The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd

The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd is one of the seven books the HS Newbery Club is reading, discussing, and voting on during the month of September.

From Amazon...
Everyone in Emma's family is special. Her ancestors include Revolutionary War spies, brilliant scientists, and famous musicians--every single one of which learned of their extraordinary destiny through a dream.

For Emma, her own dream can't come soon enough. Right before her mother died, Emma promised that she'd do whatever it took to fulfill her destiny, and she doesn't want to let her mother down.

But when Emma's dream finally arrives, it points her toward an impossible task--finding a legendary treasure hidden in her town's cemetery. If Emma fails, she'll let down generations of extraordinary ancestors . . . including her own mother. But how can she find something that's been missing for centuries and might be protected by a mysterious singing ghost?

Reviews...

• Natalie Lloyd weaves surrealism and suspense to make for a quick and compelling read. Balancing dreamlike description with engaging action is no easy feat, but Lloyd succeeds for the most part in carrying the narrative forward. -Emma Cantor
• “In a folksy tale laced with supernatural mystery, Lloyd poetically conveys the depth of 12-year-old Emma’s emotions as she embarks on her quest to uncover a legendary secret … The book’s evocative setting and cast of eccentric minor characters will draw readers into Emma’s world – one warmed by friendship, love, and hope – to share in her discovery that the most valuable treasures lie within.” -Publishers Weekly
• “A bouquet of quirks, whimsy, sweetness, and magic.” -Kirkus
• “Filled with beautiful writing, compelling characters and just the slightest touch of the fantastic, The Key to Extraordinary draws readers in from the first page and carries them along straight through to the satisfying ending. Destiny Dream or no, Emma Pearl is anything but ordinary.” -BookPage

If you read The Key to Extraordinary please comment on this post using the six listed criteria. Rate the author's success in each area out of 5 and include your rating in the comments. Also include the book's total score out of 30. Provide evidence from the book to support your comments and your ratings. We will use these scores to help us determine which books move on to our final selection round. 

Character Traits/Development: This will cover the main characters and any supporting characters that seem important and/or interesting. What are the traits of these characters? What type of people are they? Do we see him/her change throughout the course of the story? If so, how and why?

Setting: Where and when does the story take place? Why do you think the author chose this setting? How does it lend itself to helping the development of the story?

Plot: What are the main events in the story? What are the events that take place that cause a change to happen in the main character(s)?

Theme: What are the big ideas? What lesson does the author want us to learn from this story?

Word Choice/Language: Describe the word choice used by the author. How does this help the reader to understand and visualize the events, characters, and message of the story?

Voice: How does the author develop the distinct voice of the characters in the story? Why do you think the author did that? Does it make the reader respond in a certain way to the different characters? How?

Finally...
What is your opinion? Do you think this should be considered for a final vote for our Mock Newbery Award? Why or why not?