Aaaaahhh! You guys! I read the MOST DELIGHTFUL BOOK recently and I’m so excited to share about it!
It’s releasing TOMORROW (May 22) and the paperback and e-book versions are both up for pre-order, and it’s DEFINITELY one you’re not going to want to miss! One of my favorite books I’ve read this year, for sure!
Title: Sing To Me of Rain
Author: E.B. Dawson
- Date read: May 10, 2021
- Rating: 5 stars, 6 stars if I could
- Genre: Fantasy
- Age: Middle Grade or anyone, really (teens and adults will also love it)
- Year pub: 2021
- Pages: 205 (e-book)
- Series: Standalone
- Fave character: Ujio but really all of them
- Source: The author
- Notes: I received a free e-ARC of this book from the author. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts.
- Links: Goodreads • Amazon • Author’s Website
I CAN’T ADEQUATELY EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR THIS BOOK. 😍😍😍 Studio Ghibli meets George MacDonald and Lloyd Alexander in this utterly enchanting Asian-inspired Middle Grade Fantasy novel from E.B. Dawson!
This book has everything: a tiny mermaid naiad, a fox, pangolins, hidden motives warring against innocence, ever-changing quests for truth, redemption AND heroism, a broad range of exotic locales from jungle to desert to mountain, a story through seasons and elements, and neat cultures and delightful fantasy worldbuilding that swept me off my feet. And so much more!
I loved Plip the little naiad and Akino the boy SO MUCH, and a certain other character who I won’t give away but his story was SO unexpected and I adored it! Part hero, part antihero, part mentor . . . let’s just say I have a new favorite unpigeonholeable character. (Watch for a certain fox is all I’m saying. ;))
I adored every second of this book! It’s full of twists and turns and I could never predict what was going to happen next, which made it exciting, but despite the suspense it was also a COZY story that I simply enjoyed the act of reading.
The settings remind me so much of a Studio Ghibli film, soft and peaceful and detailed, from river to mountain forest, rice fields, desert, waterfall . . . all of it! And the feeling we get that we’re passing through this vast world full of people living their lives which we only glimpse on our way through. I loved that. It’s just so RICH and like one thread winding through a tapestry, and fills me with a marvelous childlike wonder and joy and delight.
I loved how, with the perspectives of Plip and Akino, we saw the world through their eyes and the schemes of humans or grownups seemed outside and unnoticed, like levels of innocence and sneakiness. Felt true to life.
The depth and truths and levels of everything in this book were fascinating and one of the things I think older readers will like too. It asks hard questions and doesn’t talk down at all, which is something I dislike about some middle grade books these days — it’s just a book that happens to be about young characters, which young readers and teens and adults alike will find delight in.
It feels Deep and made me think and showed me things, and I highlighted sooo many quotes in my ebook copy, but it’s also very fun and I just ENJOYED it. It makes me so happy! *hugs book*
This is definitely going on my favorites list and is one of the top five books I’ve read so far this year. I’m going to need to add the paperback to my wishlist because I need SING TO ME OF RAIN on my shelf to read and reread forever. I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH. (I know the answer next time someone asks what my favorite middle grade book is.)
I can’t recommend this book enough! Just go read it! You need it in your life! (And you will never look at raindrops the same again. :D)
I received a free e-ARC of this book from the author and voluntarily wrote a review. All opinions are entirely my own.
You may also like . . . / For fans of . . .
- Avatar: The Last Airbender show
- Studio Ghibli films in general
- The Day Boy and the Night Girl by George MacDonald (original fairy tale)
- The Golden Key by George MacDonald (original fairy tale)
- The Remarkable Journeys of Prince Jen by Lloyd Alexander (Asian-inspired fantasy)
- The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander (India-inspired fantasy, YA)
- The Sentinel Trilogy or Emberhawk by Jamie Foley (for your talking fox fix, YA)
- Plenilune by Jennifer Frietag (historical planetary fantasy, for your talking fox fix, Adult)
The Page Dreamer (Deborah O'Carroll) 