Official Review: A Well Gnome Fact by April Grosse

Jesska6029 · Post by **Jesska6029** » 10 Mar 2015, 20:01

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Well Gnome Fact" by April Grosse.]

3 out of 4 stars

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A Well Gnome Fact by April Grosse is a holiday tale with lessons for all. The book begins 23 days before Christmas, and the chapters act as a countdown to the big day. The plot follows a 10-year-old boy named Oliver “Ollie” Chance. Ollie is a sweet, smart and caring young man. He is a boy with many great traits, but it is his one vice that leads him on his enchanting journey. His adventure begins when he inherits a wooden bed, which has been used by many members of the Chance family before him. Oliver is informed the bed is special, and it is not long before he finds out how magical it truly is. Gnomes live inside the wooden frame of his old bed. They have hidden away because of a tragedy from long ago and have become hesitant to reveal themselves again, but they have an important lesson or “Gnome fact” to teach Ollie before the countdown to Christmas is over. Of course, the gnomes do not succeed in their purpose at first, and their many mistakes cause a bit of chaos, allowing hilarity to ensue.

The narrative switches between Oliver and the gnomes, which is a great move by Grosse. It is nice to understand the intention of the gnomes right off the bat, but the switch in narrative may prove to be tricky for some young readers if they read this without the assistance of an adult. The vocabulary used is sometimes above what a 10-year-old would know or understand, however, this could just become an excellent learning opportunity for young readers.

One aspect of this story that really stands out is how endearing the Chance family and gnome community are. They both value love and understand the gift of giving. Mama and Papa Chance are every bit what you would want in a mother and father. They are excellent role models. Parents reading this story will be able to connect with the small anxiety felt when wondering, “what are we teaching our children” and “are we doing this whole parenting thing right”. Grosse truly nails what it means to be a selfless parent with these characters.

One critique I do have is with the pacing of the plot. It seems to slow or completely lag in some areas. It is especially repetitive when the gnomes discuss what must be done, over and over again. The plot could have done well without many of these conversations.

Overall, I give A Well Gnome Fact 3 out of 4 stars. The narrative switch and the themes touched upon in the story are great, but the lags in the pacing of the plot take away from the beauty of the story. This book is perfect for elementary and middle school readers. It is a truly wholesome story with lessons and morals readers of all ages can appreciate. It touches on themes of love, selflessness, and forgiveness. I definitely recommend this book to all those who want to read a heart-warming tale. It is sure to become a holiday favorite!

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A Well Gnome Fact
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Post by **bookowlie** » 14 Mar 2015, 09:53

Nice review! It's great to see a children's book with a wholesome theme. I love your phrase "the gnome community"! I have a few gnomes in my garden. I will have to start thinking of them as "the gnome community."

agrosseus5 · Post by **agrosseus5** » 14 Mar 2015, 10:45

Thank you for the great review! I really wanted an unbiased opinion and I'm so glad I got one. I'm glad you liked the story! I will have to re-read it and see where I can take some of the dialogue out that seems repetivie. As the author you don't always catch this, so its great to have it pointed out:) Thanks Again!

Jesska6029 · Post by **Jesska6029** » 16 Mar 2015, 20:22

I'm glad you liked the review! It was a really fun read.

Rachaelamb1 · Post by **Rachaelamb1** » 19 Mar 2015, 04:29

Sounds like a cute story!

Jesska6029 · Post by **Jesska6029** » 19 Mar 2015, 04:59

Rachaelamb1 wrote:Sounds like a cute story!

It is a neat story!

Valleygirl1985 · Post by **Valleygirl1985** » 21 Mar 2015, 09:41

I really like giving my children books with great messages attached to them. I'll put this one on the list for them. Great review!

Jesska6029 · Post by **Jesska6029** » 21 Mar 2015, 09:46

Valleygirl1985 wrote:I really like giving my children books with great messages attached to them. I'll put this one on the list for them. Great review!

Thank you! It would be a good read for children, especially around the holidays!