Alayna's Book Review Corner: Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher

Stoneheart: Decent Middle-Grade Fantasy Marketed as Young Adult

Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher follows twelve-year-old George Chapman and kicks off a young adult sci-fi/fantasy trilogy. Filled with adventure and fantasy, it's a decent read. Though it's marketed toward a Young Adult audience, this book—and the rest of the series—feels more appropriate for a Middle Grade reader.

The Plot

After a close encounter with what should have been a harmless stone dragon, George is pulled into a hidden layer of London—one teeming with feuding statues. He unexpectedly finds “help” in the form of a stone gunman and a girl named Edie, who introduces herself by smacking him in the face—a great start to a questionable friendship. Together, they navigate this bizarre underworld as George searches for a mysterious artifact known as the “stoneheart," which may hold the key to escaping this nightmare. The only problem? No one’s sure if it even exists. And if it does, how can he get it?

He felt the red handprint on his face. "I don't like you. Don't hit me again."

The Pacing

The story moves quickly, though some scenes slow to a near frame-by-frame pace to build tension or spotlight key moments. The characters are fun and believable for their age, with much of their development revealed through banter or, more honestly, arguments.

The writing can feel a bit stiff at times, with limited emotion. One recurring annoyance is the overuse of certain words—especially "looked." Characters are constantly looking at things. I got tired of looking at "looked." After several repeats on a single page, it starts to pull the reader out of the story.

The point of view is occasionally inconsistent, and there’s little to no distinction in the narrative voices between characters. While the book is marketed as Young Adult, both the tone and the characters place it in Middle Grade territory.

Conclusion?

Overall, Stoneheart is an enjoyable read with interesting character dynamics and a few solid twists—a good read for a middle-grade fantasy lover.