This book is an amazing middle grade read with science and fantasy. It felt so magical and inspirational. I fell in love with Alma, Hugo, and Shirin and the magical world that they live. I could just see the beauty of everything through the quintescope. .This book made me feel happy and light inside. I really enjoyed this book. It would be perfect for readers ages 9-12.

Upon reading the synopsis, I instantly fell in love with this magical little book! In Jess Redman's Quintessence, a girl named Alma suffers anxiety attacks following her family's move. After catching sight of a falling star however, Alma seeks it out in order to find and save the "person" she thought she had seen in it. In a story full of adventure and good friendships, I had so much fun reading this cute yet realistic book.. As someone who has personally struggled with similar mental health struggles in the past, I very much related to Alma and the feeling of losing her old self (or her "Alma-ness", as she calls it). Seeing how she works through it was very encouraging, and I am very glad that a younger audience can now find literature that depicts this struggle - I know that had I read a similar book when younger, I would have felt very comforted. Thank you so muhc to Jess Redman for this fantastic story!

QUINTESSENCE is a charming and enchanting middle grade fantasy. Alma moved to Four Points, and she has felt a little adrift without friends or connections. She also feels like her Alma-ness, the spark that makes her herself, is fading. Before it does, she finds that the mysterious shop, The Fifth Point, is open and the ShopKeeper lends her a quintescope, a special telescope, and gives her a mission to help the Starling and find the Elements.

That night, Alma sees a star explode and then streak down to the Earth. She knows that this may be the Starling, but she can't quite believe that the eccentric ShopKeeper may have said what she thought he did or that any of this might be real. When she sees the flyer for the Astronomy Club, Alma decides to show up. However, it seems none of the other students seem to know who started the Club, but they connect on what they saw in the sky. As things develop, they embark on a quest that they never could have expected.

This was an absolutely enchanting middle grade read. The writing flows so well, and there is just enough mystery and magic to keep the reader hooked. With the ShopKeeper interludes and Alma's journey, this book is really engrossing. I would recommend it for people who enjoyed A WRINKLE IN TIME.

The characters are easy to connect with, and the writing pulls the reader in easily and keeps the pace perfectly enchanting all the way to the conclusion. Magical with plenty of adventure, QUINTESSENCE is a new middle grade fantasy that will delight a new generation of middle grade readers.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Why I requested this book: The reason I requested this book was three-fold. I love a good elemental magic-esque story and this one has ties to astronomy. Additionally, I also suffer from anxiety and panic disorders so I am always on the hunt for anxiety representation in books. Lastly, and I think I’ve mentioned this one before, but I am on a huge middle grade kick right now.

Pros:
-There was an ease with how the fantastical and realistic story elements were woven together.
-Alma is hiding her panic attacks from her parents, but the work does not belittle her having them or not speaking out about still having them.

Cons:
-The pacing for this story does not match what feels like is the urgency needed for the quest.

Overall: I felt seen by the anxiety representation in this work. Additionally, I need more elemental magic in my life with realistic story as the base.

Jess Redman has come up with an empowering book for middle grade readers! Alma, who leads the way in this tale, has issues. Some from within, and some have been foisted upon her by a move out of the home she loved and where she was comfortable. The new place is ok, but it's new, and that's not comfortable.

This is a tale that describes other problems cropping up in Alma's world - panic attacks, for one. A difficult time making and keeping friends, for another. In the meantime she's made one of the biggest discoveries of her life and she needs to talk to someone. Like magic, someone pops up. . .and then there is the friend thing. . .

Quintessence had me from the first page. Very enjoyable, and satisfying solutions all around without sacrificing family, friends or truth about irregularities in the human condition. Alma (and the reader) are assured those irregularities and Quintessences are not mutually exclusive. Everyone has something with which they must deal or manage or maneuver. And, BONUS!, everyone has their own version of Quintessence.

4.5 stars, rounded up with hope for that which is being sought. . .

A sincere thanks to Jess Redman, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

This was a wonderful story about a girl and a starling. I found Alma's journey with anxiety for someone her age to be very realistic and heartwarming. As someone growing up with anxiety I found her to be relatable and I could understand her struggles. I think that the story about her adjusting to a new place and friends while going on an adventure to save a starling was interesting and overall quite charming. This was a great read and I really enjoyed it.

I received this galley through NetGalley.

Alma is the awkward new kid in town. Her parents love her and fuss over her, but Alma just wants to feel like herself again and stop having ‘episodes.’ A flier for a school astronomy club captures her imagination like nothing else in months, and sets her on a path to start making friends as she investigates a strange falling star.

I was bothered at first by how the kids are prodded together in a way that, under non fantasy book circumstances, would be really creepy. But I loved the divergent personalities of the kids and the book was an incredibly fast, fun read once they came together. There is a strong message of empowerment. Alma suffers from debilitating panic attacks. As magical as the book is at times, this isn’t a book about miracle cures. Really, one of the things I enjoyed most was that the book made an effort to balance genuine science with a sense of magic. One didn’t cancel out the other. I enjoyed Quintessence more and more as I read through, and the end left me with a big smile.

Moving is hard. Since Alma’s family moved to Four Points, her spark—her “Alma-ness”—has dimmed. She has panic attacks, no longer enjoys going outdoors, and tries to make herself as small and unnoticeable as possible, which is hard when she has panic attacks at school.

Then Alma meets a shopkeeper. The shopkeeper owns a mysterious store and he gives her a strange telescope. Through that scope, Alma sees something amazing—and impossible. Shortly after this stunning event, she meets some other children who likewise share an interest in the stars, and who have a spark and a tenacity—as well as the compassion—to try to solve the mystery, save a fallen star, and perhaps ignite their own lights.

This book is a wonderful read about friendship, self-acceptance, and honesty. This is a wonderful read aloud, and it will spark numerous conversations and perhaps some introspection.

While there are plenty of magical realism/fantasy middle-grade books that will come out this year, this one is particularly notable because of its visceral, realistic depictions of anxiety and panic attacks (which main character Alma calls her "episodes"). Redman not only details the physical manifestations of these attacks, but also the emotional ones (i.e., Alma's brain telling her that she's a failure and isn't good enough). Thankfully Redman also puts a solid group of friends in this book to support Alma and help her discover her quintessence, or "Alma-ness," as they work together on a quest to help a lost Starling find its way home.

I find the books I love the most are the hardest to review. I have already purchased a copy of this book which should say enough. The cover pulls you in and the story doesn't let you go. Alma is dealing with anxiety even though that specific word takes a while to make an appearance in the text. Moving to a new town isn't easy for her until she is sent on a journey to save a Star. Finding strength in herself came from others depending on her. Alma and her "friends" remind us that people that appear easy to figure out are usually the most complicated. A possible friendship shouldn't be defined by first impressions. Children ages 9 and up.

Alma hasn't been herself since moving to Four Points. But seeing a "starling" fall to earth leads her to meet new friends and go on an amazing quest that helps her recover her "Alma-ness." Alma, Hugo, Shirin, and Dustin form an appealingly quirky group, and Redman nicely balances the magical elements of the story with Alma's realistic struggles. Would be nice to have more backstory on Alma and why her move impacted her so negatively..

Alma's parents moved her to a new town. She knows no one, no one seems to want to know her and she has panic attacks. She doesn't like living there. Then she finds an odd little shop and meets a strange old man. He gives her an odd telescope...

Macmillan Children's Publishing group and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published July 28th.

She's checking the stars when she sees one explode and a falling fragment looks just like a girl. She needs the telescope to see that. She lands in her back yard but when Alma goes out to find her, she runs...

As she begins to search out things, she's suddenly making friends. They are from astronomy club and they have info and tools to help return the star to the sky.

This is a magical story where Alma keeps working on helping the star even though her parents are watching her. Her friends are true friends and it takes all four for the magic to happen.

This is a fun read for middle graders. I enjoyed it.

Alma suffers from panic attacks. Her suffering is solitary, isolating, and, at times, debilitating. She tries to keep her episodes a secret from her family, but they continue to get worse as Alma struggles to “acclimate” to her new home in Four Points. But the shopkeeper of the mysterious Fifth Point has bigger plans for Alma. A seemingly chance encounter between the two sets Alma on a fantastical quest. With the help of new friends and an emerging sense of self, Alma races against time to do the impossible: find the elements, grow the light, and save the starling.

The beauty of Quintessence lies in its raw, unfiltered depiction of a young person suffering from anxiety. Author Jess Redman captures Alma’s struggles in a visceral way, leveling a stirring emotional punch. The story’s emotion propels the plot and will keep readers engaged with the fantastical tale. While Alma and her friends’ quest is fun and purposeful, it takes place in a semi-real, semi-magical place. This setting creates dissonance at times although Redman’s incorporation of the Shopkeeper added much needed explanation for the impetus of the quest. Readers would benefit from his perspective much earlier. The tale truly finds its footing and rhythm about halfway through its telling, a length of time that may lose some readers as they turn disinterested in Alma’s transformation. This would be a shame because by the end of the novel, the story Redman brings to life proves powerful and compelling - so much so, readers may hope the tale of the Elementals continues in subsequent novels.

Quintessence imparts important messages to its readers: we are unique, we are interconnected, and we are resilient. These messages will resonate with middle grade readers and even bolster their own confidence to face the challenges in front of them. Its references to and emphasis on astronomy and science will surely attract the attention of STEM and STEAM-loving students. Most importantly, though, Quintessence provides young people a compassionate portrayal of Alma’s struggle with anxiety. With the need for social-emotional learning and mental health education rightly at the forefront of education, Redman’s novel can serve as a vehicle to open up conversations about these critical topics.

I have however read several amazing books lately! Quintessence is one of them! I gave it a 5-star review on Goodreads, which I rarely do.

Quintessence

by Jess Redman
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Release Date: July 28, 2020

Alma moved 3 months ago and has had trouble adjusting. She’s been having anxiety attacks and doesn’t really feel like herself.

She finds a telescope and through it sees a star fall. This is not a normal star though; it looks like a girl. Alma joins an astronomy club to learn more about this. She and her new friends begin a journey of self-discovery and healing like none I’ve ever read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
The Writing
The story begins with a description of Four Points (Name of the City) and the shop at the center of town called the Fifth Point–a shop that never sold anything. So already we begin asking ourselves a million questions about the quirky little shop at the center of Four Points.

Alma talks in the story about feeling like herself, what she calls her Alma-ness. It makes her sound young and small, which worked well for this book. Throughout the book, you can see her change bit by bit in a very realistic way.

The other characters in the story are fun and interesting. Well crafted with their own backstories and unique motivations for being there.

I am not going to spoil the ending, but it was very well done and included something that surprised me (which is uncommon).

Who Will Like This Book?
As a person with anxiety, I could really identify with Alma. This would be a good book for a child with anxiety, a child whose friend has anxiety, or anybody! Honestly, it is very like that we will all know somebody who struggles with anxiety, so it is a good book for everyone to gain empathy and understanding of this disorder.

A child who likes astronomy would also like this, although obviously a star girl falling from the sky is not scientifically accurate. It is still fun and there are astronomy tidbits to glean in here.

I highly recommend this story to everyone!

I received an electronic ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Charming story that combines feelings of loneliness with learning to use magical elements. Alma, the main character, suffers from panic attacks. She hides them and lies to her parents that she no longer has them so she doesn't disappoint them. They've recently moved to a new town and readers will identify with her grief at the move and the challenges of middle school. Interwoven with her effort to hide whole pieces of herself is an experience one night - a supernova that sends a Starling to earth behind her home. Readers also see meet the Shop Keeper - an older person who seems to be much older than humanly possible. Alma also reaches out and finds three new friends who all have their own struggles too. Together, Alma, Hugo, Shirin and Dustin, find ways to heal themselves and discover who they are meant to be. Plus they save the Starling and send the Shop Keeper home as well.
Redman creates the entire environment spun around the tower in the center of the town. The symbolism of Four Points comes through as each of the elements lives in a different area of the town. The Fifth Point shop in the center of town plays a role as well. The story flows smoothly with shorter chapters to pull readers in and keep them focused on how the characters will develop and figure out themselves, how to work together, and how to rescue the Starling.
Looking forward to dialogue with my older elementary readers as they process this book.

This science fiction/fantasy has just enough reality and real world problems to make it relevant, entertaining, and hard to put down. Twelve year old Alma and her family have moved to Four Points form her beloved Old Haven. She is uncomfortable, anxious, and has panic attacks. She stays in her room, runs home form school, and avoids making friends. Alma feels like she's losing herself. When she finds a flyer for Astronomy Club, she decides to join. Her parents are thrilled as they have been encouraging her to do more. She hasn't told them they she is continuing to have panic attacks.

The setting of Four Points is an important as the town is divided into four neighborhoods with a tower called Fifth Point located at the center. The four main characters each reside in each sector. Fifth Point has a mysterious shop at its base with four doors - one for each point. Alma discovers one of the doors is open and meets the shopkeeper who gives her a quintescope. That night when she looks through the quintescope through her bedroom window, she thinks she sees a star that looks at its center rather like a person falling from the sky into her backyard. Her quest to save the starling begins. As she makes friends with the others and they join the quest, each character is completely different. Learning to look beneath the surface of others and accepting each other's differences is an important lesson they all learn. In the process, Alma rediscovers herself and learns the importance of truth.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to purchasing this book for my middle school library and recommending it to the students.

Quintessence is a lovely story about learning to be happy with who you are. I loved the science fiction aspect and how each of the kids in the story find their "element". The shopkeeper was an endearing character and I enjoyed reading the end of his story. I highly recommend this book for children and adults alike!

When Alma's parents purchase a law firm and moves her to the town of Four Points, she begins having severe panic attacks. Formerly a happy child who was active and energetic, she becomes quite reclusive, avoiding people and activities she formerly enjoyed. Alma's parents are worried and at a loss as to how to help her. One day, Alma braves the public and goes to the mysterious store in the center of the town. The Shopkeeper presents Alma with a quintescope, since he is convinced he has discovered one of the elements that can help save a falling star. Soon, Alma is teamed up with up with the other Elements: Dustin, Shirin, and Hugo. Together the kids realize, despite their struggles and imperfections, the special something ("Quintessence") that is inside each of them is powerful, especially when put together.

There was a lot to like about this book. First, the characters. There is Alma with her bouts of severe anxiety, Hugo, who is very smart, but struggles socially, Shirin, who is very popular, but hides her intelligence, and Dustin whose anger has led him to become a bully and, even though he realizes he is being mean, does not know how to stop it. I like how Alma feels the "sparks" of something inside her when positive things happen or she faces a struggle and succeed and the contrast of when she has a rough day or feels as though she fails, the spark diminishes. This was a relatable feeling of the feeling of success and positivity in one's life versus the feeling of failure and not being good enough.

This story is a great blend of developing inner strength, overcoming self-imposed adversity, fantasy and science in the form of introducing students to space and the universe.

Quintessence is such a wonderful book full of magic realism with a positive message that everyone has a bit of magic inside. And that bit of magic is quintessence. I loved the dynamics between the children, each having their unique strengths and supporting each other's weaknesses to save the fallen star. (I was reminded of the Mysterious Benedict Society kids). Highly recommend!

Quintessence is a magical Middle Grade novel about a young girl named Alma. She and her family have recently moved to a new town, and the transition has given Alma feelings of anxiety and isolation. Until, that is, she receives a flyer for a new astronomy club in her school. While she and her new friends attempt to save a fallen star, they also make important discoveries about being true to yourself and finding your “quintessence”.

This adventure story has inspirational themes about learning to love yourself and open up to new experiences. The depiction of Alma’s anxiety felt real and heartbreaking. It is important representation for younger readers who might have similar feelings and not know how to express them. I loved the diversity of the characters, and how they related to their elemental forms. The idea of “quintessence” inside each of us that makes us who we are is really heartwarming. I think we can all use the reminder to do things and surround ourselves with people who grow our inner light! The astronomy/magical realism aspect of the story was interesting, but I would have liked more information about fallen stars and the Shopkeeper character. I think this book will appeal to readers of all ages who are looking for a sweet adventure story with a beautiful message.

Thank you to NetGalley for this free review copy in exchange for an honest review!