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A review by verymom
The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell
4.0
The audiobook is read by Jayne Entwhistle and she's such a delight. Really cute middle grade.
Before reading, I read some very ranty reviews comparing this book to Harry Potter and shouting about knock offs and stolen ideas, and y'all, I am just not seeing it. As I listened, I tried hard to pay attention to any Potteresque similarities, and I just couldn't find any. This isn't a magic school story and the world felt very original and inventive to me! (Edited to add: I'm listening to book two now and I can see the Potter inspiration a bit more. Still, it's a very different world and I wouldn't call it a ripoff at all.)
In this story, there is a secret part of London called Lundinor. It's underground and it's a giant, hidden market where magical people come together to negotiate various trades. There are very funny "uncommon" uses of every day objects: toilet brushes (the police force carry them!), bells (they can talk!), black feathers (they write messages in the air), candles (can make you invisible), and suitcases (climb into and emerge in a far away place). The idea behind "uncommoners" (magical people) and their uncommon objects was such a wonderful idea, I wish I'd thought of it myself... especially the toilet brushes, ha ha.
Our heroine is Ivy Sparrows, age 11, and her older brother, Seb. Their parents aren't dead (wonders never cease!) but they work a lot and are often out of town. As the story starts, Ivy and Seb are being cared for by their grandmother, but she'd had a fall and they travel with her to the hospital. Grandma has a mysterious case of amnesia and can't remember most of her childhood. She has a few keepsakes from the time before, one of which is a gold bracelet. The bracelet has to be cut off for medical purposes and this sets off the events of the novel.
Ivy and her brother don't get along particularly well, but love each other deep down. It's fun to watch them grow closer and learn to respect one another as the story progresses. I loved the rest of the characters, too. Everyone felt very well rounded & developed. Scratch is my favorite, especially the way Entwhistle narrated his backward speaking mannerisms. So cute.
Some fun twists and exciting lead ins to the next book which I already have queued up and ready to go.
Before reading, I read some very ranty reviews comparing this book to Harry Potter and shouting about knock offs and stolen ideas, and y'all, I am just not seeing it. As I listened, I tried hard to pay attention to any Potteresque similarities, and I just couldn't find any. This isn't a magic school story and the world felt very original and inventive to me! (Edited to add: I'm listening to book two now and I can see the Potter inspiration a bit more. Still, it's a very different world and I wouldn't call it a ripoff at all.)
In this story, there is a secret part of London called Lundinor. It's underground and it's a giant, hidden market where magical people come together to negotiate various trades. There are very funny "uncommon" uses of every day objects: toilet brushes (the police force carry them!), bells (they can talk!), black feathers (they write messages in the air), candles (can make you invisible), and suitcases (climb into and emerge in a far away place). The idea behind "uncommoners" (magical people) and their uncommon objects was such a wonderful idea, I wish I'd thought of it myself... especially the toilet brushes, ha ha.
Our heroine is Ivy Sparrows, age 11, and her older brother, Seb. Their parents aren't dead (wonders never cease!) but they work a lot and are often out of town. As the story starts, Ivy and Seb are being cared for by their grandmother, but she'd had a fall and they travel with her to the hospital. Grandma has a mysterious case of amnesia and can't remember most of her childhood. She has a few keepsakes from the time before, one of which is a gold bracelet. The bracelet has to be cut off for medical purposes and this sets off the events of the novel.
Ivy and her brother don't get along particularly well, but love each other deep down. It's fun to watch them grow closer and learn to respect one another as the story progresses. I loved the rest of the characters, too. Everyone felt very well rounded & developed. Scratch is my favorite, especially the way Entwhistle narrated his backward speaking mannerisms. So cute.
Some fun twists and exciting lead ins to the next book which I already have queued up and ready to go.