Status
Available
Series
Genres
Publication
Scholastic (2007)
Description
Lonely and shy, ten-year-old May Ellen Bird has no idea what awaits her when she falls into the lake and enters The Ever After, home of ghosts and the Bogeyman.
User reviews
LibraryThing member br14kabu
This book is amazing. No doubts, no exceptions. It's hard to imagine that this book came out so long ago, yet surpasses many young adult novels to date. Its dark, its gross, its a young child's nightmare, and you know what. I love this book. It's not filled with swears, its not gory to the core.
May Bird is a young girl who doesn't seem to fit in right with the social world. She enjoys exploring her woods and pretending she's a warrior princess in her black bathing suit. Along with her hairless cat, she finds a mystical portal to the underworld in her woods. From there, she is thrown into the world of ghouls, ghosts, goblins, and other monsters children hide from at night. She then meets her guardian spirit, Pumpkin, and takes her on an amazing adventure, meeting all sorts of people, who help along the way to get this little girl back home. Pretty cool right? I was enthralled with this story for the longest time, and I still am. It made you want to be a part of her adventure through the land of the afterlife. The characters and actions never cease to amaze me, and show great development, most notably, May, as she turns into a frightened young girl, into a strong willed warrior.
I cannot reccomend this series enough. It's one of the most underrated novels, let alone series, and should be defiantly read sometime in your lifetime. It's dark, humorous, and portrays characters that we can relate to. I've been meaning to do this review for the longest time, and now I can proudly say this is my favorite book series of my life so far. So go read it. Like now. It's that good.
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Instead its something more. A wondrous book filled with memorable characters, May Bird and The Ever After has one of the most original and darkest setting to date. Not to mention its sequels are sequels done right.May Bird is a young girl who doesn't seem to fit in right with the social world. She enjoys exploring her woods and pretending she's a warrior princess in her black bathing suit. Along with her hairless cat, she finds a mystical portal to the underworld in her woods. From there, she is thrown into the world of ghouls, ghosts, goblins, and other monsters children hide from at night. She then meets her guardian spirit, Pumpkin, and takes her on an amazing adventure, meeting all sorts of people, who help along the way to get this little girl back home. Pretty cool right? I was enthralled with this story for the longest time, and I still am. It made you want to be a part of her adventure through the land of the afterlife. The characters and actions never cease to amaze me, and show great development, most notably, May, as she turns into a frightened young girl, into a strong willed warrior.
I cannot reccomend this series enough. It's one of the most underrated novels, let alone series, and should be defiantly read sometime in your lifetime. It's dark, humorous, and portrays characters that we can relate to. I've been meaning to do this review for the longest time, and now I can proudly say this is my favorite book series of my life so far. So go read it. Like now. It's that good.
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LibraryThing member Bitter_Grace
I thought this an excellent children's book - one of the most original I've read. It's written with a breezy, witty style that lulls you into the unexpectedly lively land of the dead. Somber Kitty is just one of many characters rich in eccentricity. The sequence of events is so unusual, so
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fabulously described and so unexpected, this book was really a pleasure to read. I've just bought the sequel so I can follow May on her journey. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookaholic29
awesome, i loved this book, reading book 2 & 3.
LibraryThing member Ginerbia
I read this book to my children and they loved it. It was one that I could even get into with them. It was kind of dark and moody but life isn't all about sunshine and daisies. My kids really appreciated May's sense of humor and sarcastic wit.
LibraryThing member LaurenGommert
An anything by typical book that tackles the all too typical genre of juvenile fantasy. May Bird is a book for the morbid at heart. The main character, and her sidekick Somber Kitty, embark on a terrifying journey through the morbid land of Ever After. A nice twist on the usual fantasy books,
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though not for the faint of heart. Show Less
LibraryThing member AbSc0603
Overall, I think it's a good book. A good idea, but the writing stlye reminds me of my own in the book I'm currently editing, so I'm not really a fan of the writing stlye. I don't think I will read the other books in the series.
LibraryThing member jfoster_sf
...much, MUCH too scary for me. Deciding not to rate it because it wasn't badly written, just not my type of book.
LibraryThing member BrynDahlquis
The beginning is good, the beginning of the middle is kind of meh, the rest of the middle is good, and the ending is spectacular. For the last fifty pages, I couldn't put it down. The adventure and world of the Ever After is just so wonderful and fun and the characters are so cool. It's the kind of
I really don't remember it being this good when I read it four years ago, but it sure is -good-.
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ending that leaves me with a grin on my face. Jodi Lynn Anderson does all the right things with her plot, and boy does she know how to tie everything together (and still leave it in a bit of a cliffhanger)!I really don't remember it being this good when I read it four years ago, but it sure is -good-.
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LibraryThing member Inky_Fingers
Good characters, interesting though inconsistent setting, poorly written and edtied.
LibraryThing member Brittany_Hawes
May Bird and the Ever After is the first book in the May Bird series written by the talented author Jodi Lynn Anderson. I've read the entire series but decided to reread them. They were THAT good! I loved the lively (well, sort of) cast of characters! I believe my favorite was Pumpkin. He was too
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adorable! The story kept me interested and laughing all the way through. May and Somber Kitty have to go through a lot of wild adventures to get home and this book is just the beginning. Wonderful start to a wonderful series! :) Show Less
LibraryThing member aliterarylion
This was part of Sunshine State books series. I loved the fantasy aspect and wonder that reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. I could relate to the main character.
LibraryThing member atuson
I liked it. I appreciated that non-human animals were described positively and respectfully (not usual in my experience). I liked May's character. I liked the bizarre friendly 'ghost', and I felt I really knew Sombre Kitty. A satisfying read. Would recommend for those who like their gothic spooky
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but lite. Show Less
LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz
May Bird feels uncomfortable at school due to the taunts and teasing from the kids who don't understand her. For her, the woods are a comfortable place, where she can be a brave warrior princess and Somber Kitty, her cat, her guardian.
When May accidentally falls into the lake, she finds herself in
She is befriended by Pumpkin, a house ghost who is even more timid than May feels. He is to accompany her on a quest to get to the Far North to help the Lady of the North, per her letter of request. A letter that May found in a dusty old book.
May must not be discovered by any of the ghouls, ghosts, goblins and other strange creatures that inhabit this strange world. Especially the Bogey and his Shuck dogs as he will make May disappear.
During this journey, May finds that she does have courage and can do things. She also finds friends who care about her.
I am not a big fantasy reader, but I will definitely look for the other books in the series so I can read them to find out what else happens to May.
When May accidentally falls into the lake, she finds herself in
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another world when she climbs out. Not comfortable, like the woods, but dangerous and filled with very strange people. There is a blue glow to the place and the people don't seem to be real. In fact, they seem to glide a few inches above the ground when they move, and can appear, disappear and walk through walls.She is befriended by Pumpkin, a house ghost who is even more timid than May feels. He is to accompany her on a quest to get to the Far North to help the Lady of the North, per her letter of request. A letter that May found in a dusty old book.
May must not be discovered by any of the ghouls, ghosts, goblins and other strange creatures that inhabit this strange world. Especially the Bogey and his Shuck dogs as he will make May disappear.
During this journey, May finds that she does have courage and can do things. She also finds friends who care about her.
I am not a big fantasy reader, but I will definitely look for the other books in the series so I can read them to find out what else happens to May.
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Subjects
Awards
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee — 2007)
Colorado Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2009)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2006)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
7.4 inches
ISBN
0545003377 / 9780545003377
Local notes
young readers