Going into this read, I knew that I would likely not particularly enjoy my time. Romance is not my favorite genre although a few have worked for me. Additionally, I knew that this book would have a low likelihood of success based on my track record with this author’s previous work. Unfortunately, my expectations proved correct. On top of the previous two strikes against this book, the narrative is based around one of my least favorite tropes: reality altering wishes gone wrong. Even with all of that, I concede that this is not a bad book. This is simply not a book that works for me.
Kate Lumsden did an excellent job telling Ruby’s story. Ruby has always pictured herself as the dumb twin, especially after she receives her diagnoses of dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. When their parents enroll the twins in a new middle school, one designed especially for high performing students, Ruby dreads the move and also places immense pressure on herself to do well because she does not want to be the reason that her twin brother can no longer attend the school if the work proves too difficult for her. (Her parents cannot send the twins to separate schools due to logistical reasons.) While attending the school Ruby faces the challenges that she expects but also discovers that she’s not alone in feeling like a mango, aka someone who does not fit in when the world expects them too. I really enjoyed this book.
When I saw this book on Netgalley, I immediately requested the ARC and nearly squealed with excitement when I received the eARC. Ink Girls, Nijkamp’s first work in this series, blew me away. I loved the historical setting as well as the artwork. Clock Hands takes place in the same city but with different starring characters. Some of the characters from Ink Girls make an appearances but this book can be read without also having read the first book.
Clock Hands deals with the very real issue of the monopoly that guilds had on wealth in many medieval Italian cities and towns and how that stranglehold affected those unable to afford membership in the guild, those who enabled the guild members to live their luxurious lifestyles. I appreciate how NIjkamp addressed this issue and still gave the “guildless” an opportunity to make their lives better even though many if not most of the people who actually lived those experiences would not likely have had those opportunities. I definitely recommend this book.
This is a faithful graphic novel adaptation of the original work by Meg Cabot. Just like with the original work – not the movie – I really disliked how Cabot chose to portray Mia’s dad and grandma. (That’s what one gets when one reads the book after watching the movie. No one can compare to Dame Julie Andrews.) I enjoyed the artwork although the “difference” between Mia pre-makeover and post-makeover was difficult to see. It’s not my favorite book so the adaptation did not ruin it. It did not save it either.
Was this the best “heist” type middle grade novel I’ve ever read? No. Was it the worst? Definitely not. DasGupta does a good job balancing typical middle grade issues like not wanting to leave a known school environment and close friends because of a parent job change induced move with the slightly absurd attempt to steal back a precious and historically significant ruby when a greedy white businessman wants to keep it for himself rather than give it back to the original owners. I could now, however, give this book a full four stars since some of the heist actions severely strain the suspension of disbelief. I think that middle grade students would be able to suspend the disbelief and would enjoy the book.
I really struggled with this read finding it difficult to engage with the main character as well as keep several of the side characters straight, especially some of the main character’s friends. Bouwman piles so much heavy material onto this narrative yet does not give that material the space that it needs to be properly understood and reckoned with. It took far longer than I wished to get through this book so unfortunately, I cannot recommend it.
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