A Place Called Perfect

Perfect #1

by Helena Duggan, Rachael Beresford (Narrator)

Violet never wanted to move to Perfect. Who wants to live in a town where everyone has to wear glasses to stop them going blind? And who wants to be tidy and perfectly behaved all the time? Violet quickly discovers there's something weird going on - her mam is acting strange and her dad has disappeared. When she meets Boy she realises that her dad is not the only person to have vanished... and that the mysterious Watchers are guarding a creepy secret!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Young Adult

Audiobook

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

I am from Kilkenny, a medieval, haunted city in the south of Ireland, which was the inspiration for the town in A Place Called Perfect. I write stories full of adventure because I get bored really easily.

A Place Called Perfect was my first book. It was published in August 2017 and was a Waterstones Book of the Month. It won numerous awards including Crimefest Children's Book of the Year and was nominated for the Irish Book Awards and Waterstones Children's Prize.
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The series is a bestselling series has sold over 230,000 copies in the UK and counting and is published in 13 languages to date. Perfect has also been optioned for an animated TV series by Jellyfish Productions.
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The Light Thieves is my new eco/tech adventure series that has just been launched to rave reviews. I look forward to hearing how it's received by the World at large.
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When I'm not writing or designing I'm hanging around with Robbie, my husband (who loves climbing mountains), my daughters Jo and Bobbie and our crazy rescue dog Tinky.

Reviews

[Helena Duggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so I would give my own book 5 stars!?

I am not going to review Perfect as I have a feeling I may be biased! Instead, I will give a bit of a background into the ideas behind the book...

I first starting thinking about this story when I bought a pair of old bifocal glasses in an antique shop in Australia. I loved them, and still carry them everywhere with me. I had contemplated taking out the glass and replacing it with my own prescription...That notion started me on the train of thought for this book...

I could replace the glass, but what if the memories of the last person who wore them was locked inside and by getting rid of it, I'd be taking away their memories...sure I couldn't do that. What if their imagination was locked inside the glass? If someone lost their imagination, how would they act?

A theme that runs through many of my stories and books is conformity and people not standing up for what they believe, instead choosing the mass opinion. I also love the difference in people and find it fascinating how we label a person as odd if they are not following the "rules" of life, perhaps they are just being themselves?

Another theme of mine is our reliance on pills and potions to fix our problems, to make us "normal" but what is normal?...

All of these thoughts mashed together, produced Perfect...its streets and people, No Mans Land and its oddities, The Ghost Estate and it's dark corners, Violet and Boy, Edward and George Archer and their estranged and rebellious brother William, Iris and Macula and their inner strength, The Watchers, The Reimaginator, The Tea, The Orphans, The Eyes, The Graveyard and all the things in between...

I hope you enjoy the story...

[stefiereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS PERFECT!
Can I give 8 out of 5 stars?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

From the beginning, halfway until the end, everything is just bonded amazingly!!
I know there are lots of books out there about bravery, family, friendship, but this book surely had my heart from page 1. It’s written beautifully, it full of adventures, it’s so tense, spooky, creepy, full of imagination, great pace, great storyline, it’s atmospheric, okay like literally everything is just SO GOOOOD!

This book made my eye teary, made my feet cold, made me smile, laugh and tense! I wish I read this in autumn though 🙈 This book is seriously perfect for the scaredy cat out there. Because the creepiness won’t scare you, it’s just enough to give you the tingling sensation of it :p

Anyway, my point is PLEASE READ THIS BOOOOOKKK PEOPLEEEEEE!!!! Oh and I need the book two! ♥️

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

The town of Perfect was run by the Archer Twins, George and Edward. Just like the place name, everything was perfect, except for one thing, all the residents went blind not long after arriving and needed special pink rimmed/rose tinted glasses to be able to see again.

Dr. Eugene Brown was a top Ophthalmologist, (eye surgeon), and had been headhunted by the Archers to fix the problem. Eugene moved to Perfect with his wife Rose, and ten year old daughter Violet. Sure enough the next day all three went blind and needed the special glasses to be able to see again.

Violet was a little girl with a big imagination, but even she knew she wasn’t imagining that something was wrong in Perfect, especially when her father went missing and her mother didn’t seem to care.

Then Violet met Boy, a little lad from a place called, No-Man’s Land, whom she could only hear when she didn’t have her glasses on, and only see with a pair of gold rimmed glasses that she found. Boy agreed with Violet that something was not right in Perfect. The two set off on an adventure to locate Violet’s dad and find out just what it was that Perfect was hiding.

A Place Called Perfect is an engaging, exciting and fun book for readers aged around 9 years plus, though it would be a great book for a parent/guardian to read with their child.

Ms. Duggan’s style of writing actually reminded me of Roald Dahls. The chapters are short, the plot is filled with mystery, adventure and strange occurrences, and the heroes are just normal little children.

Violet and Boy form a beautiful friendship even-though they have been brought up very differently. They learn to get along together, although there are a few moments where they are not so nice to one another. They are very likeable characters. Violet goes from this little girl who is scared of everything, to one that is brave, resilient and determined.

The book has a dystopian feel to it, with those people that conform to Perfects society being allowed to stay in Perfect and those that don’t being cast aside to No-Man’s Land.

It is a lovely, enjoyable book that is just as good on the inside as the front cover looks. I also hear that there is going to be a sequel too.

[Noura Khalid (theperksofbeingnoura) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say about A Place Called Perfect to convince you to pick it up? This was one of the most unexpected reads for me. I read the synopsis a while back and loved it but I eventually forgot what this book was really about. Sometimes I like going into books knowing as little as possible (or after forgetting I suppose?) and it was honestly the best surprise ever.

This book was spooky, whimsical, and emotional all at once. It was mysterious and always had me guessing, while also being absolutely magical. I adored our main characters, Violet and Boy. I loved their banter and how they had each others backs. Both kids had such big imaginations and elaborate plans to save everyone and everything. The author really made the most wonderful and strange little world. The little adventures were fun to follow and everything was just as wild and full of imagination as I'd hoped it would be. It reminded me a little bit of A Wrinkle in Time. I loved reading about how the author came up with this brilliant story. It's just so very unique and I wish I had heard about it sooner (this is me nudging you all to pick it up, please?)

I was hooked from the first few pages and finished reading it within the day. Definitely a perfect read in winter. The writing keeps you interested and you just constantly want to know what will happen to our characters next. I really believe that everyone regardless of age would enjoy this one. This is definitely one of my new favourite middle grade books!

[Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Place Called Perfect is an enchanting mystery novel with a plucky young heroine in the form of ten-year-old only child, Violet Brown, who is uprooted from her home and forced to move when her father, ophthalmologist Doctor Eugene Brown, is headhunted for a prestigious position in the town of Perfect. The family are welcomed to their new residence by brothers, George and Edward Archer, who are her father’s new bosses and are employing him in an effort to rid the town of the eye defect that every resident in Perfect is afflicted by. Mr Archer and Mr Archer explain the curious predicament that results in every single inhabitant in the town wearing identical rose-tinted glasses due to the blurred vision and eventual blindness that is caused by virtue of being too close to the sun. George is a tall and thin as his brother, Edward, is short and wide, but it doesn’t take Violet too long to work out that there is something sinister and rather unsettling about them both although they are keen to state that nobody ever wants to leave Perfect and after introducing the new doctor and his family to the mouth-watering tea that is a town staple Violet’s original qualms start to waver. However when the entire Brown family awaken with blurred eyesight, Violet quickly discovers that blindness makes silence increasingly scary as she and her parents are ferried to be fitted for their new spectacles by the seemingly ever present Archer brothers who loiter like a bad smell!

When Violet starts to notice some worrying strange occurrences and witnesses her accountant mother, Rose, transitioning to a submissive domestic goddess, she discovers that Perfect really is a seemingly perfect town of disconcertingly clean and orderly streets, with no flaking paint or rubbish and full of healthy and glowing inhabitants. Apparently the people in the town of Perfect must also act perfectly, but as Violet discovers, being a perfectionist and accepting every rule without pause for consideration or questioning the reasons can make like miserable and very dull. Soon Violet’s new schoolteacher, Mrs Moody, is singling her out for “acting up in class” and she is diagnosed with IDDCS (Irritable Dysfunctional Disobedient Child Syndrome) for which the remedy are daily yellow pills. Already concerned about the apparent imposter that her replaced her mother, Violet’s dispirited and increasingly jaded father suddenly disappears on a supposedly urgent opticians conference.

It is only when a frustrated Violet discovers a pair of old wooden spectacles hidden within the stuffing of her mattress and she slips them her nose on she finds herself able to see Boy.. who along with his fellow residents in No Man’s Land have been banished for their supposed dissent. As Boy takes Violet over the bordering walls to his scruffy part of town he tells of the dastardly Watchers who patrol the streets after dark and prevent the entry of No Man’s Landers to Perfect, all due to their refusal to kowtow to the uniformity of a town devoid of imagination and succumb to the necessary loss of spirit and individuality. But as Violet and Boy investigate just what is going on within the town of Perfect they meet William Archer, the ostracised brother of Edward and George who enlightens them about the horrifying ‘bended reality’ rose-tinted spectacles that distort the retina and ensure that the wearer’s reality is controlled by his brothers, only permitting them to experience certain things, and the Hollowing machine that destroys imaginations. As William experiments with a potential solution and tweaks his Reimaginator to restore Imaginations, Violet and Boy come to the conclusion that there must be something else contributing to the obedience and faltering eyesight of the inhabitants of Perfect. The well worked plan that is eventually conjured up between Violet, Boy and William Archer is crafted through collaboration, sharing ideas and considering possible outcomes.

Although the age guidance categorises this as suitable for readers of 9 to 14, I would suggest that this depends on how much exposure a young reader has had to mystery, fantasy and magical novels as the story touches upon some weighty concepts surrounding conforming to stereotypes, the benefits of our varied imaginations and the importance of standing up for what we believe in. This adventurous tale is jam packed with thrills and risky undertakings and feels genuinely quite creepy, with mentions of haunted graveyards, the presence of ghosts and some sinister scientific experiments in progress. Tackling areas such as whether a one size fits all cure is ever possible and the developed worlds increasing reliance on pills and potions to ensure everybody conforms to some ideal normality, even younger readers not able to explicitly discuss what that have learnt will draw their own conclusions that a world of conformity and indoctrinated humans would drain much of the pleasure out of our lives and stifle everything from medical discoveries to becoming more accepting of differences and breaking down the walls that separate sectors within society.

Debut author and graphic designer Helena Duggan subtlety downplays the likely existence of ghosts by linking back to the fact that they all derive from our own imaginations. The actual print copy of this book is an object of beauty with a charming cover design, a town map and page design marking each new chapter. Told with panache and illustrating the genuine bond that is fostered between Violet and her new friend, No Man’s Land orphan, Boy, the good-natured teasing and gradual realisation that working together can bring greater rewards gives the story a real charm. Full of clever insights and pithy sound bites that will resonate with younger readers, such as eyes being the window to the soul and fighting fears which are products of their own imagination such as ghosts and monsters. A Place Called Perfect comes highly recommended and will inspire and captivate young readers around the age of 11. With a sequel to follow, this mix of individual and quirky characters and their understated and humorously sarcastic dialogue ensure that the creepy happenings never feel too overtly threatening. Given that the novel has plenty of discussion points for younger readers and is a delightful and original story it will also readily hold adult readers attention and I would encourage parents and young readers to share the journey!

[Phoolani · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a bad story exactly, but it irritated the life out of me and (to a lesser extent) my son. Violet apparently can’t do, think or act without getting an order or at least confirmation from Boy. She’s supposed to be the primary heroine (I assume) but defers constantly to being told what to do by Boy. It drove me bloody crazy. Then at several points through the book, the author explicitly raises the fact that Violet is ‘only a girl’ to no apparent purpose; she doesn’t then suggest that being a girl isn’t, in fact, a handicap. No, it’s just there, like it’s true that being a girl is some sort of disability. At one point, violet saves Boy’s life and we’re treated to Boy getting really pissed off that a girl (ugh!) has saved him and a conversation where that embarrassment just stands, like it’s, y’know, true, man, girls suck, even when they save your life, y’know? Boy saves Violet’s life several times (sort of) but she never seems to bother she’s been saved by a Boy. I would’ve thrown the book away, but son wanted to continue; at least it provided some points of conversation about inherent sexism. But, yeah, it was bad. Hopefully, the author will stick to writing boys in future, because she’s terrible at girls.

[MoruSharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute fun story. The friendship between Violet and Boy was everything. If you want a cozy, magical read, this one's for you.

Can’t wait to read the next one!

“Maybe tea was the answer to everything.”

[The Librarian Witch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had such a promising start and has such an interesting premise for a story.

And have you seen that cover?!
It's gorgeous!

Unfortunately I found myself getting bored and struggling to plough through it after about the halfway mark.
I found the story was starting to drag. Things were happening too slowly for my liking and I just wanted everything to hurry up already!

However, this may be because of my age more than anything.
I think it would be a really great book for ages 10 - 13 ish.

The story was written well, so I can't fault it there, and the characters were likeable and relatable.
I think it promotes a really good message too - to accept people for who they are and that friendship and family very important.

I'm sure I would have enjoyed it way more if I was younger.
Unfortunately this was just not a book for me.

[Lucy'sLilLibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like two stars is a really harsh rating for a middle grade but I just didn't connect with this one. Although the plot was fairly interesting, it didn't really go anywhere as an adult I knew the outcome of this book from the get-go and there were no surprises at all.

I know I aren't the target audience but this book was very repetitive and obvious throughout, I don't know what age group this is really for as it's themes were a little older but the writing felt extremely young.

I was a very sweet read though and there were some really nice/emotional moments - the book highlights not only found family but the importance of a home and flaws. It is flaws and imperfections that makes us who we are and this book outlines how boring life would really be if everyone was 'perfect'. As I said about such a good concept but not the best executed, I am undecided whether to continue this series as I do own the next two books.

[madame Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 étoiles pour ce roman surprenant et coloré. il ne ressemble à aucun autre que j’ai lu dernièrement — ou pratiquement peu, et c’est ce que j’ai aimé.

c’est de la magie, c’est une ville improbable, ce sont des personnages attachants et d’autres qu’on déteste assez rapidement, c’est un roman d’action toutes aussi nécessaires les unes que les autres et ça permet de nous imaginer les lieux (et ça, j’aime ça!) et tout ce qui s’y passe. peu importe votre âge, je recommande!

[⛅ Sunny (sunnysidereviews) ⛅ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars!

A Place Called Perfect delivers a creepy and whimsical tale on friendship, and fighting for what you believe in.

The synopsis was said to be a book fans of Roald Dahl would like. I’m happy to report that this pitch is quite accurate! However, it did miss the mark for me in some places.

One aspect of the book I didn’t like were the characters. The main character Violet can’t do much on her own. She always needs the help of a boy whose name is…Boy. This annoyed me as young children, specifically young girls, will read this and see a girl their age constantly being saved by a boy. Here is a quote from page 237 in which I feel has some sexist undertones. For context, the main character Violet says this line. “I think I prefer the gate.” To which Boy responds. “Don’t be such a girl.” Boy laughed. It’s almost as though Boy is using the word ‘girl’ as an insult. The line was unnecessary, and adds nothing to the story. There was another line similar to this one. I can’t remember the page, but for context, Violet is cold. To which Boy responds, “Boys don’t get cold.” I just don’t think these comments are needed, especially in a children’s book. Overall, the main characters Violet and Boy were written very poorly. It’s such a shame because A Place Called Perfect had so much potential for witty banter.

Luckily, the side characters, specifically the Archer brothers, add a lot of creepiness to the story. The background characters also have this bizarre monotone expression to everything. It’ll only make you want to read on!

The dialogue, as mentioned earlier, contained a few sexist remarks. This unfortunately was a big turn-off for me.

On a better note, the writing was deliciously eerie and gripping. It definitely reads like a thriller-mystery. The book is also quite easy to read, which is a plus since the target audience is under thirteen. My only complaint is that the pacing felt off at times. It went from 0 to 100 far too many times, and the transitions weren’t very smooth. Nevertheless, Helena Duggan still delivers a great story!

The overall enjoyment level of this book is fairly high. It was engaging, but could easily become boring for those who don’t love thrillers. All in all, if you’re looking for a creepy story to read on a rainy day, I somewhat recommend A Place Called Perfect.

More reviews and more on my blog https://sunnysidereviews.wordpress.com/ !

[Savina Nikolova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Напрегната. Странна. Цветна. Изключителна. Зловеща. Мрачна. Забавна.
Хелена Дъган е свършила безкрайно добра работа. Книгата е красиво написана, а всяка страница е изпълнена с приключения и чудатости.
"A Place Called Perfect" е много повече от просто един детски роман. Дава ни един важен урок, показва ни нещо, което в наши дни е от голямо значение - колко нужно е всъщност въображението и какво се случва, когато го загубим.

Tense. Strange. Colorful. Unique. Spooky. Dark. Funny.
Helena Duggan has done an amazing job. The book is beautifully written, every page is bursting with adventures and curiosity.
"A Place Called Perfect" is so much more than just a middle-grade novel. It teaches an important lesson, it shows us something I find extremely significant nowadays - how necessary imagination is and what actually happens when you lose it.

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet und ihre Eltern ziehen nach Perfect und hier scheint wirklich alles perfekt zu sein. Alles ist sauber, die Menschen freundlich, alle tragen rosarote Brillen und sind begeisterte Teetrinker. Doch warum darf man nachts das Haus nicht verlassen und warum patrouillieren Hüter durch die Straßen und achten darauf, dass die Regeln eingehalten werden?Violet hat das starke Gefühl, dass hier etwas nicht mit rechten Dingen zugeht.

Das Buch ist total spannend, fast schon beklemmend und konnte mich ganz schnell begeistern. Violet ist ein aufgewecktes Mädchen, dass sich nicht so schnell einwickeln lässt. Ihr zur Seite steht der geheimnisvolle Boy, der ihr hilft hinter die Rätsel der Stadt zu kommen. Es geht um Freundschaft, aber auch um Abhängigkeiten, die dazu führen, dass nichts mehr hinterfragt wird. Wer in Perfect nicht nach den aufgestellten Regeln lebt, lernt schnell auch die unfreundliche Seite der Stadtväter und der Hüter kennen. Ich fand es richtig spannend und wollte ab einem bestimmten Punkt das Buch nur noch sehr ungern aus der Hand legen. Es gefiel mir sehr gut, dass es in dem Buch einen Stadtplan gibt, so konnte ich Violet und Boy auf ihrem Abenteuer verfolgen. Auch wenn mich das Buch im ersten Moment an 'Die Frauen von Stepford' erinnerte, hat es doch eine ganz eigene Kreativität und wundervolle Charaktere, die man nicht so schnell vergisst.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helena Duggan is a graphic designer based in Kilkenny and this is her debut novel aimed at readers age 9+ although it would be equally enjoyed by adults who enjoy magical tales.

Only child Violet Brown finds her life disrupted when her parents decide to up sticks and move to a town called Perfect. Her optician father has been offered an almost perfect job in this new location and despite her misgivings, Violet must do as she is told. The strange thing is that everyone in Perfect wears peculiarly tinted glasses, something to do with living too near the sun, and the mysterious Archer brothers want Mr Brown to solve their optical problems...or do they??
With echoes of Roald Dahl, Neil Gaiman's Coraline, the Wizard of Oz and the films of Tim Burton, this is a charming, whimsical tale sure to appeal to those who enjoy quirky, imaginative stories. Whilst the adult characters go blindly about their daily perfect lives it is left to the children to seek the truth of the matter and discover what the fiendish Archers are planning.

A Place Called Perfect is an impressive debut. Looking forward to sharing this with my own children and to reading more from Helena Duggan.
You can find out more about the author on her website here.

[Trzcionka · Rating 2 out of 5]

To książka tylko i wyłącznie dla młodszego czytelnika (wg mnie okolice 10 lat). To typowa przygodówka z elementami fantasy. Dużo bohaterów, dużo się dzieje i na szczęście nie ma przegadanych momentów. Napisana schludnym, zgrabnym stylem.
Choć książka fabularnie daje rade to emocji i jakiejkolwiek głębi tu nie ma. Wszystkich zwrotów akcji, tajemnic, jaki i zakończenia można się z miejsca domyśleć. Niektóre rozwiązania są aż za bardzo uproszczone i nie raz bywa mało realistycznie. To niewątpliwie zepsuje całą zabawę starszym czytelnikom.
Mam wrażenie, że ta opowieść idealnie nadałaby się na kreskówkę, bo na książkę to tak sobie. Autorka kilka razy uderza w poważne tematy, ale robi to tak powierzchownie i bez przekonania, że nie idzie się wciągnąć i związać z bohaterami. Ci są zupełnie papierowi. Gdyby nie ciekawy pomysł i prosty styl adekwatny do opowiadanej historii byłaby kaplica na całej linii.
Oczywiście do lektury zachęciła mnie okładka i ciekawy opis fabuły. Muszę przyznać, że okładka idealnie komponuje się z tą opowieścią. Żal więc, że nie wyszło z tego coś bardziej konkretnego i wartego zapamiętania.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars. A quite entertaining middle grade. A mystery revolving a kid that dosent want to move to a new town (a common thrope I feel) but she does has a good point. In the town called Perfect, everyone have to wear glasses or they will get blind! That doesn't sound very pleasant at all! With her dad disappearing and her mom acting weird she takes help by her new friend to find out what was going on. I enjoyed it pretty much but wasn't completely in love with it but a very entertaining story never the less

[Story of a Book Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oops, I did it again. I bought a book because of the cover. And I ended up not liking it. Disappointed even. I liked the idea of it. The characters were dull. I was utterly bored throughout the whole lenght of this book. The plot seemed too slow at some points, and too rushed in others.
It felt both too long and yet, not developed enough.
Look at that cover though. Isn't it gorgeous? I love it.

[Maram · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, the plot & concept were great, the story & the writing were well-written.

But I had an issue with the book and I think the review down below explains it perfectly:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Aneliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Много ми харесва чистия, невинен и опростен начин, по който детските книги предават така важни послания за възрастните. Затова винаги ги чета с наслада.

[Chloe Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

RE-READ 22.10.21 - Kept my rating at 4 stars. Will hopefully be getting to the sequel FINALLY next month, after reading this for the first time in May 2020.

So much fun - really creepy and atmospheric. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Place Called Perfect is Helena Duggan's debut novel and is the book #1 in this new series. The book is aimed at young adults, but is also suitable for adults who enjoy reading fantasy. A thoroughly enjoyable read. I do want to read about what happens next, so hopefully the wait for book #2 will not be long.

Violet Brown and her parents Eugene and Rose, move to Perfect. Perfect is a perfect town, with perfect citizens who drink perfect tea, but if they take off their special rose tinted glasses, the people are totally blind.

Edward and George Archer have built this perfect town, but not all the citizens conform and do not become perfect citizens. Violet is one of those citizens and very soon Mrs Moody, the school teacher diagnoses Violet as having IDDCS (Irritable Dysfunctional Disobedient Child Syndrome) and Violet is placed on medication. However, Violet only pretends to swallow the pills because she does not want to be perfect.

Eugene, Violet's father, suddenly disappears. The Archers say that Eugene has been sent on an opthalmic conference, but Violet does not believe this. Rose, Violet's mother is of no help as she has already turned into a perfect citizen.

Lying on her mattress one day, Violet finds a box stuffed in her mattress. Inside the small flat box is a paid of plain spectacles made of wood. When she wears these spectacles, Violet finds that she can see a boy that she couldn't see at all when wearing the other spectacles. Boy, is his name and he tells Violet that the rose tinted spectacles do something to change reality. He tells her that he lives on the other side of the huge wall that surrounds Perfect. Boy goes on to say that the Watchers stop Boy and the other invisibles from entering Perfect. He says that his are outcasts, the unwanted, mainly called the No-Man's-Landers, because they are not perfect.

Violet discovers that Bungalow, one of the Watchers that she can now see, goes into people's houses at night after the curfew, collecting imaginations from the rose coloured glasses and transferring them to jars in the Archers Optical Emporium. Violet from following Bungalow, sees that the jars glow. One jar has her name written on it and says 'processing'.

Violet explains to Boy about the disappearance of her father and believes that the Archer brothers are keeping him somewhere. When she explains to Boy about the glowing glass jars, they decide that the Archer brothers must have something sinister planned. Boy promises Violet that together, they will find out what exactly is going on in Perfect and will help her find her father.

[aynsrtn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Membaca buku ini untuk kali kedua agar lebih mindful. Dan ternyata tidak mengurangi jumlah bintang yang aku kasih untuk buku ini. Pembuka series Perfect yang "sempurna" dengan 5⭐️ penuh.

Bercerita tentang Violet yang harus ikut pindah ke sebuah kota bernama Perfect bersama Ayah dan Mamanya. Namun, baru dua hari tinggal di sana, Violet mengalami kebutaan dan harus menggunakan kacamata khusus. Semua yang dilihat Violet dengan kacamatanya begitu Perfect—sempurna. Namun, kesempurnaan itu malah terasa ganjil. Kota ini aneh. Bersama Boy, anak laki-laki tak kasat mata, Violet pun memecahkan misteri kota ini.

❝Orang-orang jadi lebih mudah dikendalikan saat mereka tidak memiliki imajinasi. Mereka tidak mengajukan pertanyaan dan mereka memercayai apa pun yang kausampaikan kepada mereka. Fakta sederhananya adalah manusia tidak ada artinya tanpa imajinasi.❞ -p. 184

Buku middle grade dengan sudut pandang penceritaan anak berusia 12 tahun, tapi sangat direkomendasikan untuk pembaca dewasa.

Buku ini tidak hanya menyajikan petualangan yang menarik dan suasana tegang nan seru, juga banyak pembelajaran yang bisa diambil terutama tentang pentingnya imajinasi, perspektif tentang kesempurnaan, ambisi, persahabatan, semangat juang, dan rela berkorban.

Karakter Violet sukses membuatku kesal dan greget. Keras kepalanya yang seringnya abai pada perasaan temannya, membuatku lumayan jengkel juga. Untung Boy, anaknya lebih kalem dan berkepala dingin. Sehingga Violet sebegitu menyebalkan, trabas terus tanpa mempertimbangkan resiko, bisa diimbangi oleh Boy. Dan ada perkembangan karakter di sana. Violet pun bertumbuh menjadi anak yang mampu mendengarkan dan menghargai temannya.

Scene yang ku suka di buku ini:

1. Pergerakan Perjuangan
Perjuangan warga Wilayah Tak Bertuan (WTB) untuk bisa bersama keluarganya dan bagaimana Violet dan Boy membawa satu warga Perfect sebagai "booster" untuk memecut daya juang WTB kembali, sungguh memantik di buku ini. Apalagi inisiator dan penggeraknya adalah anak-anak. Keren.

2. Momen Boy
Boy yang tahu bahwa dia hanyalah anak panti asuhan, mendapati sesuatu "kejutan". Peristiwa bertemu itu dan saat menyadari semua bahwa Boy tidaklah lagi sendiri, cukup heartwarming buatku.

#

Akhir kata, bagi yang menyukai cerita middle grade dengan bumbu fantasy-action, buku ini sangat direkomendasikan.

Sukaaakk! 💐

[AHeartFullOfBooks❣️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute fun adventure with two little 12 year olds that live in a town where everything is perfect from all aspects. All is good and dandy and everyone is happy but there is a bit of a catch, no one thinks for themselves; they just believe whatever they are being told by the Archer twins who are not as nice as they may seem. After her dad’s disappearance, Violet will not sit and do nothing when she knows something is wrong with this town and it’s creators. Boy wants justice for the no-man-landers and hopes that Violets father will be of help. These two kids will join and start working hand in hand to save their town and everyone they care about.

A Place Called Perfect was good story that I think has great meaning of family, friendship, and love.
Unfortunately, it was too middle grade-y for me :/

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Град на име Съвършенство”, книга първа от обещаващата middle grade трилогия на Хелена Дъган, е най-новото книжно изкушение от каталога на „Orange Books”. Семейството на Вайълет, нашата главна героиня, се мести в Съвършенство. Но още от заглавието ни е пределно ясно, че мястото със сигурност няма да отговаря на името си... Че къде иначе ще е интригата тук? Зад фасадата на привидно идеално уреденото градче се крие зловеща тайна... Но дали Вайълет ще я разгадае преди да е станало прекалено късно? Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Lia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jatuh cinta dengan sampulnya. Benar sekali kalau melihat cover dan blurb tentang kisah Violet di kota Perfect, membuatku penasaran. Awalnya buku ini menarik dan setiap chapter sangat aku suka. Sampai pada klimaks dan akhir aku merasakan cerita terlalu dipaksakan, entah mengapa aku merasa tidak lagi begitu peduli dengan apa yang dilakukan Violet dan temannya, Boy. Kemudian muncul tokoh lain yang membuatku juga tidak begitu membantuku menikmati akhir ceritanya ini.

Beberapa teman ada yang menyukai serial ini, ada 3 buku dan baru diterjemahkan seri pertamanya. Aku masih ingin membaca lanjutan buku ini, dan berharap ceritanya akan lebih baik.

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umm well
I thought it was really interesting at first. I loved the setting and thought it was really creepy and fascinating. But it was actually really predicable and wasn't mysterious at all. 😅😅 not so good👎

[Livresse de Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une très bonne lecture jeunesse !

J’ai aimé les personnages, l’univers, l’intrigue, et j’y ai vraiment trouvé beaucoup de bonnes choses. C’est une petite lecture simple et facile parfaite pour la période de fêtes.

L’ambiance me fait un peu penser à un huit clos dans le sens où tout se passe dans une seule et même petite ville de laquelle on a vite fait le tour, mais ce qui permet de très vite entrevoir tous les tenants et aboutissants avec un world building simple pour un roman de moins de 400 pages.

Seul bémol : mauvaise gestion du suspens de la part de l’autrice 🤷🏻‍♀️ je vois tout venir à 1000km, et même lorsqu’une action devrait nous mettre dans un état de suspens, c’est très vite contrecarré par l’action suivante.

[Ruzaika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another version of this review can be found here.

Received in exchange for an honest review from Usborne Publishing UK

A Place Called Perfect, the middle-grade debut of graphic designer Helena Duggan, follows the story of Violet Brown who finds life as she knows it thrown up in air as her parents decide to move to a place called Perfect. Her father, a renowned ophthalmologist had been offered an attractive new job in this strange little town and Violet can do nothing but agree to this sudden turn of events- who cares if she has to leave her friends and everything she holds dear in her old life?

Once they move to Perfect, Violet finds things to be very strange indeed. For one, the town is ridiculously perfect- and the people, even more so. The tea is delicious, and the rose-tinted glasses everyone has to wear seems to protect them from blindness- what even, right? Violet hates all this (except for the tea, which, admittedly, is absolutely delicious), and once her parents start turning into people she barely recognized, with her mom taking up baking and what not, and her father suddenly disappears on a mysterious business trip, Violet realizes that something is definitely not right about Perfect.



Violet then meets Boy. Boy is different from the other people she has so far seen at Perfect, and with Boy helping her, Violet discovers that the two Archer brothers- her father's employers- are not who they seem to be. In fact, so cunning and dangerous are they that it's up to Violet and Boy to put their heads together and decide how to save the oblivious people of Perfect from the cunning Archer brothers.

A Place Called Perfect is a brilliantly woven, darkly imaginative story that manages to keep the reader hooked, right from page one. The world-building is done wonderfully and you'd no doubt feel a shiver running down your spine a good few times. The little details are done really well, all contributing to make one fascinating, if creepy, world.

Violet is a spunky and fun character, and I loved seeing her character arc progress throughout the book. She went through quite the time, what with seeing her parents change into people she could barely recognize under her own eyes and all. Boy had a significant role throughout the book- I do wish his character had more in terms of growth, but together he and Violet were a, well, perfect pair. They were both extremely realistic and quirky and quite fun to be with throughout the course of the story. The evil twin Archer brothers are quite very menacing and their plans for Perfect were quite very appalling- they were honestly brilliantly evil villains!

Apart from the slight lack of growth in Boy's character, the one other thing that bothered me about the book was the pacing. Things started off very well, but halfway through I felt the story to be a bit lagging and slow overall, and this could perhaps be avoided if the story was a tad shorter? This could be just me but I did want things to hurry up already. The story was still very engaging and honestly very spooky, like, very, and the ending was so, so beautiful! I loved how things progressed to that perfect ending, and I loved seeing that a sequel is in the works already! I, for one, cannot wait!



Throughout all this there's a serious message to be found too. The book makes us think how we may be unwittingly made to fit a "perfect" mould, and how we may be oblivious to it all, content with following the majority without any questioning.

All in all, I'd say A Place Called Perfect is the perfect choice if you're looking for a brilliantly spooky, wildly imaginative story this Halloween season- or any time of the year, really. You'd no doubt appreciate the wonderfully creepy world and the fantastically crafted characters, and if you, like me, like your horror in mild doses, this book is for you! Recommended to fans of Coraline, Tim Burton, and the Wizard of Oz.

The story idea: 5/5
The realization of the story: 4/5
The characters: 4/5
The cover: 5/5 (Absolutely gorgeous, I tell you!)
Enjoy factor: 5/5

Final Rating: 4/5

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A place called Perfect, a Perfect town for Perfect citizens.... or is it?

I am still a bit emotional as this was a terrific book, so bear with me while I try to write a review.

This was an absolutely delightful, charming, magical book, with mystery, with wonderful characters, and beautiful worldbuilding (I could just imagine Perfect, No-Man's-Land, everything, I saw myself walking through the town, running alongside of the orphans, Boy, and Violet) . I already loved the book just for the cover, but now I can say I also love the inside of it.

Right from the bat I knew something was up with Perfect, but what? Well, the writer slowly builds up and shows us hints, little secrets, little twitches in the characters, mysterious events. It was never a slow or dull moment, instead I just hungrily ate it all, I wanted to know more. I wanted to figure out everything there was about this town, about its residents, about the Archers.

I did know what caused the blindness (quite soon in the story), and had a laugh that the characters took 200-300 pages before they figure it out themselves. It was just so obvious that it was that. There was just nothing else it could be.

Violet was a wonderful character, though at times a bit too impulsive, and also a bit selfish (though I do get why she acted like that, I would probably have done the same if I was her age + it was my dad). But most of the time I just liked her a whole lot. She had a giant imagination, and she was also the one with the biggest plans. She never gave up, even when everything seemed hopeless. I cried along with her when her mom totally changed.
I also liked that she got braver with each page, with each event that happened. She really grew in this book. Plus her love for her parents was so beautiful. A lot of kids may just be happy without parents, but she saw their love, she longed for them to hold her, for her to just be a kid a bit longer.

Then we have Boy. The second really important character. A boy without parents. A boy who lives in the No-Man's-Land part next to Perfect. At times he was a bit too much, at times he didn't feel like a kid, but then again, I guess that happens when one has lived in the No-Man's-Land for all their life. You just can't be a kid there, only sometimes.

I loved the interaction between Boy and Violet. They made a good duo. Bouncing off ideas, helping and saving each other. Plus their jokes and snark had me in stitches. :P

One of the biggest charm points would be the fact that this takes place in a time without cellphones, with wifi/internet. There is one mention of a game console, but that is it. I just adore it when an author writes a book without the modern conveniences. The characters have to really rely on wit, bravery, brains. They can't just google their way out of here. Oh no. And I love that. It really brings out the characters and shows just how great they are.

The Archers' plans? OH MY, those guys really need to be locked up tight. Couple of jealous, creepy, psychotic guys. They make a perfect villain duo though. What they did to Perfect, how their plan evolved as time continued. The things they did to their own family. To anyone who didn't fit their perfect little vision.

The ending? Gosh, I just cried so much. It was absolutely beautiful.

And I guess we will be getting a second book *squee*. I was already hoping for it given the ending, but it was confirmed on the last pages. *cheers*

The only thing that would have made the book even more gorgeous is illustrations. A bit in the style of the chapter headings.

There may be a few things I missed, but I think I got most of the things I wanted to say in my review.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Jadey (the Bookish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story started off really well, the creepy vibes were just so good. It sort of reminded me of a Series of Unfortunate Events which is a series I love.

However, as the plot progressed, I became disenchanted. The dialogue between Violet and Boy was really frustrating to read, there was just so much anger there and unnecessary emphasis on gender. Something that grated on me so much that fully made this book lose a star in its rating, was the excessive use of 'snapped' as a verb. I started to notice it halfway through, and although I didn't count, the book definitely used it more than 10 times. Literally any other word describing angry speech would have been a relief. It sounds small, but it really took away from the reading experience.