon
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2022)To save her family, she’ll have to make a dangerous bargain and tip the scales off balance.
With her thirteenth birthday just around the corner, Giada Bellantuono has to make a big decision: Will she join the family business and become a healer or follow her dreams? But even though she knows her calling is to heal vulnerable animals, using her powers to treat magical creatures is decidedly not allowed.
When a group of witches kidnaps her beloved older brother, Rocco, and her parents are away, Giada is the only person left who can rescue him. Swept into the magical underground city of Malavita, Giada will need the help of her new companions to save her brother—or risk losing him forever.
With her thirteenth birthday just around the corner, Giada Bellantuono has to make a big decision: Will she join the family business and become a healer or follow her dreams? But even though she knows her calling is to heal vulnerable animals, using her powers to treat magical creatures is decidedly not allowed.
When a group of witches kidnaps her beloved older brother, Rocco, and her parents are away, Giada is the only person left who can rescue him. Swept into the magical underground city of Malavita, Giada will need the help of her new companions to save her brother—or risk losing him forever.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
September 17, 2022
This middle grade fantasy was a fun, sweet, quick story. I looked through other reviews and I don’t think that people totally got that it was middle grade instead of young adult and I think that misconception impacted others’ enjoyment. I don’t read a ton of middle grade at this point in my life, but I do enjoy them from time to time and this is one I would share with the kids I work with. Giada is approaching her 13th birthday and with that comes her oath to serve as a magical healer, but the problem is she’s not connected to healing humans. Giada’s magic works best with animals and mystical creatures. Before she can figure out how to break this news to her parents she is set off on an adventure to save her brother and along that journey she grows confidence in who she is and what she is meant to do. I liked the writing and found that the story flowed very well.
December 20, 2022
A sweet, feel-good middle grade read full of magic, adventure, and fun.
It’s a coming of age story with body-positive attitudes and lots of friendship, family, and found family feels. It has great characters and a solid plot with a happy ending. Giada’s a strong, empathetic, and clever female protagonist and true animal lover. They’re are tons of other lovable characters, including Giada’s awesome best friend, a talking black cat, and a spider friend that provides Giada with silk. (My favorite characters are the animals.)
The world has its own unique magic system and is layered with elements from Roman mythology, Italian lore, and Italian culture. It’s set in Italy and you might find yourself looking up the occasional Italian phrase or two. (But, it’s not totally necessary. The occasional Italian phrases can be inferred from context and the story can be easily understood without an Italian-to-English dictionary..)
SYNOPSIS:
Gaida comes from a long line of magical healers, gifted with (limited) abilities to heal humans by the god Apollo. But she’s never had a knack for healing humans, she doesn’t love the work, and she’s never felt a connection to Apollo. Healing animals is what comes naturally to her. Frankly, she prefers animals to most people. Diana is the goddess she feels connected to.
Her highly superstitious family loves her, but they aren’t exactly supportive. They’re afraid that she’ll be plagued with misfortune if she doesn’t go into the family business as a healer of humans. They don’t understand why she doesn’t want to devote her life to healing humans. Wishing that her family would accept her as she is, accept her as different instead of expecting her to make herself be like them, Giada heals animals, both non-magical and magical, in secret and tries to work up the courage to tell her family she won’t be going into the career they expect. She’s gotten quite good at the former and has made a lot of animal friends.
What starts with healing a baby gryphon and a little spilled salt & olive oil soon spirals into a mission to rescue her brother, heal another gryphon, and help some somewhat misunderstood underdogs. (Turns out not all of her family’s superstitions are ridiculous.) Along the way, Giada finds a familiar, embraces her unique magic, gains some confidence, and learns to stand up to her family and make them hear her (and see how impressive she is).
OTHER THINGS I LIKED:
Extra kudos for appreciation of underappreciated animals, creatures, and critters. (Like spiders, black cats, etc.)
I love the healthy attitudes about weight and body image in this book. The protagonist is not thin, but is healthy and happy with herself as is. Her family and friends share her healthy attitudes on this matter. I love how Giada handled the occasional judgey fat-phobic stranger with skill, humor, and unapologetic awesomeness.
The villains aren’t pure evil or misunderstood saints, they’re real people that are scary, but that Giada can also empathize with at times. Many of the main characters are flawed, but well-meaning. Most importantly, they learn from their mistakes. Giada and many of the other main characters grow and learn in this story.
THE VERDICT:
A fun story with a female main character kids can look up to, lots of positive themes and messages, and a story good enough to entertain readers of all ages. A sweet, empowering, and heartwarming read that’s great for when you’re in the mood for a family-friendly, romance-free read with a happy ending.
Warnings: Mention of covid-19 pandemic (briefly, in past tense, nothing graphic)
I received a free hardback copy in a BookishFirst raffle. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.
It’s a coming of age story with body-positive attitudes and lots of friendship, family, and found family feels. It has great characters and a solid plot with a happy ending. Giada’s a strong, empathetic, and clever female protagonist and true animal lover. They’re are tons of other lovable characters, including Giada’s awesome best friend, a talking black cat, and a spider friend that provides Giada with silk. (My favorite characters are the animals.)
The world has its own unique magic system and is layered with elements from Roman mythology, Italian lore, and Italian culture. It’s set in Italy and you might find yourself looking up the occasional Italian phrase or two. (But, it’s not totally necessary. The occasional Italian phrases can be inferred from context and the story can be easily understood without an Italian-to-English dictionary..)
SYNOPSIS:
Gaida comes from a long line of magical healers, gifted with (limited) abilities to heal humans by the god Apollo. But she’s never had a knack for healing humans, she doesn’t love the work, and she’s never felt a connection to Apollo. Healing animals is what comes naturally to her. Frankly, she prefers animals to most people. Diana is the goddess she feels connected to.
Her highly superstitious family loves her, but they aren’t exactly supportive. They’re afraid that she’ll be plagued with misfortune if she doesn’t go into the family business as a healer of humans. They don’t understand why she doesn’t want to devote her life to healing humans. Wishing that her family would accept her as she is, accept her as different instead of expecting her to make herself be like them, Giada heals animals, both non-magical and magical, in secret and tries to work up the courage to tell her family she won’t be going into the career they expect. She’s gotten quite good at the former and has made a lot of animal friends.
What starts with healing a baby gryphon and a little spilled salt & olive oil soon spirals into a mission to rescue her brother, heal another gryphon, and help some somewhat misunderstood underdogs. (Turns out not all of her family’s superstitions are ridiculous.) Along the way, Giada finds a familiar, embraces her unique magic, gains some confidence, and learns to stand up to her family and make them hear her (and see how impressive she is).
OTHER THINGS I LIKED:
Extra kudos for appreciation of underappreciated animals, creatures, and critters. (Like spiders, black cats, etc.)
I love the healthy attitudes about weight and body image in this book. The protagonist is not thin, but is healthy and happy with herself as is. Her family and friends share her healthy attitudes on this matter. I love how Giada handled the occasional judgey fat-phobic stranger with skill, humor, and unapologetic awesomeness.
The villains aren’t pure evil or misunderstood saints, they’re real people that are scary, but that Giada can also empathize with at times. Many of the main characters are flawed, but well-meaning. Most importantly, they learn from their mistakes. Giada and many of the other main characters grow and learn in this story.
THE VERDICT:
A fun story with a female main character kids can look up to, lots of positive themes and messages, and a story good enough to entertain readers of all ages. A sweet, empowering, and heartwarming read that’s great for when you’re in the mood for a family-friendly, romance-free read with a happy ending.
Warnings: Mention of covid-19 pandemic (briefly, in past tense, nothing graphic)
I received a free hardback copy in a BookishFirst raffle. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.
April 16, 2022
2.5 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
Giada, daughter of a family of famous healing witches, lives in the shadow of her older brother Rocco, who shows signs of becoming the most famous of them all in time. But Giada doesn't want to follow Apollo and heal humans; she wants to follow Diana and heal animals. But her wayward nature may get everyone in trouble.
Review
I picked up this book from NetGalley principally because it was about a girl who wants to use magic to heal animals. As someone who likes fantasy and cares deeply about animals, it seemed a great match. It also sounded like a light, YA story, and I’ve been reading more serious fare lately. Unfortunately, the book didn’t really deliver what I expected.
First, while I imagine it’s marketed as YA or NA, it read to me more like a younger children’s book – no A at all. That’s absolutely fine; I like children’s books too. But while some make pretty good reading for adults, I found this one disappointing – the plot is on the thin side, with little risk, and I found that some fairly big chunks of it just didn’t really make sense. The Streghe del Malocchio, for example, are feared throughout the witch community, but didn’t live up to their reputation in practice. The actions they take don’t seem to follow the story’s own proposed logic. Cannistra makes an effort to give the Streghe some depth as a misunderstood group, but then seems to drop that without ever really committing to the idea. Maybe that’s for a sequel. But I didn’t find myself interested enough to follow Giada along any further.
In part, that’s because, for me, the book didn’t deliver on its central premise of a girl who loves animals. She talks about it a lot, and she has a few animal companions, but the principal one feels forced on her, and there’s not a lot of rapport. More to the point, Giada herself doesn’t show much sign of liking animals. She gets quickly tired or frustrated with them, yells at them, etc. They feel more like a convenient plot device than something she really cares about. When mermaids give her a (presumably living) oyster, for example, she feels no compunction about accepting it, carrying it around out of water, and then summarily cracking it open to take a pearl. The oyster, which presumably dies slowly, is of no moment at all in the story, other than as a pearl maker. That’s the most extreme example, but there are others. I never felt Giada really cared about animals in the way I expected.
The magic of the story feels equally convenient. Giada is famously from a line of healers, who can achieve great, but still limited results. But their magic seems capable of pretty much anything, and without much reason or rhyme. I don’t insist that all fantasy come with a carefully described magic system, but there have to be some limits and some logic, or magic carries no weight. As it is, Giada, an untrained witch who doesn’t even seem to pay much attention, can do all kind of things without much effort.
That brings us back to the initial point – that the plot is too easy and too simple, and some of the plot points feel manufactured rather than natural. The inclusion of Italian words and phrases, intended to offer some ambiance, also didn’t feel natural to me (and referring to the Madre del Malocchio as ‘Madre’ rather than ‘la Madre’ didn’t help. And why do Italian witches follow a Greek god and a Roman goddess?). Overall, this felt to me like an early draft that still needed several rounds of editing. Just as important, though, was that it didn’t deliver on its promise of an animal-loving girl so much as offering a rebellious girl who … hey, let’s make her an animal healer …needed a gimmick. Healing gryphons, in the end, is not what the story is about.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
Giada, daughter of a family of famous healing witches, lives in the shadow of her older brother Rocco, who shows signs of becoming the most famous of them all in time. But Giada doesn't want to follow Apollo and heal humans; she wants to follow Diana and heal animals. But her wayward nature may get everyone in trouble.
Review
I picked up this book from NetGalley principally because it was about a girl who wants to use magic to heal animals. As someone who likes fantasy and cares deeply about animals, it seemed a great match. It also sounded like a light, YA story, and I’ve been reading more serious fare lately. Unfortunately, the book didn’t really deliver what I expected.
First, while I imagine it’s marketed as YA or NA, it read to me more like a younger children’s book – no A at all. That’s absolutely fine; I like children’s books too. But while some make pretty good reading for adults, I found this one disappointing – the plot is on the thin side, with little risk, and I found that some fairly big chunks of it just didn’t really make sense. The Streghe del Malocchio, for example, are feared throughout the witch community, but didn’t live up to their reputation in practice. The actions they take don’t seem to follow the story’s own proposed logic. Cannistra makes an effort to give the Streghe some depth as a misunderstood group, but then seems to drop that without ever really committing to the idea. Maybe that’s for a sequel. But I didn’t find myself interested enough to follow Giada along any further.
In part, that’s because, for me, the book didn’t deliver on its central premise of a girl who loves animals. She talks about it a lot, and she has a few animal companions, but the principal one feels forced on her, and there’s not a lot of rapport. More to the point, Giada herself doesn’t show much sign of liking animals. She gets quickly tired or frustrated with them, yells at them, etc. They feel more like a convenient plot device than something she really cares about. When mermaids give her a (presumably living) oyster, for example, she feels no compunction about accepting it, carrying it around out of water, and then summarily cracking it open to take a pearl. The oyster, which presumably dies slowly, is of no moment at all in the story, other than as a pearl maker. That’s the most extreme example, but there are others. I never felt Giada really cared about animals in the way I expected.
The magic of the story feels equally convenient. Giada is famously from a line of healers, who can achieve great, but still limited results. But their magic seems capable of pretty much anything, and without much reason or rhyme. I don’t insist that all fantasy come with a carefully described magic system, but there have to be some limits and some logic, or magic carries no weight. As it is, Giada, an untrained witch who doesn’t even seem to pay much attention, can do all kind of things without much effort.
That brings us back to the initial point – that the plot is too easy and too simple, and some of the plot points feel manufactured rather than natural. The inclusion of Italian words and phrases, intended to offer some ambiance, also didn’t feel natural to me (and referring to the Madre del Malocchio as ‘Madre’ rather than ‘la Madre’ didn’t help. And why do Italian witches follow a Greek god and a Roman goddess?). Overall, this felt to me like an early draft that still needed several rounds of editing. Just as important, though, was that it didn’t deliver on its promise of an animal-loving girl so much as offering a rebellious girl who … hey, let’s make her an animal healer …needed a gimmick. Healing gryphons, in the end, is not what the story is about.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2022
I’m not a regular reader of middle grade books, so perhaps I’m missing something here. Our heroine, Giada, is not especially likable. She comes off as flippant about her schooling, seems to be a bad student, and isn’t especially kind to the animals she’s supposed to love. There’s constant eye rolling and “ugh” from her.
Italian language, food, and locations are used as window dressing here, but it doesn’t really add to the story. I could see a younger reader who doesn’t know Italian (or a Romance language) getting frustrated by this.
I don’t really understand why, but there seems to be some religious signs woven into this story about witches and healers. Signs off the cross are used, for example.
The world building is present in the beginning and any other time it’s convenient (meaning, it sometimes comes out of left field). For example, we are told on page 279 that gryphons are allergic to gold. It would have made sense to weave this in earlier.
This is a disjointed review because the book feels haphazard. It was hard to care about Giada.
Italian language, food, and locations are used as window dressing here, but it doesn’t really add to the story. I could see a younger reader who doesn’t know Italian (or a Romance language) getting frustrated by this.
I don’t really understand why, but there seems to be some religious signs woven into this story about witches and healers. Signs off the cross are used, for example.
The world building is present in the beginning and any other time it’s convenient (meaning, it sometimes comes out of left field). For example, we are told on page 279 that gryphons are allergic to gold. It would have made sense to weave this in earlier.
This is a disjointed review because the book feels haphazard. It was hard to care about Giada.
September 19, 2022
I loved Giada from the beginning, especially her intelligence, loyalty, and love of animals. The loving family relationship throughout, even if they wanted something else for Giada was heartwarming and comforting in a fantasy world built on magic and potential danger lurking everywhere.
I enjoyed the world building and magical system for the most part, although the ending was completely off for me--things were wrapped up too easily and "evil" characters seemed to suddenly change their hearts and minds unbelievably.
The pacing of this novel was perfect with lots of action, intrigue, and "down time" where Giada spent time gathering magical supplies, refueling her body and mind, and planning out her magical tasks. I never wanted to stop reading this book!
I was pleasantly surprised at the mention of the COVID pandemic; although it wasn't mentioned by name, the current pandemic was an important part in the characters' past lives and shaping their futures.
Giada's internal struggle of wanting to pursue healing and helping animals instead of humans as her family's traditional career was well done and I enjoyed how she had to show her family and best friend her passion for becoming a magical veterinarian. Highly recommended middle grade fantasy!
I enjoyed the world building and magical system for the most part, although the ending was completely off for me--things were wrapped up too easily and "evil" characters seemed to suddenly change their hearts and minds unbelievably.
The pacing of this novel was perfect with lots of action, intrigue, and "down time" where Giada spent time gathering magical supplies, refueling her body and mind, and planning out her magical tasks. I never wanted to stop reading this book!
I was pleasantly surprised at the mention of the COVID pandemic; although it wasn't mentioned by name, the current pandemic was an important part in the characters' past lives and shaping their futures.
Giada's internal struggle of wanting to pursue healing and helping animals instead of humans as her family's traditional career was well done and I enjoyed how she had to show her family and best friend her passion for becoming a magical veterinarian. Highly recommended middle grade fantasy!
September 25, 2023
Remember the classic Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola? Did you ever wonder if there were any more stories about stregas? Then this is the book for you. Giada comes from a family of stregas who are guaritrice (Italian for healers) of Roman god Apollo. Even though her parents and older brother Rocco expect her to follow in their footsteps, she wants to be a follower of the Roman goddess Diana to care for animals. When her brother is taken by the Strega del Malocchio (Witches of the Evil Eye), Giada sets out to rescue him. Will she succeed? And what kind of strega will she become; a healer of humans, a caretaker of animals, or one that the dark side beckons?
Find out in this fun fantasy story that uses Italian words and phrases throughout. If you are someone who likes to know the translations of words you are unfamiliar with, read this on a Kindle or ebook reader that translates for you.
Find out in this fun fantasy story that uses Italian words and phrases throughout. If you are someone who likes to know the translations of words you are unfamiliar with, read this on a Kindle or ebook reader that translates for you.
September 26, 2022
How To Heal A Gryphon was a pretty good Middle-grade book! I really enjoyed the storyline of this one and quickly found myself not wanting to put the book down. This book was well written, fast paced and had a lot of good fantasy elements that I really appreciated. I really liked the main character, Giada Bellantuono and her desire to heal creatures, like gryphons. I found the magic system intriguing and I don’t think I’ve read a book quite like this one. I didn’t have too many complaints about this book other than I found there were a few moments that dragged on and felt a little unnecessary, but it didn’t impact my view on the book too much. Overall I found this book to be a quick enjoyable read and I can see how people of all ages and middle-graders will be able to read and enjoy this book. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves a good middle grade fantasy!
March 28, 2022
With Christmas Eve rapidly approaching where 13 year old witches must take the oath to help heal students, Giada is torn. From the most powerful family in her region, she knows what is expected of her but she wants to heal animals. She is torn about how to tell her family that she wants to deviate from the norm. In the midst of her inner turmoil, Giada's older brother Rocco is kidnapped and taken to Malavita by evil witches. With Giada's parents out-of-town, she alone must rescue Rocco or risk losing him forever. As she works to save her brother, Giada's use of her powers and knowledge of animals becomes very useful. This allows others to see her desire to heal animals in a different light.
September 23, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
Giada Bellantuono comes from a long line of magical healers and her family expects her to follow tradition, but Giada knows her calling is to heal animals rather than people. She’s decided to tell her family about her decision to follow her dreams when her brother suddenly goes missing. It’s up to Giada to figure out who took him and how to get him back home safely.
Set in Italy along the Amalfi Coast, How to Heal a Gryphon is a magical story about family and sticking up for your dreams/beliefs, with many loveable creatures we meet along the way. I haven’t read a middle-grade book in a long time, but I really enjoyed this one. It took a little bit to get into the story, but once the adventure started it was hard to put down. I think this is something I would have also enjoyed as a kid. The descriptions of food and the setting made me feel apart of the story. Giada is an entertaining protagonist; she is very stubborn, strong-willed, and would do anything for the people and animals she loves. I would recommend this book if you enjoy middle-grade fiction, but keep in mind that it is written for a young audience. The story was fun and exciting enough to keep me interested, so I enjoyed it.
*Thank you to Inkyard Press, Harper Collins, and BookishFirst for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. How to Heal a Gryphon is available October 4.
Giada Bellantuono comes from a long line of magical healers and her family expects her to follow tradition, but Giada knows her calling is to heal animals rather than people. She’s decided to tell her family about her decision to follow her dreams when her brother suddenly goes missing. It’s up to Giada to figure out who took him and how to get him back home safely.
Set in Italy along the Amalfi Coast, How to Heal a Gryphon is a magical story about family and sticking up for your dreams/beliefs, with many loveable creatures we meet along the way. I haven’t read a middle-grade book in a long time, but I really enjoyed this one. It took a little bit to get into the story, but once the adventure started it was hard to put down. I think this is something I would have also enjoyed as a kid. The descriptions of food and the setting made me feel apart of the story. Giada is an entertaining protagonist; she is very stubborn, strong-willed, and would do anything for the people and animals she loves. I would recommend this book if you enjoy middle-grade fiction, but keep in mind that it is written for a young audience. The story was fun and exciting enough to keep me interested, so I enjoyed it.
*Thank you to Inkyard Press, Harper Collins, and BookishFirst for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. How to Heal a Gryphon is available October 4.
October 5, 2022
The moon reflected on the water, and the stars twinkled their satisfaction as they lit up the darkness. She sat on the shoreline, the water occasionally lapping up and touching the tips of her toes. On one side of her a silky black cat licked its paws in contentment and a majestic gryphon sat on her other side watching over the sea. Her magic tingled in her fingertips, as she anticipated her next adventure.
How to Heal a Gryphon was a sweet middle grade fantasy adventure. Giada is set to join the family business in healing people… except for she doesn’t want to. She’d rather use her magic to heal animals, but that is not allowed. But when her brother is kidnapped by evil witches, she has to use her abilities to save him because she’s the only one who can.
This book was such a cute read and fun adventure. Giada was the sweetest character and I loved her love for animals. This book is filled with magic and spooks, plus witches. A perfect read for the fall season!
If you’re looking for a perfect middle grade read for the fall season with some Hocus Pocus like witches, a Sabrina-like black cat companion, and magic potions… this book will do the trick!
TW: Kidnapping
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
How to Heal a Gryphon was a sweet middle grade fantasy adventure. Giada is set to join the family business in healing people… except for she doesn’t want to. She’d rather use her magic to heal animals, but that is not allowed. But when her brother is kidnapped by evil witches, she has to use her abilities to save him because she’s the only one who can.
This book was such a cute read and fun adventure. Giada was the sweetest character and I loved her love for animals. This book is filled with magic and spooks, plus witches. A perfect read for the fall season!
If you’re looking for a perfect middle grade read for the fall season with some Hocus Pocus like witches, a Sabrina-like black cat companion, and magic potions… this book will do the trick!
TW: Kidnapping
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
October 6, 2022
Meg Cannistra's "How to Heal a Gryphon" is a mix between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. Giada is a guaritrice-in-training which means she is learning to use her magic to heal people. Her family is a well known guaritrice family and a lot is expected of her, especially since her older brother Rocco is already a famous guaritrice. There is one problem, Meg does not want to train to use magic to heal people. She wants to use her magic to heal animals. Animals known to our world like cats and dogs as well as mystical animals that mere mortals usually can't see like unicorns and gryphons. If she makes this choice, she will be going against her family's lineage and be a big disappointment to her dad.
As fate steps in and takes Meg's future on a different path. Rocco is kidnapped by the Streghe del Malocchio and taken to the underworld. Meg must rely on her magic, her familiar Sinistro as well as help from mystical friends....and that might not be enough to save her brother.
This story is filled with humor, mythical creatures, brother-sister rivalry, and coming of age. The book leaves off with plenty of room for a book #2 to be in the future.
As fate steps in and takes Meg's future on a different path. Rocco is kidnapped by the Streghe del Malocchio and taken to the underworld. Meg must rely on her magic, her familiar Sinistro as well as help from mystical friends....and that might not be enough to save her brother.
This story is filled with humor, mythical creatures, brother-sister rivalry, and coming of age. The book leaves off with plenty of room for a book #2 to be in the future.
September 16, 2022
I thought this middle grade was such a sweet action and adventure middle grade! It was super fast paced, and overall a fun read! And I loved how it was set in Italy! It just added a fun little dynamic to the story. The part where it had gods too was really good! And the magical creatures are always a plus in books! The representation of different sizes was absolutely the best! I am hoping hoping that Meg Cannistra publishes more books in this series because I love how the siblings interact and the magical creatures are always a plus, and the representation! So good. I loved the way she writes! This would be Such a good movie! (My little sister doesn’t like reading but I think she would like this :))anyways to sum it up, this cute, wholesome, action packed middle grade is perfect for a young (or old lol;)) readers who love a refreshing easy read!
September 19, 2022
3.5 stars. This was such a sweet and fun middle grade book. I’m a big fan of Greek/Roman mythology so I loved that that was included in this story. I liked how each kind of Streghe practiced a different type of magic linked to a different god.
Giada , the protagonist, descends from a long line of guaritrices, who use their magic to help heal other humans. But Giada feels compelled to heal animals instead. This causes friction between her and her family. Giada is able to use her magic to speak to animals too and when her brother is taken by the Streghe del Malocchio, her connection to animals is what helps her to save him.
I loved how Giada was able to communicate with the different animals and her familiar. Even though she was young, Giada had confidence in herself and was able to put her fear aside to do what was needed. I also loved that Giada was a full-figured girl and she was not ashamed of it.
I liked how the author showed more than one dimension with the Steghe del Malocchio. They weren't just inherently evil; it was more complex than that. They had a purpose to the world.
The only complaint I have is that I wish there had been even more interactions between Giada and other animals. The mythical Gryphons were a fun addition and I really liked the tarantula, Tartufo and her familiar, Sinistro, but I would have loved even more animals to be included, especially mythical ones.
The ending was sweet and I would recommend this to any child or adult who loves fantasy, animals and magic.
**Thank you to Inkyard Press, Netgalley, and Bookishfirst for an ARC. The opinions expressed herein are my own**
Giada , the protagonist, descends from a long line of guaritrices, who use their magic to help heal other humans. But Giada feels compelled to heal animals instead. This causes friction between her and her family. Giada is able to use her magic to speak to animals too and when her brother is taken by the Streghe del Malocchio, her connection to animals is what helps her to save him.
I loved how Giada was able to communicate with the different animals and her familiar. Even though she was young, Giada had confidence in herself and was able to put her fear aside to do what was needed. I also loved that Giada was a full-figured girl and she was not ashamed of it.
I liked how the author showed more than one dimension with the Steghe del Malocchio. They weren't just inherently evil; it was more complex than that. They had a purpose to the world.
The only complaint I have is that I wish there had been even more interactions between Giada and other animals. The mythical Gryphons were a fun addition and I really liked the tarantula, Tartufo and her familiar, Sinistro, but I would have loved even more animals to be included, especially mythical ones.
The ending was sweet and I would recommend this to any child or adult who loves fantasy, animals and magic.
**Thank you to Inkyard Press, Netgalley, and Bookishfirst for an ARC. The opinions expressed herein are my own**
November 20, 2023
a new fantasy heroine!
I rarely give 5 stars. I rarely feel moved to write a review… But it is worth 5 stars.
I loved this book because it has new ideas and a dynamic protagonist. The magic system is unique for members of this magical healing community. I love that the culture of this group of practitioners is to help people - anyone and everyone. The heroine is spunky and has grit and determination. The magical creatures and the made up properties of different spell/potion ingredients all fit together perfectly to make a believable world. I’m looking forward to re-reading this book with my children. It doesn’t get heavy-scary, so it’s perfect for kids. I highly recommend it. I’m really looking forward to reading the sequel, HOW to SAVE a UNICORN. I really hope Meg Cannistra writes more adventures for Giada and Sinistro.
I rarely give 5 stars. I rarely feel moved to write a review… But it is worth 5 stars.
I loved this book because it has new ideas and a dynamic protagonist. The magic system is unique for members of this magical healing community. I love that the culture of this group of practitioners is to help people - anyone and everyone. The heroine is spunky and has grit and determination. The magical creatures and the made up properties of different spell/potion ingredients all fit together perfectly to make a believable world. I’m looking forward to re-reading this book with my children. It doesn’t get heavy-scary, so it’s perfect for kids. I highly recommend it. I’m really looking forward to reading the sequel, HOW to SAVE a UNICORN. I really hope Meg Cannistra writes more adventures for Giada and Sinistro.
August 8, 2022
* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I thought this was a really fun actiom and adventure middle grade story that was super fast pace amd fun read. I also loved that this story was set in italy. I also loved this book had elements that focused on aimals and also jobs favored by the gods. I also thought the magical creature element was a highlight. I loved that this book had a plus sized main character and i really hope that we get more books set in this world and i also loved that the siblings realtionships where at the heart of this read!!
I thought this was a really fun actiom and adventure middle grade story that was super fast pace amd fun read. I also loved that this story was set in italy. I also loved this book had elements that focused on aimals and also jobs favored by the gods. I also thought the magical creature element was a highlight. I loved that this book had a plus sized main character and i really hope that we get more books set in this world and i also loved that the siblings realtionships where at the heart of this read!!
July 10, 2022
Cute fantasy about a group of witches/healers living on the Amalfi coast and how they learn and work together, despite the potential for "bad luck" and the presence of the somewhat evil witches living directly beneath the town. Gaida's affinity for animals and the goddess Diana, coupled with her ability to think about solutions and strategies make her a great heroine. I particularly loved how the Italian was simply included in the text, allowing readers to use context clues to translate (or not) what was going on. Having said that, there were moments when she felt far younger than nearly thirteen, and the author attempted to shoehorn body positivity into things for no apparent reason (there are a few mentions of her plump or soft body, her aunt's body, but it always feels forced).
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
September 28, 2022
Recommended: yes!
As a sweet magical MG read for anyone, for kids who love animals, for witchy Italian lore
Thoughts:
I adore our MC, Giada. She's so unabashedly herself, and has such a strong sense of who she is! I think that's something a lot of kids have, then lose, and many adults take a long time to get back there (or maybe never totally do). Giada holds tight to it, and isn't afraid to call out people (even adults!) when they are being rude (which at least one adult ABSOLUTELY was). She doesn't let people shame her about enjoying sweets and food, and she devises her own brilliant salve for thigh chafing which lets be honest, who wouldn't benefit from that?
Giada is also a great role model, as she is so determined and keeps trying, but she also fails undeniably, and has to work through that and find a way to keep going. Her confidence is never shaken for long. She also is honest and owns up to her mistakes, and asks for help. She's so wonderful for how smart she is socially and emotionally, and I adore seeing that, especially in characters who are young.
Giada is the dough, and the setting and lore and magic are all the sprinkles and icings and delicious things that add to it. Goodness, just reading the descriptions of Positano, Italy made it skyrocket up to top spots on my travel list! The second cliffs and houses built into the sides of them were mentioned, I was SOLD. And have y'all looked up pictures? It's gorgeous!! The setting mattered, too. It felt like a character of its own with how much we get Italian expressions and language in the story. Not to mention all the mouthwatering food! And superstitions, and folklore, and legend-come-to-life. I loved it all, and it gave the whole story such a unique and wonderful texture. It was one that made me want to go learn more about many different things, which I always count as a win!
As a small additional note, there were also some mentions of Covid-19 and how that impacted Giada's family and other magic users in their communities, since their focus is healing people. It was a little touch of reality that further added to the realness of the setting. It also gave more weight to how Giada's parents feel the pressure and pass that on to Giada, having just gone through this massive health pandemic.
Oh and of course, the story itself! It was so sweet and wonderful and creative. I adored every point of it, and was happy to go wherever Giada took me. With all the other goodness in this book, the story didn't need much else to shine! The magical elements were a delight to uncover because they covered such practical issues in funny ways that made me wish, desperately, that these communities truly do exist. 😍
Overall I definitely recommend this book, especially for students who love animals, but really for anyone who wants a vivid, creative story of a courageous character and Italian culture.
Thank you to Bookishfirst and Inkyard Press for a free advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review!
PS: Positano, for your viewing pleasure.
As a sweet magical MG read for anyone, for kids who love animals, for witchy Italian lore
Thoughts:
I adore our MC, Giada. She's so unabashedly herself, and has such a strong sense of who she is! I think that's something a lot of kids have, then lose, and many adults take a long time to get back there (or maybe never totally do). Giada holds tight to it, and isn't afraid to call out people (even adults!) when they are being rude (which at least one adult ABSOLUTELY was). She doesn't let people shame her about enjoying sweets and food, and she devises her own brilliant salve for thigh chafing which lets be honest, who wouldn't benefit from that?
Giada is also a great role model, as she is so determined and keeps trying, but she also fails undeniably, and has to work through that and find a way to keep going. Her confidence is never shaken for long. She also is honest and owns up to her mistakes, and asks for help. She's so wonderful for how smart she is socially and emotionally, and I adore seeing that, especially in characters who are young.
Giada is the dough, and the setting and lore and magic are all the sprinkles and icings and delicious things that add to it. Goodness, just reading the descriptions of Positano, Italy made it skyrocket up to top spots on my travel list! The second cliffs and houses built into the sides of them were mentioned, I was SOLD. And have y'all looked up pictures? It's gorgeous!! The setting mattered, too. It felt like a character of its own with how much we get Italian expressions and language in the story. Not to mention all the mouthwatering food! And superstitions, and folklore, and legend-come-to-life. I loved it all, and it gave the whole story such a unique and wonderful texture. It was one that made me want to go learn more about many different things, which I always count as a win!
As a small additional note, there were also some mentions of Covid-19 and how that impacted Giada's family and other magic users in their communities, since their focus is healing people. It was a little touch of reality that further added to the realness of the setting. It also gave more weight to how Giada's parents feel the pressure and pass that on to Giada, having just gone through this massive health pandemic.
Oh and of course, the story itself! It was so sweet and wonderful and creative. I adored every point of it, and was happy to go wherever Giada took me. With all the other goodness in this book, the story didn't need much else to shine! The magical elements were a delight to uncover because they covered such practical issues in funny ways that made me wish, desperately, that these communities truly do exist. 😍
Overall I definitely recommend this book, especially for students who love animals, but really for anyone who wants a vivid, creative story of a courageous character and Italian culture.
Thank you to Bookishfirst and Inkyard Press for a free advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review!
PS: Positano, for your viewing pleasure.
September 19, 2022
How to heal a Gryphon by Meg Cannistra was a very interesting read. I loved it so much. I give it a four point five out of five stars. I definitely would read it again. The cover to this book is very eye catching and so is the plot. I love how her family's very powerful and uses their magic for good. I also understand why they don't tell many people because she is right people would expect to much from them. I'm also happy she chose to follow her heart instead of what others want her to do. How her brother treated her when she told him that she wants to work with animals instead of people was not right. Just because she's different than everyone else and following her dream does not make her an embarrassment. That part made me so mad. Also I don't know how I feel about the bad luck ajf black cat following her around something seems off. I also get her frustration with her sibling always being the center of attention that can get quite annoying. The person in the shop was pretty mean to her over eating and her weight. The judgement was pretty messed up and I can personally relate to it. I also love her plans on what she plans to do with her powers it seems very fun. I also love that her friend supports her plans unlike everyone else. Her brother apologizing be making her her favorite food Tiramisu was sorta sweet but doesn't excuse his mean words. Her brother disappearing and being replaced be a walnut was kinda confusing at first. I am happy for her that Diana accepted her and that she gifted her a familiar the black cat named Sinistro. In the book it state's only Diana's followers are gifted familiars. I have a bad gut feeling about this Streghe del Malocchio who stole her brother though. Also Piccolina's greeting to her was so cute. Piccolina's father helping them get to the city to rescue Giada's brother was sweet as well. The city seemed very scary as well. The anchovies scene was hilarious with the cat's swarming around the strange women. I wonder what these people want with Giada. How she used her magic to defend herself but got punished for using that spell was sad though. I understand why the Streghe del Malocchio are the way they are because their just trying to keep balance in the world. The ending made me cry I loved it I definitely recommend reading this book.
November 11, 2022
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
How to Heal a Gryphon is a fun and well written fantasy for middle grade readers by Meg Cannistra. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Harper Collins on their Inkyard Press imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is such an engaging story with a wonderful young protagonist who wants to be a magical veterinarian instead of the healer her entire family expects her to be. She's intelligent, physically strong, kind, and she has a very good work ethic. She's also feeling hemmed in and battered down by everyone's expectations for her; not least of which concern her choice of training - she's from a long line of healers.
I liked the straightforward storytelling. Young Giada is torn between doing what's expected of her and following her dreams and she doesn't have long to make a decision. I also liked that she's not a willowy thin supergirl who breezes through challenges. She's chubby, and some of her classmates bully her about it. The author doesn't harp on it a great deal, but it appealed to me a lot that she didn't make Giada fat just to "fix" her later in the book.
The settings are interesting and unusual - the names and places have a distinct Italian vibe and the setting is both fantasy inspired with small modern details such as Giada talking about "doing research online".
The book is rated as NA/YA, but strikes me as more suited to middle grade readers (ca. 8-12 year olds).
Four stars. This would be a great choice for public or school library acquisition, gift giving, and home use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
How to Heal a Gryphon is a fun and well written fantasy for middle grade readers by Meg Cannistra. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Harper Collins on their Inkyard Press imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is such an engaging story with a wonderful young protagonist who wants to be a magical veterinarian instead of the healer her entire family expects her to be. She's intelligent, physically strong, kind, and she has a very good work ethic. She's also feeling hemmed in and battered down by everyone's expectations for her; not least of which concern her choice of training - she's from a long line of healers.
I liked the straightforward storytelling. Young Giada is torn between doing what's expected of her and following her dreams and she doesn't have long to make a decision. I also liked that she's not a willowy thin supergirl who breezes through challenges. She's chubby, and some of her classmates bully her about it. The author doesn't harp on it a great deal, but it appealed to me a lot that she didn't make Giada fat just to "fix" her later in the book.
The settings are interesting and unusual - the names and places have a distinct Italian vibe and the setting is both fantasy inspired with small modern details such as Giada talking about "doing research online".
The book is rated as NA/YA, but strikes me as more suited to middle grade readers (ca. 8-12 year olds).
Four stars. This would be a great choice for public or school library acquisition, gift giving, and home use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
January 5, 2023
Giada Bellantuono isn’t your typical heroine. She’s pudgy (and unashamed about it), loves her family fiercely even if she doesn’t always show it. She defiantly brings an infant creature to class and disdains the notions of evil witches. Those are just stories to scare impressionable young children and she’s no longer a child.
However, she IS 13 or nearing it. That means she’s not as grown up as she’d like others to think. Giada’s impetuous, outspoken, prone to fits of temper, hotheaded, sarcastic and sharp tongued. She has a thing or three to learn about diplomacy.
You can’t fault her for can-do spirit, however. She’s bound and determined to free her brother and she rises to the occasion when an impossible task is set before her by the imposing strega who is holding him prisoner. She learns courage and puts her magical power to startling use in order to fulfill the request.
This novel posits a magic that works in mysterious and bizarre ways. Lucciole (fireflies) are sentient and provide a light as bright as the stars. The moon can be scooped out of a lake like a fish. People can communicate with spiders and gryphons actually exist. Witches can absurd power by eating someone’s heart. (Gasp! Shades of Neil Gaiman!)
Giada is fiery tempered but she learns to bank her anger in service to her magic…or can use her rage to fuel her magic. She’s quite feisty. She’s indicated that she doesn’t want to follow the path her family has set for her, preferring to heal animals over people. Yet, the approval given her by a so-called evil witch makes you wonder if her path may take a different turn than being a magical veterinarian.
The novel also takes place in an Italy that never was or perhaps lies off the beaten path for the curious tourist. In any case, it shines with all the sunshine and quiet charm of the Italian countryside.
This novel may be for the YA set but it proves to have startling innovations for those of a worldlier turn of mind.
However, she IS 13 or nearing it. That means she’s not as grown up as she’d like others to think. Giada’s impetuous, outspoken, prone to fits of temper, hotheaded, sarcastic and sharp tongued. She has a thing or three to learn about diplomacy.
You can’t fault her for can-do spirit, however. She’s bound and determined to free her brother and she rises to the occasion when an impossible task is set before her by the imposing strega who is holding him prisoner. She learns courage and puts her magical power to startling use in order to fulfill the request.
This novel posits a magic that works in mysterious and bizarre ways. Lucciole (fireflies) are sentient and provide a light as bright as the stars. The moon can be scooped out of a lake like a fish. People can communicate with spiders and gryphons actually exist. Witches can absurd power by eating someone’s heart. (Gasp! Shades of Neil Gaiman!)
Giada is fiery tempered but she learns to bank her anger in service to her magic…or can use her rage to fuel her magic. She’s quite feisty. She’s indicated that she doesn’t want to follow the path her family has set for her, preferring to heal animals over people. Yet, the approval given her by a so-called evil witch makes you wonder if her path may take a different turn than being a magical veterinarian.
The novel also takes place in an Italy that never was or perhaps lies off the beaten path for the curious tourist. In any case, it shines with all the sunshine and quiet charm of the Italian countryside.
This novel may be for the YA set but it proves to have startling innovations for those of a worldlier turn of mind.
May 14, 2026
This was such a fun story. I feel like the reviews I've read that rate it under 4 stars don't understand that this is a middle grade book and not a story meant for adults.
It's also a book one of a series, so it doesn't have to have every little thing tied up. I read one review where it said the plot felt forced... Kids don't have attention spans, so you can't just laden a story with exposition. The plot needs to hit and hit fast. I think my kids would enjoy the hell out of this. It was funny, cozy, cute, and about a chubby Italian girl who wants to be a magical veterinarian instead of following her family's long legacy of being magical human healers.
It's got coming of age, adventure, magic, and a talking cat names Sinistro, and we all know how popular talking cat sidekicks are these days!
Again, How to Heal a Gryphon: A Magical Middle Grade Adventure About a Young Healer in Italy was such an entertaining and cozy story. I finished it in about a day. Easy read.
I highly recommend this book.
It's also a book one of a series, so it doesn't have to have every little thing tied up. I read one review where it said the plot felt forced... Kids don't have attention spans, so you can't just laden a story with exposition. The plot needs to hit and hit fast. I think my kids would enjoy the hell out of this. It was funny, cozy, cute, and about a chubby Italian girl who wants to be a magical veterinarian instead of following her family's long legacy of being magical human healers.
It's got coming of age, adventure, magic, and a talking cat names Sinistro, and we all know how popular talking cat sidekicks are these days!
Sinistro sniffs the bit of meat before taking it gently from my fingers. His eyes widen as he licks his lips, followed by a long purr. “That’s incredible. I’ve never had a sausage that tastes so delightful.” I beam, staring down at the cured meat. “It’s a Bellantuono secret recipe. We sometimes sell it in the market.” I take another bite, relishing the flavors. “It reminds me of home.” “Is it made with magic?” Sinistro asks. “Not technically. But food’s a kind of magic, too, you know? Probably the most accessible kind. Even non-magic folk can create and taste the magic of food. Anyone can be a kitchen witch.”
Again, How to Heal a Gryphon: A Magical Middle Grade Adventure About a Young Healer in Italy was such an entertaining and cozy story. I finished it in about a day. Easy read.
I highly recommend this book.
September 20, 2022
After reading an excerpt of How to Heal a Gryphon by Meg Cannistra, I figured it would be the perfect opportunity for me to follow through on my goal of reading more Middle Grade novels. I have to say, this book was one of the best (if not the best) MG novel I’ve ever read!
The story follows Giada, a young girl who feels pressured to follow in her family’s footsteps and become a magical healer, but who secretly wishes to heal animals instead of people. When her brother is taken by evil witches, she will do anything to bring him home again, but her journey is much more difficult than she could have imagined.
By far, my favorite aspect of this novel is that Giada is plus sized and confident. There were many details throughout the book where she showed that she loved her body. For instance, at one point she mentions that she wouldn’t want to lose her soft stomach. It is extremely refreshing to read a book with a girl who is plus sized and who also feels comfortable in her skin.
Similarly, Giada portrays a healthy relationship with food, which is important for young girls to read about. She doesn’t drown her feelings in food, but at the same time, she isn’t afraid to eat bread, or ask for whipped cream on her ice cream. Again, this is so rare to see in a novel, and I can’t help but to imagine all of the girls who will feel empowered through Giada.
Furthermore, as if the body positivity wasn’t enough, this story was absolutely wonderful! I adored Giada’s relationships with her many animal friends, especially Sinistra, her cat familiar. The way Giada found meaning in the many professions of witches was endearing, and her courage to say what she wanted to do with her life was beautiful. I also loved that the author mentions she worked with someone of Italian descent to ensure that she was portraying the culture accurately!
Overall, there were so many great things about this novel! Whether you typically read Middle Grade or not, I highly recommend this book. Especially if you have a young girl in your life who needs an inspiring role model! This book is perfect!
The story follows Giada, a young girl who feels pressured to follow in her family’s footsteps and become a magical healer, but who secretly wishes to heal animals instead of people. When her brother is taken by evil witches, she will do anything to bring him home again, but her journey is much more difficult than she could have imagined.
By far, my favorite aspect of this novel is that Giada is plus sized and confident. There were many details throughout the book where she showed that she loved her body. For instance, at one point she mentions that she wouldn’t want to lose her soft stomach. It is extremely refreshing to read a book with a girl who is plus sized and who also feels comfortable in her skin.
Similarly, Giada portrays a healthy relationship with food, which is important for young girls to read about. She doesn’t drown her feelings in food, but at the same time, she isn’t afraid to eat bread, or ask for whipped cream on her ice cream. Again, this is so rare to see in a novel, and I can’t help but to imagine all of the girls who will feel empowered through Giada.
Furthermore, as if the body positivity wasn’t enough, this story was absolutely wonderful! I adored Giada’s relationships with her many animal friends, especially Sinistra, her cat familiar. The way Giada found meaning in the many professions of witches was endearing, and her courage to say what she wanted to do with her life was beautiful. I also loved that the author mentions she worked with someone of Italian descent to ensure that she was portraying the culture accurately!
Overall, there were so many great things about this novel! Whether you typically read Middle Grade or not, I highly recommend this book. Especially if you have a young girl in your life who needs an inspiring role model! This book is perfect!
October 6, 2022
Giana Bellantuno is a witch in training. Her family are famous for their healing abilities. It is taken for granted that she too will be a healer. She isn’t interested in healing humans. She wants to heal animals which is a big no in her society. Alessia Marini is her best friend. Her parents have been called away to go to Japan to assist in a healing. Her older brother Rocco is to keep an eye on her to see that Giana doesn’t get in trouble. Giana is running to school as she is late. In her backpack, there is a chirrup sound in class. Her teacher is disgusted with her. The teacher is going to call her father as she has a magical animal in her backpach. Giana takes her healed baby gryphon to where she hopes to get the baby gryphon to her mother gryphon. Giana keeps having bad luck in whatever she does. She finds a wish made earlier in the day comes true. Rocco is missing. No one can find him. She eventually learns that he has been captured by the witches live underground. She makes a deal with these witches to get Rocco back. She is to give/make a moon and stars for their underground village. They have been forced to live underground as they are considered bad witches. With the help of Alessia, her pet spider and the gryphon, she manages to almost do it. She now has to find some way to get stars that won’t die. Will she be able to do it alone?
The author has written an exquisite fantasy with mystery, magic animals and a god and goddess. She brings into the novel family relationships and being true to herself besides doing so to her parents. I loved this story. I hated for it to end.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The author has written an exquisite fantasy with mystery, magic animals and a god and goddess. She brings into the novel family relationships and being true to herself besides doing so to her parents. I loved this story. I hated for it to end.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
January 6, 2023
How to Heal a Gryphon features a feisty young heroine who isn’t afraid to be herself. Giada was definitely my favorite part of this story. She’s proudly plus-size, brave, and determined to pave her own path.
Giada Bellantuono lives with her family on the Amalfi Coast and comes from a long line of sworn magical healers. Giada is on the cusp of her 13th birthday when she will take her own oath, but the only problem is that she’s always felt a strong connection to helping animals- not healing humans like the generations before her. When her brother suddenly goes missing, Giada suspects foul play from the Malocchio, the Italian Evil Eye. Determined to save him, she embarks on a dark and harrowing quest that puts her magic, bravery, and convictions to the test.
The setting of the Amalfi Coast gives a warm and sunny feel to the story, perfect for the magic taking place. Just thinking about the age ranges that would pick up this book, I wonder if a younger reader might enjoy the first part of the book but then be a bit too scared to continue once the book takes a darker turn about halfway through. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I know a younger version of me might be a bit freaked out if I started reading what I thought would be a fun book about magical gryphon training only to suddenly read about . In some ways, I think the writing reads more like it’s made for a younger reader even though it is labeled as middle grade, but do keep in mind that it gets a little darker as you read on.
There were lots of great messages snuck in for readers (especially young readers!) that I loved to see. The power in taking a break to practice some self care and recharge, plus sizes being normalized, and friends supporting each other in their own unique endeavors.
While the pacing seemed a bit uneven throughout the book, it was still a quick enough read that I didn’t notice that as much. I would recommend this to young middle grade readers who like to read about magical quests with strong heroines.
Giada Bellantuono lives with her family on the Amalfi Coast and comes from a long line of sworn magical healers. Giada is on the cusp of her 13th birthday when she will take her own oath, but the only problem is that she’s always felt a strong connection to helping animals- not healing humans like the generations before her. When her brother suddenly goes missing, Giada suspects foul play from the Malocchio, the Italian Evil Eye. Determined to save him, she embarks on a dark and harrowing quest that puts her magic, bravery, and convictions to the test.
The setting of the Amalfi Coast gives a warm and sunny feel to the story, perfect for the magic taking place. Just thinking about the age ranges that would pick up this book, I wonder if a younger reader might enjoy the first part of the book but then be a bit too scared to continue once the book takes a darker turn about halfway through. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but I know a younger version of me might be a bit freaked out if I started reading what I thought would be a fun book about magical gryphon training only to suddenly read about . In some ways, I think the writing reads more like it’s made for a younger reader even though it is labeled as middle grade, but do keep in mind that it gets a little darker as you read on.
There were lots of great messages snuck in for readers (especially young readers!) that I loved to see. The power in taking a break to practice some self care and recharge, plus sizes being normalized, and friends supporting each other in their own unique endeavors.
While the pacing seemed a bit uneven throughout the book, it was still a quick enough read that I didn’t notice that as much. I would recommend this to young middle grade readers who like to read about magical quests with strong heroines.
October 3, 2022
Usually, when one turns thirteen, you take an oath to be a guaritrice and use your powers to heal humans. But Giada doesn’t feel drawn to that path, instead, she knows her calling is to heal vulnerable animals, even if that goes against the hundred years of her family’s tradition.
When a group of witches takes her brother, Rocco, down into the magical underground city of Malavita in an attempt to get something they want, Giada is the only one who can rescue him. With the help of her best friend, Alessia and her new familiar, Sinistro, Giada must do everything she can to save her brother, or risk losing him forever.
This book was a quick and engaging read for me - I didn’t want to put it down. I loved Giada and her spunk and love for animals. Giada was who she was and she wasn’t going to change for anybody. I especially enjoyed her love for herself and her body. She would talk about her chubby tummy and how much she loved having it.
I feel like this book is perfect for middle grade readers as Meg Cannistra creates this magical world set in Italy, but it’s not overly complicated. There are all kinds of magical animals and beasts mixed with potions and practices. Not everything is laid out right in front of you, and Giada lets you know stuff as it goes along, which I feel like works well for this story.
I could easily see this becoming a series as we follow Giada in her studies and beyond. Plus, I would be interested in seeing this magical world outside of Italy too.
Overall, this is a cute and wonderful middle grade fantasy novel that I can see readers of all ages enjoying.
*Thank you Inkyard Press and BookishFirst for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
When a group of witches takes her brother, Rocco, down into the magical underground city of Malavita in an attempt to get something they want, Giada is the only one who can rescue him. With the help of her best friend, Alessia and her new familiar, Sinistro, Giada must do everything she can to save her brother, or risk losing him forever.
This book was a quick and engaging read for me - I didn’t want to put it down. I loved Giada and her spunk and love for animals. Giada was who she was and she wasn’t going to change for anybody. I especially enjoyed her love for herself and her body. She would talk about her chubby tummy and how much she loved having it.
I feel like this book is perfect for middle grade readers as Meg Cannistra creates this magical world set in Italy, but it’s not overly complicated. There are all kinds of magical animals and beasts mixed with potions and practices. Not everything is laid out right in front of you, and Giada lets you know stuff as it goes along, which I feel like works well for this story.
I could easily see this becoming a series as we follow Giada in her studies and beyond. Plus, I would be interested in seeing this magical world outside of Italy too.
Overall, this is a cute and wonderful middle grade fantasy novel that I can see readers of all ages enjoying.
*Thank you Inkyard Press and BookishFirst for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
March 25, 2024
I found this story to be a charming little MG novel where magic is woven secretly into real life, hidden in plain view, just like a native girl growing up in a tourist town.
As someone who doesn't know much of anything about Italy, I enjoyed reading about Giada's home from an authentic-feeling POV, and was able to glean the meaning of the Italian words used in the story via context.
To me, the most important part of the story was Giada's personality. She isn't your standard blank slate main character for the reader to imprint on, but she's not just a sassy stereotype either. She is hotheaded and impetuous but she has an earnest nature as well.
An important part of Giada as a character is her body type, which is mentioned in a way to make it seem natural to the evolution of the story and not cliche or just preachy from the author. I especially love that Giada has developed her own special healing salve that helps with chafing on her legs (something I would like to have for myself!) instead of having the character fret about her weight or having some other friend or family member remark to her about her weight or her health.
The most memorable scene in the whole book for me is when Giada goes to a shop and orders a dessert with whip cream, and the shop owner looks her up and down as says "Do you really want whip cream?" and she angrily tells him "Yes, that's why I ordered it." When I read that, I fell in love with Giada! This is a character who stands up for herself and for others!
We don't have enough body positivity in children's literature these days and we need more characters like Giada. I can't wait to read the sequel.
As someone who doesn't know much of anything about Italy, I enjoyed reading about Giada's home from an authentic-feeling POV, and was able to glean the meaning of the Italian words used in the story via context.
To me, the most important part of the story was Giada's personality. She isn't your standard blank slate main character for the reader to imprint on, but she's not just a sassy stereotype either. She is hotheaded and impetuous but she has an earnest nature as well.
An important part of Giada as a character is her body type, which is mentioned in a way to make it seem natural to the evolution of the story and not cliche or just preachy from the author. I especially love that Giada has developed her own special healing salve that helps with chafing on her legs (something I would like to have for myself!) instead of having the character fret about her weight or having some other friend or family member remark to her about her weight or her health.
The most memorable scene in the whole book for me is when Giada goes to a shop and orders a dessert with whip cream, and the shop owner looks her up and down as says "Do you really want whip cream?" and she angrily tells him "Yes, that's why I ordered it." When I read that, I fell in love with Giada! This is a character who stands up for herself and for others!
We don't have enough body positivity in children's literature these days and we need more characters like Giada. I can't wait to read the sequel.
October 21, 2022
Thank you Bookish First and Inkyard Press for the free copy. In exchange I will give an honest review.
I love this book! Couldn't out it down. This is an enchantingly sweet, fast paced, and engaging middle grade story. I adore the setting, writing style, and humor. The descriptions are fantastic. Giada is such a gettUinThank you Bookish First and Inkyard Press for the free copy. In exchange I will give an honest review.
I love this book! Couldn't out it down. This is an enchantingly sweet, fast paced, and engaging middle grade story. I adore the setting, writing style, and humor. The descriptions are fantastic. Giada is such a strong and relatable main character. I enjoyed the sibling dynamic with her brother Rocco it felt realistic. She's great plus sized representation. I love Alessia and Giada's friendship. Loved that she wants to be a magical veterinarian. The magic system is unique and interesting. The theme of this story is be yourself and follow your dreams. Would definitely read a sequel to this and other future books from this author. I will recommend to my younger cousins.
g and relatable main character. I enjoyed the sibling dynamic with her brother Rocco it felt realistic. She's great plus sized representation and body positive. I love Alessia and Giada's friendship. Loved that she wants to be a magical veterinarian. The magic system is unique and interesting. The theme of this story is be yourself and follow your dreams. Would definitely read a sequel to this and other future books from this author. I will recommend to my younger cousins.
I love this book! Couldn't out it down. This is an enchantingly sweet, fast paced, and engaging middle grade story. I adore the setting, writing style, and humor. The descriptions are fantastic. Giada is such a gettUinThank you Bookish First and Inkyard Press for the free copy. In exchange I will give an honest review.
I love this book! Couldn't out it down. This is an enchantingly sweet, fast paced, and engaging middle grade story. I adore the setting, writing style, and humor. The descriptions are fantastic. Giada is such a strong and relatable main character. I enjoyed the sibling dynamic with her brother Rocco it felt realistic. She's great plus sized representation. I love Alessia and Giada's friendship. Loved that she wants to be a magical veterinarian. The magic system is unique and interesting. The theme of this story is be yourself and follow your dreams. Would definitely read a sequel to this and other future books from this author. I will recommend to my younger cousins.
g and relatable main character. I enjoyed the sibling dynamic with her brother Rocco it felt realistic. She's great plus sized representation and body positive. I love Alessia and Giada's friendship. Loved that she wants to be a magical veterinarian. The magic system is unique and interesting. The theme of this story is be yourself and follow your dreams. Would definitely read a sequel to this and other future books from this author. I will recommend to my younger cousins.
February 5, 2023
Things I liked:
Interesting setting.
Heavyweight heroine.
Unusual and down-to-earth magic. (At the start)
Things I didn’t:
The contrived “the adults don’t believe me so I won’t try very hard to convince them” trope.
The awful awful dialogue tags. Use SAID. It’s less distracting.
The lack of any real conflict. Any tension was quickly resolved. Somehow the MC knew exactly what to do I’m every situation.
The overwhelming culture dump. (A few details about Italian habits/food are fun and informative, but by the end I felt like it was being shoved down my throat with a shovel.)
The nonsensical “poetry magic” (collect moonbeams, etc.) that suddenly becomes harrypotteresque the longer the story goes. (Fire from her hands??)
Which leads us to the nonsensical magic fixes all ending. Also - there was no climax? She gathered some stuff and the evil witches were like “good job, I’ll let your family free.”
The book started out grounded and interesting, then became a wild mess—when the MC went to the magical underground city it lost all subtly and became a tired rehash of a fantasy fetch-quest. A talking cat thrown in to compete the cliched “Y7 low-budget animated series” dialogue and plot. I could almost see the bad CG graphics. Also, the gryphons seemed incidental and thrown in as a gimmick to sell the thing.
Don’t get me wrong it was better than a lot of MG on the market. But it got my hopes up in the beginning and dashed them on the rocks of mediocrity.
Interesting setting.
Heavyweight heroine.
Unusual and down-to-earth magic. (At the start)
Things I didn’t:
The contrived “the adults don’t believe me so I won’t try very hard to convince them” trope.
The awful awful dialogue tags. Use SAID. It’s less distracting.
The lack of any real conflict. Any tension was quickly resolved. Somehow the MC knew exactly what to do I’m every situation.
The overwhelming culture dump. (A few details about Italian habits/food are fun and informative, but by the end I felt like it was being shoved down my throat with a shovel.)
The nonsensical “poetry magic” (collect moonbeams, etc.) that suddenly becomes harrypotteresque the longer the story goes. (Fire from her hands??)
Which leads us to the nonsensical magic fixes all ending. Also - there was no climax? She gathered some stuff and the evil witches were like “good job, I’ll let your family free.”
The book started out grounded and interesting, then became a wild mess—when the MC went to the magical underground city it lost all subtly and became a tired rehash of a fantasy fetch-quest. A talking cat thrown in to compete the cliched “Y7 low-budget animated series” dialogue and plot. I could almost see the bad CG graphics. Also, the gryphons seemed incidental and thrown in as a gimmick to sell the thing.
Don’t get me wrong it was better than a lot of MG on the market. But it got my hopes up in the beginning and dashed them on the rocks of mediocrity.
September 18, 2022
“But if Rocco wasn’t around, it’d be easier for me to do what I want. I wouldn’t always be compared to him. I could be my own person.”
How to Heal a Gryphon follows Giada, a magical nearly-thirteen year old. Her family has a legacy of being guaritori, people who use their powers to heal others. Giada doesn’t feel a connection to that, though, she just wants to heal animals. Her brother, Rocco, is a prodigy, and as the family disappointment she feels like she can’t stop being compared to him at every turn. When he goes missing, though, Giada sets out to save him when nobody else can.
This book was so sweet and well written! Giada’s internal monologue was so fun to read, and the Italian setting added to the world so well. This is a really good middle grade book for pretty much any younger reader. There’s action, magic, and really cute friendship.
I liked all the characters in this book, even the bad guys. They all made realistic decisions (even though I definitely sided with Giada’s righteous anger at some points!) and it made me look forward to the character interactions. And, of course, having magical creatures is always a bonus!
This book has a wonderful setup to be a series, and it reminds me of a couple series I would read over and over again when I was younger. I hope this book leads to a series that can be the same thing for a new generation of readers <3
How to Heal a Gryphon follows Giada, a magical nearly-thirteen year old. Her family has a legacy of being guaritori, people who use their powers to heal others. Giada doesn’t feel a connection to that, though, she just wants to heal animals. Her brother, Rocco, is a prodigy, and as the family disappointment she feels like she can’t stop being compared to him at every turn. When he goes missing, though, Giada sets out to save him when nobody else can.
This book was so sweet and well written! Giada’s internal monologue was so fun to read, and the Italian setting added to the world so well. This is a really good middle grade book for pretty much any younger reader. There’s action, magic, and really cute friendship.
I liked all the characters in this book, even the bad guys. They all made realistic decisions (even though I definitely sided with Giada’s righteous anger at some points!) and it made me look forward to the character interactions. And, of course, having magical creatures is always a bonus!
This book has a wonderful setup to be a series, and it reminds me of a couple series I would read over and over again when I was younger. I hope this book leads to a series that can be the same thing for a new generation of readers <3
September 30, 2022
I thought How to Heal a Gryphon by Meg Cannistra would be a sweet story after I read the preview and wanted to know what would happen next. The begninning was a pretty slow start and the pacing didn’t pick up until a few chapters in. After that it was smooth sailing –moving along nicely after Giada realized what was going on. Something else I liked was that she had a supportive friend, Alessia. While Alessia followed the tradition of only healing people with her magic, she was there for Giada throughout the story. And In some ways she grounded her since Giada tended to be reactive and impulsive. But she also had a go getter attitude and would do anything to help her brother, even break from a little more than tradition. In the end my main gripe was the Gryphons. They were imbedded throughout the story, yes. But I did wish they appeared a little more.
Overall, How to Heal a Gryohon ended up being a quick read that I liked it. It was a nice little adventure story with a vibrant environment. If it sounds like it’s up your alley, especially a young reader, you may want to check it out.
I received this book from Bookish First and Inkyard Press for this review.
This review also appears on my blog Toile, Think, Go.
Overall, How to Heal a Gryohon ended up being a quick read that I liked it. It was a nice little adventure story with a vibrant environment. If it sounds like it’s up your alley, especially a young reader, you may want to check it out.
I received this book from Bookish First and Inkyard Press for this review.
This review also appears on my blog Toile, Think, Go.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews