Sunday, March 29, 2015

Review: Nightbird by Alice Hoffman



Nightbird
by Alice Hoffman 

Published March 5th 2015 by Simon & Schuster UK 


In her first novel for middle-grade readers , bestselling author Alice Hoffman tells a bewitching story of love and friendship that is truly magical.
Twig lives in Sidwell, where people whisper that fairy tales are real. After all, her town is rumored to hide a monster. And two hundred years ago, a witch placed a curse on Twig’s family that was meant to last forever. But this summer, everything will change when the red moon rises. It’s time to break the spell.





MY THOUGHTS

Alice Hoffman has long since been a favorite story teller of mine. Some of her great works include Practical Magic, which went on to be a great movie, The Dovekeepers, and The Museum of Extraordinary Things. I feel she is so much more than an artist which is why I always refer to her as story teller. The magic she weaves is sheer brilliance. It might not be the most fancy face prose out there but she still knows how to craft some of the most well developed characters I have ever read about. That is her strong point, extremely character driven books.

This was such a light yet fulfilling read. In Nightbird, we follow Twig, a girl who does her best to be invisible just as she was always told to do. When a family moves into the manor at the edge of the property, Twig can't help but want to be friends with the sisters Agate and Julia. Even though this is the house that used to be lived in by the witch who cursed her family and the girls are direct descendants of sed witch. Twig and Julia both have people they love affected by this wretched curse so they will do whatever they can to reverse it. Twig and her family had so many secrets that slowly came to light. I loved learning about her parents relationship and her brother James, who is the most fascinating of them all.

This book was a mere 200 pages so it was quite the quick read. It started off a bit slow but Hoffman lays the groundwork for the setting in those essential first pages. I think there is some info dumping but it is so cleverly worded you never feel weighed down by knowledge. If you feeling a bit hesitant about Middle grade this might just be the perfect book to try.


5 SNOWFLAKES





14 comments:

  1. I love my share of Middle Grade reads here and there, and the reason for that is to just relax, read and enjoy. It's good to know that this is a light read and enjoyable read, I'll be keeping an eye out for it. Amazing review, Britt!

    Sarika @ The Readdicts

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    1. Thank you dear!! I have found them quite comforting!!

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  2. Practical Magic is a great movie, but I've never read the book. I should probably do that. And, I LOVED the Dovekeepers, and am looking forward to the miniseries, which starts TOMORROW. Thanks for the review.

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    1. what what what?!?! how did I not know this!! Thank you for telling me i will now scuttle off to find the info!

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  3. I really enjoyed this one as well. Love Alice Hoffman:)

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    1. It was nice right? This was perfect for what I wanted. Just to read a good story but not feel crazy emotional about it.

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  4. I absolutely loved this one. Great review.

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  5. Yay! I could finally come and read your review since I posted mine. I really enjoyed this book too. I'd never read this author's work but had seen Practical Magic. I loved the magical realism and thought it was a really lovely story.

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    1. She is incredible!! You should try out a Dovekeepers or The Museum of Extraordniary Things!! They were sooooo fantastical!

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  6. Ms. Hoffman has written a superb and wonderful tale that I will share with every young person I can, especially my two boys. You will believe in the magic of our lives after reading this book. Thank you, Ms. Hoffman, for sharing this with the world.

    Mica
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  8. You made me really want to try out Hoffman's books just with that opening paragraph, Brittany!
    Great review :)

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