Release Date: September 1st, 2015
Format: eARC from Netgalley
Pram Bellamy is special—she can talk to ghosts. She doesn’t have too many friends amongst the living, but that’s all right. She has her books, she has her aunts, and she has her best friend, the ghostly Felix.
Then Pram meets Clarence, a boy from school who has also lost a parent and is looking for answers. Together they arrive at the door of the mysterious Lady Savant, who promises to help. But this spiritualist knows the true nature of Pram’s power, and what she has planned is more terrifying than any ghost.
Lauren DeStefano is beloved by critics and readers alike, and her middle grade debut is lyrical, evocative and not to be missed.
It is almost September 1st (or, when this is posted, it IS the 1st!) and what a better time to share my thought on one of my favorite book releases coming out this year!
So... here, I present to you, A Curious Tale of the In-Between!
It's really easy to jump into this book with the assumption that this is a typical middle grade book. When I say this, though, I mean a somewhat... charming book? A light hearted book through and through. At the least that's what I think of when I think of middle grade books. This book lures you into thinking it is this sort of book but don't be fooled so easily.
Pram spends most of her time reading, learning from her aunts, and playing with her ghost best friend Felix. Her aunts may look down at this but they don't stop her from her usual routine. That is, at least, until she's forced to attend school with the local children. But, at least, she meets a new boy named Clarence which sparks the events to find his own missing parent by visiting Lady Savant's event... and setting off another chain of events that may make Pram realize just how precious her talent is and her being alive.
Prepare to be on the adventure of your life - and perhaps a few hours of your life as you will most likely find yourself not wanting to tear yourself away from this book even though it doesn't pick up too much until maybe about 15%~ 25% into the book (apologies - I can't recall, I've been horribly busy lately). Nonetheless, once it picks up... it really picks up. I won't spoil you guys but, man, it's tough emotionally wise. You'll probably find yourself wishing Pram was real and wishing you can hug her forever.
But I suppose that makes the mark of a good character in a story - wanting to comfort a character multiple times. You'll most likely feel the same for other characters in this book as well.
Oh, what am I saying? You'll most likely be a sobbing mess by the time this book is said and done.
Don't treat this like a happy book. Don't treat this like a usual middle school book. You better prepare yourself emotionally... or, at least, read this with a box of tissues nearby. You're going to need it.
Either way, Lauren DeStefano definitely did it again and I am definitely looking forward to the sequel. Hopefully, by the time you read this as well, you will too. But I'm not worried. Yeah. c:
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