The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente

Thank you to @kidlitexchange for providing @bookedupblog with a free copy of The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente  in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own. ​

For all of you who just love a good fantasy about your favorite classic authors, look no further than The Glass Town Game!  Young Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and Branwell Brontë find themselves in the middle of their make-believe games after a train-ride whisks them away to a life-size version!  The fictional Glass Town comes to life complete with the Bronte’s favorite toy soldiers! The siblings soon realize their delightful childhood games are much more serious than they initially imagined, and one wrong step could mean life or death.  

A tome of a middle-grade novel, I gave this fantasy three stars. While it’s marketed to grades 4-7 due to the attitudes, adventures, ages of the main characters, I think the language and the length are a bit too daunting for that age range.  This book seems to appeal more to adults who have enjoyed the works and history of the Bronte’s, yet would also like some fantastical fiction based on their lives. While Valente is a beautiful writer, I think this one is better left for a more mature middle-grade reader.  It’s a great challenge for your more bookwormy middle-grade kiddos or for a read-along! 

TL/DR: At 500+ pages, you may need to convince your younger readers to give this historical fantasy a try.  If anything, you’ll enjoy reading it as an adult!

Rating: 3/5 stars