Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This is a love letter to every kid who would rather be reading than much of anything else. I felt the same vibes as reading A Wrinkle in Time, which is a huge favorite of mine! Just enough magic and. creativity to keep me reading all while keeping it cozy too.

An ultimately sad (or perhaps bittersweet?) about a young (& admittedly slightly odd) girl who learns to find her voice. Strong fantasy elements, familiarity with popular Anglo-American novels is a benefit but not a requirement. TW for bullying throughout, although this situation is eventually and positively resolved. It’s unfortunate there was not more of an effort to consider issues of diversity, the lack of this emphasis makes the work feel somewhat dated already.

This novel started as a fun fantasy and turned into something more: a book about how books change the world by impacting our perceptions of the world around us. This is a book that would make a great read-together or read-aloud for readers of all ages.

Penelope - or Poppy, and she's more commonly called - is the daughter of a pair of historical renovators; because her parents cannot bring the buildings they renovate to them, every couple of years, the family moves to the vicinity of a new building. It's never been a problem for Poppy or her older brother Luca before, but this time, Poppy is in middle school, and her methods of making friends, which have always worked before, fall flat. Without friends at school, Poppy retreats to the friends who have always been there for her, the novels that she loves, most particularly The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - which could almost be the setting for what happens next. By chance, Poppy encounters a water nymph, who offers a deal, one that goes horribly awry in a way that Poppy could never have imagined, and certainly never intended. Recommended for upper elementary to adult.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Poppy's family has moved around restoring old buildings for as long as Poppy has been alive, but this is the first move where she hasn't immediately been able to make friends. She turns to her favorite books, as usual, but when she saves a nymph on the construction site, she realizes that magic isn't only contained in books. But she doesn't realize that her new magic has a cost, and soon she learns the true value of what she's traded away. Is it too late to stop it?

This book cleverly ponders the ways that something small—a line in a story or a word of encouragement—can have unforeseen consequences. The magical elements are well crafted, and Poppy's character arc feels deeply authentic. I also kind of want a winged lion after reading this, but I don't want to give up my favorite stories in exchange. Hmm. Tough choice!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor is an imaginative middle-grade story that is enjoyable for both youngsters and adults. I enjoy books about books (and bookstores or libraries) so this one caught my attention quickly.

Although this is a fun make-believe story, it holds so many components that shape us and make the story applicable in our everyday lives.

Poppy is delightful and she conjures up so many memories of my own, making this a nostalgic peek into my past (of sorts.) Like Poppy, I moved often and found comfort in the familiarity of my books.

With magic, wishes, nymphs, and a flying lion, this is a highly inspirational and adventurous tale that reveals how we are shaped and influenced by the books we read. Fun, magical, and visionary, it’s an entertaining folktale for any age.

Fantastic read! I loved the main character - she was so relatable! The relationship between her and the lion is so sweet and pure. The message of this wonderful story is strong! Books change lives.

This book has a fascinating premise: what would our lives be like without the books that have shaped us? When Poppy makes a deal with the water nymph she discovers in the old pool of the manor her parents are renovating, she strikes a deal to gain a flying lion, who turns out to be a wonderful companion, but at what cost? The water nymph takes another book away each day that Poppy has the lion, and her world and the people in it begin to change. This is such an interesting story, and I turned the pages quickly because I needed to know that everything would be okay. Poppy is a relatable character who was easy to root for, and Sampson, the winged lion, instantly captured my heart.

The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor is a gentle fantasy novel with a good message.

Poppy's family moves around a lot, as her parents restore old homes. The latest, Lark-Hayes Manor, is their largest yet, and a dream project of her mother's. Poppy believes in magic. Her favorite book is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and she'd rather be in a fantasy world than the real one. Her older brother fits right in at his new school, but Poppy feels out of place and invisible.

When she rescues a water nymph, it offers her a wish. Poppy first wishes to go to Narnia, but the nymph scoffs at that. Then she wishes for her very own magical lion. Unfortunately, she doesn't realize what the cost is (and there's always a cost for magic) - the nymph is stealing books from the real world, starting with her precious Narnia books.

The winged lion, named Sampson, is wonderful, but as more books disappear from the world, Poppy must decide what is more important - keeping her lion or keeping the world full of the magic of books.

Poppy is the kind of kid I was - more happy in the world of books than at middle school - and there are a lot of kids who will really identify with her. The disappearing books have an interesting effect on the world, and I really liked that aspect of the story. For kids who still believe in magic (and adults who wish they could), this is a great escape from the real world!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

"Charming" is the perfect word for this book. There are lovable characters, strong themes, abounding literary references, and intriguing magic.

Poppy Woodlock is not excited about her family's umpteenth move; her parents have a new renovation project at the Lark-Hayes Manor that moves them to Oregon. She just knows she's going to struggle with fitting in again. She thinks she glimpses magic in the mansion, though, so she returns at night and manages to save a water nymph and receives a wish in return. She trades her favorite book (<i>The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe</i>) for a magical flying lion, but soon realizes that the trade was far more than she thought.

Poppy realizes the impacts book have on us all as her family's book collection (along with their memories) start disappearing one by one. There are also great lessons about trying to fit in, being true to yourself, and trusting others. This is a lovely fantasy with action and heart. I enjoyed this read and plan to recommend it to my fantasy lovers and literature lovers!

The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor is an absolutely magical read. I did not expect the emotional attachment I would have towards Poppy and her lion. I was touched by this book and transported back in time to when I first picked up my first ~magical~ read. I cannot imagine the person I would have become without their influence and The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor explores that.

I hope this becomes a new children's classic and Hartman considers a movie because this is one of those rare books that will change lives.

Thank you to the publisher for granting my wish.

Thank you to Little Brown and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book was a delight! There's something about Middle Grade that evokes such whimsy and magic, and The Lion of Lark Hayes Manor was no different. Poppy is a delightful main character. I think a lot of young readers will relate to her. She loves books and magic, and after years of moving for her parent's job, she struggles to fit in. When she realizes that her parents are worried that her love of books and magic is a sign that she's struggling, she is determined to prove them wrong.

Poppy is a huge fan of the Narnia series, so it shows up a lot in the book, but if you've every loved a portal fantasy, you will experience the nostalgia of those magical stories while reading this one!

I'd highly recommend this to Middle Grade readers and think it would make a great read aloud for families!

"A charming middle-grade novel about old magic, new adventures, a winged lion learning to roar, and a young girl fighting to be heard." Well, who wouldn't want to read about that? I started the book and the author had me within the first three lines. This author is new to me, and I do hope she writes many more books! Although I am a book lover so I may be biased, I think anyone would love this book: children and adults, avid readers and reluctant readers. The characters are well-developed, the flow is amazing, and the story is truly terrific. I highly recommend The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor.
My deepest thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced ARC. I feel lucky!

In general a nice story. Not what I expected from the blurb but it was still good. Oh good grief. I don't really have 100 words for this one. It's a nice story that I will recommend to my patrons.

Poppy loves reading and can’t understand why everyone else doesn’t love it too. To Poppy books are magical. She’s socially awkward, often feels invisible and is most comfortable when she loses herself inside a book. When the family moves to Oregon so her parents can renovate Lark-Hayes Manor her magical fantasy world becomes real. She makes a deal with an evil nymph who gives her a winged lion cub in exchange for her favorite book. But as the cub grows, more and more books disappear; her grandmother’s journal, the inspiration for the renovation business – gone. Her brother’s favorite graphic novel – gone. Her favorite teacher’s book the Odyssey which he’s assigned as a class project – gone. And with them go all memories of the book and why it was important to the person who originally loved it. Now it’s up to Poppy to figure out how to get the books back so life can return to normal. This is a wonderful middle grade fantasy in which Poppy, with the help of Samson, the winged lion finds her voice and learns to roar. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Poppy’s family has yet again moved to another state where her parents will begin renovating an old run-down estate (their business). One night she follows a sound to the rundown swimming pool where she encounters a water nymph. Do not think Arial – no, more like the Wicked Witch of the West. Poppy makes a deal with said nymph – her favorite book “The Tales of Narnia” for a flying lion. Poppy hides the baby Sampson away, but it soon become apparent that as Sampson grows, more books disappear and not just from shelves, but from people’s memory. Books that have influenced her family’s and other’s lives. Can she get the books and their important memories back without sacrificing her beloved Sampson?

Wow---what an amazing story! This book is full of magic. Poppy is a girl who lives through the stories she reads until some read magic starts to change things. Follow Poppy as she learns that sometimes we have to let go of what we think we want the most in order to have what really matters. I laughed, I cried and I cheered Poppy on. Can't wait to read this book with my class.

"What would happen if you'd never read that one book that changed your life?"
This book was laugh-out-loud funny and completely delightful. Don't read the back copy! It gives away one of the great surprises of the book. I hardly even want to write a review to avoid spoilers. This is a wonderful middle grade debut about the power of storytelling in our lives, the importance of having the space to find your own voice at the time that is right for you, and incredible depictions of magic. The voice is pitch perfect for middle grade readers, Poppy and Sampson are an amazing team, and the magical cat-and-mouse game between Poppy and the antagonist had me on the edge of my seat. My daughter and I are walking around the house calling each other "tiny-faced mortals." LOL Thank you so much to Aubrey Hartman for writing this wonderful book and for your incredibly generous author's note. It had me in tears and hoping for healing. Highly recommend!! Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read early.

This book is perfect for fans of The Neverending Story and Narnia, but it is completely it's own beautiful story about why books matter and why we love them so much. A young girl who is an avid reader of fantasy wishes to find magic in the real world, and when her parents purchase an old manor her wishes come true! This should be a first purchase for libraries.

A lovely story about the power of stories and how the books we love shape us. A sensitive and realistic depiction of parental marital issues. And, of course, The delight of a winged lion inspired by Aslan.