Review of Charlie’s Story
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- Sarah J Callen
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Review of Charlie’s Story
Written by Ann McNicol, Charlie's Story introduces us to Samantha, a tenacious and lonely teenage girl who adores being out on the reef. One day, she encounters an octopus who she believes is trying to speak with her. She affectionately names him Charlie and sets off on a journey to communicate with him. Little does she know that her life will be flipped entirely upside down in the process.
I thoroughly enjoyed this particular book. It's a quick and light-hearted read with engaging characters and an intriguing premise. The book is primarily written in first-person from Samantha's perspective, though it does switch around to different characters. I was impressed at the author's ability to write in a way that seemed consistent with a teenage girl. It's clear that Ann McNicol knew the character very well. We learn not only about Samantha's dreams and desires but also about her insecurities and quirks.
The author also does an excellent job with character development. At the beginning of Charlie's Story, Samantha is isolated, lonely, and very unsure of herself in any situation outside of the reef. Samantha grows throughout the book and is in a very different place at the end of the book. It was satisfying to go on that emotional journey with her.
My biggest issue with Charlies's Story is that there are a number of simple typos throughout. This book could've benefitted tremendously from another round of proofreading.
Still, despite the grammatical errors, Charlie's Story is a fun read, and I give it a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. I applaud the immense creativity of this particular tale. I never would've thought to write a story about a teenager communicating with an octopus, but it works! The story is a thoroughly engaging one. I was also impressed by how utterly endearing Charlie the octopus is. Watching the relationship between Samantha and Charlie grow and evolve over the course of the book was wonderful. The author knew just the right moments to include to keep us engaged in the adventure without sacrificing our emotional connection to the characters.
While this book can be enjoyable for adults, I recommend Charlie's Story to pre-teens and even teenagers, especially those who are interested in the environment or marine life. There is no inappropriate language or sexual content in the book. The writing is simple enough for even younger readers to understand and enjoy.
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Charlie’s Story
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- Okoye Chinonso+
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A bit like Moana (a Disney cartoon). I'm curious about the twist and turns she would face.
Thanks for such a great review.
- Okoye Chinonso+
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