Official Review: Willow James and the Queen of U’i&...

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nfdoughe
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Official Review: Willow James and the Queen of U’i&...

Post by nfdoughe »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Willow James and the Queen of U’i’s Crown" by Jett Blackk.]
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2 out of 4 stars
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Willow James and the Queen of U’i’s Crown by Jett Blackk is an imaginative children’s story. Willow James comes from a large family, and she doesn’t always feel like her parents pay enough attention to her. She is also upset because the family moved last year. At her old school, Willow fit in and had great friends. She wishes she could be happy like that again. Then, one day, Willow discovers another world. It shakes up her life, and she wonders if this is the key to what she’s missing. However, this world is in danger as long as the queen’s crown is missing. Can Willow help save this magical place, or is there too much to risk?

What I liked most about this story was the imagination. The world that Willow finds is a beautiful place full of whimsy and wonder. The descriptions of the places from forests to tree houses to beaches are detailed, and the reader can feel like they’re seeing these places. I liked that the world was essentially a fairyland. It fit well with Willow’s character, and it’s easy to see why she would be so enchanted with this place.

I found the story to be very fitting. It wasn’t too complex, but there was at least one satisfying twist. Willow is relatable and likable, though at times she can lose herself in despair. I found it a little whiny, but then I had to remind myself that she is 11, after all, and dealing with big problems. Like many children’s stories, the kids in this book can handle more than you’d expect.

Unfortunately, this book was riddled with errors. I also think there was a slightly missed opportunity in the resolution of the story. Willow has a lot of feelings, and though this book helps to normalize that, the lesson could be stronger that it’s okay to be overwhelmed or sad. The ending was a little cliché or too simple for me. Those are the only things I would criticize it for. It could be a really nice book if it went through some rigorous editing. I also think it would be well-suited to pictures, but that’s personal preference.

Overall, I would rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. The amount of errors forces me to rate it at 2, but I enjoyed the story so much I wish I could rate it at 3. It’s a cute, simple children’s story that is full of big emotions. I would recommend it to kids ready to read on their own.

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Willow James and the Queen of U’i’s Crown
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Cynthia_Oluchi
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Post by Cynthia_Oluchi »

Poor Willow!
It's quite easy for me to relate with the character of Willow because once when I was little, my family moved and I didn't think that settled well with me. Thanks for your review!
praise+anyi
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Post by praise+anyi »

As kids we all had our fantasies and imaginary 'fairy land'. I love the fact that the author created fantasies that the reader can easily imagine and also relate with. Awesome review!
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Ogoskino
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Post by Ogoskino »

A detailed description of places goes a long way to make the book more relatable and even more so for children. Great review.
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Nisha Ward
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Post by Nisha Ward »

Descriptions of places can help inspire the imagination greatly, and the story actually seems pretty fun. It's too bad about the errors though. It sounds like it needs a lot of work.
"...while a book has got to be worthwhile from the point of view of the reader it's got to be worthwhile from the point of view of the writer as well." - Terry Pratchett on The Last Continent and his writing.
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