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The Lands of Luxury #1
Please Return to the Lands of Luxury
An unexpected treasure. A treacherous journey. A thrilling adventure that will shape her future.
Jane lives on an island of trash. And even though she has to scavenge garbage and deal with sinister robots, she still loves her home. It’s all she’s ever experienced, from her most cherished memories to her foggy past that she can’t quite remember.
But when a doll shows up in the latest batch of garbage, everything changes. Unlike the rest of the junk, the doll is in excellent condition, including its tag which reads, “Please return to Gloria Thatcher.”
Convinced it arrived by accident, Jane vows to return the doll to its rightful owner. There’s just one problem—nobody has left the island before, thanks to the tyrannical robots guarding the Docks, a dangerous place with a mysterious history.
Will Jane find safe passage to the Lands of Luxury? Will she uncover the secrets of her past?
Embark on this thrilling adventure where Jane and her friends discover the importance of hardship and the beauty in sharing stories with life’s greatest treasure—our friends and family.
Please Return to the Lands of Luxury is the first book in this exciting series. Join Jane, Rodney, and Timothy as they explore a distant world, much unlike their own. These riveting tales are packed with an abundance of action, plenty of heart, and timeless themes.
Jane lives on an island of trash. And even though she has to scavenge garbage and deal with sinister robots, she still loves her home. It’s all she’s ever experienced, from her most cherished memories to her foggy past that she can’t quite remember.
But when a doll shows up in the latest batch of garbage, everything changes. Unlike the rest of the junk, the doll is in excellent condition, including its tag which reads, “Please return to Gloria Thatcher.”
Convinced it arrived by accident, Jane vows to return the doll to its rightful owner. There’s just one problem—nobody has left the island before, thanks to the tyrannical robots guarding the Docks, a dangerous place with a mysterious history.
Will Jane find safe passage to the Lands of Luxury? Will she uncover the secrets of her past?
Embark on this thrilling adventure where Jane and her friends discover the importance of hardship and the beauty in sharing stories with life’s greatest treasure—our friends and family.
Please Return to the Lands of Luxury is the first book in this exciting series. Join Jane, Rodney, and Timothy as they explore a distant world, much unlike their own. These riveting tales are packed with an abundance of action, plenty of heart, and timeless themes.
178 pages, Paperback
Published March 21, 2023
29 people are currently reading
2604 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
March 1, 2023
Wow, I adored this book so much! Incredibly well written with amazing foreshadowing and believable descriptions, I was in awe!
And all the characters were so good! You can’t help but love Jane and her caring heart, Rodney and his overcoming of fear, and Timothy and his street smarts. Every detail in the plot and every action of the characters seemed to serve a purpose, and it was so well done!
There were a few times where I got a little emotional while reading this story, too, and that’s always a win in my book!
Overall, this is a fabulous middle grade novel, filled with great life lessons and beautiful prose. I want a physical copy for my shelves now!
And all the characters were so good! You can’t help but love Jane and her caring heart, Rodney and his overcoming of fear, and Timothy and his street smarts. Every detail in the plot and every action of the characters seemed to serve a purpose, and it was so well done!
There were a few times where I got a little emotional while reading this story, too, and that’s always a win in my book!
Overall, this is a fabulous middle grade novel, filled with great life lessons and beautiful prose. I want a physical copy for my shelves now!
April 26, 2023
The second I found out this indie book was both dystopian and middle-grade, I knew I had to give it a shot. After all, those are all my favorite genres. ;)
The world building was a perfect mix of dystopian and realism, bringing to mind some of my favorite sci-fi tropes while still being its own original thing. I really loved Jane and her determination to deliver the doll, and when it became clear why it was so personal to her, well, it tugged at my heartstrings. Her friends were great supporting characters, and I liked how both boys had their own character arcs.
About midway through, the story took a more serious turn than I was expecting or prepared to handle at the time. I actually set the book down for a few days, determined to forget it and my disappointment, but after a while, I got up the courage to give it another shot, and I’m so glad I did.
The storyline I feared ended up being the most nuanced and beautiful thing ever, and I had actually stopped reading right before it got really good. I’m so glad I kept reading, and I’m sure there’s a lesson in there somewhere. ;) It ended up tackling some pretty serious issues with grace, heart, and nuance, and there were some really sweet moments mixed in. (I can neither confirm nor deny that I cried.)
Favorite quote: Home still ruled her thoughts—both the good and the bad.
This is a fabulous debut novel, and I look forward to seeing what the author does next.
CW: disregard for human life, scary robots, amnesia, foster care themes, traumatic flashbacks, and fires.
The world building was a perfect mix of dystopian and realism, bringing to mind some of my favorite sci-fi tropes while still being its own original thing. I really loved Jane and her determination to deliver the doll, and when it became clear why it was so personal to her, well, it tugged at my heartstrings. Her friends were great supporting characters, and I liked how both boys had their own character arcs.
About midway through, the story took a more serious turn than I was expecting or prepared to handle at the time. I actually set the book down for a few days, determined to forget it and my disappointment, but after a while, I got up the courage to give it another shot, and I’m so glad I did.
The storyline I feared ended up being the most nuanced and beautiful thing ever, and I had actually stopped reading right before it got really good. I’m so glad I kept reading, and I’m sure there’s a lesson in there somewhere. ;) It ended up tackling some pretty serious issues with grace, heart, and nuance, and there were some really sweet moments mixed in. (I can neither confirm nor deny that I cried.)
Favorite quote: Home still ruled her thoughts—both the good and the bad.
This is a fabulous debut novel, and I look forward to seeing what the author does next.
CW: disregard for human life, scary robots, amnesia, foster care themes, traumatic flashbacks, and fires.
February 8, 2023
This beautiful book was “altogether grand”! (And that cover! 😍)
From the very first chapter, I had a smile on my face. As someone who doesn’t usually read middle grade fiction, this was a major win, and by the end of the story, I had actually teared up.
Everything about this story was heartwarming & enchanting. The friendship between Jane, Timothy, and Rodney. The banter. The smooth & compelling narration. The adventure. And I loved how the world building was seamless & vividly descriptive without being overwhelming.
Heartfelt themes of friendship, found family, belonging, second chances, and forgiveness are woven in beautifully! Perfect for young readers & grown-ups alike!
It was absolutely worth staying up late to finish this, and I already can’t wait to reread this stunning tale!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Blueberry Finch for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
From the very first chapter, I had a smile on my face. As someone who doesn’t usually read middle grade fiction, this was a major win, and by the end of the story, I had actually teared up.
Everything about this story was heartwarming & enchanting. The friendship between Jane, Timothy, and Rodney. The banter. The smooth & compelling narration. The adventure. And I loved how the world building was seamless & vividly descriptive without being overwhelming.
Heartfelt themes of friendship, found family, belonging, second chances, and forgiveness are woven in beautifully! Perfect for young readers & grown-ups alike!
It was absolutely worth staying up late to finish this, and I already can’t wait to reread this stunning tale!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Blueberry Finch for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 30, 2024
That was one of the most epic books I've read in a long time. O.o full review to come.
June 16, 2023
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Talon David
Content: 4.5 stars ~ Narration: 4.5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Jane lives in Yarborough Ridge, which is, in fact, an island of trash. One day she finds a doll with a note: »Please return to Gloria Thatcher« and the address to return it to. Jane decides to find the owner, even though the address is in the Lands of Luxury.
Please Return to the Lands of Luxury is such a heartwarming story for kids. It’s a middle-grade dystopian adventure where Jane, Rodney, and Timothy explore a distant land nothing like their own.
As an adult, I was wondering about some details in the story. This is the first book from the series, so maybe this will be further explored.
The narration by Talon David is wonderful. The voice suits the story and this type of book.
Thanks to Blueberry Finch for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 4.5 stars ~ Narration: 4.5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Jane lives in Yarborough Ridge, which is, in fact, an island of trash. One day she finds a doll with a note: »Please return to Gloria Thatcher« and the address to return it to. Jane decides to find the owner, even though the address is in the Lands of Luxury.
Please Return to the Lands of Luxury is such a heartwarming story for kids. It’s a middle-grade dystopian adventure where Jane, Rodney, and Timothy explore a distant land nothing like their own.
As an adult, I was wondering about some details in the story. This is the first book from the series, so maybe this will be further explored.
The narration by Talon David is wonderful. The voice suits the story and this type of book.
Thanks to Blueberry Finch for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
June 25, 2025
I was skeptical at first because it started just a touch slow, but wow, did that ever pick up into one wild ride!
Characters:
Jane's determination to return the doll is so admirable, and I loved the lengths she went to. Also, her belief that her memories were connected to home and how she works through and grows in that...beautiful message for any kids who are moving or had to move recently.
Timothy and Rodney were so much fun and such great friends! I loved them!
Marc and Chloe were the dearest! I just loved Marc!
Themes:
That memories will always be ours if we keep them alive, that home is the people, not the place, and sometimes doing the right thing takes an insane amount of bravery.
Language:
Few and far between but occasionally heck or dang. Not an issue to me, but I know some parent's don't want their kids reading them.
Romance:
N/A
Magic:
N/A
Violence/Gore:
Nothing gory some violence such as memories of being struck by a metal man, fear of being incinerated, a fire, being sucked away (makes sense in context), and some characters believing other characters are dead.
Overall:
This was such a creative book with unique world building and great characters! I'll definitely be reading the next book...one day.
For now, this was a great read!
Recommend for ages 7+
Characters:
Jane's determination to return the doll is so admirable, and I loved the lengths she went to. Also, her belief that her memories were connected to home and how she works through and grows in that...beautiful message for any kids who are moving or had to move recently.
Timothy and Rodney were so much fun and such great friends! I loved them!
Marc and Chloe were the dearest! I just loved Marc!
Themes:
That memories will always be ours if we keep them alive, that home is the people, not the place, and sometimes doing the right thing takes an insane amount of bravery.
Language:
Few and far between but occasionally heck or dang. Not an issue to me, but I know some parent's don't want their kids reading them.
Romance:
N/A
Magic:
N/A
Violence/Gore:
Nothing gory some violence such as memories of being struck by a metal man, fear of being incinerated, a fire, being sucked away (makes sense in context), and some characters believing other characters are dead.
Overall:
This was such a creative book with unique world building and great characters! I'll definitely be reading the next book...one day.
For now, this was a great read!
Recommend for ages 7+
January 22, 2023
An adventurous yet sweet book with themes of friendship, found family, bravery, doing what's right, and finding your place in the world. Jane is an admirable main character who sticks to her guns and is determined to help others, even when her friends disagree with her ideas. And those friends are just as plucky and brave once they realize she could be in trouble. Every character—both child and adult—is realistic and likeable, and there are some truly heart-touching moments woven throughout this story. I loved exploring this dystopian world through the eyes of a pre-teen, and all the adventure and danger will thrill both middle-graders and adult readers alike! Looking forward to the next books!
June 22, 2023
Thank you, Blueberry Finch, for the advance reading copy.
This is such an amazing heartwarming story about three homeless kids, one of them trying their best to get a doll back to its owner thinking it would mean the most to them.
But things wouldn’t turn out as it seemed to be and they have to find their way back home which would turn out to be one of the most dangerous ways they could ever imagine.
This is the story of friendship, meeting new people, kindness and found family.
I just love the writing. Perfect for the reading audience.
This is such an amazing heartwarming story about three homeless kids, one of them trying their best to get a doll back to its owner thinking it would mean the most to them.
But things wouldn’t turn out as it seemed to be and they have to find their way back home which would turn out to be one of the most dangerous ways they could ever imagine.
This is the story of friendship, meeting new people, kindness and found family.
I just love the writing. Perfect for the reading audience.
March 26, 2023
What a fun middle grade dystopian story! Great characters and a heartwarming story with life lessons for kids. 4 stars!
This story is all about a young girl, Jane, who lives in a junkyard with her friends and others. We see it as its own little world. One day, Jane finds a doll that has a note on it to return to a totally different world. She is determined to return this little doll to its rightful owner so she embarks on the quest to do so. Her 2 friends, Timothy and Rodney realize she is gone and they set out to find her. Jane finally makes it to where she can return the doll but realizes the owner is no longer there. She meets someone that helps her find the rightful owner and boy is it an adventure! This doll leads her to a couple who hasn't been able to have children of their own and they feel it's the right time to adopt and help this young girl. What happens next will keep you guessing as we follow Jane and her friends along the way.....
Really enjoyed the story as we see great themes of friendship, doing the right thing, helping others, forgiveness, bravery, and so much more in this short story. That is something I always want in a good middle grade! The world was also very interesting here. I did want a little more story at the end after everything "happened" but overall enjoyed the story and think it's perfect for kids/teens.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the audiobook to honestly read and review. The narrator does a great job!
This story is all about a young girl, Jane, who lives in a junkyard with her friends and others. We see it as its own little world. One day, Jane finds a doll that has a note on it to return to a totally different world. She is determined to return this little doll to its rightful owner so she embarks on the quest to do so. Her 2 friends, Timothy and Rodney realize she is gone and they set out to find her. Jane finally makes it to where she can return the doll but realizes the owner is no longer there. She meets someone that helps her find the rightful owner and boy is it an adventure! This doll leads her to a couple who hasn't been able to have children of their own and they feel it's the right time to adopt and help this young girl. What happens next will keep you guessing as we follow Jane and her friends along the way.....
Really enjoyed the story as we see great themes of friendship, doing the right thing, helping others, forgiveness, bravery, and so much more in this short story. That is something I always want in a good middle grade! The world was also very interesting here. I did want a little more story at the end after everything "happened" but overall enjoyed the story and think it's perfect for kids/teens.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the audiobook to honestly read and review. The narrator does a great job!
August 10, 2023
This book absolutely melted my heart.
I wasn't sure what to expect from Please Return to the Lands of Luxury, but based on the amazing cover art alone, I knew it would be worht my while.
This middle grade dystopian adventure book is filled with colorful descriptions, an imaginative world, and authentic characters that will reasonate with children and adults alike. One of my favorite aspects of the book was that there are multiple points of view--Jane, the boys Rodney and Timothy, and Marc--which brilliantly expanded the story, making it great for boys and girls, kids and adults alike.
With heartfelt themes of friendship, perserverence, sacrifice, and grief, this story creates a wonderful landscape for thoughtful conversations. It is fast paced but with plenty of warmth, making the story easy to follow and a fun adventure from beginning to end.
The audiobook had excellence narration that brought each character to life in unique ways, and it was a joy to listen to from beginning to end.
If you are looking for a great book for a middle grade kid, to read as a family, or to just cozy up and enjoy the ride, definitely check out Please Return to the Lands of Luxury!
Jon graciously sent me this audiobook as a gift.
I wasn't sure what to expect from Please Return to the Lands of Luxury, but based on the amazing cover art alone, I knew it would be worht my while.
This middle grade dystopian adventure book is filled with colorful descriptions, an imaginative world, and authentic characters that will reasonate with children and adults alike. One of my favorite aspects of the book was that there are multiple points of view--Jane, the boys Rodney and Timothy, and Marc--which brilliantly expanded the story, making it great for boys and girls, kids and adults alike.
With heartfelt themes of friendship, perserverence, sacrifice, and grief, this story creates a wonderful landscape for thoughtful conversations. It is fast paced but with plenty of warmth, making the story easy to follow and a fun adventure from beginning to end.
The audiobook had excellence narration that brought each character to life in unique ways, and it was a joy to listen to from beginning to end.
If you are looking for a great book for a middle grade kid, to read as a family, or to just cozy up and enjoy the ride, definitely check out Please Return to the Lands of Luxury!
Jon graciously sent me this audiobook as a gift.
February 14, 2023
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through NetGalley
What a sweet story. Very short and rather simple, but the message was warm and meaningful. It's about a girl who lives in a junkyard and knows no other life, who decides to return a doll to a girl from a somewhat Utopian world. Despite being given a chance to stay, she doesn't want to, because she's afraid she'll forget the ones she loved who are now gone. This is a story about moving on and the importance of remembering those we love and telling our stories.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
What a sweet story. Very short and rather simple, but the message was warm and meaningful. It's about a girl who lives in a junkyard and knows no other life, who decides to return a doll to a girl from a somewhat Utopian world. Despite being given a chance to stay, she doesn't want to, because she's afraid she'll forget the ones she loved who are now gone. This is a story about moving on and the importance of remembering those we love and telling our stories.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
July 31, 2023
A very sweet story. Well written. My son (7 years old) read it first and pestered me relentlessly to read it ☺️ We're excited to read the sequel.
April 7, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy! I enjoyed this a lot. Rtc. And I will be reading another story from the author, that's set in the same world
February 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The story of Jane was fascinating, and the world the author created was immersive. Jane's journey to the Lands of Luxury had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the idea of returning something that was lost and how items are connected to memories. The ending was a perfect way to tie up the story. I would love to see a follow-up novel, and I believe this a book that my students would love!
April 5, 2023
This was fantastic! Despite being fairly short I felt fully immersed. The worldbuilding was done really well and the characters were decent. I tend not to like multi-pov but this time it flowed nicely and it suited the story.
I want to know more about this world and its systems!
Thanks to Blueberry Finch and NetGalley for the eARC.
I want to know more about this world and its systems!
Thanks to Blueberry Finch and NetGalley for the eARC.
February 18, 2023
4,5/5🌟
(📚20/100)
HEARTWARMING STORY & WONDERFUL JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF LUXURY.
Love the story, Love the characters, Love the cover!
Highly recommend! 🔥
Thankyou ☘
(📚20/100)
HEARTWARMING STORY & WONDERFUL JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF LUXURY.
Love the story, Love the characters, Love the cover!
Highly recommend! 🔥
Thankyou ☘
March 6, 2023
I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC of this book, it didn’t influence my opinion in any way.
I want to start of by talking about the cover. If I would have seen this book in a store I would have picked it up to read the back, it’s colourful, vibrant and all in all very pretty.
The book dives into the plot right away, Jane finds the doll within the first chapter, which starts the book of quick. If it had been a YA I wouldn’t have liked it all that much, and would have liked to see a bit of world building, but I’ve noticed that with Middle Grade it works really well. Tilton does a good job of setting the scene of the book within the first few chapters.
During the book there is some cryptic talk about Jane’s parents, which, slowly but surely, leads to a big reveal. Dropping hints every now and then was a good way to keep me interested and was the lead for some character development.
I confused Timothy and Rodney from time to time cause I felt like they didn’t have very distinct personalities. However I did really like Timothy explaining “big words” as a way of still using them in the story and making them understandable for kids.
I loved the fact the chapters where short. It makes it a good book to read to kids before bedtime, a chapter a night, like my mother used to do to me.
For me - I read the book in one sitting - it was a very good way to pull me into the story. I have noticed that I feel like I read quicker when there are shorter chapters, so I feel more motivated to read on.
There where multiple storylines and I was a bit worried about that, because the book isn’t terribly long, but I feel like they tied together very nice at the end. The ending however felt a bit rushed, and I would have liked to see a bit more of a resolve, cause I’m left with a lot of questions. I don’t know if this was set up for a sequel or not, but there are some lose ends.
All in all I really enjoyed “Please Return to The Lands of Luxury” and I have rated it four stars.
I want to start of by talking about the cover. If I would have seen this book in a store I would have picked it up to read the back, it’s colourful, vibrant and all in all very pretty.
The book dives into the plot right away, Jane finds the doll within the first chapter, which starts the book of quick. If it had been a YA I wouldn’t have liked it all that much, and would have liked to see a bit of world building, but I’ve noticed that with Middle Grade it works really well. Tilton does a good job of setting the scene of the book within the first few chapters.
During the book there is some cryptic talk about Jane’s parents, which, slowly but surely, leads to a big reveal. Dropping hints every now and then was a good way to keep me interested and was the lead for some character development.
I confused Timothy and Rodney from time to time cause I felt like they didn’t have very distinct personalities. However I did really like Timothy explaining “big words” as a way of still using them in the story and making them understandable for kids.
I loved the fact the chapters where short. It makes it a good book to read to kids before bedtime, a chapter a night, like my mother used to do to me.
For me - I read the book in one sitting - it was a very good way to pull me into the story. I have noticed that I feel like I read quicker when there are shorter chapters, so I feel more motivated to read on.
There where multiple storylines and I was a bit worried about that, because the book isn’t terribly long, but I feel like they tied together very nice at the end. The ending however felt a bit rushed, and I would have liked to see a bit more of a resolve, cause I’m left with a lot of questions. I don’t know if this was set up for a sequel or not, but there are some lose ends.
All in all I really enjoyed “Please Return to The Lands of Luxury” and I have rated it four stars.
April 11, 2023
This book hooked me from the title, Please Return to the Lands of Luxury just oozes curiosity. This wholesome and whimsical adventure was a short and easy listen that was intriguing from start to finish. Even the cover itself conveyed a sense of whimsy, one of the best I've seen. The characters were distinct and easy to root for as they learn valuable life lessons and grow as people, especially our three main kids, Jane, Rodney, and Timothy, who live on an island full of trash guarded by robots. They consider their life of dumpster diving normal until a doll is tagged to return to the Lands of Luxury, starting a life changing journey for all three of them. There's lessons about family, friendship, bravery, and doing the right thing, as well as what home really is about. The world building was vivid and had just enough to be understandable for kids, but kept an adult like me intrigued and wondering how things got to be this way. With short chapters, the fast pacing kept me wanting to listen to another chapter, as many of them kept me at the edge of my seat, with a few emotional gripping parts near the end. Despite the heart warming and satisfying ending, the author has noted that this is the start of a series, and await the expanded world building and answers to come. This middle grade book will appeal to all ages for sure.
*I received a review copy of the audiobook from Netgalley and Blueberry Finch. All opinions are my own.*
*I received a review copy of the audiobook from Netgalley and Blueberry Finch. All opinions are my own.*
June 2, 2023
I would like to thank Netgally, Blueberry Finch, and, of course, the author, Jon Tilton, for this advance copy.
This is the first arc that I requested on Netgalley after I made my account, and I was so happy when I received an email saying I was approved.
I honestly don't know why I chose this middle-aged story; it just caught my attention the moment I saw it.
In this book:
- adventurous
- bravery
- heroism
- friendship
- family
- love
I couldn't stop thinking about how in the world kids like them had that bravery. An adventurous, amazing, heartwarming, and sweet story It shows that being brave, wanting to follow what's meant to be done, and following what your heart wants don't measure how old or young you are. It was meant for everyone.
Jane, Rodney, and Timothy, our main characters, are adorable, lovable, and sweet; their friendship is admirable.
Also, the cover is PERFECT! Eye-catching! ⭐
This story makes my baby heart very happy. ❤️
#PleaseReturntotheLandsofLuxury
#NetGalley
This is the first arc that I requested on Netgalley after I made my account, and I was so happy when I received an email saying I was approved.
I honestly don't know why I chose this middle-aged story; it just caught my attention the moment I saw it.
In this book:
- adventurous
- bravery
- heroism
- friendship
- family
- love
I couldn't stop thinking about how in the world kids like them had that bravery. An adventurous, amazing, heartwarming, and sweet story It shows that being brave, wanting to follow what's meant to be done, and following what your heart wants don't measure how old or young you are. It was meant for everyone.
Jane, Rodney, and Timothy, our main characters, are adorable, lovable, and sweet; their friendship is admirable.
Also, the cover is PERFECT! Eye-catching! ⭐
This story makes my baby heart very happy. ❤️
#PleaseReturntotheLandsofLuxury
#NetGalley
April 24, 2023
It may seem weird but I almost felt like this was Wall-E except with people. It kind of had that same feel.
Jane lives on an island of trash run by sinister robots, but one day she finds a doll in good shape and a note attached to return to Gloria Thatcher and so begins Jane’s adventure to the Land of Luxury to find Gloria and return the doll that must be so very important. Jane’s adventure off of the island has some ramifications and the people she meets off island are shocked to discover people actually live there. Jane’s adventure has all kinds of twists and turns and lessons along the way.
I enjoyed this story very much and plan on buying it for our library.
Narration by Talon David was very well done she really brought the emotions and made me feel for Jane even more than the words on the page did.
Highly recommend this one!!
4 Stars
I received this audiobook from the publisher Blueberry Finch, (Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks) and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
Jane lives on an island of trash run by sinister robots, but one day she finds a doll in good shape and a note attached to return to Gloria Thatcher and so begins Jane’s adventure to the Land of Luxury to find Gloria and return the doll that must be so very important. Jane’s adventure off of the island has some ramifications and the people she meets off island are shocked to discover people actually live there. Jane’s adventure has all kinds of twists and turns and lessons along the way.
I enjoyed this story very much and plan on buying it for our library.
Narration by Talon David was very well done she really brought the emotions and made me feel for Jane even more than the words on the page did.
Highly recommend this one!!
4 Stars
I received this audiobook from the publisher Blueberry Finch, (Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks) and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
April 28, 2023
A fast-paced story with found family vibes that discusses such an important topic in layers of fiction, that I feel all of us need to read this. The book is over but I am still pondering on the thoughts of what are the dark sides of 100% automation.
The book has highlighted just 2 aspects and yet it's enough to get your grey cells on a train to 'What will happen when that really happens'.
Overall, simple language, great plot and pacing too.
Thanks @netgalley @jontilton and @ibpalovesindies for the beautiful Digital ARC
Genre: #middlegrade #fiction
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
The book has highlighted just 2 aspects and yet it's enough to get your grey cells on a train to 'What will happen when that really happens'.
Overall, simple language, great plot and pacing too.
Thanks @netgalley @jontilton and @ibpalovesindies for the beautiful Digital ARC
Genre: #middlegrade #fiction
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
March 27, 2023
Wow, this was such a fun book filled with adventure and sweet characters . The book was so well written and would be a great read for all ages- young and old. There were so many sweet moments in this story that brought a smile to my face. Everyone needs a story like this one to brighten up their day :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Blueberry Finch for an ecopy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blueberry Finch for an ecopy of this book.
March 1, 2023
This book was entertaining and heartwarming. For the most part, I absolutely enjoyed every second of it. The only issue I had with it was the dialogue, which sounded a bit stilted.
I would love to see more of Jane’s journey and would have loved for the book to be a little longer.
I would love to see more of Jane’s journey and would have loved for the book to be a little longer.
March 26, 2023
Jane and her friends live on an island that functions as the city's dump and is filled with trash. They've done the best they can, made burrows in the trash, learned a system to survive, but most kids are orphans and their life is bleak. One day, Jane finds a pristine doll with a tag saying to "please return..." and she embarks on a mission to do so. Filed with adventure and bravery, Jane's journey is anything but easy.
Found family is one of my all time favorite tropes and this story does it beautifully. Jane is sweet and enthusiastic about life, hopeful and loving. The story is filled with lessons on friendship too, and I loved the chapters told from the point of view of Jane's two friends.
I highly recommend this book! I loved it from start to finish. I think I'll be adding this one to my shelves to read with my kids
Found family is one of my all time favorite tropes and this story does it beautifully. Jane is sweet and enthusiastic about life, hopeful and loving. The story is filled with lessons on friendship too, and I loved the chapters told from the point of view of Jane's two friends.
I highly recommend this book! I loved it from start to finish. I think I'll be adding this one to my shelves to read with my kids
May 4, 2023
Fun middle grade fantasy adventure with great themes of honesty, friendship, adoptions, and dealing with your past.
For my full review check out my YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8DtW...
Cleanliness: 🧼🧼🧼🧼🧼/5 mentions losing her father.
For my full review check out my YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8DtW...
Cleanliness: 🧼🧼🧼🧼🧼/5 mentions losing her father.
February 8, 2023
“Everything that happened there is still with us, alive in the stories we choose to tell.” - Quote from the book. ♥️
I was lucky enough to be able to read this book through NetGalley as an early release and it was such a fun read.
This book is children’s fiction but it was such a quick and enjoyable read I didn’t mind in the slightest.
The book is written with quality and I found my imagination running with it right away.
The story follows Jane on a wild adventure from her island of waste she calls home to the lands of luxury to return a lost doll.
This is such a feel good story, I’d love my daughter to read it. There are some really sweet underlying messages about memories and the people we care about.
All in all a really fun positive read.
I give this review freely and voluntarily, Thank you NetGalley and Jon Tilton.
I was lucky enough to be able to read this book through NetGalley as an early release and it was such a fun read.
This book is children’s fiction but it was such a quick and enjoyable read I didn’t mind in the slightest.
The book is written with quality and I found my imagination running with it right away.
The story follows Jane on a wild adventure from her island of waste she calls home to the lands of luxury to return a lost doll.
This is such a feel good story, I’d love my daughter to read it. There are some really sweet underlying messages about memories and the people we care about.
All in all a really fun positive read.
I give this review freely and voluntarily, Thank you NetGalley and Jon Tilton.
April 23, 2024
An excellent read.
I loved this book. It was truly excellent. I knew from the first page that it was one of those books that I was going to be brilliant. So easy to read and following the characters Jane, Timothy and Rodney was an adventure and a learning curve. Friendship and talking is what I'm taking from this book.
I loved this book. It was truly excellent. I knew from the first page that it was one of those books that I was going to be brilliant. So easy to read and following the characters Jane, Timothy and Rodney was an adventure and a learning curve. Friendship and talking is what I'm taking from this book.
July 6, 2023
4.5/5
I was totally blown away by how much fun this book was!
In this middle grade novel we follow Jane, a young girl who lives on an island with other individuals that is filled with trash. Her days are spent scrounging through mountains of garbage for sustenance, and one day Jane finds a beautiful doll with a tag asking the finder to return it. When Jane's friend Timothy reveals the location is a faraway land, Jane embarks on a mission to return the doll, unknowingly changing her life and those around her forever.
Man, this book had heart and then some! It gave me all the feels, and I couldn't get enough.
Jane is a fun main character to follow around. She's resourceful, curious, and determined, and those traits really see her through this adventure. I loved learning about her traumatic past and how it affected her present. I also enjoyed seeing her progression throughout the novel.
Timothy and Rodney are her best friends, and they had a lot of silly moments that kept things light and playful. I also really enjoyed Gloria, Marc, and Chloe as well. All the characters felt very real to me.
Each chapter was nice and short and had plenty of action or interesting developments that kept me blazing through the pages. I loved the element of mystery and all the details and worldbuilding we got to see. It's really a spectacular world. My only nag is that I wanted to know how Jane and the islanders got stuck on the island in the first place. Besides that, this was a phenomenal read, and I'm definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for the next release from this author.
Definitely give this book a go!
I was totally blown away by how much fun this book was!
In this middle grade novel we follow Jane, a young girl who lives on an island with other individuals that is filled with trash. Her days are spent scrounging through mountains of garbage for sustenance, and one day Jane finds a beautiful doll with a tag asking the finder to return it. When Jane's friend Timothy reveals the location is a faraway land, Jane embarks on a mission to return the doll, unknowingly changing her life and those around her forever.
Man, this book had heart and then some! It gave me all the feels, and I couldn't get enough.
Jane is a fun main character to follow around. She's resourceful, curious, and determined, and those traits really see her through this adventure. I loved learning about her traumatic past and how it affected her present. I also enjoyed seeing her progression throughout the novel.
Timothy and Rodney are her best friends, and they had a lot of silly moments that kept things light and playful. I also really enjoyed Gloria, Marc, and Chloe as well. All the characters felt very real to me.
Each chapter was nice and short and had plenty of action or interesting developments that kept me blazing through the pages. I loved the element of mystery and all the details and worldbuilding we got to see. It's really a spectacular world. My only nag is that I wanted to know how Jane and the islanders got stuck on the island in the first place. Besides that, this was a phenomenal read, and I'm definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for the next release from this author.
Definitely give this book a go!
April 20, 2023
A great release for Earth Day with a middle-grade dystopia that is also very sweet, with humans celebrating friendship, adoption, and the fear of forgetting lost loved ones.
Jane lives on an island of trash and discovered a doll with a tag that says to return her to a specific address and person. This becomes very important to her associated with her fear of forgetting her parents. She embarks on a fast-paced journey to return the doll, something that becomes more important than her safety.
We get access to other points of view and follow her friends' actions as well as other characters. Everything happens fast, but the author builds tension when it comes to a clock ticking (about forgetting memories or even concentration day aimed to burn the trash (homes).
Although it is a fast and light read and doesn't go deep into developing the world and characters, we get caught in this quick journey and accept the solutions to the problem well (towards a happy ending) We get the sweetness and gentleness of their relationship, the thrill of her journey discovering a new world and the uneasiness of all the garbage dealt with by the machines.
The message gets through. Our children deserve loving families and a home that is not a junkyard.
Great cover and I had the chance to sample the audiobook. I loved the narrates voice. It agreed with the mood of the book. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for this chance to give my honest opinion.
Jane lives on an island of trash and discovered a doll with a tag that says to return her to a specific address and person. This becomes very important to her associated with her fear of forgetting her parents. She embarks on a fast-paced journey to return the doll, something that becomes more important than her safety.
We get access to other points of view and follow her friends' actions as well as other characters. Everything happens fast, but the author builds tension when it comes to a clock ticking (about forgetting memories or even concentration day aimed to burn the trash (homes).
Although it is a fast and light read and doesn't go deep into developing the world and characters, we get caught in this quick journey and accept the solutions to the problem well (towards a happy ending) We get the sweetness and gentleness of their relationship, the thrill of her journey discovering a new world and the uneasiness of all the garbage dealt with by the machines.
The message gets through. Our children deserve loving families and a home that is not a junkyard.
Great cover and I had the chance to sample the audiobook. I loved the narrates voice. It agreed with the mood of the book. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for this chance to give my honest opinion.
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