Review - The Ultra Violets

The Ultra Violets by Sophie Bell

* Book received from the publisher for review

2 gnomes and a gnome hat out of 5 gnomes

This is a fun read but would have been greatly enhanced if it was shorter. According to Amazon this book has an, “Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up.”  I know I’m not exactly in that age demographic but I like to think that I have a long attention span this book though took entirely too long to read.

I love the illustrations that are included as part of the story, I wish there had been even more illustrations because they add a lot to the story.  It feels like a comic book mixed with a cartoon and would have been even better with more visuals to pack more of a punch.  The dialect/slang of the story is funny but at times it feels like the story is trying too hard to make up words/sound cool.   

The main characters are well done and you find out a little bit about each girl along with their babysitter Candace.  Iris, Cheri, Opaline, and Scarlet start as the best of friends who have an almost Powerpuff Girls kind of accident in a lab.  The story then picks up 4 years later when they’re all back together again.  My favorite character is Scarlet because she’s the most feisty out of the group and she develops a very interesting talent. Cheri is another great character because she cares so much about animals.  Opal and Iris are kind of two different ends of a wide spectrum.  Iris is super happy and Opal is the nervous/paranoid one of the group.

The plot meanders a bit but their chemistry as a group is what kept me reading.  The big bad of the story is just told to you outright and the badish character doesn’t take too long to be revealed.

The story’s goofy energy and fun giggly characters are worth reading about and if you’re looking for a book with a comic/cartoon-like feel, than this may be the book for you.