Parents' Guide to

My Diary from the Edge of the World

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Magical, heartbreaking story about family and friendship.

My Diary from the Edge of the World Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 8+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 6+

BEST BOOK EVER

I think this is an amazing book because first of it is very descriptive and shows exactly what the main character (which is a girl BTW) is feeling. It has very realistic features and some twists with fantasy and adventure. This book brings out and teaches to never be afraid to imagine the impossible. You need this book NOW!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
age 9+

Kind of depressing

In an effort to get away from a 'cloud of death' which is following one of the heroine's family members, the main character and her family embark on a trip to the 'edge of the world'. First, this novel has a unique and very interesting world. It is a mix of our own reality and a fantasy one where dragons burn down local stores occasionally and you have to watch out for Yeti when driving through wooded areas. The world-building the author did was inventive and fun to discover as you read through the book. However, the plot and most importantly, the character development lacked a great deal, in my opinion. The ending (which I won't give away) was disappointing. The main character had absolutely no respect for her father (and he was never portrayed in a way that really deserved any respect - he was a pathetic, self-absorbed wimp of a man) and the rest of the family felt one-dimensional. There were several instances where the family is warned not to do something well in advance, and of course, predictably, does so anyway. It simply wan't an enjoyable book to read.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (3):

Family, with all its delights and frustrations, anchors this winning fantasy that combines heartbreakingly realistic characters with a magically wild setting. Charming, observant Gracie straddles the line between childhood and adolescence, writing with drama and imaginative flair one moment and mature insight the next. In MY DIARY FROM THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, author Jodi Lynn Anderson depicts the familiar world skewed through a magical lens.

As with any family on a road trip, the Lockwoods share breathtaking experiences and push one another away with fractious squabbling. The monster-world twists -- westward railroads torn up by yetis and trolls, world war averted by poltergeists disrupting factories -- are a cleverly entertaining backdrop to a moving look at family, fate, and having the courage to move on.

Book Details

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