Skip to main content

Quintessence

Image
By

 


Quintessence 
By Jess Redman 
Farrar Straus Giroux, 2020. 361 p. 

Alma has moved to a new town with her parents. Her brother has gone off to university. Alma feels less and less like herself. She feels like she is losing her ā€œAlmanessā€ and is constantly having panic attacks, though she lied to her parents and told them that they had stopped. When Alma meets the mysterious owner of what looks like a junk shop and discovers what is kind of like a telescope, Alma starts to feel like herself again. The shop owner tells Alma to ā€œFind the elements. Grow the light. Save the starling.ā€ Alma doesnā€™t know what that all means, but she is determined to figure it outā€”and hopefully discover herself again along the way. This is a fun little fantasy book that doesnā€™t shy away from strong emotions (like panic attacks) and how helping others (like a fantastical being like a starling) can in turn help yourself. Readers who like light fantasy with a good-hearted character (and some good side-characters that Alma has to learn to trust) will enjoy reading Quintessence. Hopefully this will be the first of many in this world.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction saidā€¦
I agree that this book is perfect for kids who like light fantasy!
February 7, 2021 at 10:23ā€ÆAM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

If You Like...Ladybugs

By
Spring is almost upon us! We'll have more rain instead of snow, flowers will start blooming, and more bugs will be out. Ladybugs are some of the prettiest insects--and the least intimidating for those more wary of bugs. If you like ladybugs, check out these books! Ladybugs Do Not Go to Preschool Written by Ali Rutstein Illustrated by NinĢ‹a Nill Richmond, VA: Bright Light, 2024. Picture Book. Ravi loves ladybugs--he eats aphids instead of cornflakes for breakfast, brushes his mandibles instead of teeth, and has a ladybug costume complete with wings and antennae. He is certain that ladybugs don't have to go to preschool, and when Mom says that Ravi still has to go to school, he is nervous. However, thanks to Mom's patience and gentle encouragement, Ravi makes some new friends and realizes that preschool might be a good place for ladybugs after all. A Perfect Spot By Isabelle Simler Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. A ladybug is ready to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

You Need to Read: Percy Jackson

By
I was a kid myself when  The Lightning Thief  by Rick Riordan was published, and it didn't take long for the Percy Jackson series to take the world by storm. Being the son of a Poseidon, Percy Jackson has some unique challenges as a half-blood. Here's some books that I think could've helped Percy when he was on his adventures trying to save the world: Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians Written by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes Illustrated by Javier Espila Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2024. Informational. 191 pages. Percy, I know Chiron did a good job teaching you about mythology in Latin class, but this book is sure to be good to have on hand while you're traveling across the United States. Greeking Out  is written in a kid-friendly voice with vivid illustrations and a sometimes-snarky tone (much like Percy himself). It also presents real-life creatures and places along with the information about Greek mythology. The Homework Squad's ADHD Guide to School S...
Post a Comment
Read more