- Hardcover: 224 pages
- Publisher: Puffin (11 Aug 2011)
- Language Unknown
- ISBN-10: 0141336064
- ISBN-13: 978-0141336060
- Product Dimensions: 20 x 13.4 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 215,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Eight Keys (Puffin Fiction)
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Product Description
Review
(Acclaim for Love, Aubrey) The best book I have read all year . . . I loved it (Cathy Cassidy )
Quite simply the best book for girls of nine and over that I have ever read (Independent )
Wonderfully moving (Daily Mail )
Quite simply the best book for girls of nine and over that I have ever read (Independent )
Wonderfully moving (Daily Mail )
Review
Funny, moving and beautifully constructed Independent on Sunday A warm and inspiring tale about friendship and families with real substance and style Sunday Times
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I haven't read Suzanne LeFleur's previous book Love, Aubrey but I was aware it had received a lot of critical acclaim. I'm determined to remedy that fact soon though, because I adored everything about Eight Keys - the beautiful writing, the simplistic yet touching story, the sentiments behind it and the believable characters with very real anxieties and concerns.
What struck me about the book was how genuinely touching it was. Elise is an incredibly believable eleven-year-old girl. While set in the US, and going through the transition of moving to middle school, children of the same age in the UK will recognise and sympathise with the same big step of starting secondary. I was reminded of my own experiences at that age...moving from the secure, protective cocoon of my Junior school, encountering other children who were more worldly and tougher and even the same embarrassment of some of my seemingly babyish friends who only a few weeks ago I'd been happy playing dolls or chase with out in the street. It's a daunting time, and LaFleur fully understands that, capturing those emotions perfectly in Elise.
Despite being aimed at middle grade readers, there are two striking and important messages in Eight Keys that I believe any one of any age can benefit from. Firstly is of family and belonging, what it means and how love is unconditional. Elise never knew her parents, and desperately needs to know if she was loved by them while accepting that the family she does have love her for herself and not because the feel obligated to do so. The second is of acceptance, accepting other people and trying to understand them and accepting yourself. I loved the idea of the eight keys, each revealing a philosophical piece of advice which isn't just relevant to Elise, but even as an adult struck a chord.
Eight Keys is one of the most quietly powerful books I've read in a long time. The underlying messages are subtle and dawn on the reader along with Elise in her journey of discovery. I found it an emotional read, my heart breaking at times for Elise as she appears lost, but also extremely hopeful and inspiring. The story isn't action packed, shocking or exciting...yet it crept right under my skin and stayed there. I'll be putting this book away for my daughter to read when she's older and hope she finds it as touching and as empowering as I did.
What struck me about the book was how genuinely touching it was. Elise is an incredibly believable eleven-year-old girl. While set in the US, and going through the transition of moving to middle school, children of the same age in the UK will recognise and sympathise with the same big step of starting secondary. I was reminded of my own experiences at that age...moving from the secure, protective cocoon of my Junior school, encountering other children who were more worldly and tougher and even the same embarrassment of some of my seemingly babyish friends who only a few weeks ago I'd been happy playing dolls or chase with out in the street. It's a daunting time, and LaFleur fully understands that, capturing those emotions perfectly in Elise.
Despite being aimed at middle grade readers, there are two striking and important messages in Eight Keys that I believe any one of any age can benefit from. Firstly is of family and belonging, what it means and how love is unconditional. Elise never knew her parents, and desperately needs to know if she was loved by them while accepting that the family she does have love her for herself and not because the feel obligated to do so. The second is of acceptance, accepting other people and trying to understand them and accepting yourself. I loved the idea of the eight keys, each revealing a philosophical piece of advice which isn't just relevant to Elise, but even as an adult struck a chord.
Eight Keys is one of the most quietly powerful books I've read in a long time. The underlying messages are subtle and dawn on the reader along with Elise in her journey of discovery. I found it an emotional read, my heart breaking at times for Elise as she appears lost, but also extremely hopeful and inspiring. The story isn't action packed, shocking or exciting...yet it crept right under my skin and stayed there. I'll be putting this book away for my daughter to read when she's older and hope she finds it as touching and as empowering as I did.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Like with Suzanne's debut novel, Love, Aubrey, I instantly fell in love with Eight Keys. Her writing draws me in so quickly and easily, and within mere minutes I'm hooked. I don't know what it is - whether it's her seemingly effortless prose or realistic characters - but something makes her books stand out to me. I get lost in the story on the page and I never want it to end. Simply put, Suzanne LaFleur is a brilliant and, in my opinion, understated writer who deserves so much more recognition.
Eight Keys is a coming-of-age novel with a sweet mystery and enough emotion to ensure there isn't a dry eye in sight. Eleven-year-old Elise is starting middle school, re-evaluating her friendship with lovely boy Franklin and experiencing bullying firsthand. She's also discovering that her now deceased parents loved her more than she ever knew, and that somebody dying doesn't necessarily mean the end. Her story is one of hope and learning, and what it means to be a good person.
Eight Keys deals with a variety of different themes and issues, including death, grief and bullying. LaFleur approaches each topic with a sense of respect, to both her characters and readers. She tugs at heartstrings and creates hope in a single sentence, making even me - someone scared of death and everything it brings with it - realise that it's an inevitable part of life but that it doesn't have to mean the end for a family or a relationship. Just because people aren't with us anymore doesn't mean they haven't left an indelible mark on our lives.
I've taken a lot away from Eight Keys, and I wish I'd been able to read it when I was younger. It's a must-read for any girl starting or getting through high school, and every theme is beautifully written and sensitively handled. Suzanne LaFleur is absolutely brilliant; she's one of my favourite writers for younger readers. I'd recommend her to everyone - her books are a real treat!
4.5/5
Eight Keys is a coming-of-age novel with a sweet mystery and enough emotion to ensure there isn't a dry eye in sight. Eleven-year-old Elise is starting middle school, re-evaluating her friendship with lovely boy Franklin and experiencing bullying firsthand. She's also discovering that her now deceased parents loved her more than she ever knew, and that somebody dying doesn't necessarily mean the end. Her story is one of hope and learning, and what it means to be a good person.
Eight Keys deals with a variety of different themes and issues, including death, grief and bullying. LaFleur approaches each topic with a sense of respect, to both her characters and readers. She tugs at heartstrings and creates hope in a single sentence, making even me - someone scared of death and everything it brings with it - realise that it's an inevitable part of life but that it doesn't have to mean the end for a family or a relationship. Just because people aren't with us anymore doesn't mean they haven't left an indelible mark on our lives.
I've taken a lot away from Eight Keys, and I wish I'd been able to read it when I was younger. It's a must-read for any girl starting or getting through high school, and every theme is beautifully written and sensitively handled. Suzanne LaFleur is absolutely brilliant; she's one of my favourite writers for younger readers. I'd recommend her to everyone - her books are a real treat!
4.5/5
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Since Suzanne's first book, Love, Aubrey was such an amazing read I jumped at the chance to read this book, therefore tracking it down on the date it was released into the UK and as soon as I started to read it I was hooked. I finished it the same day as I bought it and have since then read it 3 or 4 times.
However I didn't feel like I bonded with the characters as much as I did in Love, Aubrey as I found the two main characters extremely annoying and however sweet and an original idea the whole story line is I find it less realistic than the Love, Aubrey story line, this doesn't make it a bad book it just means that it was harder to connect with.
I feel like I am comparing the two books and I don't think that's a good thing because this book is very different in every way- well almost. I think that the bullying story line could have been developed because in my experiences if you stand up to the bully they come down on you harder, so I thought that this character could have been developed and her family background.
I am rating this book 4 stars because even though it was a good book it doesn't quite meet the high standards of Love Aubrey but I think that girls (maybe some boys) aged 10 - 14 will love this book for a good read.
(By Emily)
However I didn't feel like I bonded with the characters as much as I did in Love, Aubrey as I found the two main characters extremely annoying and however sweet and an original idea the whole story line is I find it less realistic than the Love, Aubrey story line, this doesn't make it a bad book it just means that it was harder to connect with.
I feel like I am comparing the two books and I don't think that's a good thing because this book is very different in every way- well almost. I think that the bullying story line could have been developed because in my experiences if you stand up to the bully they come down on you harder, so I thought that this character could have been developed and her family background.
I am rating this book 4 stars because even though it was a good book it doesn't quite meet the high standards of Love Aubrey but I think that girls (maybe some boys) aged 10 - 14 will love this book for a good read.
(By Emily)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
beautiful
Eight keys is a beautifully written story about friendship, family and belonging. I enjoyed reading it and will certainly be looking to read more of the author's work very... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Kirsty at the Overflowing Library
Good read
This is going to be one of those awkward reviews where I'm struggling to get my thoughts down on paper...or the internet in this case.
I loved how cute this read was. Read more
I loved how cute this read was. Read more
Published 7 months ago by GloriousBooks
Eight Keys
I have heard such good things about this book and I was really looking forward to reading it. Eight Keys is a middle grade story about a 12 year old girl called Elise. Read more
Published 8 months ago by The Slowest Bookworm
A sweet and enjoyable story
Having heard great things about Suzanne LaFleurs first novel Love, Aubrey I jumped at the chance to review this and I am so glad I did. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sammee, I Want To Read That
A gorgeous coming of age novel
Despite Eight Keys being aimed at the tween audience I was really eager to give it a read due to all the critical acclaim for LaFleur's debut novel Love, Aubrey and I was surprised... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jess Hearts Books
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