This was a very clever middle grade novel. I loved the word play, and the plot held my girls' attention. They couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. As a huge fan of 19th century literature, I love that this book featured the Bronte siblings- even the (rather obscure) Branwell Bronte. I would definitely read more of Valente's books in the future.

A book about the young Brontes by Catherynne M. Valente? Yes, please!
The Glass Town Game is beautifully written. I expect nothing less from Valente, her books are a pleasure to read and this one is certainly no exception. I don't know if it's actually for children though. A middle-grades reader would certainly enjoy it but I know that reading from my adult perspective, I got a great deal more out of this book than your average 8-14 year old reader would. That can be said about most books, yes but I think especially so with this one. All that aside it is a wonderful read and one that I will recommend.

Valente is swiftly moving up the ranks in the list of my all-time favorite authors. This novel follows the four young Bronte siblings (Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne) as they accidentally find themselves in a magical world of their own creation. Similar in style to Valente’s Fairyland series with a dash of The Phantom Tollbooth, this would be a great read-aloud and introduction to the Brontes (although you may have to prepare your listeners for some post-book heartbreak when they learn about the eventual fates of the siblings). I especially loved the Jane Austen cameo, presented (as Valente apologetically notes) from Charlotte’s point of view (she’s not a fan).

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente. The story got its start because of the creative imagination of the Bronte siblings. Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne travel to and begin the adventure they share in Glass Town. The prose is whimsical and sweet and made me think of Roald Dahl in parts. This book is an adventure that I wish the Bronte children could have actually been a part of. The charming illustrations, sprinkled sparingly throughout the book, bring Glass Town to life. 4 stars for a book that is reminiscent of and starts an interest in the history of the Bronte family.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for voluntary review consideration.

This is the literary equivalent of a Dreamworks animated movie. Kids will love it because of how fun the story is, but it is the adults who will giggle at the literary and historical bon mots sprinkled throughout this odd, but oddly enchanting book.

There are some novels you just want to love from the minute you hear about them. The Glass Town Game was one of those for me. From the lovely cover to starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist, it appeared this book had everything going for it.

Unfortunately for me, that was not the case. While I found the concept to be creative and the characters compelling, I also found the description, particularly when the Brontes enter the Glass Town to be overwhelming. The details in a lot of cases got in the way of the story, and I found myself flipping ahead as to find the meat, so to speak.

I got about a third of the way through before deciding to move on to something else. I’m giving this book three stars. While it’s not my cup of tea, it’s clear the author is talented and the story compelling. I’m sure it will appeal to some young readers, though I think it will be a narrow audience.

Confession time...I have never read an entire Bronte book. Nope, not a single one. I know what they are, but I am just not really a fan of that era of fiction. Maybe I should give it a try again sometime. So I went into this book not really familiar with the Brontes or their stories. And I found it fascinating!

The Glass Town Game is not so different from Valente's other books. It is beautifully written with such lyrical prose that you just want to soak it up and read it aloud. This book has the added bonus of all these made up/mixed up/mashed together words the toy soldiers create. It is a fabulous book, but one that will have to find the right reader who will appreciate it.

Charlotte and Emily Bronte are headed back to school. The dreaded school that killed their two older sisters. They are escorted by their brother Bramwell and youngest sister Anne. At the train station the see an amazing man made of books and follow him on to the Glass Town Express. This train takes them into their wildest imaginings. In fact, it is their play stories come to life. Glass Town is their invention as are the twelve wooden soldiers and the battles between Napoleon and Wellington. Except they aren't exactly their stories, the stories have been twisted and become literal interpretations. They must navigate this world and their creations and find a way home.

So not knowing a whole lot about the Brontes I didn't realize they had actually created Glass Town in their youth. Valente is a genius who took the stories of the Bronte's real lives, the stories they created in their youth, and the stories they published as adults and made them into one amazing tale of adventure and intrigue and war. I will admit to reading up on the Bronte family and their writings while reading this book. I will also admit that I am tempted to read Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre to see how The Glass Town Game borrowed bits of those stories. Not sure I will, but I am tempted.

I loved this book as I love all of Catherynne Valente's books; however, I can see where not all readers will be as enamored as I was. It is clearly meant for middle grade readers, but those same readers will definitely not be familiar with the work of the Bronte family. Older readers more familiar with the Brontes will probably not want to read a book about toys coming to life. This is a book certain readers will treasure and others will discard, but those who find its magic are in for a treat.

I found myself transported back to the way literature used to be written, to the world of Bronte, Alcott, and Austen. The words are more vivid prose than simple narration and for that reason I’m not sure which audience is going to get the most out of this without getting lost or bored. You shouldn’t feel that way but in a world of constant tweets, Instagram and ADD I’m afraid some parts of literature have become a lost art.

Valente does weave a sense of whimsy and fun into the journey these kids take that causes metaphors and imagery to pop off into the page and dance across your mind like an old fashioned children’s movie. It is that youthful fancy that although the writing level may appeal more to adults, the plot points may miss their mark.

It was a truly confounding story because although I enjoyed it quite well I am of that rare breed brought up by 2 parents who read voraciously and insisted that I educate myself to the likes of Shakespeare and Dickens instead of Seventeen magazine. I read all of Louisa May Alcott while my peers studied Tiger Beat. Since far too many fall into Cliffs Notes and movies as their go to for literary works I don’t know that the audience this is probably intended for will actually appreciate the amount of depth and work Valente put into this lyrical novel.

I truly hope people will give this a chance because her characters are vivacious, the plot tempered with surprises that will bring a smile to your face and the ease in which she blends fantasy with history will make your brain feel as if it’s getting treated to a deliciously warm bath of clever wit – something too often missing in literature for the young audience today.

"The Glass Town Game" is a new children's fantasy from Catherynne Valente, author of the gorgeous Fairyland series. The book follows the young Bronte siblings--Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne as a routine trip back to school detours into something far more exciting. Suddenly, the worlds that the children have imagined in their games are real, and what results is an adventure reminiscent of Narnia, Oz, and Valente's own Fairyland.

This is an odd book. As other reviewers have said, there is a sometimes strange mix of maturity and childishness. The writing is beautiful and magical and everything we've come to expect from Valente. The story skews far younger, with the young protagonists dealing with situations such as toy soldiers come to life. There are a lot of literary references that might go over younger children's heads, but are fun to read as an adult. I don't know much about the Bronte's as children, and so it was also fun to see Valente's conception of what their personalities might have been. There are some wonderful family moments scattered throughout the book as well.

Readers who enjoyed Valente's other books, especially her Fairyland series, should give "The Glass Town Game" a try. I think that it would be an especially good book for reading aloud to children, since the language is beautiful but perhaps slightly complicated for younger readers.

Charlotte and Emily Bronte are due to go off to School, it is quite terrifying for the siblings since their older sisters went off to School and got ill and did not returned home alive. This along with the death of their mother remaining siblings Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell have been playing the Glasstown Game where nobody ever dies. When seeing their older sisters off to school turns into an Adventure the Bronte siblings are transported to Glasstown where their soldiers fight and return to life after battle, where Napoleon terrorizes and goes into battle atop a giant rooster, and things are what they are literally. When Anne and Branwell are kidnapped amidst their Adventure through Glasstown Charlotte and Emily have to try to find them amongst all sorts of Things. With clever wordplay and interesting characters and adventure galore Glasstown Game feels like a new trip through the Looking Glass.