The book was really good. I could not put it down and almost every book and chapter left you on a cliff hanger making you want to read more. Some of the cliff hangers were literally cliff hangers.

This is the 2019 Saratoga Reads! Junior book. I was following 3 voices (all from different decades and countries) through their harrowing escape, frantic homelessness, and eventual heartbreaking disillusionment over leaving the homeland for a “better place”.  The thing is, it’s really hard to keep switching voices with every new chapter and try to be reunited with the compelling journey from 15 pages ago. I mean, whenever I’m 150 pages into a book and then realize I should’ve kept a notebook….I start thinking, “Wait a minute. Shouldn’t the author help me to NOT NEED a notebook? Is that great writing if I’m so easily sidetracked by the other 2 stories?” Also, this book just HAD to get political. It kind of takes away from the impact when you can smell an agenda, doesn’t it? Nonetheless, I felt a great deal of empathy for the refugee children and found it easy to mourn/rejoice right along with them.

You’ll have a case of the feels before this VERY LONG book is over.

The harmonica is what links these 3 stories together, so here is an amazing video:

A noteworthy quote from this book is:

“Your fate is not sealed. Even in the darkest night, a star will shine, a bell will chime, a path will be revealed.”

This 585 page book was actually 3 books in one.  After reading the first story, I was determined to close the book and give up because it just felt like all my hopes were dashed.  So glad I stayed with it!!! You will be, too!

It was awesome the movie is nothing like the thrill of the book I just didn’t want to put it down! It really got me hooked on the series.

IT WAS AWESOME! Mom sometimes jokes that I formed a cult because I got all my friends to read it and they gave it a huge thumbs up!

Keeper of the lost Cities is a must-read for anyone who likes Harry Potter! The books are huge, and they’re still coming out!

This book is crazy and exciting, with twists and turns, and leaves you with puzzling mysteries.

My reaction to finishing the book was:

One theme song for this book might be:

One character who would have fit perfectly in this book is:

So, here’s the scoop: While this book wasn’t horrible, I certainly had higher expectations considering how much I have enjoyed this author’s other work.  Turns out it was kind of  “meh”.  Short chapters, easy to turn the pages, just didn’t really have a hook that makes you need to figure out how it will all come together. Swing and a miss on this one, Kate DeCamillo.

This book reads like a comedy with a tear-jerker hitch.  I could only read it from a motherly perspective, so it may not strike the same chord with you, but honestly, I believe that everyone will feel some kind of embarrassing sappy moment by the end of this book. Don’t believe me? Try me. You’ll be pulling from the Kleenex box before the end.