First of all can we talk about how gorgeous that cover is?? It really was the deal maker for me. Loved the story. Would definitely recommend.

This is a story about our two main characters who have both lost their mothers. This is a novel that explores grief and how they can take on different forms.
This book was written beautifully for the middle grade/young adult reader. As an adult I could still appreciate the writing. I think that this book felt like a warm hug to anyone who is experiencing any sort of grief. The main character Una looses her mother after the birth of her younger brother, and I thought the discussion of how she never assumed her brother had anything to do with her mother's death until she heard the governess talking to another adult. I think that this book really touches on some deep topics, but in a way that is age appropriate and I appreciate that as a mom.
I think that the characters were good and acted accordingly for how old they were supposed to be and that is something that I find so refreshing. I also found the discussion of disabilities with the way that Julian couldn't smell but could hear the plants a special way was such an interesting way to show that just because we may not be able to do things like others that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy things with others.
My only dislike was that I wanted more to the story, but I know that is a me problem and not a book problem because of the audience that this is written for.
I think this is the perfect book for kids between the ages of 10 and 14 and is especially great for any preteen or teen who is or has dealt with the loss of someone close to them.

Fantasy and science fiction are two of my favorite genres. In this book, the two meld healthily together. Princess Una has spent her life in a castle where girls are not important. She wants to be seen and wants other girls to be seen. Julien is in a bad home situation and his hope is to find the flower for the Princess' competition. These two stories intertwine and give us an amazing story.

I wanted to like this! Dual POV whimsical middle-grade? Say less! But unfortunately, I actually reallllly needed the author to say more. This was really clunky and I felt like Johnson didn't really trust her audience and that's a real problem for me, particularly with books for younger folks.

This was an excellent middle grade read. I enjoyed how two kids from opposing worlds within reality, come together and have adventures. It was sweet, fun and enjoyable. I really wanted more resolve with the ending, which is why I only gave this 3 Stars. The beginning of the book is a love letter and you can tell the author devoted so much to her characters. But I just needed a little more of that in the end. Endings are always hard so I understand that. Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

This is a good fantasy/adventure for the middle grade crew. Recommended for elementary libraries in need of fresh fantasy additions.

Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The Other Side of Luck features two dual perspectives. The first is Julien, who is a young pauper and has amazing hearing. And Princess Una. Una has exceptional smell and uses it to try to identify the flower her late mother loved. With a stroke of luck and misfortune, Julien and Una meet and go on an adventure to find a rare flower. It's a beautifully written middle grade novel and a quick read.

Another one I DNF. I couldn’t dive into this, and didn’t want to read more. This one wasn’t my cup of tea and I gave up after a few pages in.

This book was so beautiful. The right word to describe the writing is… mesmerizing. It was absolutely mesmerizing. I loved the characters and really enjoyed the story. Read this if you love lyrical middle grade books with adventure.

The Other Side of Luck is a lyrical poetic middle-grade novel that draws the reader in with beautiful imagery and keeps them present with a strong story.

This book. My heart.

When I see a book that’s being promoted as having a lyrical or poetic style, I’m always drawn to that. Sometimes it’s a bit of a two-edged sword, though, because sometimes I get excited and expect something specific, and then end up disappointed. This time was not one of those times, though!

From the very first page, I loved this book. The writing is definitely more poetic and lyrical. Because both main characters have one really strong sense (smell in one case and hearing in the other), the descriptions for those characters major on their strong sense. I felt like this created a really immersive story. Even though some of the scenes had a little bit of a bird’s-eye-view type feel, the sensory details kept the story feeling really close and personal, super emotive.

In other words, all things I like!

And the themes. Oh goodness. Grief and estrangement. Fear and anxiety. Loneliness. Those were all so deep and well done. Best of all, though, was the exploration of the healing power of friendship and found family. Those all wove together and created such a moving, soothing story. I love it so much.

Every year as I read, there are a few books that I hold on to as possible Christmas gifts for family and friends. This one will be at the top of that list. I think readers who like whimsical, sweet and deep stories like THE FIREBIRD SONG will love this one.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A lyrical middle grade fantasy featuring two children who have both lost their mothers and each have unique abilities. They come together searching for a common flower on this entertaining magical journey. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy. This was just an okay read for me - I had a hard time getting fully invested in the characters/storyline.

Julien has been raised by his father in the village and has learned how to collect plants and herbs to sell to the villagers. Julien uses his talent for listening to help him navigate the world, including identifying plants.
Una has been raised in the palace by servants ever since her mother died. Her father has neglected her and now has a new family to spend time with. Una has the special ability to smell things that others cannot, including how people are feeling. She is losing the smell of her mother and wants to find a way to recapture her smell so that she doesn't lose her mother forever.
When Una's father asks for a rare flower to be found for, Julien sees it as a way to save his father from false imprisonment and Una wants to take charge of her own life. What ensues is an adventure and self-discovery.
A beautifully written story. You cannot help but to root for Una and Julien as they discover more about themselves and each other on their journey.

The writing of this book is so beautiful and really draws you into this world. I also appreciated the special abilities of the two main characters and how their enhanced smell and hearing added to the beauty of the story and helped them on their journey. I did find the actual plot of the story was thin compared to the world building and descriptions. That said this is a beautiful if slightly melancholy story that I think readers looking for a bit of beauty will greatly enjoy.

This story of two children, both who have lost their mothers, is very well written and descriptive. It was refreshing to read this entertaining, fable-esque story.

I became a fan of Ginger Johnson’s with her debut novel, The Splintered Light, and was excited to read her sophomore novel. I was not disappointed. The Other Side of Luck has a more fairy-tale-esque feel to it. And that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it adds a certain charm that you don’t immediately expect.

Each of Johnson’s characters are memorable, with bold, well-developed personalities. This is true from the minor to the major players, creating a richer experience overall. At the center of the story are Una and Julien — each with their own gifts, and each with their own trials. Their strengths play off one another and they’re both compelling in their own right.

The Other Side of Luck is a fast-moving book that readers won’t want to put down. Themes of family and friendship set agains the backdrop of action, adventure, and mystery should appeal to a large cross-section of middle-readers.

An enjoyable, contemplative book that does not go to any extremes. There is violence and struggle to survive but nothing overblown or gratuitous. There is magic but more in the sense of understanding the inherent nature of objects and keeping things in balance than true power. And all of these elements are tools for exploring the relationship with parents and how we perceive others. A lot about what we cling to and what we let go. A pleasant journey that will definitely hold up to multiple reads.

Just a lovely, warm, friendly-feeling middle grade novel. I got an advance copy from NetGalley and I'm so glad I did - I loved going back to this little adventure in the middle of a very chaotic week! Beautiful descriptions and I'm always here for herbal/botanical lyricism!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of The Other Side of Luck!

The Other Side of Luck is a really sweet middle-grade fantasy novel that centers on two characters from completely different walks of life: Una, a princess, and Julien, the son of a poor herbalist. Una is lonely after her mother dies, since she feels that her father prefers her baby brother and her new stepmother. Julien's father is sick and Julien would do anything to help him. When Julien's father is arrested on false charges, Julien works out a plan to save him, and he ends up meeting Una in the process. The two become friends and work together to save those they love and find their place in the world. The world-building is beautiful, and the story just swept me away. I loved getting to know these two sweet young people, and I loved watching their friendship develop. The story is full of hope and is extremely heartwarming. The book deals with some heavy themes in a gentle and loving way, and it is honestly one of the most delightful middle-grade fantasy books I've read in a while.

Highly recommend!

This book was such a delightful book, emphasizing friendship and family bonds with not a hint of romance. A book on self-discovery, it was equally heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Una is a princess, but her life is far from comfortable. After her mother's death, she becomes starved for love, as her father hides himself away in his rooms and her baby brother is hidden from her. She has the special ability of smelling various things and one day, as she's looking out her window, she smells something which she thought she lost with her mother but she doesn't know where it comes from or even what it is. And so begins her journey to find the ever-elusive smell.
Julian is merely a pauper boy, but he loves his ailing father with all his heart. So much that he's willing to put his life at stake as long as he can save him. He and his father are vegetational gatherers, but he also has a secret: he can't smell. He finds plants purely by sound because everything has a distinct tone to it. On the day Julian's father is unjustly arrested, he decides to pursue the highly valuable silva flower to free him.
Together, Una's and Julian's stories interwine to create a compelling narrative filled with kidnapping, criminals, the Soup of Life, hope, and above all else, what love really is. The Other Side of Luck is perfect for readers who seek magic in everyday life.