Tag: Fantasy / Sci Fi

The original, which I loved and re-read numerous times (but the last so long ago it isn’t featured on my blog yet) is among my favorite books. I was hesitant to read this version at first, because afraid it wouldn’t at all live up to my memories, or the pictures in my own head. Happy to say it was a good read. Different, and not everything quite depicted as I expected, but enough rang true to how I experienced the original that I liked it and didn’t feel slighted. All the dialog feels taken straight from the pages of the novel, and since the only text in this book is dialog, that made it feel perfectly full of quotes. All the good ones, too. I’m sure something was left out, but I couldn’t tell what. I wasn’t terribly keen on the artwork style, it was rather plain, but I did like that color shifts made it easy to tell when the characters were talking about or remembering the past- very helpful. Charles Wallace with his big baby blue eyes, innocent face and sophisticated way of talking, Calvin looked just like I’d imagined. A few parts felt too brief, a few drawings a bit goofy but overall I’m so glad I read it, it’s so very heartwarming through all the frustrations and fears the characters face.

I suppose now I have to tell you what the actual story is, in case you don’t know (and I really didn’t like the film version, by the way. Don’t know why that didn’t sit well with me, but I never even tried to watch it, after seeing a trailer). Meg belongs to a rather odd family: her parents are scientists, her little brother Charles Wallace brilliantly precocious (and with something of a sixth sense for how people are feeling) and her in-the-middle twin brothers so ordinary and pleasant they’re nearly perfect. She herself feels out of sorts and is often frustrated by her personal flaws, and the criticism the community seems to latch onto her family. Especially since her father went missing- rumors go around that he left the family, the mother knows better (he went off on a secret scientific mission and hasn’t returned). Things start to change when Meg meets a very nice boy her age who lives nearby- and thinks her family is just awesome. Charles Wallace meets some strange old ladies staying in an abandoned house in the woods, and it turns out they have otherworldly abilities. They are kind and generous, and take Meg, her little brother and her new friend Calvin on a strange journey through time and space to confront a horrible evil entity that is making things lifeless- and also possibly to find her father. I can’t really explain more than that, because part of the joy in this novel is the weird discovery of what happens. But it’s more than just an odd blend of fantasy, science, and what some might call a New Age feel. It’s about finding yourself, embracing your faults (which might turn out to be inner strengths) and just overall standing up for and being good.

I really wish I could write more eloquently about this right now. However I do feel spurred by this to read the original (off my own shelf) again soon, and then I will find more words.

Caveat: after reading some other readers’ reviews, I realize this might not read well for people who aren’t familiar with the original. So much of the context is gone, if you only get simple pictures and dialog. My head didn’t have to fill in any blanks, because I had them all stored in memory, but I can well imagine that for a lot of readers new to this story, they might not have any idea what the heck is going on at times. Due to the mystical and unexplained events, phenomena and strange beings encountered. I still liked it though. But I do prefer the novel.

Borrowed from the public library.

Marigold’s presence attracts other magical animals and beings to Phoebe’s house- resulting in pixies flitting around and a phoenix temporarily blocking the doorway, demanding answers to riddles. Phoebe uses “unicorn rules” to play chess with Max- she’s cheating, but he still wins. Marigold and Phoebe visit a corn maze, for completely different reasons. Phoebe is excited when she finds out that Marigold knows an actual ghost, and wants to meet it. The ghost is very small, which is disappointing. Marigold gets blocked by a tree gnome. Dakota misses the goblins, so Marigold and Phoebe try to help. They do not manage to patch things up, and finally decide that sometimes it’s better to just let things be, when a friendship ends. The first school dance comes around, but Phoebe doesn’t go. Her dad bemoans changing online platforms (I can relate). The unicorn tornado event only happens on the last few pages, it wasn’t a whole long storyline like I was half-dreading, so that was okay!

Borrowed from the public library.

Phoebe and her unicorn get a treehouse and try to start a club in it with Max. Phoebe gets in (slight) trouble for doodling on her math homework (and Marigold makes the doodles animated, which was fun). Marigold envies humans’ opposable thumbs, but won’t admit it. Phoebe looses her shadow for a day. The unicorn gets invited to a family reunion, and feels anxious about attending. When she finally meets her parents (no explanation why her earliest memories start at boarding school), they’re all so nervous they exude excessive sparkles. Marigold is shocked to find how much she resembles her parents and determines to go through a rebellious phase just to stand out- but she’s pretty bad at it. Marigold then decides that Phoebe is an honorary unicorn and gives her a new name (to be used in formal, magical situations) but Phoebe is mildly insulted. Phoebe finds out that many unicorns believe humans simply don’t exist. Unicorn conspiracy theories, ha.

Finally one that made me laugh out loud again. I even showed pages of it to my husband, and he got a few chuckles too.

Borrowed from the public library.

Phoebe sees the news online on her dad’s computer and despairs at the sate of things, but takes comfort in her unicorn’s friendship. Phoebe and Marigold find out they really don’t appreciate each other’s favorite songs, which is dismaying at first: how can they like each other, if they don’t like the same music? (Wow, I’ve had this happen, a partner who was mortally offended that I disliked his music). Dakota gets challenged to a popularity contest with the goblin queen, but when she realizes what that entails, refuses to take part. So she parts ways with them. Marigold wants to meet more of her relatives, and they get a visit from Infernus, who is non-binary, which the unicorns find completely normal. Marigold takes lessons in humility from Lord Splendid Humility- and they don’t really stick. Dakota tries to be nice, inviting Phoebe to sit with her friend group at lunch, but they all think her remarks are weird. Then Phoebe asks Dakota to join her and Max at recess, but that doesn’t go smoothly either. She decides that her different friends just don’t mix well. More happens! This is just a sampling, because I wrote in a hurry.

Borrowed from the public library.

I wondered at the cover of this one: it’s not like Phoebe to want fame and tons of attention, is it? Phew, not it’s not really, she’s pretty much the same Phoebe- geeking out over the excitement of what they learn in school, over-excelling on her homework, discussing things with her unicorn friend. Who creates a brief unicorn fad of wearing t-shirts proclaiming that humans are cool, and goes on a unicorn radio program to show off her “expertise” on humans. Phoebe is offended when she hears it. There’s stuff about the tooth fairy being real (and having ulterior motives), about Dakota’s inexplicable popularity with the goblins, and how useless certain chores are- but they make you feel accomplished. Phoebe and Dakota finally admit maybe they can actually be friends, though Dakota is very blunt about the fact that she’ll still make fun of Phoebe in public if it boosts her social status. Phoebe and Marigold go to a waterpark, where the unicorn releases her “shield of boringness” so everyone will stare at her and Phoebe can skip ahead in line (was that the ‘famous’ part?) Phoebe frets about why she cares what Dakota thinks of her, and reflects on how people are too attached to their smart phones. She makes her own Halloween costume, and it starts to fall apart in the middle of a parade, but turns out great anyway.

Borrowed from the public library.

This was cute, and fun, and sometimes a bit insightful or ironic, like all the books in this series tend to be. Phoebe feels scrutinized by other unicorns, who are trying to figure out why Marigold spends so much time with a mere human. Phoebe temporarily gets a unicorn tail, and is disappointed when the spell wears off. She’s also temporarily phone-less after drops hers in water and has to wait for a replacement. The unicorn tries out for a part in a play. Phoebe gets frustrated with piano practice. The unicorn demonstrates pronking. Phoebe tries to get better at playing handball. Unicorn has a conflict with the pet cat over the purpose of a yarn ball. And more. I liked this one. Sorry I can’t find much to say about it though!

Borrowed from the public library.

Camping is just one short segment in the middle, and it was cute. Ordinary camping this time with the family, except a unicorn comes along of course. And then on a walk they meet a unicorn who has left unicorn society to live alone in the woods. He extols the quiet, rustic life- and then admits to doing gaming on a solar-powered computer. Phoebe’s friend Max enthusiastically joins in. Hilarious. Little bits throughout of Phoebe and Marigold continuing to learn about each other. The unicorn uses magic to solve things, except when she can’t. Phoebe is starting to get along better with Dakota, except she’s suspicious of Dakota’s motives at first. Marigold shows Phoebe how fleeting and silly fads are. Marigold uncharacteristically feels sad one day, and Phoebe tries to cheer her up with apples.

Borrowed from the public library.