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What Members Thought
When Clara Wintermute asks to have "The Phenomenal professor Grisini and His Venetian Fantoccini" perform for her birthday she is surprised and exhilarated when her father reluctantly agrees. Not only will the puppet show be exciting, but she knows Grisini will bring along his two apprentices who she hopes to befriend during tea before her party guests arrive. Lizzie Rose, the girl, is gracious, and Parsefall, the boy, is impatient, but Clara is thrilled to have companionship that usually eludes
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Fabulous story with interesting plot, interesting characters and lots of action. The settings, smog-filled London and then the clear-aired countryside, are described in intricate detail. The characters do learn and grow during the course of the story. And the children mostly have to help themselves with only minimal adult help or interference. The writing is very good, not condescending at all, with some characters speaking very formal English, and one character speaking something like a Cockney
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I could not put this book down. Laura Amy Schlitz has created a rich, evocative Victorian gothic that has wonderful characters with just the right mix of magic and spookiness. When wealthy Clara sees master puppeteer Gaspare Grisini performing in the park, she is so taken with the puppets that she convinces her parents that the puppets must be the entertainment for her birthday party. Grisini arrives at the household accompanied by the two orphans in his care, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall. The live
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I really liked this book that starts off telling the story of three kids... two orphans who work for a puppet master and one leads a life of privilege. Their lives cross and connect in a most magical way. The English dialect is sometimes a little hard to follow, but well worth the extra effort. The characters are sinister and most interesting.
Set in Victorian England, this book is full of intrigue and drama. I am excited to say that I loved this book.
Not usually a book I would read but it won the Newbery medal so I thought I'd give it a shot. I enjoyed it just a couple of ewwwh spots.
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Ok for 6th but creepy and a little bloody.
Sep 20, 2012
Mr. Wojahn
marked it as to-read
Dec 29, 2012
Jenn
marked it as to-read
Jan 25, 2013
Jen
marked it as to-read
Jan 31, 2013
Melissa (ladybug)
rated it
liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
newberys,
yearly-challenge
Dec 09, 2013
Angie
marked it as to-read
Mar 17, 2014
Valentina
marked it as to-read
Jul 11, 2014
Mindy
marked it as to-read
