This book is going to be a hit with young girls. The story weaves all the magic of a fairy tale with all of the mystery of a middle-grade story well told.

The idea that the main character, twelve year old Gracie is actually a character from a storybook is interesting and will be unique for the younger generation.

At first Gracie is living a normal life, just like the rest of her schoolmates. As the story continues we learn where she came from and how it came to be that her mother escaped with her into the “real” world.

The Author writes with the perfect mix of preteen angst and magic. What twelve year old girl hasn’t fantasized about discovering that she is really a Princess?

Imagine discovering that you owe your life to an author, rather than to your parents. How bizarre would that be?

After Gracie discovers with where she came from, events quickly speed up. She is desperate to know more about what the story says about her, but her mother will not tell her anything.

With typical youthful exuberance, Gracie decides that if her mother will not give her the information she so desperately wants, she will find answers on her own. This leads to a snowball effect and soon events spiral out of control and Gracie discovers that her life is now in danger.

Will she survive returning to the fairytale she had been rescued from as a baby? Or will she discover too late the power of the fairytale?

Writing Gracie must have brought out the author’s inner child. She does a brilliant job of describing the way young girls often feel. They may think they are on the cusp of adulthood, and be aggravated by the way their parents still treat them “like a child.”

It is only later (and sometimes too late, or not all) that they come to realize that maybe, just maybe, their parents are right and should have been listened to after all.

I enjoyed the mother daughter dynamics and could empathise with both characters. The scenes from inside the fairytale are terrific, as are Gracie’s interactions with the characters.

I don’t want to give too much away, so I will say no more about the plot.

UNWRITTEN is due to hit bookstores on October 16th and it is sure to become a hit. It would be a great Christmas present for the preteen or young adult in your family.

I rate UNWRITTEN as 4 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

**Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book.**

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

I picked up this book because I couldn't resist the premise—a girl in the real world who escaped with her family from a fairy tale, except the story still holds sway over them all. As a parent of a somewhat reluctant middle grade reader, I'm always looking for something fresh to tempt him with, and this story doesn't disappoint. I have to say that this was the freshest, most non-formulaic, creative book I've read in a very long time! Several times I uttered an audible "whoa!" as the plot took an unexpected twist.

I loved and connected with the protagonist, Gracie, but I also had a soft spot for all the characters—this book does an outstanding job of examining the idea that none of us are all good or all evil.

A word on Gracie's friend Walter—one thing I loved was how Walter was used to allow the skeptical reader a way into the story. Walter is a boy of science, and not easily convinced that magic is possible. His skepticism allowed Gilboy to address the natural resistance we have (or I have) to magic.

Another thing I loved about this book was the exploration of character.

“All characters are real to the people who love them.”

I love this premise both as a reader and as a writer. As a child (ok, sometimes as an adult, too) I’ve fallen in love with characters and dreamed that their universe, just as real as mine, was only on the other side of this dimension, and if I tried hard enough, I could join them.

As a writer, I often feel as if my characters keep me company, and refuse to do what I want them to—much like real people. When their stories are over, I miss them.

It’s really intriguing to read this as writer—the idea of writer as villain, but also the discussions of process—who we base characters on, why bad things happen to characters, etc.

I've never read anything that really addressed this aspect of the writing/reading dynamic. It was so fresh.

Look for my review on my website, LaraLillibridge.com in my TBR Tuesdays column, scheduled for October 16, 2018.

Unwritten was a solid children's fantasy that I would be happy to recommend to 10+ year old readers. The premise was interesting, the story was a bit more complex than initial impressions suggested, and the story was memorable.

I will be adding a review to my library blog once the book arrives.

I enjoyed the concept of this book more than I did the actual story unfortunately. The idea of storybook characters escaping from their book and changing their own destinies was fascinating but the promise never really bore fruition. I think that’s possibly because of the brevity of the book, more world building was definitely needed and I didn’t really have enough time to get to know the characters and to feel invested in what happened to them.

3,5 stars

Unwritten is a pretty decent middle grade book about a young girl Gracie who actually comes from an unpublished story. When she confronts the author of her book, things start to go a bit wrong.

I found that for a middle grade book with less than 200 pages it took quite a bit to get going. For a middle grade that can be a bit of a downfall as a lot of kids need a book to grab them immediately. I don’t feel like this book would do that. Even so once it does get truly going it keeps going until the very end.

There are some interesting themes here regarding finding yourself when others want you to be something different, keeping secrets and what makes someone a villain. I am not often taken by plot twists but I wasn’t quite expecting the one we got here and I can only applaud the author for willing to take it in that direction. My only complaint would be that I think it lacked a little bit of depth. But that might be my adult heart talking.

Talking about depth, I think Gracie didn’t come off as strong of the page as the author wanted. There is a lot of talk about what kind of a person Gracie is but I don’t always see it on the page. I think she was fairly mild in some responses to be honest compared to some kids I’ve been around. I don’t think she is quicker to anger than any average child. As for the characters surrounding her they lack a bit of depth, especially Walter for the role that he gets to play.

Overall I think this is a middle grade with a great idea at its core but that lacks a little in execution and for that I think it might not be that memorable to the age group.

There are some nice twists in this story. I figured out a few of them, but a few others turned out to be different from what I predicted. At times, the book almost felt like it was for an older audience, rather than for middle grade readers. I really liked the premise of the story, but it did make me feel guilty as a writer for any deaths that I have written about!

I would recommend this for readers who like fairy tales.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, atmosphere, and characters. I would recommend the book to friends and family for their reading pleasure.

Unwritten is an exciting, magical middle grade read about overcoming expectations and choosing your own destiny. It's meant for kids, yes, but tackles complex issues with heart and depth.

Gracie Freeman was born in a fairy tale. When she was just a baby, her mom used magic to transport them out of the story and into a normal life in Wisconsin. Now 12, Gracie wonders about the fairy tale world: who was she supposed to be? What mystery danger threatened her life, forcing them to flee their home and destinies? And what are these strange glimmers of fire, smoke, and a beautiful Queen that have long invaded her thoughts and dreams?

Tara Gilboy's Unwritten follows Gracie on her quest to find out where she came from, save her family and friends from peril, and figure out who she wants to be. Will she rise to the occasion and be the hero of her own story? Or is it possible she was meant to play the villain all along?

It's a fresh take on a story about stories. Unwritten asks readers to consider the weight of words, the implications of actions, and what it means to be good or bad, a hero or villain.  Readers will enjoy the solid writing, fast pace, and complex characters. This exciting, satisfying read is not to be missed.

Pub Date: 16 October 2018
Price: $11.99
ISBN: 9781631631771
Page count: 198 p
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press

I received an ARC of this work from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this adorable middle grade fantasy book. A lot. As always, I would have loved this so much more as a child, but adult me is excited to recommend this to every young fantasy lover I know.

When Gracie meets the author who wrote her into existence, she thinks it may be time to discover just what her family escaped when they left the story. Instead, she finds herself flung back into a world where everything is far more complicated than her normal life.

I really loved that the author seems to take young readers seriously by trusting them to handle some difficult topics. Not every children's book gives children the opportunity to confront new problems and topics, but this book does in a simple and easy way. Young readers can confront murder, kidnapping, fleeing a terrible past, and parents figuring out their relationship in a safe and calming environment in this book.

Highly recommended for young fantasy readers.

I wish I could give 10 stars to this book!! I loved it so much. This book is amazing and perfect for the age group or anyone that enjoys this genre of book. It is highly recommended because of the fun read, fantastic characters and extremely creative story idea. As I read it I wanted to tell everyone about it!! This book is not be available yet, but I enjoyed it so much I have to let you know about it well in advance so you can get your preorder in as this will be a very popular book. I know I don't make that prediction very often, but this is a good one with everything you want -- fantasy, action and adventure. Preorder now to reserve your copy today!!

4 stars!
ARC provided by NetGalley, opinions are my own.

This is a fun middle grade book about a girl, Gracie, who was pulled out of a fairytale she's never read before. Driven by a hunger to know what happens to herself in the story, Gracie goes to the author signing of the woman who wrote the story. What happens that fateful night kept me hooked for the remainder of the story, when Gracie has to figure out her own fairytale ending...

I really enjoyed this book, Gracie is a fun main character, and can be sassy at times. The characters weren't flimsy and the writing style was beautiful, and sucked me in just like fairytales do. I've always loved stories about characters being written in or out of worlds, and this was no exception. There were plot twists and darkness within this novel that I wasn't expecting, and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

I'd highly recommend this book to parents of kids who want their child to be imaginative and inventive in figuring their way out of conflict, this is a great one. If the cover isn't enough to catch your attention, I hope my review helps.

Gracie and her mom live her our world. But they haven't always. They traveled from Bondoff, a storybook land when Gracie was just a baby. She'd always wanted answers to why they fled Bondoff so when the author of her story visits a local bookstore she sneaks off to find answers. However things go terribly wrong when the author, Gertrude Winters accidentally gets sent to Bondoff.

This was a super fun story that I think young readers will eat up! Not only will kids be able to relate to Gracie's struggle of trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be, but they'll also be able to relate to her family. As well as her hate/love friendship with Walter. Don't you remember your one friend from childhood you had that kind of relationship with as you both grew?
My only problem with this book was I wanted more story from the storybook. More answers, more background, more of what Bondoff was like and how evil queen, Cassandra came to be seen as evil.
I'm hoping there's more to come for these characters!

Unwritten, by Tara Gilboy, is a fun-paced middle grade novel, whose premise is unique and catching. The plot of characters taken out of a story was a fresh concept, and the complexity of the characters made them feel real. While I loved this book, there are some ideas that need to be handled carefully when recommending this book to children. Some of the themes, such as why the "author" wrote the story and whom she modeled Gracie after could affect students the wrong way, especially if they are going through difficult times at home. Gracie wasn't my most favorite character and I wished her story arc would've been spread evenly over the course of the story. It felt rushed, like she lingered on her old self too long. Gertrude was the most interesting to me, and her motives would be tougher for a younger audience to fully understand, as an adult I know the complexity behind her emotions and feelings. Overall, it was a fun read though a bit dark and serious.

Unwritten by Tara Gilboy
Reviewed on Cole Campfire Blog, Friday August 31st.

The premise of this story reminded me of a cross between Magic Treehouse meets The Chronicles of Narnia where there is a magic book and hidden fairytale land, and an evil queen out to get you. I was super excited to read it!

Gracie is a very likable and relatable character as she battles her self worth and choosing her identity. In the story Gracie finds out that she was from a fairy tale that her parents escaped from, and the author of the story is having a book signing in her town.

Since her mother hasn’t told her all that she wants to know about the book, and her past, she is compelled to find this author. Things don’t go as planned at the bookstore as everyone ends up in the fairytale and it’s up to Gracie to find their way out.

I absolutely loved this book! Not only is it a fun and entertaining story but I felt deeper messages tied in about self doubt, character, making peace with your past, and parental separation. I think lots of children in this age range can relate to the feelings Gracie has toward her absent father, and wanting to know details from their family’s past. Even for me I was taken back to being a kid as I read this story.

For children in this age range, I think it’s a wonderful read! Thank you to NetGalley, Flux and the author, Tara Gilboy for this advanced reader copy!

This story takes place in our modern world but utilizes characters from a story-land place called Bondoff. From reading, I came to understand that Bondoff is a Lord of the Rings-esque kingdom written by a successful author who has no idea that her characters have broken through to live in her own world. However, Gracie, naturally curious and a bit devil may care when it comes to the rules, seeks out the author when she can't get the answers she wants from her mother. Gracie ends up in over her head when Ms. Winters, the author, goes missing at the signing after touching something Gracie gives her.
This book was full of promise. Gracie's a rebellious and courageous young girl with a strong ethos she doesn't know she possesses. Bondoff seems like a magical place despite the characters', and Gracie's mom specifically, aversion to it. Mystery surrounds the identity of Gracie's father, and whether he is alive or dead, good or bad, is something Gracie will have to grapple with in order to find out who she really is.
My criticism lies not in the basics, the grammar, storytelling, or character dynamics. Those things are all solid. Where I struggled a bit with this book was developing connection to the characters. Maybe it was because I'm an adult and Gracie and Walter are just at a different life stage than both my children and me. Yet, reading this I felt very similar to the way I felt while watching the show I've abandoned, 'Once Upon A Time.' At the outset I expected to really like it, to see childhood staples come to life off the page. In reality though, the characters just didn't have the same enchantment I wanted in them. Also like the show, just because I didn't love it doesn't mean you won't. The writing is good, the pace is smooth but quick, and the author doubtlessly has chops.

A super-cute fairy tale read that had a lot more depth to it than I was expecting. The story follows Gracie, who has always known that she and her mother escaped an evil villain in a fairy tale. Her mother managed to get her out of the fairy tale world and into the real world when Gracie was still a baby, before the awful fate that the author wrote for them could be played out. Gracie’s curiosity gets the best of her, though, and she talks to the author (who has no idea that her characters are alive), sending her to the fairy tale world.

Once she gets there, she realizes that everything she’s been told about the world is not exactly as she’d been led to believe. Her relationships with her family get very complicated and she even has to face some possible ugly truths about herself. The story is full of twists that I didn’t see coming, and quite a bit of character growth. It’s the type of book that you don’t want to put down, and I highly recommend it!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

<i>Unwritten</i> by Tara Gilboy is the book that I wish I had when I was a kid. With the most entertaining middlegrade plot I’ve read all year, this book ranks high on my list of books I’m happy to have read in 2018. A gorgeous cover and a most creative plot give this book two huge reasons to love it. My only disappointment regarding <i>Unwritten</i> is the fact that my niece, at four-years-old, is a little too young for me to buy her a copy.

Featuring a young girl called Gracie who is a character from a story and has escaped the fairytale land of her homeworld because to have her tale play out is to die, <i>Unwritten</i> breaks the mould a little as it presents the question of what if book characters knew their fates and what if they tried to escape them? How much are characters truly the way they are written? Gracie has escaped the evil Queen Cassandra and lives in our world now, but though her mother has told her of the fate she would befall if she were to play out her story, Gracie has never stopped wanting to know the truth of it all. And so, with no answers from her mother, she embarks on a journey to find them for herself.

<i>Unwritten </i>is a fairly simple book with a plot that follows a simple formula, but it truly was impossible to put down. I read it in the span of a few hours and loved every second of it. While some plot points were easy to predict and did not come as a surprise to me—an adult—I imagine it would be an exciting shock to read the twists and turns this novel takes its readers on. I really enjoyed Gracie’s story and you can be sure I’ll be buying it for my niece when she’s old enough.

<i>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

I did find it enjoyable as a middle grade read and really hope Tara Gilboy continues with Gracie's story. I believe this will be a fun read for the audience that it is intended for.

Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unwritten is incredibly in-depth for being just under 200 pages. I wasn't expecting such a detailed story or a unique story line, but that's what I got from reading this book. The plot is so original-- if I had to describe it in one word, it'd simply be "magical." I loved the main premise of a character being rescued from a storybook in which she is supposed to die. I thought that being taken to the real world from a piece of fiction would have its setbacks, and it certainly did; the "story glimmers" in the beginning of the novel were an exciting addition, one that I wanted to have happen.

By far, my favorite part of Unwritten was the rising action. That doesn't mean that the rest of the story was poor-- all of it was good, but the beginning needs to hook the reader in, and that's exactly what it did. I loved the start because it revealed almost all of the conflict right then, and there was no guesswork necessary. Of course, there's the wondering of how they're going to rescue a certain character of two, which is solved towards the end-- and in a great way, too.

The only thing I wish that was different about Unwritten was that it could have been longer, or part of a series. If this was the first in a series, the book could get a lot better than it already is. Gracie could have been developed even more, which I would have liked to see instead of just the main problem being solved. Every character was amazing, though, even Queen Cassandra, who you will love to hate.

Unwritten was unique and suspenseful with a strong protagonist, which is what I want the most out of my middle-grade novels. I loved this book, and I recommend it to anyone who loved (or still loves) to read fairy tales. Overall, this alternate view on a kid's story-- showing what would happen if one of the characters destined to perish was taken out of her destiny-- is definitely a read I would recommend.