The Crooked Sixpence is the first book in The Uncommoners series written by Jennifer Bell and illustrated by Karl James Mountford. When their grandmother Sylvie is rushed to the hospital, Ivy Sparrow and her annoying big brother Seb cannot imagine what adventure lies in store. Soon their house is ransacked by unknown intruders, and a very strange policeman turns up on the scene, determined to apprehend them, with a toilet brush. Ivy and Seb make their escape only to find themselves in a completely uncommon world, a secret underground city called Lundinor where ordinary objects have amazing powers. There are belts that enable the wearer to fly, yo-yos that turn into weapons, buttons with healing properties, and other enchanted objects capable of very unusual feats. But the forces of evil are closing in fast, and when Ivy and Seb learn that their family is connected to one of the greatest uncommon treasures of all time, they must race to unearth the treasure and get to the bottom of a family secret before it’s too late.

The Crooked Sixpence is a fantasy coming of age story with great middle grade characters and compelling world. While the idea of object holding magic and family secrets about magic, are not new ideas, I think the characters and action made the concepts fresh and exciting. The caring and grit Ivy has made me happy. I love seeing girl characters using both compassion and intelligence to save the day rather than one or the other. The family relationships and secret were well done, although more could have been done with Ivy and Seb. I found that they went from the typical siblings that annoy or ignore each other to perfect team without really addressing anything or even noticing. I did think that the mistrust of those they met in Lundinor, and the coming understanding and acceptance of the way it works was very well done. I enjoyed the world building and character development, and I would love to learn more about the creatures and object that populate the realm.

The Crooked Sixpence is one that I had a had a couple false starts with, only because it was not what I was in the mood to read the first couple times I picked it up. Once I actually get reading past the first couple pages I was completely engaged. I enjoyed the characters, the story, and the world. I look forward to seeing more from this series.

Well written fantasy/ adventure tale kids are going to get swept into. I'd guess maybe Harry Potter fans would enjoy this book.

An elaborate 'uncommon' world is built parallel to our common world: magical, scary and exciting all wrapped up together. A brother and sister accidentally end up there trying to solve the mystery of their grandmother's torn up house while she recovers in the emergency room from an accident. While there, they begin to learn more about their grandmother who has had amnesia for 40 years, yet has been keenly missed from this uncommon world the entire time. The overarching tale works but the book has too much going on with subplots and details that often are left hanging or not fully realized. It seems clear that this is meant as a series but neither the brother nor the sister are very compelling. The better character is the boy forced to befriend them and pretend to be a thief. He makes a better continuing lead. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

The Crooked Sixpence is the first book in Jennifer Bell’s The Uncommoners series of middle grade books.

Ivy and her brother Seb are the only other ones in the house when their beloved Granma Sylvie is rushed to the hospital; their parents travel for work, and it is up to them to answer questions are ensure that she is taken care of. As if that were not daunting enough for two children, little do they realize that the hospitalization serves as the catalyst for a series of mysterious events.

To make a long story short (and to avoid giving away too much of the story), Ivy and Seb are thrust into a fantastic world where people use everyday objects like pens and toilet brushes in very unconventional ways. This world of Uncommoners baffles them, and they quickly learn that there is a lot about Granma Sylvie that they did not know. And unfortunately for them, there are people lurking in the shadows who are convinced that Ivy and Seb know family secrets that have been hidden for over forty years. These people are willing to do anything they can in order to discover these secrets and the unlimited power that comes with them.

My girls liked this book quite a bit. It took us awhile to get through this book because a hectic afterschool schedule made for a rushed evening routine, and that left very little time for reading together at night. However, when we did read, they sat riveted to the events of the story. They enjoy fantasy stories, so this book was right up their alley. I think it has just the right amount of scariness- enough to make things interesting, but not enough to trouble younger readers.

I would recommend The Crooked Sixpence to middle grade readers. There is a lot of ground to cover, and I like the way that things were wrapped up nicely by the end of the story. There are, of course, unresolved plot points that will be addressed in subsequent books, but it was nice to have a sense of closure. I definitely got a little misty-eyed at the end of the book. The girls and I are looking forward to reading the next book in the Uncommoners series.

This is a clever fantasy with a twist. I hope the author quickly brings the series back do the Uncommoners become common!

Just not for me, didn't enjoy it and could't finish it.

Ivy's grandmother has always been a bit mysterious. She was in an accident on Twelfth Night in 1969 and lost all her memories. But now, after an accident sends her to the hospital, things start to get weird. Ivy and Seb soon find themselves in a strange new world and a mystery that was set in motion on that night in 1969.

What are uncommoners and uncommon objects? What role did her grandmother and other relatives play? Most importantly how can Ivy and Seb figure everything out and save their parents from the Dirge?

This was a meh for me. Part of my issue has been time and so my reading has been choppy. I will be moving along nicely and then get interrupted. That being said though overall I didn't find enough to keep me riveted and because it is the first in a series there are loose ends. It didn't end horribly but there is much more to be done.

I love the imagination behind Lundinor and its uncommon objects, the quest that the children embark on to save their beloved amnesiac grandma.

If you have a Harry Potter shaped hole in your heart, try filling it with The Uncommoners. A vivid and magical world you can dive into.

(incomplete review)

This is what I've been looking for all this time I wanted another journey into a different magical world! I would have bathe in it were I a kid, and I'm still pretty much digging it as an (unwilling-to-admit-being-one) adult. A lot of the reviews were... well, while not outright using the word plagiarize, that's the accusation I hear... And being a hardcore HP fan, I want to laugh at their faces.

I always knew I don't read enough, but I have the sense to NOT egotistically think everything ELSE is copying from the books I've read. To me, those kind of comments would only reveal how common senseLESS you are. Anyways, I'll be honest and admit that after seeing those reviews, it's hard not to intentionally look for parallels, but I can say that at least to me, nothing was on the level of "straight out of an HP book" as some of the reviews claimed.

I'd love to have an uncommon suitcase, thank you very much.

What a fun and exciting new series!! I just loved the mix of adventure and family. What a treat to read!!

This was a surprisingly delightful and cute read. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it with common things such as a toilet brush used as a magical wand, but it actually turned out to be quite quirky and fun to read. Ivy and her older brother, Seb go on an adventure like no other. It was very entertaining and I can't wait for my 10 year old son to read this.

Ivy's grandmother was in an auto accident on Twelfth Night in 1969, which left her with retrograde amnesia. This hasn't affected Ivy and her brother Seb's life much, although they are familiar with the story, and with the only photograph her grandma Sylvie has from before. When Sylvie falls and has to go to the hospital, odd things start to happen. Creepy people show up at the hospital, and Ivy and Seb end up getting sucked through a suitcase into an alternate London, Lundinor, where there are markets that sell "uncommon" objects; things that have bits of people's spirits in them. Ivy can tell just by touching an object if it has this quality, and she starts to find out secrets about her grandmother's past. There is a sinister organization called the Dirge, who were looking for the Uncommon Goods. It turns out that Ivy's grandfather was part of it. The immediate threats are contained by the end of the book, Sylvie starts to remember a little about what when on in her previous life, and Ivy and Seb are prepared to find out more and return to Lundinor for more adventures.
Strengths: I hadn't wanted to read this book, but once I started, the exquisite world building sucked me right in. The blurb on the cover says "Part Tim Burton, part J.K.Rowling", and I have to agree. Bell did an excellent job of distilling facets of Harry Potter that were appealing (saving the world, alternate universe, quirky clothes and delicious food) but putting them into the story in a fresh way. Uncommoners are collectors of things, so their outfits are "Hobsmatch", lemon squeezers are lights, and Sylvie's ancestral house can only be located by someone in the family. The threat of the Dirge is serious, but not overly scary. Valian is a good guide, and Ivy and Seb get along. Unlike The Iron Trial series, another attempt at duplicating the intriguing aspects of Harry Potter, this has a fairly pleasant world and MUCH better food. I feel like I'm not doing justice to this one.
Weaknesses: The parents were sent off on a trip at the beginning, which I guess was necessary, but I would have liked to see them included in the adventure a little bit.
What I really think: I don't buy every fantasy book out there because there are SOOOOO many, but I will be very happy to purchase this one. Great debut!

I think that this book bit off more than it could chew with saying that it was a must read for anyone with a Hogwarts-shaped hole in their lives. I love me some Harry Potter and the whole time I was (trying to) read this book I kept comparing it to the Wizarding World - and it was paling in comparison. In fact, I got about 1/4 through the book before I decided it just was not for me.

If you decide to read this book - go in with an open mind and ignore any similarities it may have to Harry Potter and perhaps you will have a better go with it than I did. The problem could also be that I was a kid when Harry Potter first came out so I was more easily wrapped up in that world and now as an adult I can't really get that same feeling. I had hoped I could have finished it, but if I try 2-3 times and can't get into it, I just have to move on. Too many books, too little time :)
I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

It all started with Granma Sylvie slipped in the kitchen and hurt her hip. She had to be rushed by ambulance to the hospital and the golden bracelet that she always wore had to be snipped off. Or that is what Ivy Sparrow and her brother Seb thought. After returning home that evening, they are chased by mysterious men, climb into a suitcase and enter a brand new world. As if being chased by scary men and introduced to suitcase travel isn't enough for one day, Seb is arrested and Ivy and her new acquaintance and wanted thief, Valian, embark on an adventure to free Seb and solve a mystery that leads them to the truth about themselves and their mysterious Granma Sylvie's past.

The Uncommoners is wonderfully well-written. I want to travel to Lundinor and see the markets and be an Uncommoner myself. She has created a captivating world with wonderfully lovable characters. Jennifer Bell is definitely a name I will add to my "need-to-read" list. I look forward to the next installment!

I enjoyed this book. I did not feel like I was reading a HP remake, but a new adventure. There are many characters in the book and I look forward to seeing them developed more.

Books of this sort are always going to be compared to Harry Potter. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Rowling set a high standard that pushes other fantasy writers to be more. Its not enough to give a character magic; you have to create a world, complex rules, and a fantastic villain. Bell does pretty well with these elements. Lundinor is complex with lots of consistent magic rules. The book has a complete plot on its own while also contributing to a larger series plot. Characterization is not particularly complex but with more volumes coming we can expect to see depth added in the future. I wouldn't put it under the "best book ever" banner but it's solidly entertaining and well worth the time spent reading.

One selling point of this book is the promise of filling the Hogwarts sized-hole in your life. When my son was in second grade, his friends were reading the Harry Potter books. Because there was some controversy over the content, I read the books first, and I was delighted by how imaginative the books were. However, I also found that some of the words were meant for an older audience, as the very young would not know what they were or how to pronounce them. The series is supposed to be for children aged 11 and up. Most second graders are around age 7. My son and I read the books together with frequent stops so I could explain words to him that he did not know the meaning of.

This book on the other hand was written for children aged 8 and up. The language is simple enough that second graders can understand it, and I believe most of them would enjoy this book. The characters ages fit in with the recommended ages, and the story has a bit of suspense for the young readers. The magical items are things they would find around the house and they do things that are sometimes helpful and occasionally amusing. My only real complaint is how Seb treats Valian, the young thief, early in the book. While it is understandable that they don’t trust him, Seb is ruder than he should be. Although that does change when both sides have the opportunity to understand what the other has experienced.

I consider this your pre Harry Potter book, and I recommend it for young readers.

This book was very charming. The.l characters are very likeable. The story was very creative! It kept me captivated for the final page and I'm looking forward to the sequel!