Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

 

Series: Nevermoor (Book 1)

Title: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Author: Jessica Townsend

Published: 2017

Genre: Fantasy

Grade Level: 3^rd-5^th Grade

 

Audiobook

Read by: Gemma Whelan

Length: 11hrs

Recommend: Yes!

 

Blurb (from goodreads):

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

Before this fate could arrive, Morrigan is rescued by a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North. He whisks her away to a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart - an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests - or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

 

My Scores:

Writing Style: Top Notch

What can I say? I’m a sucker for a gloomy character. The internal dialogue of the MC, Morrigan Crow, is so much fun to read! Like Wednesday from The Addams Family, she was spooky, depressed, and full of dark humor. (Normally, this would go under characters, but the MC’s POV set the tone for the novel).

I also love how well the dialogue is written. How the adult characters spoke to our MC really reminded me of the frustrations I felt as a child, never being told the whole truth for my own 'protection.'

Characters: Memorable

As previously mentioned, the MC is a lovely, well-crafted soul to meet. She is smart, jaded, and completely relatable. If you have ever felt like everything wrong with the universe was all your fault, then you will find it hard not to give a piece of your heart to this character.

I also like that the adults have a role to play in this novel, rather than being conveniently gotten rid of. Our MC’s patron, Jupiter North, is the most developed adult character. He is a classic absent-minded professor, equal parts lovable and frustrating. I also love his moody sidekick, the Magnificat!

I wish some of the other characters, like the MC’s best friend, Hawthorne, and the MC’s grandmother, had gotten more development. But overall, each character is unique, have well-crafted dialogue, and are a joy to meet!

 

Plot: Predictable

Here’s where the novel has a little trouble. At times the pacing is too slow (for example, the Christmas scene). At times the world-building needs more explication (I still don’t think I quite understand what eventide is… It never made sense to me, but maybe I’m just thinking too much like an adult.)

The worst thing is that I kept comparing it to the Harry Potter series. As hard as I tried not to, there were just too many similarities. Unfortunately, Nevermore failed to be quite as good (shocking, I know). The villain just isn’t as scary as Voldemort. The world-building isn’t taken as seriously. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with a little whimsy (like a giant, talking cat), but sometimes it gets a little too whimsical (like some of the knacks). Lastly, unlike Harry Potter, Morrigan just doesn’t seem to be as effected by her trauma as she should be (which is one of my pet peeves). 

The plot follows a classic plotline that surrounds the chosen-one trope which I have read countless times before. That’s not to say that someone younger won’t enjoy it – I’m just saying that it was predictable to me. 

Overall: Enjoyable

Overall, it's an enjoyable read, but I don’t have any intention of continuing on in the series. The only reason I bothered to finish the novel at all is because I’m a sucker for a gloomy, dark-witted MC. The plot just didn't hook me. 

Goodreads Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

 

Title: A Monster Calls

Author: Patrick Ness

Published: 2011

Genre: Contemporary

Grade Level: 6^th-8^th Grade

-Movie Rating: PG

Note: Make sure to get the illustrated edition (by Jim Kay)

 

Audiobook

Read by: Jason Isaacs

Length: 3hrs 59min

Recommend: Yes!!

 

Blurb (from goodreads):

An unflinching, darkly funny, and deeply moving story of a boy, his seriously ill mother, and an unexpected monstrous visitor.

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting - he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous.

It wants the truth.

My Scores:

Writing Style: Top Notch

Could I give Patrick Ness anything less? Of course he’s top notch! His prose is enough to make anyone jealous, myself included.

Unlike a lot of children’s book authors, Ness’ writing style is complex, challenging, and exciting. Nothing about this novel is spelled out, you have to put the pieces together on your own. And when you do, it only adds to the gravity of the situation.

What I love most about this novel is that even though it’s a children’s book, nothing is downplayed. It is an emotionally raw look into the heart of someone experiencing loss at a young age in all it’s ugly, angry glory. More children’s literature should be like this, showing the honest, confusing, and dark truths of this world.

Ness really respected the intelligence of his audience and that’s why I think this novel became so popular so fast.

 

Characters: Memorable

How can you not instantly feel empathy for our MC, Conor? He is more than relatable, he is a classic embodiment of grief, rage, and self-persecution. Not that Conor doesn’t have a unique voice, because he certainly does. He just also feels like a piece of humanity itself.

The monster is indefinably wonderful. The relationship between the monster and Conor makes for some of the best dialogue I've read in a while. The monster’s design is huge, creepy, and aggressive, and yet the audience never feels threatened by him simply because our MC isn’t threatened by him. It’s also interesting to analyze the monster and try to figure out his symbolism.

While there isn’t much time spent on the other characters, like Conor’s family or classmates, there is just enough details given to understand everything you need to know about them. Each character is given enough development to make them unique, realistic, and properly loved or despised (depending) but the main focus is Conor dealing with his monsters.  

 

Plot: So Many Plot Twists!

Nothing ends the way you expect it too, especially for a children’s novel. It really does force you to think like adult. This is my second time through, and I enjoyed it all the more knowing what was being foreshadowed (which I cannot say is true for other books).

And despite the impression the movie may have given you, the pacing of the novel is perfect. There just simply wasn’t enough plot to span a 2-hr movie. I think it would have made a wonderful 1-hr movie… Just for the record, I also think the dialogue is better in the book (some of my favorite lines were cut ☹).

 Overall: Totally Obsessed

Even if contemporary works aren’t something you typically enjoy, I feel like there are enough fantasy elements incorporated to compensate for anyone’s personal preferences. By that same hand, even if you don’t often enjoy children’s books, you might just make an exception for this one.

 

Messaging:

 “Stories are wild things.”

…and many many more (but they would spoil the fun 😉)

 

Goodreads Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Girl With No Name by Marina Chapman

Title: The Girl with No Name

Author: Marina Chapman, Vanessa James, and Lynne Barrett-Lee (Ghostwriter)

Published: 2013

Genre: Memoir

Grade Level: Adult

-Trigger Warning: Child abandonment, child abuse

-Movie Rating: PG-13

 

Blurb (from goodreads):

In 1954, in a remote mountain village in South America, Marina Chapman was stolen from her housing estate and then abandoned deep in the Colombian jungle. She was four years old. Soon she came upon a troop of capuchin monkeys. She decided to copy their actions and little by little she learned how to fend for herself.

Gradually became feral; she lost the ability to speak, lost all inhibition, lost any real sense of being human, replacing the structure of human society with the social mores of her new simian family. But society was eventually to reclaim her.

This rousing story of a lost child who overcomes the dangers of the wild and the brutality of the streets to finally reclaim her life will astonish readers everywhere.

 

Disclaimer: My review of this memoir is not in any way a reflection upon the author or their life. I am a book reviewer, I review books… not people.

My Scores:

Writing Style: Good

The writing style is a bit odd to me, but that's most likely because the ghostwriter is from the UK (while I am from the US).

Regardless, I found the beginning of the novel to be a bit flowery. The pacing is really slowed down by a lot of tiny, little redundant details. I was engaged enough with the plot to continue reading, but I did not enjoy reading it as much as I wanted to.

However, as the novel progressed the pacing thoroughly improved (since it no longer repeated itself) – hence the ‘good’ score.

Characters: Memorable

(I known they’re real people. I’m referring to them as character’s anyway.)

It was so odd not having a real name to go along with the “I” persona for most of the novel (almost like reading Rebecca all over again). But I am definitely going to remember the MC, Marina (I guess?), for a long time! 

The MC sees human society in such an interesting way because her only frame of reference is her life in the jungle with her monkey family. At times it's humorous, but at other times it's truly heartbreaking. Her story made me glad to live in present-day America, despite our problems.

I do wish other characters in the novel had more development, but unlike in fiction sometimes we don’t get to have every character’s motivations explained.

Plot: So Many Plot Twists!

Oh my gosh, you guys, the plot is nuts! I never thought I would give this score to a memoir, but it certainly deserves it! 

I’m so glad Marina’s daughter cared enough about her mother’s story to create this novel. Her unique upbringing in the Columbian jungle is just the start of her traumatic but incredibly inspiring story!

Overall: Obsessed

Overall, I’m obsessed with this novel! It started out slow, but as it progressed it was an incredible, almost unbelievable story to behold. According to the author’s notes there is a sequel in the making, and I am hoping it’s true!

Messaging:

“The only names you have ever known have been slave names… What you need, my dear, is to have a name all of your own.”

Goodreads Rating: 5 out of 5 stars