Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: Ida and the Unfinished City (The Lost Children Book 2) by Carolyn Cohagan

 

Ida is sixteen-years-old, but everyone treats her like she's a child. As frustrating as that is, she can't blame anyone because her appearance is frozen at what she looked like when she was twelve. After losing her parents, Ida is desperate to find a treatment that will allow her to age properly. She wants to grow up on the inside and the outside. She has spent years chasing the treatment, but nothing works. Finally one of her tactics lands on the Unfinished City. It is unlike anything she has ever seen before and she is shocked when she discovers that a giant wave floods the city every year and destroys everything. The people need to rebuild over and over again. She can't figure out why most of the people seem happy and are okay with losing all their possessions. Why would people want to live this way? Are the people who think differently dangerous? Ida is having a hard time figuring out who to trust, but she does have a lead on the treatment. If only she could get a straight answer out of someone. The Unfinished City may be just the place for her to finally be cured. Will Ida get the treatment and change? Is there a way for her to get back to the land she came from? Does she want to leave? You will have to get lost in this unique city and story to find out. 

I enjoyed Ida and the Unfinished City by Carolyn Cohagan. The cover appealed to me right away. Even though I hadn't read The Lost Children, it was very easy to follow along with Ida on her adventures. Nothing seemed hard to follow, so I would definitely say this book can be read as a stand alone. Ida is a tough girl with many survival skills. It was interesting to watch the way she reacted to the people she met. Like Ida, I was curious about the people who chose to build low when a giant wave was sure to wash away all of their belongings- and possibly their loved ones. It reminded me that it is always important to listen to others and hear their story so you can get a feel for their perspective. Ida had lots of decisions to make and there was plenty of tension and excitement. Now that I finished this book, I plan to go back and read the first book in the series. I recommend this book to people in fourth grade and up who enjoy a mixture of fantasy and reality. 

Has anyone else read Ida and the Unfinished City or The Lost Children? Or have you read another book by Carolyn Cohagan? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Changing Waves~

Excellent guessing, Riddlers. We'll be riding a changing wave next week. Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Curved and constant with peaks and dips; ravishing froth, silky slips. Back forth in ebbing ways; cast in motion for displays. Up, down, here and there, flowing almost everywhere. Forceful, smooth, swirling, high— describing styles in the eye.  

What am I referring to? Answer: Waves!

Fairday's Riddle: Visible Force In Motion~

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? I love the activity of watching these. Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block! ~ F

Curved and constant with peaks and dips; ravishing froth, silky slips. Back forth in ebbing ways; cast in motion for displays. Up, down, here and there, flowing almost everywhere. Forceful, smooth, swirling, high— describing styles in the eye.  

What am I referring to? Stop by this weekend for the answer

I gave you a clue!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday #MMGM: The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

When twelve-year-old Candice moves with her mother to Lambert, South Carolina for the summer she doesn’t know what the summer will bring. Her parents have been divorced for half a year, and now she’s spending the summer in a house her grandmother used to own. Her grandmother passed away a couple years ago and hadn’t really ever lived in the house, but she still had history in Lambert. Candice didn’t know anything about what happened to her grandmother in Lambert, but her mother fills her in on the trouble that went down when her grandma tried to find a buried treasure she was sure was underneath a tennis court. When nothing was found, her grandma left town, but people weren’t happy with the money that had been used to find a treasure that didn’t exist. Looking for a box of books Candice explores the attic and finds a letter addressed to her grandmother. She isn’t sure she should open it, but curiosity gets the better of her. What she reads in the letter makes her even more curious about the scandal her grandmother had been involved in. Could there be a buried treasure somewhere in Lambert? Candice thinks there's a chance! She fills in Brandon, the boy from across the street, and they start to do some detective work. One clue leads to the next, and the two new friends are hoping they'll discover something exciting that has been overlooked for all these years. Does a treasure exist? Is it possible for Brandon and Candice to follow clues to find the treasure or are they going on a wild goose chase? You'll have to read this mystery to find out what they learn in the end!

The Parker Inheritance is the first book I have read by Varian Johnson. What a treat! Right from Candice finding the letter in the attic I was hooked. Was there a treasure? I wanted to know. It was so much fun tagging along with Candice and Brandon as they pieced together the clues and dug into the history of the town. I love how history and mystery were woven together in a way that makes you want to dig into your own history to see what you'll discover. I loved that the main characters both had a passion for reading and talked books with each other, like I do with my best friend. I could also relate to Candice and her adjustment to her parent’s divorce. I would recommend this book to anyone in 4th grade or up who likes to solve mysteries and is up for an adventure. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Has anyone else read The Parker Inheritance? Or have you read another book by Varian Johnson? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Open the Letter!

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! We'll be checking the post to see what's in store. Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? It's fun to get one from a friend. Tune in Friday for the answer. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Thoughts sealed from your view. 

Know the secret if for you. 

Could be old or new.  

What am I referring to? Answer: Letter!

Fairday's Riddle: Sealed Secrets...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? It's fun to get one from a friend. Tune in Friday for the answer. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Thoughts sealed from your view. 

Know the secret if for you. 

Could be old or new.  

What am I referring to? Stop by Friday for the answer.

The picture is the clue!

Creative Garden In Mind...

We've been digging up garden plots, and now Eleanor Skeleton invites you to visit her secret garden. You never know what mysteries you'll find lurking under the soil. 

Welcome to my garden fleshy folk. I have many marvelous plants and herbs growing in this special plot, plus some other oddities you may delight in. If you're feeling your bones today, go around the Rainbow Ride- you'll find yourself lost in a creative garden in mind.

RAINBOW RIDE

Behind the artwork

This project is so much fun! There are actually three more worlds to do, not four. The Indigo world is done, but it's out of order, so you'll have to wait for that one- if you follow this blog, you can probably guess what it is. 

Here's a peek at the art behind the scenes

Everything Beautiful

Materials used: Canvas paper, crystals, glue, pens, pencil

Morning Glory Rose Garden Bliss

Materials used: Canvas paper, crystals, glue, pens, pencil, pipe cleaners, copper wire, mirrors

Piekne Place

Materials used: Canvas paper, crystals, glue, pens, pencil, pipe cleaners, copper wire, mirrors

RAINBOW RIDE

Materials used: Canvas paper, crystals, glue, pens, pencil, home grown crystals, plastic eyeballs & bubbles, copper wire, pipe cleaners, mirrors

The Rainbow Ride collection on my art wall

Rainbow Myxtress

Materials used: Acrylic paint, clay, wood canvas, crystals, glue, dried flowers

Now, go dig up your own plot and enjoy your world.