The Lumpy Duckling, Book Review

Book Summary: (Per I Am A Reader website)
Lumpy may be hefty with a misshapen mouth, but he’s funny and the most loyal friend Wheezy could ask for. When she meets Unwanted, she casts a wish for people to be able to see her best friend like she does. Her wish nearly kills him.
All the Weaver Tales are set in the same fictional village of The Tales. The villagers are called Word Weavers, because they speak in story. The same little gnome-elf, Unwanted, grants a wish in each book that makes the main character’s problem worse. The books do not have to be read in any order.

Excerpt 
Isn’t seventh grade too young to worry about boys? In that way at least. She always worried about her very closest friend, Lumpy. She and Lawrence Nightingale had been inseparable since she tripped over him in the sandbox almost nine years ago. Well, inseparable might be a bit strong, since they couldn’t even go to school together, Lumpy being a year older than
her and all.
     Being picked on wasn’t the only thing they had in common. Wheezy smiled. They both liked…um…they preferred…um. Her smile fell away when she stared out the window picturing herself and Lumpy together.
     They had nothing in common. He liked to watch sports and whittle wood; she liked to create sand art and find shapes in the clouds. He chowed down steak and pan fried potatoes, or liverwurst and ketchup sandwiches, while she nibbled pickled zucchini spears and rye crisps. He spit into a pennywhistle, calling it music, while she sang like a songbird.
     Even their Word Weaving was different. She weaved reports and updates of current events while he …um…whatever his weavings were classified as, they made people laugh. Gnawing the inside of her cheek, she searched for a
commonality in their personalities, hobbies or interests. A reason they were friends.
     An image of Lumpy, a dirt stained baseball cap slightly askew, round face, red from laughing, an ever present lumpy grin on his lips which sparked in his bright blue eyes, formed in her mind, and a smile brightened her face again. It didn’t matter that they had nothing in common. He was her best friend. That was enough for her.
My Thoughts:
When I read the book description I immediately wanted to read it, let alone review it! It sounded fantastic.  Then I got the pdf and I got a bit concerned because I was not a fan of the cover....at all.  Now several things came to mind..was I really judging a book by its cover & could this actually play into a real world lesson from this book about outside looks?

Well yes it could and did because this book is fantastic.  I know it is set for middle school to YA readers, but I was completely enthralled with the characters, story line and emotions of the book.  I was laughing at some parts, relating to and being sad at other parts on how kids treat each other, groaning over some of the mishaps that Lumpy and Wheezy got into, and enjoying the end, though I wanted more of the story to keep reading to see what happened next!!(there are other books in the The Tales!)

This is a quick read and has a depth to the characters and storyline that I do not typically see in a children or YA book.  I remember starting the book one night before bed thinking I would read for a few minutes....well the next thing I remember I was finishing the book and thinking but wait what happens with them next!! I went to put my Ipad down, saw the time and was like ooppsie!  After reading it, and even now a few days later, I am still thinking of this story between friends, the town, the wish giving little creature and wondering what other wonderful stories and adventures are taking place in The Tales.
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Disclaimer:  I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions of this book are my own.

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