School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Ivy and Grandmother live in a not-so-tidy cottage on the edge of a very neat town. They are happily different from the townsfolk and nurse sick animals back to health. But when the newly crowned queen announces a contest for best town, the citizens are convinced that they can't win if their town isn't perfect, and they want the animals to leave. Now Ivy, Grandmother, and their menagerie may be forced to change who they are or leave town. In this story full of sweet, likable characters, readers will find a timeless lesson about appreciating people for their kindness and values rather than for their outward appearances. A smattering of animals, both real and mythical, make for a nice bit of whimsy. However, the characters are fairly one-dimensional and as such are very predictable. The plot is simple and linear, with no surprises. The book is written in a similar way as old fables, and the moral lesson is well presented but not overbearing. VERDICT A fine supplemental purchase for large collections.-Elizabeth Speer, Weatherford College, TX © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a story infused with gentle magic, Ivy and her grandmother Meg, a healer, live in a cluttered cottage in the otherwise pristine village of Broomsweep. Having learned of Meg's abilities, sick and injured woodland animals frequently arrive at the cottage seeking help, as do occasional magical creatures-a three-legged griffin and a dragon with the sniffles, most recently. When the queen announces a contest to select the best town in the kingdom, the mayor's cantankerous wife and other neighbors fear that Ivy and Meg will mar the town's image, but when trolls invade, the animals protect the community. Coville creates a cozy fairy-tale-like atmosphere in a story that celebrates nonconformity and kindness. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7-10. Author's agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
