I’ve been reading Lisa Graff’s books since I was a little kid. I picked up A Tangle of Knots out of curiosity because the cover was just so delicious. When I read the synopsis, I knew this book would be one I would fall in love with. Though it is told from a whole slew of different characters’ viewpoints, this book was quite easy to follow. I don’t know which character to choose as my favorite; they were all so much fun to get to know!
I felt like the main character in this book was that of a young girl named Cady. She has a Talent (Which is like a regular talent, except most everyone in this book finds their Talent; it’s something they’re born with. If you don’t have a Talent, you are Fair–just an ordinary human.) for making cakes that suit a person to a ‘T’. For some people it is a regular old yellow cake with chocolate frosting. For others it is more complex cake, perhaps a red velvet almond cake with buttercream frosting and cherries on top!
Cady lives in a home for children that don’t have parents. She has lived there for years, even though other kids have come and gone, but that’s okay, because she is quite content just where she is. And where is she? It is much more than an orphanage. It is a home for lost luggage, secrets, a quirky family, and a man who just might be the downfall of them all. This book was marvelous, from the first page to the last. I fear this review won’t give it justice so you will just have to read the book for yourself to see how likeable the characters are, and how magical one short story can be!
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 2 mild obscenities.
Violence/Gore: A character is mentioned to have suffered a stroke; a minor steals items from people to sell for money; a minor girl pushes her brother into the street on a bike (trying to hurt him); a minor hits an adult; an adult pushes a minor; a hot air balloon is mentioned to crash; a wife is mentioned to have passed away.
Sex/Nudity: None
Mature Subject Matter:
Child abandonment, thievery, adoption, death.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
None
