A Place Called Perfect: 1

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Violet was a wonderful character, though at times a bit too impulsive, and also a bit selfish (though I do get why she acted like that, I would probably have done the same if I was her age + it was my dad). But most of the time I just liked her a whole lot. She had a giant imagination, and she was also the one with the biggest plans. She never gave up, even when everything seemed hopeless. I cried along with her when her mom totally changed.

Lying on her mattress one day, Violet finds a box stuffed in her mattress. Inside the small flat box is a paid of plain spectacles made of wood. When she wears these spectacles, Violet finds that she can see a boy that she couldn't see at all when wearing the other spectacles. Boy, is his name and he tells Violet that the rose tinted spectacles do something to change reality. He tells her that he lives on the other side of the huge wall that surrounds Perfect. Boy goes on to say that the Watchers stop Boy and the other invisibles from entering Perfect. He says that his are outcasts, the unwanted, mainly called the No-Man's-Landers, because they are not perfect. Violet is a spunky and fun character, and I loved seeing her character arc progress throughout the book. She went through quite the time, what with seeing her parents change into people she could barely recognize under her own eyes and all. Boy had a significant role throughout the book- I do wish his character had more in terms of growth, but together he and Violet were a, well, perfect pair. They were both extremely realistic and quirky and quite fun to be with throughout the course of the story. The evil twin Archer brothers are quite very menacing and their plans for Perfect were quite very appalling- they were honestly brilliantly evil villains!

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A Place Called Perfect was my first book. It was published in August 2017 and was a Waterstones Book of the Month. It won numerous awards including Crimefest Children's Book of the Year and was nominated for the Irish Book Awards and Waterstones Children's Prize. All in all, I'd say A Place Called Perfect is the perfect choice if you're looking for a brilliantly spooky, wildly imaginative story this Halloween season- or any time of the year, really. You'd no doubt appreciate the wonderfully creepy world and the fantastically crafted characters, and if you, like me, like your horror in mild doses, this book is for you! Recommended to fans of Coraline, Tim Burton, and the Wizard of Oz. Any book that starts with a map showing secret tunnels under rivers to graveyards and ghost estates is already a winner!

Violet and Boy form a beautiful friendship even-though they have been brought up very differently. They learn to get along together, although there are a few moments where they are not so nice to one another. They are very likeable characters. Violet goes from this little girl who is scared of everything, to one that is brave, resilient and determined. Helena has weaved a vivid tale about Violet, a new girl in a town call Perfect. Everyone wears rose-tinted glasses to stop going blind and promptly lose themselves in being perfect – including Violet’s mum. Her father, an opthalmologist (eye surgeon) is employed by the controlling Archer brothers who run Perfect and manufacture a rather intoxicating tea that perfectionists drink like water. When Violet’s father disappears, she uncovers the truth about Perfect with Boy, who comes from No-Man’s-Land where the rejects of Perfect live. A Place Called Perfect is an engaging, exciting and fun book for readers aged around 9 years plus, though it would be a great book for a parent/guardian to read with their child. The only thing that would have made the book even more gorgeous is illustrations. A bit in the style of the chapter headings. The dialogue, as mentioned earlier, contained a few sexist remarks. This unfortunately was a big turn-off for me.This is not all. There is dark magic and some creepy macabre elements. There are scary plotting villains. So all in all, this book has everything that makes a magical story and I sort of loved it. This book is perfect for Children, young adults and even adults. It's just too alluring and tempting with an enticing storyline. Violet Brown and her parents Eugene and Rose, move to Perfect. Perfect is a perfect town, with perfect citizens who drink perfect tea, but if they take off their special rose tinted glasses, the people are totally blind. As we are following Violet through moving into her new home in Perfect with her parents, we gradually find out more about the town along with her. Her dad got a great job there. The founders of an important business in the town, comes to greet Violet and her family. They even serve them their favorite tea. Apparently, everyone in the town needs to wear glasses, due to something in the air. So they all get fitted for special glasses in town.

Helena Duggan is a graphic designer based in Kilkenny and this is her debut novel aimed at readers age 9+ although it would be equally enjoyed by adults who enjoy magical tales. I am from Kilkenny, a medieval, haunted city in the south of Ireland, which was the inspiration for the town in A Place Called Perfect. I write stories full of adventure because I get bored really easily.

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No sooner did she set her foot in Perfect, she knows that something is not right, that this is no ordinary place. Violet hates her new home, it's too clean, there are so many rules, everyone is so friendly. All in all the town is just too perfect and she can't really fit in. But when her optician father has been offered an almost perfect job in this new location and despite her unwillingness, Violet must do as she is told, so she moves to Perfect. Ms. Duggan’s style of writing actually reminded me of Roald Dahls. The chapters are short, the plot is filled with mystery, adventure and strange occurrences, and the heroes are just normal little children. I am still a bit emotional as this was a terrific book, so bear with me while I try to write a review. Imagine living in a perfect town where everything is neat and tidy, the kids are polite and well behaved and the tea tastes like the best thing you can imagine. Sounds great, right? Well, not if the tea is actually hypnotising you and the glasses you are made to wear twist reality to make everything seem perfect and hide the truth…

Then we have Boy. The second really important character. A boy without parents. A boy who lives in the No-Man's-Land part next to Perfect. At times he was a bit too much, at times he didn't feel like a kid, but then again, I guess that happens when one has lived in the No-Man's-Land for all their life. You just can't be a kid there, only sometimes. The book has a dystopian feel to it, with those people that conform to Perfects society being allowed to stay in Perfect and those that don’t being cast aside to No-Man’s Land. A Place Called Perfect delivers a creepy and whimsical tale on friendship, and fighting for what you believe in.

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The town of Perfect was run by the Archer Twins, George and Edward. Just like the place name, everything was perfect, except for one thing, all the residents went blind not long after arriving and needed special pink rimmed/rose tinted glasses to be able to see again. The series is a bestselling series has sold over 230,000 copies in the UK and counting and is published in 13 languages to date. Perfect has also been optioned for an animated TV series by Jellyfish Productions.