Emma Steinkellner

Gr 4 Up—Nell lives in the magical town of Gumbling, but to the folks who nest there, it’s just home—until a pair of
siblings arrive to transform it into Castletown, setting up a “small town vs. big development” conflict. This sweet and quirky story of magical adventures, friendship angst, and the challenges of growing up is told through Nell’s
illustrated journal and will charm readers.

I never really bought into the story of characters. Everything felt a big one-dimensional, to the point that all I could think about was all the stories that did these themes better: Hilda, the Little Mermaid, Good Omens, Encanto...

That said, it's a good read for kids who liked Snapdragon or Beetle and the Hollowbones. Also, generational trauma!

Lupe is a wonderfully level-headed and grounded heroine. She has a family that loves and supports her, and you can tell.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Emma Steinkellner is a treat as always, the OK witch is one of my favorites, and I absolutely love the art, the characters, and the... Just the total heart put into every page. It reminds me a lot of the Amelia's notebook series by Marissa Moss that I grew up reading, that kind of journal/notebook style is really endearing.

A treat as always!