Identical twins Iris and Lark are always together. So, when they get
their fifth-grade classroom assignment, they are sure that there has
been some mistake: for the first time ever, they will be in different
classes at school. Lark, always the more shy and quiet of the two,
retreats into herself in the face of bullies and a teacher who wants her
to be more assertive. And Iris, who has always made it her mission to
defend her sister, is unmoored and feels out of control without Lark to
anchor her. Meanwhile, strange things are happening around them: crows
leave small, shiny gifts for Lark. A strange antique store with an even
stranger sign opens nearby. Small items start disappearing from the
girls' house, and large items start disappearing from nearby museums.
What do all of these things have to do with Iris and Lark? And will they
ever find their way in their new situation?
I wanted to love this book, because I love
Breadcrumbs.
But, ultimately, I just liked it fairly well. The plot didn't pull
together as cohesively as I would have liked (though there was one
unexpected plot twist that I appreciated), and I found it difficult to
relate to Iris, who is the main perspective character of the story. I
would have liked to have seen more of Lark's point of view. I would
still recommend this book, especially to young readers who enjoy stories
about sibling relationships, and books set in our world but with
touches of magic. The occasional illustrations by Erin McGuire are
charming. It's just that my expectations for this book were very high,
and it didn't quite rise to meet them.
(Reviewed from a copy borrowed through my library system.)
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