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Told in multiple viewpoints, A Tangle of Knots is a magnificent puzzle. In a slightly magical world where everyone has a Talent, eleven-year-old Cady is an orphan with a phenomenal Talent for cake baking. But little does she know that fate has set her on a journey from the moment she was born. And her destiny leads her to a mysterious address that houses a lost luggage emporium, an old recipe, a family of children searching for their own Talents, and a Talent Thief who will alter her life forever. However, these encounters hold the key to Cady's past and how she became an orphan. If she's lucky, fate may reunite her with her long-lost parent.
Lisa Graff adds a pinch of magic to a sharply crafted plot to create a novel that will have readers wondering about fate and the way we're all connected.
Praise for A TANGLE OF KNOTS:
"[A] blithe magical puzzle." —Meghan Cox Gurdon, The Wall Street Journal
"Lisa Graff has created a beautiful world of deliciously interconnected stories that draw you in." —Abby West, Entertainment Weekly [A-]
"Subtle and intricate, rich with humor and insight, this quietly magical adventure delights." —Kirkus Reviews [STARRED]
"Graff’s story has a warmth and gentle humor that, along with the premise, calls to mind Ingrid Law’s Savvy." —Publishers Weekly
It soon becomes clear that Cady is unknowingly tied to a group of people staying at a boarding house above a lost luggage store: a family with three spirited kids, a woman who's lost the ability to speak, a loner, and the grouchy owner. If Cady is at the center of the story, which is told from multiple viewpoints, the thread through the tale is the large man in the gray suit enigmatic grin that 'suggested he knew more about the world than he's letting on.' He shows up just in time to give a nudge in the right direction to those who need it, imparting a little insight about fate along the way.
Things get slightly confusing near the end as all the pieces come together, but the sheer enjoyment of the building storyline and a careful read of Graff's lyrical style mitigates that.
In A Tangle of Knots, Lisa Graff brings us a delightful fantasy novel where almost everyone has a special talent, and if they don’t, then they desperately try to find one. Combining several stories that are “knotted” together, we meet a host of enjoyable characters, a collection of blue suitcases and a little girl who has the uncanny ability to bake a cake perfectly suited for anyone’s personality.
The book is told from multiple viewpoints, but focuses primarily on little Cady, the orphan who has the uncanny ability to bake a cake perfectly suited for someone’s personality. Cady is adorable, and I really felt for her. She wants desperately to find a family of her own, but for some reason Miss Molloy, the woman in charge of the orphanage whose talent is the ability to perfectly match a child to parents, has been unsuccessful in matching Cady.
We also meet several other characters including V (a woman who cannot speak), Zane (a total problem child), Marigold (a girl who desperately wants to find her talent), and Will (a boy desperate for an adventure).
The writing is perfectly suited for a middle grade audience, but I think teens and adults looking for an enjoyable fantasy would really like this one. What I especially liked were the recipes peppered throughout the book. The recipes are for the cakes Cady makes based on other character’s personalities. While it did take me a while to figure out how on earth all of these stories would tie together, I really enjoyed the book. Eventually it all came together, and I was pleased with the ending.
Light, fun, magical and mysterious, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to escape in a bit of magical realism. And you might find a new cake recipe you can’t live without!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 29, 2013
Cady can bake the perfect cake for each person. Will gets lost in his adventures. Zane can split and hit anything. And Marigold seems to have no talent at all. The lives of these kids gets tangled with shady charecters,hidden histories,and serious matters.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.NimueKR
Posted March 20, 2013
I purchased this for my sister and she loved this book She couldn't say enough about it. Great buy!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 9, 2013
i kinda want to read it but its a little bit too expensive
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Overview
Told in multiple viewpoints, A Tangle of Knots is a magnificent puzzle. In a slightly magical world where everyone has a Talent, eleven-year-old Cady is an orphan with a phenomenal Talent for cake baking. But little does she know that fate has set her on a journey from the moment she was born. And her destiny leads her to a mysterious address that houses a lost luggage emporium, an old recipe, a family of children searching for their own Talents, and a Talent Thief who ...