Lovely sweet book

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

This is the closest approximation to Matilda that I have seen, which simultaneously does not feel like a rip-off of the former. I did not find a better way of putting forward the concept's similarity with some subtle and some not-so-subtle differences. The biggest being the absence of magic and the fact that the parents in this are actual villains on top of the child neglect/abuse.
Leeva is a precocious child (one who does not get on a reader's nerves but instead comes off as charming). She has learnt the ways of life from the titbits her parents have dropped and the few articles she has managed to read. She is advanced enough to be doing calculations for her father (the exact nature of which we will never know; we just know what the repercussions are). One day, she happens to find out that she lives next to the library and finds her way there.
This bold step opens up her life, and she becomes part of the change she wants to see in her life. The people she meets on the way are not completely without their own issues, and she manages to help them as well as herself.
I think a younger audience would find this even more fun than I did. I would recommend it to adults who like to venture into books like this once in a while. I liked the pacing and would actually recommend it to my nieces.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

The plot of Leeva at Last is reminiscent of Matilda but ultimately that's more comforting than it is an issue- you know where this story is going and it feels familiar but the telling of it is unusual, quirky and fun. I loved the side quests that her friend sent her on and the pet badger and endless different biscuits were very entertaining. A certain kind of (already pretty avid) reader will love this quiet but funny book but I think that if it were read to a class then you could have a lot of fun talking through 'what a human is for' and the books that you would lend Leeva to help her explore that question. Thoughtful, quirky and fun.

Unfortunately I found this risibly adult-proof, and so broad as to be of limited appeal only. Leeva, whose naming is about the best gag in it, is a housebound girl, stuck with a town mayor of a mother who cares about nothing but fame, and a town treasurer dad who cares solely about earning and keeping money. She's forced to stop indoors every hour of her life except for bringing in the local weekly freesheet newspaper, doing this, that and the other, until she demands of herself she breaks out, finds the building next door is a library, then has all the time in the world to hang there, read ten books a day, and then go shopping for the family living above and working it. And then gets a pet badger. As you do.

Seemingly wanting to be the next Roald Dahl but without any of his feted comedic touches, this is just implausibility laden on top of impracticability, with a firm foundation of daftly unlikely. And while many people seem to have found this perfectly OK and that the author has pulled off something great, I cannot agree.

What a super book! Leeva is a sensible, conscientious young girl who has always followed the rules of her parents. What she discovers beyond the hedge excites, enthuses and encourages her rebelliousness in a way she has never experienced before.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and following Leeva on her journey as she discovers more about herself, who she currently is and who she wants to be. My class will certainly enjoy the interactions between the different characters who are wonderfully described and illustrated. I have a feeling that Bob will be a favourite.
I will definitely be buying a copy to share with them.

Precocious child Leeva Thornblossom has had a relatively recluse upbringing. Her scope of the world is limited only to her neglectful parents, whose greed and love for power eclipse any sentiment towards their own child. Her love for the written word offer Leeva an exciting window to possibilities beyond her own, a vehicle to expand her horizons. This also serves as a catalyst for the plot when Leeva discovers the library next door, piquing her curiosity and leading her to question everything she had been told by her parents about the outside world which shaped her perception of it. Along the way, while unraveling more of her parents deceitful actions against the community, Leeva is faced with difficult decisions in order to correct social injustice.

I chose this title because I immensely enjoyed Pennypacker's previous book 'Pax', and while 'Leeva at Last' is a wonderful read - heartfelt, funny and with a satisfying conclusion, I couldn't help comparing it throughout to Dahl's 'Matilda' due to their obvious resemblance (as the marketing also stresses out). And in this light, Leeva somewhat falls short.

Leeva Spayce Thornblossom is as neglected as you can get for a 8 or 9 year old. Her parents sole thoughts are of money and fame, neither of which she can give them. They have drawn up a contract between them and Leeva will need to pay back all she takes in the form of food and clothing. Living an incredibly sheltered life, Leeva looks forward most to the Improve your Vocabulary column in the weekly newspaper. She learns plenty of wonderful words but never has any opportunity to use them for she speaks to no one but her parents.

When she discovers the library next door, an entire world opens up to her and she can finally answer the question her parents have asked, “What are people for”?

At the library, she meets Harry and his Aunt Mrs Flowers, discovers cookies and books. She meets new people, discovers new worlds and befriends book characters. What she also discovers is the hatred her town has for her parents. They tax everyone and there are shoe box towers filled with cash in a locked room in her house. She must keep her true identity a secret from everyone so she doesn’t get judged based on the actions of her parents.

When a horrible dawning truth rains down on Leeva, she will need to make some formidable decisions and these lead to an ending you might never predict.

I love that this is reminiscent of Matilda and her love of books and learning but also has the feels of A series of Unfortunate Events, where you can hardly believe what her parents have been up to, in a similar thread to Count Olaf.

This is going to be one of my top picks for 2023. Funny, heartfelt and joyous- an absolute triumph for the hugely talented Sara Pennypacker. Add this to all wishlists!