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Liesl & Po

by Lauren Oliver (Goodreads Author), Jim Dale (Narrator), Kei Acedera (Illustrations)

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 4,025 ratings · 925 reviews

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally swi...more

Audiobook, 5 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by HarperCollins (first published September 1st 2011)

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Oct 04, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of children's classics, Harry Potter, and Catherynne M. Valente

Shelves: juvenile, pn-ghosts, 2011-favorites, middle-grade, gorgeous-prose, read-2011, heroines-butt-kicking, favorites-all-time, made-my-heart-hurt, sweet-old-fashioned, mythic-and-fairy-tale-ish, fantasy, 2011-5-✮-books, illustrated, 2011-publication

Every once in awhile, a children's book comes along that whisks you away to another world--and if you're very lucky, at the end of the story, it's one that also illuminates your own. Liesl & Po extends a delightful invitation to wizardry and adventure, but it’s also a gentle and poignant rumination on love and loss.

Liesl has been locked away in her stepmother’s attic for a very long time, ever since her beloved father got sick. One night, a pensive ghost named Po appears in her room and lift...more

126 likes · like · see review

Jul 28, 2012 Nataliya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Nataliya by: Jim

Shelves: 2012-reads, for-my-future-hypothetical-daughter

It's a lovely and touching children's book so lovingly described by Jim.

But alas, I think I'm a bit too old and cynical for it to affect me the way I hoped it would. Which is my fault, not the book's, really.

"On the third night after the day her father died, Liesl saw the ghost."

But alas, I think I'm a bit too old and cynical for it to affect me the way I hoped it would. Which is my fault, not the book's, really.

"On the third night after the day her father died, Liesl saw the ghost."

This is the story of an 11-year-old Liesl, an orphan, who has been locked up in the attic by her evil stepmother (by the way, why are all fairy-tale stepmothers uniformly evil and ugly?). She meets Po, a ghost, an "it" from the Other Side, who has no memory of life on the Living Side. For the touch of the irresistible cuteness, we have Bundle, Po's companion, who may have been a dog or a cat back on the Living Side. And there is also Will, a young alchemist's apprentice, whose unwitting mix-up set the events of the story in motion.

"People need other people to feel things for them," she said. "it gets lonely to feel things all by yourself."

"She liked the word 'ineffable' because it meant a feeling so big or vast that it could not be expressed in words. And yet, because it could not be expressed in words, people had invented a word to express it, and that made Liesl feel hopeful, somehow."

This is a story full of melancholy and sadness. No wonder - from the afterword we learn that Lauren Oliver wrote this after a death of her friend, and the grief is palpable through the pages of this story, further illustrated by the beautiful and somehow sad pencil drawings. This is a story of loss and grief, sometimes explicitly stated (Liesl) or just heartbrokenly hinted at (Po and its traces of memories of friendship and being left out). It is the story of childhood that was not full of love and kindness (Will).

"Useless was one of the alchemist's favorite words, and he used it interchangeably to describe Will's plans, thoughts, work, appearance, and general selfhood."

But it is also a story of hope overcoming sadness, light ultimately winning over the darkness. A story of beautiful sadness, so to speak, the kind that ends up being uplifting and serves as a guiding beacon on the way to ultimate happiness. It is the story I would have adored as a small child. But this is also a story that does not completely ring true to my adult self, calloused by world experience. And this is why.

This story is set in the world of greyness, the world from which the sun and brightness has been removed years prior. But in contrast to the greyness of this world, the narration is clearly done in terms of black and white. We know who the good guys are. We know who the bad guys are. They are clearly defined, clearly separated, without much development that suggests growth or evolution or depth that blurs the back-and-white distinction. I guess I miss the in-between, the borderline that gives dimension to the world. But I remember loving having the world defined as 'good' and 'bad' so clearly when I was little. Hey, that's half of the appeal of the Disney movies, after all - the lovely clarity that they bring to our world. But I still missed the greyscale, so to say.

The ending - beautiful and satisfying. But given the tone of the story, I was half-hoping for a touch of bittersweet. I think my childhood has been scarred by the ending of Exupery's The Little Prince, when I suddenly realized that the Prince may have not just simply gone back to his planet and his Rose. And that feeling of childhood mental scarring is what somehow was making an adult in me long for a bittersweet ending here.

"Two visits to the living side, and the ghost had already become a little more human. Po had remembered how to lie."

All that said, I still enjoyed this book very much. The drawings were beautiful. The story was compelling. It is quite quotable. It leaves the reader with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, and even my cynical heart knows that sometimes all of us need a bit of that feeling, a bit of something that is uplifting and beautiful, and realism or bittersweetness be damned. And at the end, I gladly give this story 3.5 stars, put it on the imaginary bookshelf meant for my future (hypothetical) daughter, and recommend it easily.

"And this, really, is the story-within-the-story, because if you do not believe that hearts can bloom suddenly bigger, and that love can open like a flower out of even the hardest places, then I am afraid that for you the world will be long and brown and barren, and you will have trouble finding the light.
But if you do believe, then you already know all about magic."

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39 likes · like · see review

Nov 03, 2012 Giselle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: middle-grade, fantasy

A truly magical story! Liesl & Po will open your heart and make you reminisce on your childhood days when you believed in magic and when anything was possible.

The first thing I noticed and fell in love with in this book was the wonderful illustrations inside it's pages:

Also, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found under the dust jacket:

These added greatly to the imagination and increased the charm of the story immensely. I loved the way the characters were defined in the images. They were...more A truly magical story! Liesl & Po will open your heart and make you reminisce on your childhood days when you believed in magic and when anything was possible.

The first thing I noticed and fell in love with in this book was the wonderful illustrations inside it's pages:

Also, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found under the dust jacket:

These added greatly to the imagination and increased the charm of the story immensely. I loved the way the characters were defined in the images. They were exactly how I would have pictured them.

The story takes us on a journey with Liesl and her friend ghost, Po, to bring her father's ashes to a house they lived in before her stepmother got in the picture. The same evil stepmother who locked Liesl in the attic since her father got sick - which was a year ago.

This book held extraordinary characters. Each and every one of them were fascinating and I couldn't help but be enthralled by them. When I met Liesl, I was immediately drawn to her innocence and devotion. I really enjoyed her trek to get her father's ashes to their house and how all the characters came together in the most uncanny way. What I also found great was how every characters had a big part in the novel. It didn't necessarily have one main character, it had many and you get to understand and adore every one of them, as well as despise the villains.

It didn't have the most unpredictable plot. It was actually pretty foreseeable from an adult standpoint. But this is a story that is written for children (9-12). Of course adults can enjoy this as well, much like the well loved Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Coraline and lots of others novels. The predictability of the plot never affected my appreciation of the book for a minute. The characters, the magic, the heartfelt moments were sufficient enough. It gave me the same feeling as when I curl up during the holidays to watch my favorite movies that I've seen a hundred times but never fails to make me laugh and smile.

Liesl & Po is a an enchanting tale that will bring tears to your eyes and won't fail to make you smile. I look forward to reading this to my son in a few years.

Ineffable!
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32 likes · like · see review

Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, childrens, 2011

I originally gave this 4 stars but changed it after I did some thinking. I definitely wanted this book to be at least 4 stars and even convinced myself at certain points that it was far better than I actually found it to be.

I have nothing against children's books - and I do actually mean children's, not young adult - I think they can be just as powerful and moving as any adult novel, if not more so. There are all kinds of factors that can make these younger novels so appealing: interesting char...more

31 likes · like · see review

Nov 18, 2011 Steph Sinclair rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Steph by: Wendy Darling

Shelves: children-s, fantasy, 2011-reads, best-characters, i-liked-it, i-really-enjoyed-it, original-and-creative, 2011-favs

Coincidences; mix-ups; harmless mistakes and switches. And so a story is born.

I usually do not read children's books, but when my good friend, Wendy, told me about it, I knew I couldn't resist. And I'm so glad I didn't. This book has that unputdownable quality to it. Lauren Oliver, this is the kind of magic that I fell in love with when I read Before I Fall.

Liesl is a young girl locked in an attic by her evil stepmother. It has been almost a year since she left the attic, let alone stepped outside the house. One day her father dies and she, sadly, was not allowed to say goodbye to him at the hospital. So, for three days she does not light her oil lamp and or draw. It is then that she meets a lonely ghost named Po, who lives on the Other Side. Meanwhile, there is Will who is also horribly mistreated by his adoptive parent, an Alchemist. He is sent on an errand to deliver the Greatest Magic in the World to Lady Premier, but takes a detour to Liesl's house as he usually does, which leads to a mix-up. As fate would have it, Liesl ends up in possession of this Great Magic. She along with Po, Bundle, and Will travel on a journey where they discover friendship, say goodbyes, and find a new and brighter beginning.

This book was very charming and I'm quite impressed with Oliver. I found the characters Liesl, Will, Po and Bundle to be very lovable and I constantly worried for their safety. They'd all been dealt very sad cards in life and I kept thinking, "Those poor children. Give them to me. I would love them." The mistreatment of children is just something that deeply bothers me to the core. But through all their difficulties, I loved how they kept on moving forward. Even when situations seemed very bleak, they did not give up. It reminded me of the 1995 version of The Little Princess . I simply adore that movie and the main character, Sara, possessed the same fighting spirit of Liesl that I looked up to as a small girl. Sometimes awful things happen to you in life and it can be hard to pick yourself up, but you must, but more importantly, you can do it. It's a wonderful message to present to young people. This is definitely a story I see myself reading to my kids when they are older.

More reviews and more at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.(less)

23 likes · like · see review

Nov 20, 2011 Cait rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you don't have this on your to read list, put in not there right now.

Ahem. Come around, everyone, and join me and my cat in this amazing review of a truly amazing book.

Such a peaceful scene........my cat and me.

I know that I don't write many five-star reviews, or even give out many five-star ratings in general, which I why I waited a solid day to let my feelings germinate about whether or not that this book truly deserved such high praise from me.

And I can honestly one-hundered percent t...more

37 likes · like · see review

Mar 12, 2012 The Holy Terror rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of fairy tales and children's stories with deeper meanings

Recommended to The Holy Terror by: Wendy Darling

Shelves: childrens, color-brown, fantasy, borrowed, ghosts, made-me-cry, favorite-books, wendy-said, middle-grade, pretty-covers, magic, 2012

This is a lovely book recommended to me by Wendy Darling - go read her review for a much more in depth look into this book. I had never read Lauren Oliver's work before, but now I definitely want to seek her other books out. The story is one that reminds me a great deal of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, a book that I also enjoyed immensely, so if you liked Liesl and Po and want something similar to read I urge you to check out Valente's book.

Before I got to t...more

16 likes · like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Catie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Catie by: Jim

Shelves: read-in-2012, children-s, fantasy, middle-grade, graphic-illustrated-novels

I read Delirium and it really wasn't for me. I didn't like the premise, the romance, the characters, the story or the writing style. So understandably, I've been avoiding Lauren Oliver's books ever since.

But then there's this one: middle grade fantasy + magic + ghosts + illustrated novel + everyone's raving about it + some sort of talking pet (?? I hear) = sounds like Catie candy.

And yet, I was hesitant. UNTIL...Jim challenged me to read this IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE. Just how much does overall wr...more

25 likes · like · see review

Nov 06, 2012 Ronyell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Supernatural Children's Literature!

Recommended to Ronyell by: Brenda

Shelves: recommended-books-from-friends, alternative-worlds, chapter-books, children-books, drama, fantasy, family-situations, monster-books, my-blog-reviews, mystery, read-in-2012, reviewed-books, strong-heroine

“A Tale about a mix-up that changes several characters’ lives forever!”

Liesl

For many years now, I have been reading the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling and I really enjoyed every single one of them! Now, I have found this quite unusual book (thanks to my friends!) called “Liesl and Po” by Lauren Oliver along with illustrations by Kei Acedera and boy, was it an enjoyable ride that I would not mind reading about again!

The story starts off with a young orphaned girl named Liesl being able to see...more

12 likes · like · see review

Apr 10, 2013 Sam rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-lit

Summary

Locked away in an attic by her evil stepmother, Liesl spends her days drawing pictures, alone in silence. One night a ghost named Po appears from the ‘Other Side’, along with Bundle, Po’s dog, cat, ghost animal thing. Po tells Liesl about the ‘Other Side’, a place where the dead go to live until they can move to ‘Beyond’. This gets Liesl thinking about her father who died after being sick for a long time. She wonders if her father has already moved to ‘Beyond’, and if not, whether Po coul...more

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 07, 2011 K. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K. by: Wendy Darling

Shelves: art-fart, fantasy-sci-fi-dys, for-chil-ren, hit-me-in-the-heart, this-shelf-is-divine, own, cover-love, 21st-cent, goosebumps, identity-and-psychology

I must surrender my breath as it is threatening to choke me with all that this book put me through. Lauren Oliver's Liesl and Po is a beautiful, painfully moving declaration of love, loss, yearning, despair and discovery.

It is about a sad and lonely but hopeful and pretty little girl called Liesl who, with the help of her ghost friends boy-or-girl-but-most-likely-boy, Po and cat-or-dog-but-most-likely-dog, Bundle and young-but-poor-and-recently-homeless-former-apprentice, Will, sets out to lay...more

11 likes · like · see review

Oct 05, 2011 Aly (Fantasy4eva) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pleasantly-surprised, crushing-on-the-cover, my-kinda-protagonist, received-for-review

From the moment you read the authors introduction which explains what inspired her to write this book - you find that the book is more than just another story, another project. It's a very big part of the author - it represents the passing of a best friend - it's personal. As the author mentions. LIESL & PO is the most personal book she has ever written. You flip to the first page with your eyes a little more wide open, aware, and even a little heavy hearted. Yet the world you discover bene...more From the moment you read the authors introduction which explains what inspired her to write this book - you find that the book is more than just another story, another project. It's a very big part of the author - it represents the passing of a best friend - it's personal. As the author mentions. LIESL & PO is the most personal book she has ever written. You flip to the first page with your eyes a little more wide open, aware, and even a little heavy hearted. Yet the world you discover beneath these very pages is delightful and magical. A story that belongs to a young girl called Liesl who lives in an attic locked away by her stepmother. Liesl's father has recently died and she feels more lonely than ever. She spends her days in the attic without complaint, eating what little is given to her by the servants and drawing to pass the time.

A lost boy called Will and a ghost under the name Po and his pet that are in between the living and the dead are the very characters that will change all that. Po's referred to as "IT" and it's interesting to see things from his perspective. I enjoyed how throughout the book he became more human - almost discovered feeling, and from time to time had a vulnerability about him when it came to Liesl. When Liesl, Will and Po come together the three set out to help one another and most importantly help Liesl do what in her hearts of hearts she knows she must. What I loved also was these three characters discovering themselves with each day and growing. Will has noticed the pretty Liesl for weeks if not months as he has stopped by her window nearly everyday, struck by her heart shaped face and this array of loneliness about her that matches his very own - on the way to doing errands for the Alchemist. You then have Po who seems to be changing in his own way the longer he spends time with Liesl. You notice through little clues. Such as; when he becomes irritated when Will is around, or when Liesl is paying him more attention - which I found amusing as well as quite touching. Or perhaps when Liesl questions him being real which often seems to hit a nerve. In a way she brings a little part of him alive a little more everyday through keeping him in touch with reality. I felt sorry for Po at times. His sadness weighed heavy on me. It must be hard for him to know that he can never touch her, express himself the way Will can. Then there is Liesl who finds herself grow warm with compassion for these very two individuals who have stayed by her side and protected her. Seeing the three of them grow closer day by day, look out for each other and trust one another is lovely. I became fond of them and found that they were all precious to me. I wanted to protect them during the not so great days.

I don't read MG but reading this book has opened me up to the possibility of reading more. Although the premise isn't really anything new or remarkable it's the characters that will win over the hearts of readers - particularly Liesl. Of course it helps that the author has a way with words. LIESL & PO was fast paced, delightful and completely endearing. Liesl is a character who you can't help but love. Trusting, adorable, caring and naive she is a breathe of fresh air. As the three set off on their journey they will face countless obstacles; particularly people who have other motives. In a dark dreary world that seems to have lost all colour, our protagonist seems to be the only one who shines bright.

The illustrations only brought the book and characters to life, and were are a much welcomed addition to the book. The ending itself is beautiful, but more so perhaps because of the awareness of what it represents. When I saw a certain part I couldn't help but think of the author and her best friend; I couldn't help but think how hard and sometimes unbearable, as well as bitter - sweet it must have been to write this book; that very part. It was these thoughts which made my eyes well up and realise just how personal this book truly was. It made LIESL & PO all the more wonderful to me.
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May 05, 2012 Stacey (prettybooks) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-after-university, read-in-my-twenties, childrens-fiction

I met Lauren Oliver back in February 2011 and I thought she was lovely and so American (I hadn't met many Americans before!). All three of her novels: Before I Fall, Delirium, and Liesl & Po are very different from each other but are equally as good. She has a talent for writing realistic fiction, dystopian fiction and now children's fiction.

Liesl & Po is a story about a young girl's bereavement and how a ghost and a lonely alchemist's apprentice help her fulfil her father's wish: his a...more

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 26, 2011 April rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, bea-2011, cybils, middle-grade, fantasy, own, signed

I’m convinced that as an author Lauren Oliver can do no wrong. No matter the genre, she is a powerful storyteller. Liesl And Po, a story Oliver says is very close to her heart, is Oliver’s middle grade debut. It is a magical read in which ghosts play a prominent role and titular character Liesl must go on a journey and set her father’s ashes to rights.

Read the rest of my review here

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 20, 2011 BritishWotsit rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: honour-shelf

Oh I wish this could have been a book I had read as a child.
Brilliant, magical and inspiring.

Lauren Oliver is one of the only authors in which I truly love each and every one of her books. (Alongside J.K Rowling). Delirium, the first book I read by her, was brilliant. Before I fall, the second, amazing. Liesl and Po, no different.
I can imagine this story being purchased by Disney, or Pixar, at any moment.

The book itself (the hardcover version) Is also the most beautiful book I have on my bookshe...more

9 likes · like · see review

Dec 19, 2011 Halley Todd rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: evil-magicians, fairy-tales, fantasy, friendship, family-love, magic, overcoming-differences, overcoming-obstacles, purpose-in-life, si-624-reviews, ghosts, middle-school

This novel is absolutely stunning and ethereal.Liesl is a recent orphan who has been locked into the attic by her evil stepmother. Three days after her father dies, a child ghost named Po, and his pet, Bundle, cross into the living world in order to see why she no longer draws. At this same moment, an alchemist’s apprentice named Will is standing on the street, looking up into her attic, and wondering the same question. Incidentally, Will is also holding a box containing the most powerful magic...more

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 07, 2011 Marissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-middle-grade, young-adult, ya-supernatural, j-fantasy

The sun hasn’t shown in over 1,000 days, and it’s been three days since Liesl’s father died. Liesl has been locked up in her step-mother’s tower—to keep her out of harm’s way, of course—since her father died. One night, a cookie-cutter figure of a person materializes in her dark room, along with its pet companion. The ghost’s name is Po and it came from the Other Side. When asked if it is a boy or a girl, Po explains it doesn’t remember; on the Other Side, things are different. So begins the fri...more

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 19, 2012 Micheline rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Micheline by: Giselle

Shelves: favorites, kick-ass-female, magic-witches-wizards, children-stories-fairytales, fantasy

Words can not describe how utterly heart-warming, how completely enchanted and how truly ineffably happy Liesl & Po made me feel. Out of all the children's fairytales I have read in my youth and my adulthood, this modern tale really was an absolute joy to read. The prose is breathtakingly beautiful and absolutely delightful. The characters are exceedingly loveable; instant classics. The story itself is simple enough, though layered with deep and rich lessons about love and loss. I am truly e...more

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 24, 2013 Mei rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Mei by: Wendy Darling

Shelves: childrens, fantasy, young-adult, 2013, action-adventure, cover-lust, paranormal-supernatural, favourite, swoon-worthy, borrowed

Lauren Oliver defined this book as the most personal she has ever written. She wrote it during the days she struggled with the loss of her best friend, and so this book is very sad, melancholic, dark & gray but although that's how the book should be, I really enjoyed reading it. That's what Lauren Oliver does to me. I really cannot just put her books down. There's something about her writing that hinders me from doing so. Particularly in this book, where all elements are just so beautifully...more

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 14, 2012 Charissa Sophia de la Rosa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-by-my-favorite-authors, books-that-made-me-cry-sob, books-that-might-change-your-life, inspiring-books, adventure, books-with-a-great-ending, by-lauren-oliver, family, fantasy, favorites, friendship, humor, hurt-and-or-comfort, books-i-reviewed, books-i-own-a-copy, happy-endings

Lauren Oliver did a really great job in her second book. It just spells A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Plot Summary:
Liesl is just an ordinary girl that was locked by her stepmother to the attic. She was alone and lonely, with no friends to talk with. After her father’s death; Po, a ghost from the ‘Other Side’ with its pet, Bundle visited her. Liesl and Po found happiness and comfort with each other for they were like the other- alone, lonely with no friends.
Will is an alchemist’s apprentice that always goes...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Kyle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of A Monster Calls

Recommended to Kyle by: Myself (who else?)

Shelves: unique-setting, awesome-writing-style, children, mild-dissapointment, really-excited

3.5

Since I'm a fan of procrastination, and I like writing reviews, I've decided to combine the two and procrastinate homework by writing a review (which I admittedly should do more of, but that's beside the point).

Now, I read Lauren Oliver's sophomore/debut in the dystopian genre novel, Delirium, back in November after going back and forth on it because of the slow pacing in the first quarter of the novel. I appreciated the wonderfully poetic writing, how plausible the love story felt, how the...more 3.5

Since I'm a fan of procrastination, and I like writing reviews, I've decided to combine the two and procrastinate homework by writing a review (which I admittedly should do more of, but that's beside the point).

Now, I read Lauren Oliver's sophomore/debut in the dystopian genre novel, Delirium, back in November after going back and forth on it because of the slow pacing in the first quarter of the novel. I appreciated the wonderfully poetic writing, how plausible the love story felt, how the love interest wasn't a creepy stalker and or that he had little-to-no personality, but was a nice, sweet guy who made the main character feel beautiful.

So, when I first heard of Liesl & Po, I was a little apprehensive, since when I'd first discovered it, I'd kind of sworn off the middle grade genre, since after I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (my first YA book) everything afterwards was too juvenile, so I made a permenant residence in paranormal, dystopian, dark realistic fiction, you know the likes. However, after I read A Monster Calls earlier this month, I decided that the genre could still be for a younger audience, but still pack an emotional punch.

The basic plot of this novel is about a girl named Liesl, who has been living in her attic for about thirteen months, ever since her father got sick and her step-mother said she needed to stay there (her mother had passed away several years prior to the beginning). When a ghost named Po, and his dog or cat Bundle (you don't know what it is until the end) come from a place called the Other Side, which I guess can be viewed as Purgatory, depending on your beliefs, which is a place in-between the living and the afterlife, he helps Liesl go to the place where her mother is buried to bury her father's ashes there.

Will, an apprentice to an alchemist, who believes he may have created not only an elixir of life, but a way to raise the dead, accidentally mixes-up the ashes of Liesl's father with the magic, so while Po, Bundle and Liesl travel with the magic, Will is desperately attempting to escape the wrath of his master. Also, just a small fact about the world in which this story is occuring, ever since the alchemist took a "drop of sunshine" for his magic, the sun has not shown for over 2,000 days.

First off, the writing, since it's one of my favorite part about Lauren Oliver's books. While it wasn't as lyrically beautiful as it was with Delirium, which I'd expect since it's for younger readers, it still had a poetic feel to it, and had some really great similies and metaphors at certain points, and there was one scene in particular at the end that I just loved the way how it was written.

The characters are all just lovely as well! Liesl, who is our main female herione, was strong, determined, innocent, and just a great charatcer who I felt like I could root for. Po was nice, and I found him somewhat amusing at times. However, I think the title makes him seem like a more important character than he is. Will, who in my opinion was more important to the plot than Po, was equally interesting for the exact same reasons as Liesl.

The actual plot/pacing is pretty good. It picks up more towards the end (of course) and I liked how it didn't rush itself, and took the time it needed to conclude. I also love how all the characters and their plots woved together to complete it as well.

So yes, that is my review of Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver! Overall, it's a very intriguing, well written middle grade novel, however there is one more thing I'd like to discuss. That's the pictures in the novel, which aren't too frequent, but enough for me to want to talk about them.

While I liked them, and enjoyed admiring the artwork, I'm not sure if it really added anything to the story other than pictures. Now, that may just be because it is a children's book, in which case I understand, but if not for that purpose, and just for the sake of wanting drawings (which I don't believe Lauren Oliver did) they just didn't have that emotional punch that the breathtaking artwork in Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls had. Still, they were enjoyable and pleasant to look at nonetheless. (less)

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 11, 2011 Mimi Valentine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star, pure-awesomeness, gorgeous-covers, reviewed

This book is MAGIC. Pure, beautiful, raw magic — the kind that makes you want to be a kid again and let your imagination run wild; the kind that makes you reminisce in the times when black was black and white was white and innocence wasn't a rarity.

Liesl & Po may just be a middle grade novel, but I honestly think that anyone will enjoy this book, no matter what age! I adored everything about it: the world, the characters, the magic, the storyline. Even though it may not have been the most un...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 05, 2011 Tara Hall rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Children and adults dealing with grief

Shelves: reviewed, arcs, recommended-for-teens

Just finished the ARC of this. Probably the best middle grade book I have read since Gregor the Overlander, and better in some ways. Adorable, outstanding, phenomenal. Pick a positive adjective and it works for this book. It is beautiful, funny, heartbreaking, real, and fantastic.

The style reminded me of Lemony Snicket, clever with author's asides throughout; the tongue-in-cheek flavor of a ready-made classic. It has the feeling of comedy but the depth of drama, characters to love and hate that...more

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 05, 2013 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens, favorites, my-library, paranormal-read

My Summary: Ever since the devastating loss of her father, Liesl has been kept hidden in the attic by her stepmother. Given little food and nothing else to do, Liesl comforts herself with her drawings.

Liesl's talent catches the eye of a mysterious ghost named Po and his pet Bundle, who keep Liesl company in her dreary prison cell. But once a chain of events is set off and Liesl's father's ashes are mixed up with a box containing something extremely precious, Liesl and Po escape the attic, setti...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Paige rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

so. cute.

I recieved an ARC from a teen library group that I'm on. :D

So, first things first: I have wanted an ARC forever. I have always dreamed of it, wanted to see the typos and unfinished artwork, wanted to be one of those people who gets to see the story first. And finally, I got one.

I'd hoped that it would be amazing. But I promised myself, even if the story stunk, I would still keep it on my bookshelf. It would be an ARC, mine, something to be proud of. The truth is that I had nothing to w...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jul 19, 2011 Alison rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: elementary-school, fantasy, 2011

I thought the writing in this book was lovely, but I was underwhelmed by the story, which I felt was not especially unique and periodically bogged down by excessive detail. (There was WAY too much backstory on each of the adult characters!) All in all, this is a sweet, nice read, but it just didn't make any significant ripples for me.

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 02, 2011 Gabrielle Carolina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, bir11

Another adorable MG that made me fall in love.

The best part was that it was written by Lauren Oliver who can turn words into poetry. The sounds of truth and mirrors of reflection abound with her signature writing style no reader could mistake as anything other than brilliant!

Long Review TK

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Jun 30, 2011 Marika rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was immediately captivated by the cover of Liesl and Po. This was a magical book, a new fairy tale, a story with both great darkness and wondrous possibility. And then I started reading...and Oliver's text was exactly what the cover promised.

The story begins in a world without sunshine. Liesl is locked in the attic by her stepmother and her father is recently deceased. Po and Bundle are dark ghosts who are attracted to Liesl's drawings and Will is an orphaned alchemist's apprentice who is attr...more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 28, 2012 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: juvenile-fiction

It's funny how books about death of a parent can be so different. Before this book, I read The Monster Calls. It dealt with the death of a young boy's mother. This tale was dark, anguished, and deadly cold. It does a good job of realistically showing how death internally affected the young boy and how the fantasy in his head makes him deal with her death.

On the other hand, this read, Liesel and Po by Lauen Oliver deals with a young Cinderalla-like girl whose father has died (we later learn the...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 04, 2012 Lyndz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone!

Shelves: mypod-audiobook, reviewed

If I had to choose one word to describe Liesl and Po, that word would be “ADORABLE”. If I could choose two words, they would be “ineffably adorable”.

I sincerely wish that I would have chosen to read this before I read Delirium. I honestly think I could have enjoyed the writing style in Delirium more had I known what Oliver was capable of.

Somehow Ms. Oliver has managed to capture a special magic, while not the same as “Potter” magic, it is still quite addicting and mesmerizing. I have heard a co...more

23 likes · like · see review

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About Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver comes from a family of writers and so has always (mistakenly) believed that spending hours in front of the computer every day, mulling over the difference between “chortling” and “chuckling,” is normal. She has always been an avid reader.

She attended the University of Chicago, where she continued to be as impractical as possible by majoring in philosophy and literature. After colleg...more

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Quotes from Liesl & Po

“She liked the word ineffable because it meant a feeling so big or vast that it could not be expressed in words.

And yet, because it could not be expressed in words, people had invented a word to express it, and that made Liesl feel hopeful, somehow.” — 64 people liked it

“(I)f you do not believe that hearts can bloom suddenly bigger, and that love can open like a flower out of even the hardest places, then I am afraid that for you the road will be long and brown and barren, and you will have trouble finding the light.
But if you do believe, then you already know all about magic.” — 55 people liked it

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