Rockstar Book Tours presents... FINCH HOUSE by Ciera Burch - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the FINCH HOUSE by Ciera Burch Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. This book was already on my radar with when this tour came a calling, so I simply knew I had to take part!  Check out my review post, make sure to enter the giveaway, and then click on over to the other sites participating in the tour for more bookish fun! 

Title: FINCH HOUSE

Author: Ciera Burch

Pub. Date: September 5, 2023

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 208

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/FINCH-HOUSE

Encanto meets Coraline in this spooky middle grade story that deals with family ties, fear of change, and generational trauma as it follows a girl who must convince an old, haunted house to release its hold on her and her family.

Eleven-year-old Micah has no interest in moving out of her grandfather’s house. She loves living with Poppop and their shared hobby of driving around rich neighborhoods to find treasures in others’ trash. To avoid packing, Micah goes for a bike ride and ends up at Finch House, the decrepit Victorian that Poppop says is Off Limits. Except when she gets there, it’s all fixed up and there’s a boy named Theo in the front yard. Surely that means Finch House isn’t Off Limits anymore? But when Poppop finds her there, Micah is only met with his disappointment.

By the next day, Poppop is nowhere to be found. After searching everywhere, Micah’s instincts lead her back to Finch House. But once Theo invites her inside, Micah realizes she can’t leave. And that, with its strange whispers and deep-dark shadows, Finch House isn’t just a house…it’s alive.

Can Micah find a way to convince the house to let her go? Or will she be forced to stay in Finch House forever?

 

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This was one of the SPOOKIEST Middle Grade Fiction titles I've read...and that's only the beginning of all it captures between the pages!

I think the reason it hits harder than some is the basis in reality.  It stakes it's claim in the history of the house, builds on the story from once upon a time with connections to people, places, and issues that feel real, then feeds in a bit of otherworldliness that feels JUST RIGHT, or wrong depending on where you're at in the story, but it's a GOOD kind of wrong!  Micah was such a spunky character.  She had her own mind, and while not disrespectful, certainly didn't always listen to what she was told to do.  I get it...it's hard to tow the line when you don't know the WHY behind the reason, but more often than not, there's a good one hiding in plain sight, and that's something she learns the hard way...could've been harder though if not for her clear head, and new friend Theo.

  I was intrigued as she followed the pull of the house.  I was pulled in myself, especially with the little doors that didn't open (or DID they?!), and the mysterious room, the whispers that sound just so familiar, and the heartbreak in feeling like everything that was in reach just fell through our fingers.  She was trying so very hard to do the right thing, that the right thing ended up being wrong at the time, but right in the end.  There's a mystery about Finch House, and it's closer to home than she knows, but what she really discovers isn't the heart of Finch House at all.  What she really discovers is that mysteries are fine and dandy, but family, friends, and heartfelt promises mean a whole lot more than satisfying that little twinge of curiosity. 

So, whether you like a good mystery, a spooky ghosty story, or a heartfelt tale of family near and far just trying to stay connected across the miles (or time...just saying...), there's something here for you.  I might suggest that younger readers hold off on reading it at night because things that go bump may seem a little bit more haunted after reading this tale, but you do you!  

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About Ciera Burch:

Ciera Burch is a lifelong writer and ice cream aficionado. She has a B.A from American University and an MFA from Emerson College. Her fiction has appeared in American Literary Magazine, Underground, the art and literary journal of Georgia State University, Stork, and Blackbird. Her work was also chosen as the 2019 One City, One Story read for the Boston Book Festival.

When she’s not reading or baking, she can be found listening to true crime podcasts, eating ice cream, and advocating for diverse kids lit. While she is originally from New Jersey, she currently resides in Washington, D.C with her stuffed animals, plants, and far too many books.

Find her on Twitter @CieraBurch017 and on Instagram @cierasburch. She’d rather you not find her on Tumblr.

 

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

 

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~~~   GIVEAWAY   ~~~

1 winner will receive a finished copy of FINCH HOUSE, US Only.

Ends September 5th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Special thanks to Rockstar Book Tours for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the publisher for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on this horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to celebrate its book birthday September 5th, 2023, so mark your calendar or pre order your copy today!  Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more...

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/21/2023	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
8/21/2023	Confessions of the Perfect Mom	Excerpt/IG Post
8/22/2023	@katherinebichler	TikTok Post
8/22/2023	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
8/23/2023	@gsreadingspree	IG Review
8/23/2023	Gryffindorbookishnerd	IG Review
8/24/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
8/24/2023	pluvioreads	Review
8/25/2023	Jaime_of_gryffindor	IG Review
8/25/2023	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

8/28/2023	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
8/28/2023	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
8/29/2023	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
8/29/2023	popthebutterfly	Review/IG Post
8/30/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
8/30/2023	travelersguidetobooks	IG Review
8/31/2023	The Momma Spot	Review
8/31/2023	Pagesforpaige	IG Review
9/1/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review
9/1/2023	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!