BOOK REVIEW - "The Balter of Ashton Harper" by Millie Florence

Ohhh, The Balter of Ashton Harper.

Believe me when I tell you it is so pretty. From the cover to the prose, Millie paints a beautiful picture that will make your heart sing in delight. I listened to the 2019 Little Women soundtrack while reading the first few chapters, and I would highly recommend doing so because it goes along with the book so well!

About the book:

Ashton Harper and his sisters are invited to audition for a ballroom dancing scholarship at Overmorrow Academy, which could be a dream come true or a hope-crushing disaster. Ashton fully expects the latter. On the way to Overmorrow, mysterious magic wreaks havoc on the travelers. Seperated from his sisters, Ashton tries to make sense of a power that he thought existed only in fairytales. Soon much more is at stake than attending the school of his dreams

My review:

First off, can I say what a fun book this is? It's not often you stumble across a historical-fantasy middle grade novel with all the cozy vibes. Herbs, tea, first snow of the year, dancing, found family - it's all so good! I seriously cannot recommend this book enough.

Characters -

Ashton Harper is the main character, and he's more on the uncertain side. He has dreams, but he's afraid of dreaming those dreams because he fears if they break, he will break. His personality and the way he was written makes him incredibly realistic and his character arc is amazing!! One of the best arcs I've ever read.

Drusilla is the oldest of the three siblings, and she's more of your obsessed-with-boys type of girl. She got on my nerves, until the end . . . I won't say anymore because of spoilers, but eeep!

Zizi is by far my favorite. She's 11, such a positive girl, and cares deeply about her siblings. Her and Ashton make the PERFECT brother-sister pair. You'll find yourself cheering her on till the end!

Themes -

Not giving up on your dreams, sibling relationships, the realization that 'you can't do this alone'.

Language -

As always, Millie's books are delightfully clean and can be trusted for the whole family!

Age rating-

I would personally recommend 10+, although this would make a delightful read-aloud for younger children as well.

Overall -

Overall, I loved this book. Millie mentions in the acknowledgments that she wrote this during Covid in 2020, and when she showcased the themes weaved into the story, it's kinda crazy how relatable it gets. This is definitely one I wish I could've read during Covid!

I was so excited to finally get my hands on a copy, and you will not find yourself disappointed! Great for a late-night read, but it's enjoyable for the whole family as well!

Let's Talk

Have you read The Balter of Ashton Harper? If so, who's your favorite character? What are you most looking forward to reading this month? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,