The "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" Book Tag // a dive into the characters and similarities to Stargate (1994)

Hello and good tidings, all you explorers of stories!

This month the movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) turned 25 years old! And when it comes to this movie, I am a HUGE fan. Let's see, it has:

• Blue being the main design color for the Atlanteans (which I approve of heartily) 
• An original story for Disney in the style of Jules Vernes's work (only maybe copied from something else...stay tuned for my theory on that.)
• One of the best examples of a large cast of characters being done right where they all have their unique personalities and skills to contribute which makes each memorable.
• A self-awareness of the explorer/white savior dynamic that other films (*cough* The Road to El Dorado *cough*) are lacking, and an examination of what it means to interact with other cultures (which they could do with this fictional world in ways that are not disrespectful!) 
• Great quotes and comic relief.

Not to say it doesn't have its fair share issues (and surprises, such as one of the highest body counts in a Disney movie?), but it navigates a new territory in story, characters, and themes that Disney had not explored before. 

All that's to say, it's a delight. And I'm not the only one who thinks so, as Sally Silverscreen at 18 Cinema Lane put together a book tag to celebrate that this movie has been around for a quarter of a century (just multiply that by 340 and we get Kida's age). I'm filling it out today to join in the celebration.

Remember that excellent huge cast of characters I mentioned earlier? Each of the questions based on one of the characters! Because of that, there are SPOILERS for the movie. This movie is super nostalgic for me so I wouldn't recommend revealing the twists to yourself if you haven't seen it.

Questions:

Milo Thatch: 

Throughout the film, Milo never gives up on finding Atlantis, even when he originally faced scrutiny from the Smithsonian Institute’s board of directors. What book series do you see yourself not giving up on?: 

I didn't give up on The Queen's Thief series - by Megan Whalen Turner even though I was super tempted a time or two. But it paid off because the last book was my favorite!

As far as a series that I am still in the midst of reading go, the sequels in the Emily series - by L. M. Montgomery are #1 on my Goodreads list. I read the first book, Emily of New Moon (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4), in 2019 and keep meaning to continue the series. It hasn't happened in the last 7 years but that doesn't mean my resolve is crumbling at all!

Another one would be to read all of Agatha Christie's books. I only read a Hercule Poirot book every few years people might have thought that I've given up, but that's the not the case at all. I'm just savoring them!

Kidagakash "Kida" Nedakh:

While recounting the state of Atlantis, Kida says, “We [Atlanteans] are like a stone the ocean beats against. With each passing year a little more of us is worn away.” Which book would you save from becoming lost to time?:

The Kite Runner - by Khalid Hosseini. This is a hard, hard book. It deals with very horrific things and dark circumstances but has stuck with me even 5 years after I read it. Due to some of the subject material it has been challenged to be a banned book so I would like to save it from being lost in time in that sense. There have been criticisms that certain groups are portrayed in an overly negative light which I have no place to speak about, but aside, it is one of the most stunning works I've ever read and really opened my eyes to perspectives so vastly different from mine.

Audrey: 

As a gifted mechanic, Audrey is tasked with making sure the Ulysses submarine and the team’s vehicles run smoothly throughout the expedition. What book had a pace you thought ran smoothly?: 

Etiquette & Espionage - by Gail Carriger is not your typical "protagonist goes to a new school" book. It's cheeky and fun and has lots of mysteries and lessons for Sophronia to complete. I gobbled it up so quickly and am already working on the second book. And as a bonus that speaks to Audrey's character, there are lots of mechanical goodies as it fits in the steampunk genre.

Also, Audrey is one of my favorite characters EVER and I feel like I forget about her and need to apologize.

Vinny: 

One of Vinny’s most memorable lines is “Hey look, I made a bridge” after creating a pathway using dynamite. What literary worlds would you like to see bridged together?: 

LOVE this question (and a moment to do with "nitroglycerin" takes the cake for my favorite line of the whole film). 

My combination is not going to make a lot of sense, but I just really, really, really want more Lemony Snicket books. Because I've basically read all of them and I want more. Another book series that really reminds me of those books is The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place - by Maryrose Wood. Lemony Snicket's world is here on earth, but has a timeless quality because no reference to the actual timeframe is made. There are cars and skyscrapers and submarines and movie theaters but it could really be anytime post-1960s? Meanwhile, Miss Penelope Lumley and co. are firmly in Victorian London. 

To combine this world let's say Miss Lumley and the Incorrigibles (and Simon Harley Dickenson) somehow are transported to the future and it's up to Lemony and crew (the cast from the All the Wrong Questions series) to get them back. Because I think it would be cute to see Jake cooking food to coax Alexander, Beowolf, and Cassiopeia to eat. And Penelope being fascinated by Pip and Squeak and their driving. And Moxie trying to get interviews which only Simon takes to heart because he's used to the press as an actor. And meanwhile Lemony is the only one doing any work at the Black Cat Cafe to try to get them home.

OH and each of the characters of the respective worlds being confused about the relationship so they think Penelope is somehow related so they call her Miss Lemony instead of Miss Lumley. 

It would just be fun and cleverness would abound.

Doctor Joshua Sweet: 

According to Disney Wiki, Doctor Sweet was the first character to show Milo kindness during the Atlantis expedition. Which book character would you give kindness to?:

Owen from Becoming Naomi Leon - by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Owen is ADORABLE and PRECIOUS and legit the sweetest kid in the universe but people can be mean to him because he's a FLK (funny looking kid) due to his limp. He's so good natured he doesn't hold the teasing against anyone but that doesn't mean he should have to endure it. I just want to get him ice cream every day and help him practice riding his bike.

And if I'm hanging out with Owen that means I'll be with Naomi, too! I'd tell her she's awesome and brave and I would gush over her soap carvings.

Gaetan "Mole" Molière: 

When Milo meets Mole, he discovers Mole’s dirt collection, with each particle of dirt coming from different parts of the world. If you could collect dirt from a book’s world, where would you go?:

In Between Jobs - by W. R. Gringell there are three worlds: the main world we live in, Behind (where fae, vampires, and many other magical creatures are), and Between (which is how the worlds are bridged). Things from Between are more illusions than anything else. You're not supposed to take things from Between but that doesn't stop Pet and even though I'm a rule follower I would want to take some to see what it could later turn into.

Cookie: 

On Cookie’s chest is a tattoo of “all 38 states.” Which book would you choose out of the states represented in Cookie’s tattoo?:

From the screenshots I can find of him showing off his tattoo it's hard to see what's there, but it looks like at least: Wisconsin, West Virginia, Florida, and Texas? Those are the distinguishable shapes, then the rest of them are a bit blurred together so I'm not sure where the divisors are.

The Last Bus to Wisdom - by Ivan Doig revolves around Montana, but there's also a sizable bit where our main character Donal is on the bus to Wisconsin then when he gets there it's not how he expected it would be.

Mrs. Packard: 

According to Disney Wiki, “Packard is hardly involved during the journey to Atlantis” yet as the Officer of Communications, Mrs. Packard plays a vital role in the Atlantis expedition. Which underrated book character do you wish received more recognition?:

In The Chronicles of Narnia, the Pevensie children and Eustace and Aslan and Caspian are all very well known characters. But as the series goes on even more are introduced yet aren't as talked about as much. For example, Digory and Polly from The Magician's Nephew. I LOVE Polly. I think she's so plucky and down for anything and gets annoyed at Digory at all the right instances. Digory is also a dear. Because it's the 6th book in the series (fight me) maybe people don't get around to it and so these two are just unknown instead of underrated. Maybe with Greta Gerwig's version coming out soon they'll get some more love!

Meanwhile, as far as a character getting more recognition from the author and therefore more "screen/page time" in a book, Margaret's brother in North & South - by Elisabeth Gaskell. His role is so brief that I don't even remember his name (should we guess John? That seems typical of the period). He's only there for a couple of chapters (if that!) and serves the plot point to introduce some misunderstandings and I understand why he can't stick around but I kind of wish he could've been there for Margaret for a little longer because she's going through a time where she really needs some support. Because I'm not there to comfort my girl!

Preston B. Whitmore: 

Because of his funding, Mr. Whitmore is the reason why the Atlantis expedition happens in the first place. If you possessed a large sum of money, what book related purpose would you use the money for?:

Textbooks for students are such a tremendous expense so I would like to set up a way that they could get them for cheaper! With some subjects that are evolving, after a few years textbooks aren't even the most current knowledge so it's painful to buy them for hundreds of dollars when they can't be resold.

(Also, was it just me or did anyone else think Cookie and Mr. Whitmore were the same person for the longest time?  It was only a few years ago that I watched it and realized they were COMPLETELY different characters. They both just seemed like old white guys to me? The rest of the cast are so diverse in race and drawing style and I just associated those two as the same person.)

Kashekim Nedakh and the Queen of Atlantis: 

         

Kashekim and the Queen of Atlantis play important roles in Kida’s story, despite spending most of the movie apart. Which book couple do you wish had gotten to spend more time together?:

I feel like I bring this book up in every tag that I do, but it's gotta be All the Crooked Saints - by Maggie Steifvater. I'm in a particularly celebratory mood when it comes to this book because I finally got my younger sister to read it and then she got one of her friends to read it, too! Daniel and Marisita spend most of the book separated and we hear retroactively about some of the time they'd spent together but I want to see those scenes play out.

This is a perfect book, though, so nothing needs to be changed. I can just imagine it (and maybe make some fan art...).

Helga: 

As one of the villains, Helga is not intended to be a likable character. In your opinion, what book possesses an unlikable female character?:

Leda Fox-Cotton in I Capture the Castle - by Dodie Smith. She's not in it that much but her antagonistic role serves to show what a person looks like who only uses others for themselves (the lesson that Cassandra is learning). She does it well and I really, really, REALLY dislike her for it. Poor Stephen.

Commander Rourke:

In Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Rourke desired to locate a book called the Shepherd’s Journal. Once found, he removes one of the pages from the Shepherd’s Journal in an effort to use that page for bad intentions. Which book would you not want to see fall into a fictional villain’s hands?:

The Count of Monte Cristo - by Alexandre Dumas. Because it's a honking big book and if a villain wanted to use it as a blunt weapon they surely could. 

It's also about revenge and if you don't get through all 1200+ pages you might think that it is encouraging it. I even stalled out part way through, so I imagine a fictional villain who's really busy might not put the effort into finishing it and might be encouraged to poison people and whatnot in imitation of Edmond.

Thanks to Sally for putting those questions together! If you're a fan of Atlantis, feel free to fill it out yourself! For those of you who have seen this (which should be all of you if you made it past my spoiler warning), do any of you remember the sequel? 

I low-key loved the 2nd one growing up. Do I remember the plot? No. Do I remember that it gave me nightmares? Yes. Is it still super nostalgic? Absolutely. All I remember is that they go to a bunch of other climates like a desert and a blizzard and lava? I think I have both films on VHS that I should dig out and coax my player into working. (Editor Chloe here, turns out I don't have the sequel, so it's probably lost to time!)

I'm not sure if the sequel even has continuity or a resemblance to the original, but last year I found another movie that I think is the prototype or inspiration for Disney's work. Do you remember how earlier I said it was maybe copied from something else? My theory is it was inspired by Stargate (1994).

This movie came out 7 years before the animated adventure, but the entire time watching it I kept making connections between the two. Especially through the character archetypes and dynamics. I've only seen Stargate the once while Atlantis has been dozens of times, so I won't go into a huge analysis, just some images to demonstrate my point.

Both are action/adventures films where a group sets out to explore a far away lost culture where they discover new technologies and that the culture isn't lost at all but still alive.

Both promotional posters have pyramids/triangles and beams.

Our protagonist is sandy-blond nerd with round glasses who is the only one who knows the forgotten language.

Army green and ulterior motives? (these characters do veer in different directions but both of strong chins)

Benefactors who give the linguist the benefit of the doubt. (remember how I apparently associate old white men? I guess I associate anyone with white hair who's not an Atlantean.)

Names starting with the same letter aside, it's up to them to protect their people.

Kida is a more developed character than Sha'uri, but they both have conflicts with their fathers about trying something new instead of sticking to the way it has always been done.

sooooooo...what do you guys think?

Do you see the similarities between Stargate and Atlantis: The Lost Empire? Stargate branched off into a TV show and other movies so the first film is most likely where the similarities end, but maybe Atlantis's sequel took notes from those, too!

Do you have an Atlantis character you relate to the most? What worlds would you branch together? Any other beloved direct-to-video sequels you love? Thanks for reading!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Chloe out.

The We Love L. M. Montgomery Week Tag! // Including the Story of How Much Resistance Lead to My Favorite Book Ever

Hello, kindred spirits!

This week was Hamlette's yearly blog party celebrating the love of a fandom! She changes the theme every year and it is always a delight. And this year was all about the marvelous Lucy Maud Montgomery!

And I say was not because I just speak in the past tense all the time (even though apparently I do? Because I keep changing the tense of my lines and it's a bit of a problem) but because it ended yesterday. And I had rehearsals all week. And have you seen my expertise at planning ahead (if you don't know, it's pretty much non-existent). BUT I'm here now. So I'm answering the tag. 

1. Who introduced you to L. M. Montgomery's writing?  Tell us the story!

My mom. When I was little and had just figured out that I loved reading I asked my mom for books. Because even though we went to the library frequently and I could have the choice of anything and everything I wanted suggestions.

In recent years my mom and I have grown at odds in our reading choices because everything she suggests I loathe, but I owe her a lot for what she got me into when I was younger. Nancy Drew, A Wrinkle in Time, Little House in the Big Woods, Agatha Christie, and The Chronicles of Narnia just to name a few. I also just have to thank her for buying me so many books over the years.

Part of that might be because she recommends books based on how old I am, but I don't want to read books of my current age. I want all the MG fiction still.

Anyway, I must have been about 8 at the time of this story (if you forgot which story, it started three paragraphs ago before I broke off into tangents). She suggested the Anne of Green Gables books. I was a little suspicious of how thick it was (yes, because at that time 300 pages was huge). I started...and didn't even make it past the first paragraph before I was bored out of my mind. So I complained and my mom suggested something else. Which were the Wizard of Oz books, which I gobbled up like candy.

Years passed and when I was about 11 I started going through the books we owned. I found Anne of Green Gables, remembered how bored I was, but decided to try it again. Ever since, it has been my favorite book of all time. Some books can only hit you deeply at a certain time of your life. It may be that because I was 11 and Anne is 11 at the beginning of the book it resonated more?

2. What LMM books have you read?

-1-8 of the Anne books (are they called Avonlea Chronicles?). These are my comfort books and I carry 1 and 3 with me wherever I am living.

-The first book in the Emily of New Moon (thoughts on Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4). I keep meaning to finish the series because I really enjoyed it, but haven't succeeded in getting copies!

-The Blue Castle. The writing is one of the most breathtaking I've ever read, but I am not a fan of the story.

3. What movies or shows based on her books have you watched?

I am actually specifically avoiding them. I love seeing adaptations because they are a peek into what someone else envisions for a story, but for the Anne books, they are just too precious for me. It is very selfish, I know. Lately I have been interested in Anne With An E because from what I've heard it has a bit of a different storyline?

This explains why this post does not have the plethora of images that it usually does.

Oh, and none of this applies to Green Gables Fables. And I haven't watched season 2 of that yet even though I love it to bits. I need to get on that...

4. Which LMM character is your kindred spirit, the one you'd like to hang out with in real life?

Una Meredith from Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside. She's so kind and quiet which is where all of her deep thoughts are harbored. I would want to be a listening ear to her fancies because I feel like she is usually that person for everyone else.

5. Which LMM character do you relate to the most?  And why?

...is it cliche to say Anne? Or am I allowed because this is my favorite book of all time? I need to stop using that like a "get out of jail free" card...

A few years ago I got obsessed with the first time of being similar to book characters. I don't know why this had never occurred to me before, but maybe it was my gateway into living more in stories than the real world? Anyway, I asked my mom which book characters she thought I was. She said Anne Shirley and Frodo Baggins. I was indignant. The first was because Anne was so fantastic I couldn't possibly be like her, and the second was because Frodo annoyed me. Shortly after that I took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test for the first time. 16 Personalities is not always accurate, but ever since that day I have been way more comfortable with myself because, yep, I'm 100% an INFP. And on their website, two of the characters they list as being fellow INFPs? Frodo and Anne. While it is up for debate if those two accurately are INFPs, but there are enough similarities that I started seeing it. (Also, guys I haven't been on that site in a hot second, but when I looked today they list Levin from Anna Karenina as being one? That explains SO much. Like why he's one of my favorite characters of all time and therefore that is one of my favorite books).

Okay, so I don't have really concrete reasons. But I'll try to find some.

-Though introverted, I'm a little chatterbox when around people.

-My imagination gets away from me and I sometimes have a hard time discerning reality from fiction. "Did I make that up?" is a question I have to ask myself a lot.

-I make mistakes continuously.

It also gives me hope that one day I will:

-Actually learn from my mistakes. Because unlike Anne, I tend to repeat them.

-Appreciate nature more and the world around me.

6. Have you ever been to Prince Edward Island?

No, but I wish! I am told that I have been to British Columbia, but that's all of Canada that I have experience with. But then again, I was only a few months old.

7. Who is your favorite LMM heroine?

Picking favorites seems mean. I love how different each of them are. They are all so real to me that it would be like picking favorite humans and that also seems mean. 

I do have a bit of an amusing story to go with that, though. When reading Anne of Ingleside and Rainbow Valley I was so annoyed with Rilla. She drove me crazy and I was not looking forward to her being the protagonist of book 8. Then that "book 8" is my third favorite in the series. Shows you that characters grow and develop.

8. Who is your favorite LMM hero?

*mumbles "as if it's even a question"*

...

Roy Gardener.

Because, yes, I'm so much Anne that I would not see what...who...is in front of me...

GUYS. HIS STINKING FIRST NAME IS ROYAL. I just love him a lot, okay?

9. Do you have any fun merch related to her books?  If so, please share some photos!

I have a boxed set of the Anne books, but they no longer have a box because when I was little we did not have the best system for books and several got tossed about and damaged. And, as I said above. 

From my bookstagram

10. What are some of your favorite LMM quotations?

Hamlette has wonderful questions, I am just terrible at answering them. Especially the quotations ones. I always feel like I have so many but I can never find them, so I resort to pulling them off of Goodreads then don't feel original at all. It's the Anne in me that is bemoaning this travesty.

Like, I can't read a chapter in Anne of the Island without stopping and marveling at the writing or wit. So most are pulled from there.

“October—with a gorgeous pageant of color around Mistawis into which Valancy plunged her soul. Never had she imagined anything so splendid. A great, tinted peace. Blue, wind-winnowed skies. Sunlight sleeping in the glades of that fairyland. Long dreamy purple days paddling idly in their canoe along shores and up the rivers of crimson and gold. A sleepy, red hunter’s moon. Enchanted tempests that stripped the leaves from the trees and heaped them along the shores. Flying shadows of clouds. What had all the smug, opulent lands out front to compare with this?” 

-The Blue Castle

'"Toil not, neither do I spin," finished Philippa. "But I'll learn to do things. You'll only have to show me once. I can make my own bed to begin with. And remember that, though I can't cook, I canker my temper. That's something. And I never growl about the weather."' 

-Anne of the Island

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” 

-Anne of Green Gables

“Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray I’ll tell you what I'd do. I'd go out into a great big field all alone or in the deep, deep woods and I'd look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I'd just feel a prayer.” 

-Anne of Green Gables

"I don't want sunbursts or marble halls, I just want you.” 

-Anne of the Island

'“I do know my own mind," protested Anne. 'The trouble is, my mind changes and then I have to get acquainted with it all over again.” 

-Anne of the Island

“Besides, I've been feeling a little blue — just a pale, elusive azure. It isn't serious enough for anything darker.” 

-Anne of the Island

If you're interested in reading all of the cool posts written this week, check out this master post!

What L. M. Montgomery book should I read next? Which L. M. Montgomery books have you read? Did anyone else dislike something initially that became your favorite of all time? Tell me all of your thoughts!

Thank you so much for reading! And remember, "Tomorrow is another day with no mistakes in it yet."

Chloe the MovieCritic

Top 10 Authors Who Come Up With The Best Fictional Character Names

Hello, guys! 

I hope that you're having a good Easter season and spring! Finals are coming up, so I thought I'd do a post before that all starts. I mean, you can expect a post the first week of May without a doubt (still haven't figured out what it is yet, but I'll come up with it.), but after that it might be quiet around here for a little bit. So, I thought I'd do a top ten list!

As the movie Cinderella (2015) says, "Names have power, like magic spells.". Characters are my favorite parts of stories, and while "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet", there is something particularly influential when names go deeper than the surface with the names. In all of my writing, coming up with a character's name is something tied to the deepest dark inside them.

Then there are names that are undeniably fabulous.

Today, I'll be talking about both. I have noticed authors with a flair for monumental meanings in names, so I want to honor them today. And fangirl, because its what this blog is about when I'm too busy for reviews. Many of these are just books because I might get more attached to names when I read them. But that could be correlation not causation. Let's get to it!

There are NO spoilers for any of these stories. I'm talking about the introduction to these names we receive and might have hints for the future, but they will be too cryptic to understand unless you are a fan. Enjoy without fear of learning the endings for these characters! (I'm also talking about too many to get into details...)

Honorable Mentions: Agatha Christie (for the world-famous Hercule Poirot.). Rachel Kovaciny (for the eloquent swag of Jedidiah Jones).

10. Leigh Bardugo.

I've only recently (since June of last year?) gotten into Ms. Bardugo's books. I was not thrilled by the names in her Shadow and Bone series. In fact, it only messed me up. I'm trained from Spanish lessons to think that "Mal" means bad so I was biased against his character. Alina Starkov is cool enough, I admit. Though, the Darkling just feels cliche. I was quite happy with Sturmhond, which makes sense because he is my favorite character.

All this is to say, I did not consider her to be skilled or unskilled at naming. Just normal.

Then I read Six of Crows.

These names fit each character so deliciously. 

Kaz Brekker: Why does he do things? Just Kaz. Dirtyhands will break your heart.

Inej Ghafa: Also known as "The Wraith", she is always "on edge". 

BRILLIANT. I don't know if Ms. Bardugo intended those meanings, but I love how well they go with the characters. I also love Jesper (perfectly shows refined and careless simultaneously) and Pekka Rollins (just rolling with evil intent). (not that I love Pekka's character. We aren't talking about characters themselves because Nina and Mathhias would be on this list. We are talking about the NAMES). I am such a fan. I can't wait to meet new characters in Crooked Kingdom.

9. The STAR WARS writers.

This is a HUGE range because at this point there are probably hundreds of Star Wars writers who have contributed to the names and I want to give credit to them all. This universe holds so much potential and these writers step up to the task again and again. 

I first noticed that the names are EPIC while watching Clone Wars and meeting Jedi Master Luminara Unduli. Such an amazing name, am I right? After that I began thinking about all of the other names, and came to appreciate them in a new light (pun not intended, but I'll take it.). Luke Skywalker? Big and blusterous, sure, but LEGENDARY. (apologies, I don't know what it is with me and all caps tonight. This will probably not be the last time). Han Solo? A smuggler who's name is Solo? Love it. Leia Organa? The perfect name for a princess and a general. Obi-Wan Kenobi? It seems like a mess of letters, but he has my whole heart.

Moving on to the sequels (which, friendly reminder, some people actually adore, so easy on the backlash, okay?), they continue these amazing names! In a battle of light against darkness, you name the main character one word: Rey. Simple and poignant. Names have such power here, with Finn finding identity once he receives his name, and Kylo Ren's fight against the Ben inside him.

Not all of the names are the most significant artistically. Sure, Darth Vader was lacking, but this more than made up for throughout. Hello there, Ahsoka Tano?

All you prequels fans were expecting something else, weren't you?

8. Maryrose Wood.

Should I talk about her names when I haven't finished the series and stuff might happen to sour them in my mouth? What kind of an attitude is that!? I'm totally talking about them, because my not finishing the series is not from a lack of effort, just resources. 

Ms. Wood combines the "cottage core" and goth of Victorian England perfectly in names in her The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series. Listening to the audiobooks is an absolute must to hear Katherine Kellgren say all of these names. 

Let's start with Penelope Lumley. Penny's so young but already has so many responsibilities as a governess, which the introduction of her and her name shows us. These books are bursting with amazing names. Charlotte Mortermir shows she is caring (excuse any misspellings. As I said, I only listen to the audiobooks.). Judge Quincy makes a shiver run down your spine. The darling children's where picked for convenience, but are nevertheless PERFECT. Laaaaaaaaady Constance is constantly thinking about herself. Agatha Swanburn is the epitome of education sophistication. Though, my favorite is three darling words: Simon. Harley. Dickinson. Which spells out heart throb, in case you were wondering.

Me, every time his name is said.

7. L. M. Montgomery.

L. M. Montgomery's writing itself is the most gorgeous I have ever read, so of course her naming skills are incredible as well. I love how she makes fun of fancy names by giving her most famous protagonist the plainest name she could come up with: Anne Shirley. Anne hates her name herself (Cordelia, anyone?), but lets her inner character shine through without frills. Am I saying the name Anne is boring? Not at all! I adore it. I'm just saying Ms. Montgomery makes it all the more magically as Anne comes to accept her name and herself.

Surrounding Anne, there are amazing names that can tell you instantly what a character is like. Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. Mrs. Lynde. Gilbert Blythe. Phillipa Gordon. My special favorite is Roy (short for Royal, you know) Gardener. How. perfect. is. that.? Each page is alive with characters and their names that stay with you forever.

When I talk about names I can go on forever or be concise like Thor.

The Avonlea Chronicles is my prominent read which consists of the above characters, but I also want to give a shout out to The Blue Castle. I mean, Valancy Stirling? Gorgeous and melancholy, which Valancy wants to reject as she wants to be full of life.

6. Wendelin Van Draanen.

Have I read enough of her books to be an expert in this? No, probably not. I've only read five of her books, and three of those were in the same series, so for the most part the characters were the same. Too bad I'm under qualified, because I'm going to talk about the names in her books anyway.

Starting off with my favorite: Bryce Loski and Juli Baker. Iconic. (I especially love Bryce's excuse about there being a bee tying into his name when the only bee was B-R-Y-C-E.). Though, those are almost the only two names that remained the same for the movie, as almost all the other names were given a more 60s vibe or something?

"Goodness, child! Are you alright?"

"There was a bee."

Who knew a medieval movie would provide real footage of Bryce?

I also want to talk about Sammy Keyes. I've talked about her a lot recently (yes, two months ago is still recent because that was only three posts ago). Samantha Keyes: such a fitting name for a detective. Unlocking all the mysteries, you know? It has a nice ring to it while being fresh and young.

As some of you may remember, my absolute favorite book I read in 2021 was Wild Bird. I read this book a year ago, so I don't remember most of the names (I also read this book in one day, so if I had taken longer the names would have stuck with me more, you know?), but I do remember being blown away. Names are SO important in this book. Our main character, Wren Clemens, has always been insecure about her name. Yes, its after the bird, now leave me alone. We learn that because of this she was able to relate and find a friend in Meadow, but that lead her down a very destructive path. Now can she spread her wings and fly again? LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT.

5. Kate DiCamillo.

We're entering the top five, and who is better to lead us than Kate DiCamillo? She is the middle grade fiction QUEEN. All of her books change my life and are so powerful. Her names, too? Whether it's a pig named Mercy Watson or an animal control officer named Francine Poulet, the names are always highlights. How about a squirrel named Ulysses? A cynic named Flora? A toy rabbit originally named Edward Tulane who goes through other names as well?

"There is nothing sweeter in this sad world than the sound of someone you love calling your name."

We cannot go through this post without talking about the sweet little mouse, Despereaux Tilling. His mother named him "despair" because he was the only child that year who survived. Can you image being named "despair"? What does he do with it? He becomes a gentleman. He does the opposite of despair; he hopes. 

"The story said she was a prisoner but that wasn't totally true because she had hope and whenever you have hope, you're never really anybody's prisoner." (this applies to Despereaux as well as Princess Pea!)

He fails all classes that teach him to be scared and has true courage. So chivalrous! This story alone is a gold mine for names. Roscuro, coming from the word chiaroscuro, the perfect name for an antihero. Can Ms. DiCamillo get a round of applause for Miggery Sow?

Did I purposely use a gif from a different movie about rats? You bet.

And the names in her Three Rancheros series? Still absolute fire. Rayme Clarke. Louisiana Elefante. And Burke Allen III? That one broke me and I haven't recovered.

4. Kent Davis.

He's only published the A Riddle in Ruby trilogy, but in addition to mind bending world building, his characters names are top-notch. Our protagonist's, Ruby, full name is Aruba Teach. I want that name! And her father is Wayland Teach? That name sails into illustrious status. (*laughs at own pun no one will get*)

But that is not the pièce de résistance. Are you ready to be blown away?

...

Wisdom Rool. 

Most. Epic. Bad. Guy. Name. Ever. Wisdom?? Rool?? I adore it vastly. (it breaks my brain so much that I can't even write sentences properly).

The kids in this book are so talented in so many ways, and their names are fantastic. You have Athen and Henry, then you have Cram Cramson. Cram is my favorite, guys. He is awesome. In later books we meet more. Like, Avid Wake?? Such a good name for a nemesis! Then the twins Levi and Never (or is it Ever? It kept changing on me) Curtsie. Gideon Stump. Each one describes the personality of the characters so well. I should come up with a more original way to explain this phenomena, but I'm gobsmacked, okay?

Also, Gwath? Perfect for a mentor even though we do not see enough of him. Or any of Evallina Puddledump. Sure, we never see her, but the NAME. The name cracks me up and I love it.

My reaction.

3. Lemony Snicket.

Mr. Snicket and I have a history that I have probably gone into in the past here or there. But, coming up with as awesome a pen name as Lemony Snicket, shows that he has talents for naming. Not just characters but locations, too. Lucky Smells Lumber Mills? Say that five times fast. 667 Dark Avenue? I mean, Lake Lachrymose? Meaning tears?

I mean, naming it A Series of Unfortunate Events told us that already.

But, I'm here to talk about the characters. You guys might have noticed that I love side characters who pop up very briefly. This goes for Justice Strauss, Captain Julio Sham, and Esmé Gigi Genevieve Squalor (just that last name, guys.). And the Denouement brothers? Are you Frank or Ernest? My answer is always yes. The fact that "quagmire" means "an awkward, complex, or hazardous situation" (according to the New Oxford America dictionary)? That describes the triplets perfectly.

Count Olaf has such a sinister nature to it (this was before everyone associated that name with a snowman), but what really got me appreciating it was the Netflix series. The "It's the Count" song?? "N for the knowledge cuz I'm very very smart." *dies*

Enough about ASoUE. I mostly want to talk about my love for the All the Wrong Questions series characters. Lemony is, of course, one of the highlights. There is also S. Theodora Markson. What does the S stand for? Silence, Snicket. Then you have darling Jake Hix and Cleo Knight (and Jake's aunt, Hungry. That always makes me giggle). Ellington Feint? Mysterious and determined. Moxie Mallahan? What a name for a junior reporter! My babies Pip and Squeak! There are two names of important characters that I cannot remember, so it must be time to read those books again.

My ultimate favorite: DASHIELL QWERTY (Possibly the best name ever). Librarians are the best. This series is good stuff mixed with dark curling tendrils of forgotten ink.

2. J. K. Rowling.

Regardless of quibbles I have with anything, Ms. Rowling slays writing characters names. And my experience only comes from Harry Potter. That name itself spread popularity like wildfire. I tended to scream in excitement even when it was the smallest character has a great name. I also like to think that I remember every name. The other day I panicked for a second while watching Goblet of Fire with friends because I couldn't remember Fluer's sister's name. But, the second passed and I remembered it was Gabrielle. Whew. And they weren't even out of the water yet.

Get ready for me to commence spewing epic names.

Oliver Wood.

The amount of times my older sister and I quote this is ridiculous.

Hermione Granger. 

Luna and Xenophilius Lovegood? Crazy and lovable and just as sane as I am. 

Severus Snape? Immediately sowed the seeds of suspicion with a name that is short and cold. 

Newt Scamander? Who is a magizooligist, dealing with magical creatures? Brill.

Draco Malfoy? Nemesis name perfection. 

Minerva McGonagall. Rubius Hagrid. Names that foreshadow brilliantly, like Remus Lupin and Sirius Black? Nymphadora Tonks. Good feelings with all of the Weasleys: Molly, Arthur, Charlie, Bill, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. (Yes, I said Charlie. Don't you dare forget him). Beatrix Lestrange? *shudders*. Viktor Krum. Gilderoy Lockhart? Glittering, but a locked heart. Dolores Umbridge. Dobby?? Pius Thickness?? That, friends, is my second favorite fictional name of all time: Pius Thickness.

I could probably do a top ten list purely for Harry Potter character names. Would you guys be interested in that?

And now for number one...

1. Charles Dickens.

As The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) showed us:

Here, why don't you just watch the genius of this scene.

Then we need to see him saying the name again, because one can't have too many gifs, right?

Ebenezer Scrooge. It says everything about hating Christmas, regret, bottling up feelings and drowning them in piles of money.

Pip. Estella. Miss Havisham. Oliver Twist. Bill Sykes. Fagin. The Artful Dodger. Tiny Tim. Bob Cratchit. Sydney Carton. Try to find a flaw in this excellence.

But, whoa, MC, why does Mr. Dickens have the honor of being your favorite? Because he wrote my favorite character name of all time. From the book David Copperfield. Are you ready for it?

Uriah Heep.

What does that name make you think of? That's the character exactly. Slimy, scheming, unreliable. It is a perfect mic drop. I'll have to just leave you guys with it.

There you have it. What do you guys think of these names? Which are your favorite of the ones I listed above? What are your personal favorites that I didn't list? Who are your favorite authors who come up with the best fictional character names?

Have a great end to your April!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Book Reviews Featuring a Colorful Castle, Fairy Tale Crocodiles, & a Lionhearted Math Genius, oh my!

 Hello book lovers!

I hope that you are all having a nice Monday! I’m continuing my goal of reviewing books as well as movies each month with bringing you three more reviews. Here’s what I did in January, February, and March. Since my last review post was such a hit, I’m following the same format! I’m still terrible at coming up with titles so you’ll have to tell me how well I did on this one.

While it’s been a while since I read two of these books, the third is fresh in my mind. Never fear, I took notes and remember enough to supply you with anything you would need to know.

Without further ago, onto the reviews!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. All three of these reviews are absolutely spoiler free!

Review #1:

The Blue Castle - by L. M. Montgomery:

Valancy Sterling has lived 29 years in a grey world when she gets a shock in the form. She’s not been feeling well which turns out to be a heart condition and the chances for her living out a year are unlikely. With determination she decides that she’s going to stop bowing to everyone else’s needs and make her own way in the world. Goodbye to her family who are always using her, goodbye to a colorless existence, and hello to life and experiences while she can have them. It might be hard, but she’s willing to make it work. What surprises away for her to take advantage of will she is living in this radiant new life?

“I’m sick of the fragrance of dead things.”

Genres: Classic, Fiction, Drama, Historical Fiction.

Characters: 8. We have quite an assortment! I love the little obsessive quirks of Valancy’s family that make them so laughable.

My favorites:

Cissy: Oh my goodness, I loved her. She was just a sweetheart who had gone through some dark times yet has such an air of goodness about her.

Abel: He was so well depicted that I just really liked him! I loved his relationships with people and how he processes his feelings is very realistic.

Barney: There is so much mystery around him that I’m going to keep it that way and not say anything.

Valancy: I’m talking about her last because I have a lot to say. I’m sure she was quite a breakthrough when this book came out! Valancy knows what she wants and goes to get it without ducking to anyone. She is very determined, adventurous, and brave. Quite admirable! On the other hand, something rubs me wrong about her behavior at times. I support her in so many ways, but in others she seems a little mean. Independence and spite are not the same thing. I fully support her going out into the world and living, but she just seems unnecessarily rude occasionally. I feel like there could be a better balance between what she claims to have been her whole life and her new attitude. I don’t deny that her family are all horrible and condescending! It was about time that someone told them off for that because that is not how you treat a human being! Her nickname they gave her is horrid. Who would change a glorious name like Valancy?? Telling Valancy that she isn’t good and is weak when they are all TERRIFIC examples. NOT.  I get all of that! Like in this occasion:

‘“I think,” said Mrs. Frederick, “that if a person makes up her mind NOT to have colds she will not HAVE colds.”

So that was the trouble. It was all Valancy’s own fault.’

Poor Valancy! I have been in a situation like this and it is awful to have someone tell you that.

The thing is, I really related to Valancy in the beginning. My family is great, but all of her feelings are so similar to mine, and while I like her character, I don’t want to be like her. If that makes any sense (if it doesn’t then know that it doesn’t make sense to me either). I absolutely 100% get the attitude (I understand it WAY too deeply) that if people are only going to understand you in that way you might as well do that. Like this:

‘People who wanted to be alone, so Mrs. Frederick Sterling and Cousin Stickler believed, could only want to be alone for some sinister purpose.’

Those two are obviously not introverts. They assume that Valancy is thinking mean things about them so she finally breaks one day and goes ahead and says anything that comes into her head. This part hit me really deeply:

‘She had always been told, ever since she could remember, that she must hide her feelings. “It is not ladylike to have feelings,” Cousin Stickles had once told her disapprovingly. Well, she would hide them with a vengeance.’

Do you see how terrible Cousin Stickles is? Why would you tell that to someone! I relate to her repressing her feelings for so long that all at once they come out and are all over the place. While it was right in her case, I don’t encourage other people to lash out at their families.

Overall, I think that she is a very fascinating character I don’t understand yet. I want to read this again and again to understand more what’s going on in her head.

Words/Writing style: 10. I have two examples for this. There is some mild swearing but it is made fun of. I thought it was really funny where in exasperation Valancy suggesed to Uncle Benjamin that he might say a swear word to feel better and he replied, “I can express my feelings without blasphemy.” He is the one who was usually saying the d word which is why it is hilarious.

But, MC, if there are a few words then why did you give it a 10 instead of a 9? Well, this book has THE MOST GORGEOUS WRITING I’VE SEEN IN MY LIFE. I’m not kidding. Before reading this book I would always say that I don’t care about the writing style and just wanted a story, but this proved that writing can be amazing. Read this:

‘The garden was lying in the magic of the warm, odorous July twilight. A few stars were out and the robins were calling through the velvety silences of the barrens.’

Quotability: 8. I haven’t had the chance to quote them to anybody, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t thought about them a lot.

Content: 9. There are some scandalous things that happen! Oh dear! Not really! Valancy’s family thinks they are outrageous but it’s really nothing. Actually, the only things here are some drinking, a story of a girl having a baby without being married, talking about death, and someone being a little too friendly to a lady before he is stopped. I thought all of those things were handled really well so I don’t have a problem with any of it.

‘The only fault he found with her was that she did not sing at her word.

“Folks should always sing at their work,” he insisted. “Sounds cheerful-like.”

“Not always,” retorted Valancy. “Fancy a butcher singing at his work. Or an undertaker.”

Abel burst into his great brood laugh.’

Originality: 9. It is such a creative and cute story! I was just rereading one part of it now while looking for a line to put here and I couldn’t stop smiling. It follows one trope that is not my favorite, but other than that it is stellar.

Good For: Anyone looking for a new beginning in life, anyone looking for amazing writing, anyone who wants a pretty little story.

‘After the meal was over they would sit there and talk for hours---or sit and say nothing, in all the languages of the world...’

Age Range: One factor that I really love about this is Valancy’s age. She’s 29 so that gives it such a fresh and new take for a book! It’s not about your standard teenager, but at the same time anyone can enjoy this story. It would be fine for any and all ages.

Overall Score: 8.

Worth reading?: Yes! The writing makes me feel like I’m drinking sunshine. Totally worth it for that!

Will I read again?: This is a yes because I need to sort out my feelings on it. I go back and forth on what I think of it so I look forward to reading it again and again!

Bonus thoughts:

Basically everyone I know who has read this book loves it. If you came here expecting the same from me then I don’t know what to say to you: I don’t feel the same adoration that everyone else does. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it while reading it and the writing style is my go to example for spectacular writing, but thinking about it almost a year later I have some problems with it. It is super cute and lovely, but there is just one trope that I can’t stand. It had potential to be really inspiring, and while there are elements of that, it fell stale for me in a few places. A few things that were supposed to be surprising just felt thrown together. If you loved this then I am happy for you! I recommend it, but I’m still a little conflicted on my feelings in a few places.

“October—with a gorgeous pageant of color around Mistawis into which Valancy plunged her soul. Never had she imagined anything so splendid. A great, tinted peace. Blue, wind-winnowed skies. Sunlight sleeping in the glades of that fairyland. Long dreamy purple days paddling idly in their canoe along shores and up the rivers of crimson and gold. A sleepy, red hunter’s moon. Enchanted tempests that stripped the leaves from the trees and heaped them along the shores. Flying shadows of clouds. What had all the smug, opulent lands out front to compare with this?”

Review #2:

I, Coriander - by Sally Gardner:

Coriander has seven candles, just enough to last the night and tell her story. She had a happy and magical childhood with her parents. That was before objects came into her life: a stuffed crocodile, a pair of shoes, a set of pearls, and a mysterious raven. She didn’t know the significance of these objects at the time but now she does. Who is she truly and what was her story?

‘I wish I could unpick the stitches of time that have become all tangled and twisted together...”

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction.

Characters: 6. There were some that were monsters but they were the villains and not shown as good in any way. There were a few that I could get behind, but they didn’t really have memorable personalities that were cutting edge, you know?

My favorites:

Esther (at least, I think that was her name...): I love how she broke so many common tropes for people in her circumstances! The poor dear was so nice.

Gabriel: He was adorable! He was so caring and his relationship with Master Thankless was the best.

Master Thankless: From the beginning of when we meet him with the irony of his name I knew I would love him. His loyalty to his friends is so honorable and he is great all around.

Daines: It was good to see a solid character! She was so reasonable when no one else was.

Coriander’s father: While he makes a lot of mistakes he didn’t surprise me with being unpredictable.

‘A silent man can seem many things until he opens his mouth.’

Coriander: She is way more likable than a lot, but I still didn’t love her. It could be that the narrator of the audiobook (Juliet Stevenson) wasn’t my favorite, making Coriander really annoying. But, maybe that was the point because she matured a lot! There were some parts near the end where she really stepped into herself and I got a little misty-eyed.

Words/Writing style: 7. There were a few bad words and some that were just poorly chosen. I liked the first person present tense, but I was so frustrated by the whole “candle” thing because I wasn’t paying attention at the start of the book and missed that. I finally had to ask my sister what it meant because she had read the book before. Besides that it was a unique writing style.

‘I have learned that there is a great power in words, no matter how long or short they be.’

World building/Setting: 7. Part of the beginning is in England in 1643, so the era of Cromwell and Puritans and Charlatans. Combined with that is a magical world. That magical world was really cool! I just wanted to know more about that I didn’t like any of the times that we were in the real world, which was so grey and didn’t compare to the colorful masterpiece. Was that they point, to show such a contrast? I think so, but I didn’t appreciate it. Just give me my happy fairy land!

Quotability: 5. Not terribly quotable, but I there were lines worth writing down. This was my favorite:

“We are but shadows that have a short time dancing in the light.”

Awards: 2: British Book Award (2006) & Nestlé Smarties Book Prize for 9–11 years (2005).

Content: 6. Yikes. Where to start? There is murder, disgusting things, suggestive things (including names), and abuse. So much abuse. Involving starvation and physical and mental beatings for children and elderly. It’s shown as bad and evil, but it’s still horrible to read about! I had to stop a few times because I couldn’t stomach it. I’m not saying that Sally Gardener should’ve glossed it over. I don’t know what I’m saying, okay? It gets graphic. I was not expecting that, so maybe if I was more prepared I could’ve handled it better. I wasn’t in a good headspace to deal with that at the time, but I forced my way through which might have made matters worse.

Learning about the things that happened with the times of the Puritans always makes me really sad but grateful that I didn’t live back then. There are evil preachers and while I realize that was accurate to the time, I wish there were some religious characters to contrast that. Not everyone who loved God was bad! The best example was probably Esther. My sister says I’m being too picky and I probably am.

Originality: 9. This gets this high of a score because of one element that came back around and made me extremely happy. From the first chapter it was worked in and it seemed random but it was involved at just the right times.

Good For: People who like history and fantasy combined.

Age Range: If you can’t tell from my content section, I was very triggered at certain points. This is probably PG-13 but it really depends on the person. I wouldn’t have been fine with it until I am as old as I am (Am I fine actually? *nervous laughter*) but my sister was fine when she was younger and she read it. I would tentatively set 15.

Overall Score: 6.

Worth reading?: Yes, it was. I really liked the glimpses of the magically world that we got  to see and will now imagine my own stories using all of the amazing factors.

Will I read again?: Nope. I can spare my time for something better. I listened to an audiobook version while doing the dishes which was nice, but I don’t need to do again.

Bonus thoughts:

‘When I was small I used to hide under my mother’s petticoats and listen to friends and neighbors as they brought their ailments to her like posies of sorrows, to be made better by one of her remedies.’

I was intrigued by this because my sister told me it had lots of fairy tale elements. Awesome, right? Basically, this book took everything that I don’t like in a fairy tale and put it together. It was dark, random things happened because “MAGIC. It makes everything better”, romantic relationships that had no basis for being there, gruesome deaths. There was a lot of potential! People being turned into animals? Mysterious fairy court dynamics? Medler (can we get a whole story about him??)? Instead the whole story hung on some weak and poorly explained plot points. Things were thrown in there to be convenient and for surprises that made no sense. As Abbie Emmons always says, “A confused mind always says ‘no’.” I was confused for the whole time and I just wanted to yell, “Why? WHY? WHHHHHHHHY?”. I did more that want to do it, I actually did yell. If my sister wasn’t the one who recommended it and I knew she would have answers I wouldn’t have kept reading it. My first reaction when I finished it was to call her and ask, “Are you kidding me?”

Now, she liked it a lot, so some of you may, too! I don’t discourage reading this, I only want to let you know how I feel about it, too. I didn’t get the point of it, but I would love to talk about it to see if anyone else got something out of it.

Review #3:

The Lions of Little Rock - by Kristin Levine:

In Little Rock, Arkansas, Marlee goes to school like everyone else. She likes doing math, but there are things that she doesn’t enjoy like being social and trying to make friends with her crush J.T. between doing his homework. When she meets Liz everything changes. She’s always struggled with talking, but she finally can with Liz who is nice, understands her, and brings her math puzzles. But Liz is harboring an illegal secret. Marlee starts to see the injustice in her hometown and wonders, can she be as brave as the lions in the nearby zoo to stand up to it?

“Let’s start solving the world’s problems. One step at a time.”

Genre: Historical Fiction.

Characters: 9. We get a diverse group! Besides Sally who was your typical mean girl, everyone had such interesting motivations.

My favorites:

Marlee: I feel called out here, but I am basically Marlee in every single way possible. Like math? Check. Has trouble with talking to people? Double check. Seeing her journey was really motivating to me because if she could do something, than I can, too, right? I’m not scared of heights, but that’s the only difference between us.

‘He shook his head. “It’s always the quiet ones who are the craziest.” But he was grinning again, and I knew he was teasing.’

(Paraphrase)

Liz: Marlee and Liz are such great friends because they are so different from her. Do I now want a friend like Liz? Yep, I do.

Little Jimmy: I don’t remember detail about him, but he was sweet!

J.T.: His character went somewhere I didn’t think it would go and it was a new take! I liked him a lot.

David: I want to hug Marlee’s big brother. He was great! Judy was nice, too, but I really liked David.

‘That night I lay in bed wondering how many other times David had grinned and fooled me, too, even though he’d felt awful inside. The idea that my big brother sometimes felt not good enough was strange, and a bit scary.’

Words/Writing style: 8. There is some name calling but it is shown as bad. It was super easy to read and I really liked the first person past tense. I am a sucker for first person. It puts you so nicely into the characters head!

Quotability: 8. I haven’t had the chance to quote it (seriously, MC, why is this such a big deal? I have no idea), but the lines are great.

‘Because all the words in the world won’t do much good if they’re just rattling around in your head.’

Awards: 3: Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Nominee for Grades 6-8 (2014), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2014), & New Mexico Land of Enchantment Award for Young Adult (2015).

Content: 9. This is talks about true stories of murder and the Ku Klux Klan. It all shows that racism is a terrible thing! It is handled so well. It also has vandalism and explosions which are both dealt with just as well.

Originality: 10. This is such a good setting for historical fiction! The characters are unique and have good fears and things to face. Between referencing true events and having experiences like riding in an airplane for the first time it makes you really believe that you are there in 1957.

Notes: It mentioned the book Heidi and I had just finished reading it the book before! It also briefly mentions the movies The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Dumbo (1941).

Good For: Everyone, anyone who loves math, anyone who wants a good book about racial justice, anyone who is afraid of using their voice.

Age Range: A great book for all ages! The main characters are in middle school so it is relatable to kids that age, but it also ties in important historical events that are good for anyone to know.

Overall Score: 9!

Worth reading?: Yes! It was perfect for me personally because of how much I relate to Marlee, but it was also valuable for an in depth look at the things that were going on at that time.

Will I read again?: I’m looking at my sister’s trusty copy (which I bought her, by the way) as I write this and am thinking it’s about time to read it again, so the answer is definitely yes.

Bonus thoughts:

“Maybe they’re tired of being seen as second best.”

Of all of the books that I’ve read today this is my favorite! I like it a lot and have no reason to write a long rant about it. Try it yourself!

Whew, I’m done! Another full day of writing reviews done. It looks like I’ll barely get this in on the 19th because of that. It’s better than what I did yesterday when I decided to ram my face into the sidewalk resulting in a swollen face (long story). How are all of you doing??

Thank you for reading! Have any of you read this books? Do any of them look interesting to you? What is your favorite writing style you’ve ever read? Has a book had potential but fallen short? Who are some book characters that you relate to? Good night!

MovieCritic