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Once upon a time, in the bubble-gum-snapping, glitter polish-wearing, lip-gloss-applying San Fernando Valley, a gentle girl named Barbie met a feisty fairy named Mab: "Maybe Mab was real. Maybe there really are girls the size of pinkies with hair the color of the darkest red oleander blossoms and skin like the greenish-white underbellies of calla lilies.... But it doesn't matter if Mab is real or imagined, Barbie thought, as long as I can see her." Mab, with her crabby commentary and no-holds-barred opinions, gives Barbie the strength she needs to face the horrors casting a shadow over her life in sunny, shimmering California. How else could Barbie survive her over-perfumed, over-tanned, overbearing stage mother, dragging her daughter to modeling agencies in the gold-plated hope of reliving her younger days as a beauty queen? Or the "cadaver-pale skin" and "fleshy mouth" of Hamilton Waverly, the "crocodile pedophile" photographer who makes Barbie feel "like the doll she had been named for, without even a hole where her mouth was supposed to be"? Mab glimmers and gabs by Barbie's side throughout her teen years as she becomes a successful fashion model, falls in love, and endures all the troubles that come along for the ride--in addition to facing the black secret of her past.
Francesca Lia Block, author of the magical Weetzie Bat books that are collected in Dangerous Angels, and the empowering, punchy Girl Goddess #9, has once again crafted a mystical tale whose ethereal, original language will wrap readers in its gossamer grip. Block carries us to the weeping heart of despair, but would never be so cruel as to leave us there: Barbie gets a new, skyward-gazing name, Selena Moon, and readers get a glimmersome vision of living happily ever after. (Ages 13 and older) --Brangien Davis
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First published September 25, 1998
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About the author
Francesca Lia Block
99 books3,377 followersFrancesca Lia Block is the author of more than twenty-five books of fiction, non-fiction, short stories and poetry. She received the Spectrum Award, the Phoenix Award, the ALA Rainbow Award and the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as other citations from the American Library Association and from the New York Times Book Review, School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly. She was named Writer-in-Residence at Pasadena City College in 2014. Her work has been translated into Italian, French, German Japanese, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Portuguese. Francesca has also published stories, poems, essays and interviews in The Los Angeles Times, The L.A. Review of Books, Spin, Nylon, Black Clock and Rattle among others. In addition to writing, she teaches creative writing at University of Redlands, UCLA Extension, Antioch University, and privately in Los Angeles where she was born, raised and currently still lives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
July 28, 2019
2019 Reread: This is one of my most read books, and every time I return to it I get more from the story. It's amazing that this book was written over 20 years ago, but deals with so many topics that people praise today in YA literature. Somehow, I was reading these diverse books growing up without realizing how much they were shaping me as a person. Perhaps this story helped me become a better ally from the start. Trigger warnings for most things are in this book.
___________________
I Was a Teenage Fairy means a lot to me. I'll never forget when I first discovered it at the library. I must have been somewhere between grades five and eight, but I'm not really sure. I grabbed it from the "young adult" section in the children's room. I remember feeling like I read a scandalous, hidden treasure. The content was a bit too racy for me to even understand at the time, and I think that's what makes this book mean even more to me today.
I eventually purchased the book. I'm not sure how many times I've read it, but a few days ago I decided that it didn't matter how much schoolwork I had, I just had to read a book for fun. When I saw I Was a Teenage Fairy on my shelf, I knew it would comfort me. And that it did. No, this is not a literary masterpiece, but it does deal with real life issues. A mother who pushes her daughter to model to fulfill her own flopped career. Parents that don't make it. Child molestation. And none of these mentions are enough to be marked as spoilers.
This story is magical. It reminds me of growing up, and each time I read it I understand it more. I highly recommend this book. It's a short read, and you can finish it in a few hours if you just sit down and read. I know that for a while, I'll forget this book. But I'm sure I'll read it again one day, and it will be another amazing experience.
___________________
I Was a Teenage Fairy means a lot to me. I'll never forget when I first discovered it at the library. I must have been somewhere between grades five and eight, but I'm not really sure. I grabbed it from the "young adult" section in the children's room. I remember feeling like I read a scandalous, hidden treasure. The content was a bit too racy for me to even understand at the time, and I think that's what makes this book mean even more to me today.
I eventually purchased the book. I'm not sure how many times I've read it, but a few days ago I decided that it didn't matter how much schoolwork I had, I just had to read a book for fun. When I saw I Was a Teenage Fairy on my shelf, I knew it would comfort me. And that it did. No, this is not a literary masterpiece, but it does deal with real life issues. A mother who pushes her daughter to model to fulfill her own flopped career. Parents that don't make it. Child molestation. And none of these mentions are enough to be marked as spoilers.
This story is magical. It reminds me of growing up, and each time I read it I understand it more. I highly recommend this book. It's a short read, and you can finish it in a few hours if you just sit down and read. I know that for a while, I'll forget this book. But I'm sure I'll read it again one day, and it will be another amazing experience.
September 15, 2024
A story about a girl navigating trauma and the complexities of growing up, with the help of a fiercely loyal, real—or imagined—fairy friend.
I first read I Was a Teenage Fairy in high school and remember absolutely loving it. Revisiting it as an adult, I found myself still deeply attached to this story. It’s profoundly sad, tragic, enraging, touching, hopeful, and devastatingly beautiful. Francesca Lia Block’s writing makes everything—from describing a scene to something as simple as a character eating a chip—sound magical, lovely, and surreal. I've read in other reviews that her style doesn't work for everyone, but I find it particularly beautiful—atmospheric prose that's accessible for people of many ages. Her ability to build a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly makes this book so moving.
Note: There are no spoilers in my review, but I will touch on the subject matter.
This story is triggering, which I didn’t recall before diving back into it. It touches on subjects like child sexual abuse, identity crises, suicidal ideation, and the lasting impacts of these traumas on adolescence. I appreciate how Block approaches these very difficult, real, and dark themes while maintaining a steady sense of hope and the possibility of healing.
A paragraph from the book that stuck out for me:
"Suddenly (she) understood. She really should have known before, she told herself. She should have seen it coming. But as sophisticated as she was in the world of ladybugs and butterflies and crickets—a diva, a princess, an appendix of cool—she still hadn't really learned that much about the Big World, even with all the Vogue and Vanity Fair and New York times articles (her friend) got for her to read. It was really an uglier place than she would have liked to believe. It had no respect for its smallest and most delicate members. It would let them starve like the children in the back pages with potbellies and empty-soup-pot eyes; it would let them be touched in ways that no one should be touched, and broken like wishbones and tossed in the trash."
The plot of this book can be disjointed, and maybe the writing isn’t for everyone, but this book was touching on subjects that were very taboo during my time in high school. It brought my friends and me together to speak about things we never had before. Is the brush on the subject matter light? Yes. But that’s Block’s style—she sends messages wrapped in love for those who are fragile.
Our protagonist grows up faster than a child should, and reading this as an adult hit me differently than it did when I was younger. As she navigates more adult themes, I kept thinking, “She’s just a baby.” It made me think very differently about her journey.
Mab, the fairy, is tenacious, hilarious, and embodies what keeps many of us alive when we suffer trauma at a young age. She represents survival, perseverance, hope, and healing. I adore Mab and found myself as attached to her now as I was as a teen. I feel like I have my own Mab in a sense.
This book is heavy. It’s a lump in your throat, a scream in your head, a rock in your belly. It’s also lovely—a warm embrace, a kiss on the forehead, a laugh with a loved one. This is a story about overcoming trauma, the complexities of growing up, and finding one’s true self amidst pain and confusion. It combines the harsh realities of life with the enchanting possibilities of magic. The last few pages left me in tears, and that’s a feat. 🖤
I first read I Was a Teenage Fairy in high school and remember absolutely loving it. Revisiting it as an adult, I found myself still deeply attached to this story. It’s profoundly sad, tragic, enraging, touching, hopeful, and devastatingly beautiful. Francesca Lia Block’s writing makes everything—from describing a scene to something as simple as a character eating a chip—sound magical, lovely, and surreal. I've read in other reviews that her style doesn't work for everyone, but I find it particularly beautiful—atmospheric prose that's accessible for people of many ages. Her ability to build a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly makes this book so moving.
Note: There are no spoilers in my review, but I will touch on the subject matter.
This story is triggering, which I didn’t recall before diving back into it. It touches on subjects like child sexual abuse, identity crises, suicidal ideation, and the lasting impacts of these traumas on adolescence. I appreciate how Block approaches these very difficult, real, and dark themes while maintaining a steady sense of hope and the possibility of healing.
A paragraph from the book that stuck out for me:
"Suddenly (she) understood. She really should have known before, she told herself. She should have seen it coming. But as sophisticated as she was in the world of ladybugs and butterflies and crickets—a diva, a princess, an appendix of cool—she still hadn't really learned that much about the Big World, even with all the Vogue and Vanity Fair and New York times articles (her friend) got for her to read. It was really an uglier place than she would have liked to believe. It had no respect for its smallest and most delicate members. It would let them starve like the children in the back pages with potbellies and empty-soup-pot eyes; it would let them be touched in ways that no one should be touched, and broken like wishbones and tossed in the trash."
The plot of this book can be disjointed, and maybe the writing isn’t for everyone, but this book was touching on subjects that were very taboo during my time in high school. It brought my friends and me together to speak about things we never had before. Is the brush on the subject matter light? Yes. But that’s Block’s style—she sends messages wrapped in love for those who are fragile.
Our protagonist grows up faster than a child should, and reading this as an adult hit me differently than it did when I was younger. As she navigates more adult themes, I kept thinking, “She’s just a baby.” It made me think very differently about her journey.
Mab, the fairy, is tenacious, hilarious, and embodies what keeps many of us alive when we suffer trauma at a young age. She represents survival, perseverance, hope, and healing. I adore Mab and found myself as attached to her now as I was as a teen. I feel like I have my own Mab in a sense.
This book is heavy. It’s a lump in your throat, a scream in your head, a rock in your belly. It’s also lovely—a warm embrace, a kiss on the forehead, a laugh with a loved one. This is a story about overcoming trauma, the complexities of growing up, and finding one’s true self amidst pain and confusion. It combines the harsh realities of life with the enchanting possibilities of magic. The last few pages left me in tears, and that’s a feat. 🖤
January 6, 2009
I have a soft spot for FLB's book for some reason, so my reviews of her are probably not always the most objective. I just love her writing style and magical realism. But I *really* loved this book. It was so sad and yet hopeful in the end. The way Mab cared for Barbie, even if she was mean at times, and the way she helped other children who'd been abused was very well done. I like the idea that all kids who need one have a Mab of their own to help them grow into functional adults. It was sad but appealing how some people forgot their Mabs as they got older, and got little bits of memory jogged loose once in a while throughout their lives.
This book was another terrific example of FLB's interesting, vivid lyric prose. She is able to take so many things about the world that are commonplace, or bad, or uninteresting on their own, and make them into something special. This book actually made me cry. That's quite hard to do, in fact.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys lyric prose, magical realism or who knows absolutely that Mabs are real.
This book was another terrific example of FLB's interesting, vivid lyric prose. She is able to take so many things about the world that are commonplace, or bad, or uninteresting on their own, and make them into something special. This book actually made me cry. That's quite hard to do, in fact.
Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys lyric prose, magical realism or who knows absolutely that Mabs are real.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2011
This book was fustrating until the end, then it became slightly less fustrating. I enjoyed the concept of Mab and was disappointed that she was merely a coping mechanism. When I think of Mab, I think of Queen of the Fairies, not a little minor fairy that hangs out in a doll house. I was also upset with the way Barbie and Griffin's emotions were written. It just seemed to skim the surface of their anger, confusion, and numbness. That kind of situation would leave a lot more emotional residue than, "Waverly makes me feel sick. Oh look! A plant!" By the time I can finally start really feeling their anger and resentment, the book was over in the next few pages. I didn't understand the point in putting the dad in the story at all. You'd think a psychatrist father would realize his daughter has suffered some sort of trauma. Again, it's not until near the very end that Barbie finally says that her dad upset her. I think the topic was a great idea. I think the use of Mab was a great vehicle for some of the harder concepts although it could've been executed better. I just think that such a serious topic shouldn't have been met with so much shallowness.
January 24, 2013
First book I read by Francesca Lia Block and I fell in love. I was 13 at the time and had never read anything like Block's book. Long before Speak or The Perks of Being a Wallflower came out, Francesca Lia Block was writing about topics that few young adult authors dared to tread. While now it is more commonplace for young adult books to deal with heavy topics such rape, sexual abuse, drug use, and dysfunctional families, when Block was first doing it, she was alone. She was also banned in many places because she broached issues like sexual orientation, trans/queer issues and suicidal thinking. For the first time in my life, I felt like Block was writing to me and to my friends and to our problems. She "got it" in a way no other adult around me did. Forever grateful for all her books.
June 21, 2019
Well, this was . . .
Okay, it had all the elements for a fascinating story. But there's just something about Block's writing style and story elements that leave me with a weird, spinning sensation in my head. Like reading her books gets me a high I absolutely DO NOT WANT (like I'd ever want to be high in the first place; caffeine gives me the only rush I want/need/enjoy) and wondering why I ever thought this would be worth the time it took for me to read it.
Seriously. I appreciated the idea behind this book (much like I appreciated the ideas behind the ill-fated, tangled mess that is her Love in the Time of Global Warming series) but the development and layout of said idea???
I did find a tiny bit of enjoyment in the metaphors and descriptions, but that was always, quickly overwhelmed by the disjointed, off feel to the writing. Sure, maybe that was to add to the disjointed, off kind of story. And sometimes, if it's done just right, I like those kind of stories—a lot, usually. It's probably why I keep coming back to Block's writing from time to time, to see if it's just me and not her style.
Maybe it is just me. But at least it's consistently me, and her style consistently turns me off. Plus, not the greatest fan of the content sprinkled so casually in her stories. So, maybe you'll love this mild addition to modern faerie lore.
Me? I'll stick with Holly Black as the queen of modern faeries, thanks.
Okay, it had all the elements for a fascinating story. But there's just something about Block's writing style and story elements that leave me with a weird, spinning sensation in my head. Like reading her books gets me a high I absolutely DO NOT WANT (like I'd ever want to be high in the first place; caffeine gives me the only rush I want/need/enjoy) and wondering why I ever thought this would be worth the time it took for me to read it.
Seriously. I appreciated the idea behind this book (much like I appreciated the ideas behind the ill-fated, tangled mess that is her Love in the Time of Global Warming series) but the development and layout of said idea???
I did find a tiny bit of enjoyment in the metaphors and descriptions, but that was always, quickly overwhelmed by the disjointed, off feel to the writing. Sure, maybe that was to add to the disjointed, off kind of story. And sometimes, if it's done just right, I like those kind of stories—a lot, usually. It's probably why I keep coming back to Block's writing from time to time, to see if it's just me and not her style.
Maybe it is just me. But at least it's consistently me, and her style consistently turns me off. Plus, not the greatest fan of the content sprinkled so casually in her stories. So, maybe you'll love this mild addition to modern faerie lore.
Me? I'll stick with Holly Black as the queen of modern faeries, thanks.
March 3, 2007
transports you to a new world of faeries, bubble gum and happy-ever-afters in teeny bopper LA. one of those books that leaves you different than before.
February 19, 2012
THE FAERYS VIEW
I read this story on a whim as I'm a lover of all things Fey. To say it wasn't what I expected is an understatement! Ms. Block takes a serious look at a sensitive issue-child molestation and throws a few other wrenches in as well.
Barbie, a child model molested by a photographer at age 11 discovers she has the ability to see Mab, a small fairy that only appears to her. Barbie develops a relationship with Griffin at age 16, both sharing the same experience with the same photographer. The parents of these children live vicariously through their kids achievements not caring of the cost it takes out of their souls.
Ms. Block does a great job bringing to light a young girls method of coping in a cruel world with nobody to turn to. In the end, I was left wondering if Mab was indeed real or if she was a figment of Barbie's imagination - with Mab being the only support system she has and the only way that Barbie knows how to cope with the sexual abuse and pressure that her mother consistantly piles on her. It's up to the reader to decide for themselves but one thing is for certain, I Was a Teenage Fairy is a quality read that left me wondering just how many child models go through similar circumstances or worse.
3.5 stars
THE FAERY SAYS THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS BOOK!
I read this story on a whim as I'm a lover of all things Fey. To say it wasn't what I expected is an understatement! Ms. Block takes a serious look at a sensitive issue-child molestation and throws a few other wrenches in as well.
Barbie, a child model molested by a photographer at age 11 discovers she has the ability to see Mab, a small fairy that only appears to her. Barbie develops a relationship with Griffin at age 16, both sharing the same experience with the same photographer. The parents of these children live vicariously through their kids achievements not caring of the cost it takes out of their souls.
Ms. Block does a great job bringing to light a young girls method of coping in a cruel world with nobody to turn to. In the end, I was left wondering if Mab was indeed real or if she was a figment of Barbie's imagination - with Mab being the only support system she has and the only way that Barbie knows how to cope with the sexual abuse and pressure that her mother consistantly piles on her. It's up to the reader to decide for themselves but one thing is for certain, I Was a Teenage Fairy is a quality read that left me wondering just how many child models go through similar circumstances or worse.
3.5 stars
THE FAERY SAYS THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS BOOK!
March 27, 2023
weirdly wonderful…
August 31, 2015
Wasn't one of my favourite Block books, but it was lovely.
May 6, 2019
More like 3.5. I'm a sucker for an L.A. setting, that's for sure. Would've liked to give it another half star but had a problem with the end. But wanting a realistic ending on a book with a fairy is a bit unreasonable, I guess. ;-)
March 2, 2010
This book is about a young girl named Barbie blessed (or cursed) with beauty and forced into modeling by her controlling mom (an ex-model herself, living vicariously through her child). When she's 11 she meets Mab, a sarcastic fairy, who almost reluctantly becomes Barbie's friend. During this same time she's molested by a lecherous photographer. Her mother tells her not to cry, that life is full of problems and she had just better learn to deal with them.
Fast forward 5 years and Barbie's a rail thin, jaded model. Mab is still part of her life, encouraging her to have sex which I found bizarre seeing as she's only 16 . . .
This book was just "eh, so what" for me. I didn't connect with the character and the sparse writing style left me cold. The issues of molestation, teen sex, drugs, homosexuality, etc. seemed to be very glossed over but I guess that couldn't be helped seeing as the book was so short. Maybe I'm just getting too old for this stuff? Nah, that can't be it.
Fast forward 5 years and Barbie's a rail thin, jaded model. Mab is still part of her life, encouraging her to have sex which I found bizarre seeing as she's only 16 . . .
This book was just "eh, so what" for me. I didn't connect with the character and the sparse writing style left me cold. The issues of molestation, teen sex, drugs, homosexuality, etc. seemed to be very glossed over but I guess that couldn't be helped seeing as the book was so short. Maybe I'm just getting too old for this stuff? Nah, that can't be it.
January 14, 2010
Mab was funny I will admit, but the writting was trashy to me. The book was essentially pointless with random sex scenes, it was lik porn hidden behind a fairytale title. I read this book and was going to get rid of it. However, I felt that passing on this trashy story with immature writing technique would be inflicting torturous stupidity on others. So, thinking of the well being of mankind (and lets not forget the children) I threw this exactly where it belonged...in a dumpster.
June 3, 2014
Nowhere near as good as Echo. WHY DO I OWN THIS ONE AND NOT THAT? I want to re-read Echo, dammit!
Sometimes I think Lia Block's words can never be translated into movies and pictures; other times, I can't help but wonder at the factor by which her book's awesomeness would be increased were it made into a movie with music and whispers and fast breaths.
Sometimes I think Lia Block's words can never be translated into movies and pictures; other times, I can't help but wonder at the factor by which her book's awesomeness would be increased were it made into a movie with music and whispers and fast breaths.
November 17, 2024
That stuff about there being better times to read things or times that things will impact you more applies so much to this. When I was thirteen-ish, this was the first time I really ever saw writing like this, what with the style, magical realism, and [gasps] sex. (but mostly the style, which obviously made a huge impression on me if my writing from the era is any indication).
March 26, 2007
this is one of the most beautiful things i have ever read. it makes me cry every time. its like it leaves you feeling desperate and sad but in a way where everything will be okay.
December 8, 2007
this reminds me of the song Lullaby by Shawn Mullins. it has stuck in my mind for years now. it's the kind of book you don't forget
December 26, 2008
This was really different. The closest I can think it coming to is Judy Blume with a talking Fairy and more sinister overtones.
November 11, 2021
This is a beautifully written novel about trauma and the coping mechanisms kids can develop. I liked it when I was a teenager and I still think it's lovely.
August 7, 2015
This book changed my life. I am the person I am today because of this book, and all of Francesca Lia Block's books.
January 20, 2022
Excellent book! Does need a trigger warning for themes of childhood trauma/assault though. I suggest parents, educators, and counselors remain open to talking about this book with their children to help them understand and process some of the heavy content.
I first read this book when I was 11 years old. I have fond memories of it. It was one of my all time favorites as a youth!
Now 23 years latter I felt I needed to revisit this book. It moved me in a whole new way, because I picked up on some of the edgy, racy content that I didn't fully understand as a child. As an adult this book only improved because I was able to connect to the transformations of the characters. I actually found it very healing to read, and I suspect it was for 11 year old me as well.
Excellent, moving and with lots of unique vivid descriptions. Highly recommend for both adults and youth.
I first read this book when I was 11 years old. I have fond memories of it. It was one of my all time favorites as a youth!
Now 23 years latter I felt I needed to revisit this book. It moved me in a whole new way, because I picked up on some of the edgy, racy content that I didn't fully understand as a child. As an adult this book only improved because I was able to connect to the transformations of the characters. I actually found it very healing to read, and I suspect it was for 11 year old me as well.
Excellent, moving and with lots of unique vivid descriptions. Highly recommend for both adults and youth.
Read
June 10, 2024[TRIGGER WARNING] [POTENTIAL SPOILERS?]
DNF
I think this book is suited for people (females especially but people) who have/can relate to the experience of being raised by a pageant mom. There is a touch of anorexia-fantasizing in here, because the main character is supposedly super thin and cannot possibly get fat no matter how much she eats and people think she’s so pretty because of it and so on…
Not really for me. I can relate to the fairy/imaginary friend aspect. The feeling of having no one in your family who you trust or can talk to and desperately seeking refuge where you can, in your imaginations particularly.
DNF
I think this book is suited for people (females especially but people) who have/can relate to the experience of being raised by a pageant mom. There is a touch of anorexia-fantasizing in here, because the main character is supposedly super thin and cannot possibly get fat no matter how much she eats and people think she’s so pretty because of it and so on…
Not really for me. I can relate to the fairy/imaginary friend aspect. The feeling of having no one in your family who you trust or can talk to and desperately seeking refuge where you can, in your imaginations particularly.
February 18, 2024
No one writes prettier prose than Francesca Lia Block. This story was a little incoherent and didn't come together in quite the way I'd hoped, but it did get me choked up a few times and I'm glad I read it. The concept of abused children having plucky fairy friends to guide them to adulthood is one that makes my heart splash into my stomach. Really really touching and earnest story despite the convoluted narrative.
June 26, 2022
What a fantastic book! Written about trauma and it's effects on survivors, this was definitely an intense read. However, it did bring tenderness and compassion about the subject, and a sense of hope as well for the characters (and readers).
February 9, 2023
I only read through it because I wanted to know wether or not Mab was real and it’s unclear. The book is slightly unrealistic but has a good message behind it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2025
So good so hallucinatory so real
July 15, 2022
This one wasn't for me. I can absolutely see where it might help people through certain types of trauma, particularly sexual trauma. But having picked it up for a quick fantasy read, it was not what I was looking for, and I don't think it really ever will be.
August 30, 2017
Child me: 3 stars
Adult me: 3 stars
*For the first book in a "child/teen/middlegrade/nostalgic" book, I am going with the rating younger me would have gone with, then if I read on in the series, I will rate the books what adult me believes it should be rated. If the book is a stand alone, I will go with whatever rating I feel most comfortable giving the book. Please note, I do not really think books should have an age limit. People should read what they want to regardless of the intended age group, except for kids reading erotica or something, of course.*
--
There are parts I like, and parts I did not like. I was confused a lot of the time, but maybe it was the writing style. I want Mab to be real, in fact, I am going to say she IS real. I am really unsure how I would have rated this as a child/teen. I think my rating would be similar to my rating now.
Adult me: 3 stars
*For the first book in a "child/teen/middlegrade/nostalgic" book, I am going with the rating younger me would have gone with, then if I read on in the series, I will rate the books what adult me believes it should be rated. If the book is a stand alone, I will go with whatever rating I feel most comfortable giving the book. Please note, I do not really think books should have an age limit. People should read what they want to regardless of the intended age group, except for kids reading erotica or something, of course.*
--
There are parts I like, and parts I did not like. I was confused a lot of the time, but maybe it was the writing style. I want Mab to be real, in fact, I am going to say she IS real. I am really unsure how I would have rated this as a child/teen. I think my rating would be similar to my rating now.
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