The story and main character/characters and settings hooked me from the start.

I don’t often like talking animals but here it worked for me because I was able to experience the animals from Alice’s point of view.

The characters are believable. I fell in love with Alice and felt affection for many of the others, especially her two best human friends and her grandmother. Alice is autistic, as is the book’s author. I appreciate how autism is shown here, how it’s both a challenge and a strength. I admire Alice’s bravery and her kindness & tenderness.

I did guess the identity of the villain of the central mystery but there were a lot of plausible red herrings and I can’t claim that I was certain that I was right.

It was scarier than I’d been expecting. When I haven’t read any for a while I forget how frightening children’s fantasy books can be.

The (mostly junk) food mentioned was so appealing, as is true in many boarding school stories. I always veganize things in my mind!

At ages 9-10+- I would have desperately wished to be part of Alice’s family and would have loved to have been able to fly. I still think being able to fly would be wonderful.

Highly recommended for all children ages 8 or 9 through 11, and all the way up. This story is especially good for any children who feel different in some way, especially neurodivergent kids and kids who know someone who is neurodivergent. Readers with any sort of experience with bullying or feeling excluded will appreciate this story. I’d love to put it in the hands of bullies and also intolerant and unfeeling adults, especially those who work with children. It’s also a great story for readers who love animals. This novel would make a great classroom or family read aloud book and it’s also great for independent readers to read on their own. It’s a great discussion book; I’m finding myself wanting to talk about it with others who have read it. I think this story has the power to make the reader more empathetic and compassionate.

This must be the start of a series! The book’s ending works fine as the story’s ending but this story screams series. I’m hoping for at least a second book and if there are any more books I plan to read them.

Thanks to Kathryn’s recommendation and review I discovered this book and borrowed the e-book Kindle edition and Hoopla audio edition same day from the library. He paper copy wasn’t available until I was almost done reading the Kindle edition. I’m really glad that I had the audio edition to read simultaneously as I read the words on the screen/page. The audio retains the original British English but the Kindle edition & the paperback translated many words to U.S. English. I want to read British English when the book is written that way!!! Most of the changes in this book didn’t make any sense at all. A lot of the words aren’t even specific to only British vs. U.S. English. When they were I knew all but a couple of the British words and those I could easily look up. I feel motived so I have to get up the energy and make some time to write publishers about this annoying translating issue. I don’t know anyone who likes it.

4-1/2 stars ( )