Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge
Published by Amulet Books
Published on: May 12 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Middle Grade
Pages: 420
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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When Triss wakes up after an accident, she knows something is very wrong. She is insatiably hungry, her sister seems scared of her, and her parents whisper behind closed doors. She looks through her diary to try to remember, but the pages have been ripped out. Soon Triss discovers that what happened to her is more strange and terrible than she could ever have imagined, and that she is quite literally not herself. In a quest to find the truth she must travel into the terrifying underbelly of the city to meet a twisted architect who has dark designs on her family-before it's too late . . .
Set in England after World War I, this is a brilliantly creepy but ultimately loving story of the relationship between two sisters who have to band together against a world where nothing is as it seems.
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I don’t read very many middle grade books.
It’s not that I don’t like them or that I think I’ve outgrown them . . . I’m just not . . . very interested in the kinds of stories and perspectives that frequent the age 9 – 12 bracket.
BUT.
There’s a reason I don’t ostracize them entirely, and that reason is HARRY POTTER. The first several HARRY POTTER books can be classified as many things, but they are definitely middle grade, and they encapsulate the very best that MG has to offer: a story for ALL ages. A story that engages children, adolescents, and adults alike. A story that parents and grandparents can read to their children and grandchildren or read for themselves.
If doesn’t happen often, but when it does . . . pure magic.
CUCKOO SONG by France’s Hardinge is one such story.
Ironically, I almost DNF-ed it in the first 10%.
I might not completely shun MG books, but it takes quite an inducement to get me to pick one up, and if it hadn’t been for the numerous recommendations from friends and bloggers I know and trust, I wouldn’t have made it past the creepy shrieking doll scene that followed the mysteriously mysterious beginning.
However . . . I was determined to give it a fair shot, so I persevered. *salutes trustworthy bookish friends*
The story opens with our 13-year-old main character Triss waking up in bed, surrounded by adults she cannot place, unable to recall how she got there or even what her name is.
The adults turn out to be her parents and a doctor, and after careful questioning to determine what she remembers (not much), they tell her what they know: Triss stumbled into their vacation cottage the night before–after having been put to bed–cold, wet, and disoriented. They believe she fell into the “Grimmer,” but they have no idea how it happened.
Triss, it seems, is a sickly, but obedient girl, and leaving in the middle of the night for an impromptu swim is completely uncharacteristic behavior.
While the doctor is explaining to Triss that her memories should continue to return with a little time and rest, her younger sister Pen pokes her head into the room and promptly unleashes a tirade to the tune of, “That’s not my sister! She’s a fake! How can you be fooled by that awful creature who is not my sister!”
No one pays Pen any mind b/c as good and obedient a daughter as Triss is, Pen is equally disobedient and BAD.
So Pen’s tantrum is ignored by all . . . except Triss, who can’t seem to get the accusation out of her head . . .
B/c despite her returning memories, Triss is experiencing . . . oddities: a ravenous hunger that no amount of food seems able to satiate, waking up covered in dirt and leaves with no idea how they got there, and the aforementioned dolls coming to life. *shudders*
And that’s all I’m telling you about that. It’s hard though. This tale is so wonderfully imaginative that it’s almost painful to hold it all in.
The characters are also fantastic.
There were half a dozen (at least) memorable secondaries, but it was the sisters that truly shone.
Triss and Pen . . . were complicated. I’d already heard that one of the highlights was the wonderful portrayal of their relationship, and I was confused about that for a long time. BUT. By the end, not only was I in complete agreement, I also appreciated how honest the portrayal was.
Yes, there are gooey, glowy moments of sisterly adorableness, but there were also moments of the kind of bitter spite that can only be accomplished by sisters, and without those bitter moments . . . the lovely ones aren’t nearly as sweet.
As engaging as the characters and this world were, what I loved most was how Hardinge used the disruption to shake this family out of stagnation.
A tragedy occurred years prior, and since that time the Cresents have been pretending: that things are fine, that one daughter must be coddled and protected, that the other is acting out and any reaction enables the behavior . . . and the girls have been slowly suffocating . . .
But one strange event begins a chain reaction that forces the Cresents on a path to acceptance and recovery.
CUCKOO SONG by Frances Hardinge is hilarious and bizarre and absolutely darling. The sisters and creatures were delightful, the adults (with one notable exception) horrid, but mostly redeemable . . . It’s a fantastically entertaining story that is also peppered subtly with wisdom and thought-provoking messages that apply to readers of every age and station, and I highly recommend it to one and ALL.
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My name is Jessica and I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m trying my hand at writing, but mostly I read. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and the YA versions of those genres, but if there is a book of a different color getting lots of buzz, I’ll read it too, just to be informed. If I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably on Goodreads or Pinterest or baking blueberry pies because I love them.
“CUCKOO SONG by Frances Hardinge is hilarious and bizarre and absolutely darling.” Must. Read. This. Book.
I’ve been excited about this release since seeing the creeptastic cover and reading the synopsis. After reading your review, I’m dying to read it NOW. Great review!
E.J. Stevens recently posted…Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Temperance with Laura Bickle
This one has been in my Kindle library for quite a while and I have been repeatedly by Kim and Wendy from The Midnight Garden that I MUST read it and now you join the book pushers for this one saying that this is a middle grade that MUST be read and that it’s creepy and poignant and simply amazing… Good to know about the creepy dolls so I won’t start reading it at night! 😉
Pili recently posted…5 TO 1 by Holly Bodger: Review & Giveaway!!!
This book sounds amazing. I love a good MG read once in a while and the shrieking doll sounds so creepy! I’m glad there was so interesting character relationships, to go along with the creepy vibe.
Megan recently posted…Review: Kiss and Tell
I so need this one..I love horror and in MG it’s hard to find a good one. I love reading some MG and this sounds great..I was hooked at the creepy shrieking doll part that you almost DNFed it at…lol. This sounds great!
Stormi recently posted…Book Review: Invisible Prey by John Sandford
I was just thinking that cover is way too creepy for MG and I don’t read MG much but I might just read it for the cover because creepy. I love creepy. Lol. After you review though, I’m reading this for more than the creepy cover now because it sounds awesome. Your summary got me all excited and now I’m checking this out on amazon as we speak! Awesome review, as always Jessica! 🙂
Amir recently posted…Speed Views #5: Wallflowers Edition (Lisa Kleypas Love!)
Gah creepy cover, creepy cover! I never was right after watching Child’s Play much to young many many years ago. In fact I got rid of all my dolls after that movie except my beloved Cabbage Patch doll (it didn’t have eyes that blinked!) *shudders* I would have to buy this one on kindle for sure so I wouldn’t have to look at the cover whenever I picked it up. 😛
Wonderful review. I do want to read this despite my cover rant up there. 😛
kindlemom1 recently posted…WoW Pick of the Week!
Good thing you persevered! That cover is creeptastic though, I wouldn’t have pegged this as MG based on that.
braine recently posted…Loved It: With Visions of Red by Trisha Wolfe
I wouldn’t guess this was a middle school book based on the cover! Whoa . Thanks for the heads up about it 🙂
Sharon Stogner recently posted…Guest Post: Deborah Cooke Plays with Fire + excerpts + giveaway
That cover is a little creepy looking! I don’t read many books in this age category but this does sounds like a page turner. Glad you enjoyed it, I’ll have to add it to my list and see just how creepy it is! Great review Jessica 🙂
Lori recently posted…VBT: THE AUSTRALIAN by Lesley Young {Guest Post}
Have you read Chime by Franny Billingsley?? It is YA,creepy, and one of my favorite books. I will try Cuckoo Song!
Really this is Middle Grade? That cover gives me the creeps. I guess it does its job. I don’t read too much MG yet, but with a 4 and 6 year old, I will be soon, so I will keep this in mind for when we want a creepy read.
Heidi recently posted…Audiobook Review:Becoming Rain(Burying Water #2) by K.A. Tucker
Sisters can definitely be the best and worst of friends. I might have to consider this one the next time I’m in the mood for MG.
Tabitha (Not Yet Read) recently posted…Review: Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris
I love that creepy cover. And your review 🙂 The fact that Triss and Pen complicated only makes it more interesting. Also, creepy dolls coming to life? Oh, yeah, I can’t WAIT to get my hands on this one!
Ramona recently posted…Book Marketing Mistakes
I feel the same way as you do with MG. I will try them as I am always looking for gifts. I particularly like gifts I get to read FIRST and enjoy! 😉 Hm… this one I might have to pick up so I can give it to the kidlets in the family *wink*. LOL
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Codex Born by Jim C. Hines
I enjoy a good MG every now and again. I live and breathe Harry Potter! Also creepy, I love creepy… I enjoy creeping myself out for some strange reason. ;] I have always been terrified of dolls, and it sounds like this book will give me another reason to dislike the things. Brilliant review Jessica, you have me sold! I’ll definitely look this one up.
That doll head is creeping me out, ugh!
blodeuedd recently posted…Half the world – Joe Abercrombie
I’m with blodeuedd! That cover gives me the willies. And, like you, I don’t really have a reason/desire to pick MG books anymore (I read a lot when I taught middle school, obvs.) but this one sounds intriguing!
Mary recently posted…Author Interview: Darynda Jones (plus giveaway!)
Lucky you persevered with this book Jessica! It sounds great but boy is that cover freaky 😉
A wonderful review! Sharon – Obsession with Books