Originally posted on Small Review 
 I don't even know how to describe this book. It's Vivian Vande Velde. I like Vivian Vande Velde. I haven't read a book she's written that I haven't liked, though some I've LOVED (but this one I liked). I recommend her to everyone because she's just that kind of author. Basically, amazing. 
 What I mean to say is that this is a solid read. It didn't leave a huge impression on me, but that's mostly because it's the more MG Vivian Vande Velde as opposed to the more YA Vivian Vande Velde, and I like her YA stuff more than her thinner MG stuff. 
 Her YA stuff has more character depth and deeper plots, whereas her more MG stuff sits a little closer to the surface and the characters aren't nearly as developed. 
 But that's ok, because YA or MG, I can pretty much always count on Vivian Vande Velde to give me these things: 
 Sarcastic, sly, witty humor 
 A sweet, but background, romance 
 An imperfect main character who is fun, stubborn, smart, and ultimately good 
 An engaging mystery or conundrum with a satisfying conclusion 
 A plot with no boring filler and enough momentum to keep me engaged from start to finish 
 A feel-good, comfort read story 
 Funny side characters 
 Slap-in-the-face characters who aren't as good or nice as typical MG/YA book characters tend to be 
 A unique twist on ho-hum plot 
 And I got all that, so I'm happy. 
 Also, I loved that her prologue basically chastised me for remarking on how I usually skip prologues and author's notes. Ha! Well, I assure you, while I STILL skip most author's prologues (you know, the kind that are ABOUT the book and not actually a PART of the story), I ALWAYS read Vivian Vande Velde's prologues and author's notes (and you should too. They're funny!) 
 Recommended for fans of Vivian Vande Velde and fractured fairy tales. 
 Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 
 Originally posted on Small Review