Middle Grade Madness will be a new feature here at Lilybloombooks, that showcases Middle Grade books! Reviews, Interviews, Guest posts and Giveaways.
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I’m excited to share my thoughts on The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart by Lauren DeStefano. But first, read a little bit about the book —
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This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
I received this book for free from The Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart by Lauren DeStefano Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens on September 13th, 2016
Genres: Middle Grade, Paranormal
Format: ARC
Source: The Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Lionel is a wild boy, who doesn’t much like to be around other people. He’d rather be a purring cat or a wolf stalking the woods.
Marybeth is a nice girl. She doesn’t need to be told to comb her hair or brush her teeth, and she’s kind to everyone at the orphanage . . . Lionel most of all.
Different though they are, Lionel and Marybeth are best friends in a world that has forgotten about them. So when a mysterious blue spirit possesses Marybeth—and starts to take control—they know they must stop it before the real Marybeth fades away forever.
Thoughts:
What’s it About?
Best friends Lionel & Marybeth must find answers and stop the mysterious “bluefox,”, as they call it, from taking over Maybeth permanently.
Why did I pick it up?
I really like Lauren’s writing, and when I saw The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart for review, it just called to me. I’ve been trying to expand my MG reads. It didn’t realize at first it had more of a paranormal flare but I quite enjoyed it!
Describe the book in 5 words
Beautiful. Haunting. Sad. Loving. Creepy.
Who was your favorite character, and why?
I adored both Lionel & Marybeth, but Lionel’s fierce protectiveness and love for Marybeth was one of my favorite parts of the book. He did things out of his own comfort zone to help her and did remarkable things to find out what was happening to her.
Who would LOVE The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart?
I do feel that The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart may appeal to older readers of the genre, even though the characters are on the younger side, being 9. It was dark, and sad at times, but it’s written so well. It will raise questions by younger readers, and I think that’s a great thing!
Are there Illustrations?
The chapter headers have lovely drawings of leaves and they progress as the chapters continue.
Overall thoughts
I quite liked it! Lauren’s writing is beautiful and haunting, and she tells this story well. This isn’t her first middle grade, and I will for sure pick up her first one. I highly recommend it!
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Tell me your thoughts
- Have you read The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart? If so, what did you think?
- If not, does it sound like something you’d enjoy?
Tonyalee is an avid reader, gym junkie, coffee addicted workaholic, and blogger. Be sure to follow on Twitter & Instagram for random shenanigans.
Got My Book
3 of your 5 description words aren’t my thing (haunting, sad, creepy), so probably not my thing. But I appreciate the review.
tonyalee
Aww!! Yeah, this one was pretty sad. BUT, it has such a great message about family and friendship
Braine
Aside from older readers enjoying this, I think this is a great book for parents and kids to bond over since it has that appeal
tonyalee
Yes. it would be a great one to read as a family to broach certain topics for sure. 🙂
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I need to read this one since I picked it up at BEA. I think it might be a good book for me to read along with my daughter since it might be on the sad and scary side.
Cheryl
I got an arc of this at TLA in Houston last April, and it’s been sitting in a box, then on a shelf. I picked it up the other day because I needed a new read aloud for my 3rd graders. They are LOVING it–they fuss everytime I have to shut the book (after all, we must make it to lunch on time!). I am also getting quite a glimpse as to how many of my students can’t take the given clues to make a good prediction! HA!! Looking forward to seeing how this all plays out–we’re at the part where she met up with Reginald chopping wood and then she runs off from Ms. Mannerd the next morning…