jazzyjan94's review against another edition
3.0
It took me forever to get through The Names They Gave Us because I was in a major reading slump. It was also a hard book to read because I myself am a Pastor’s Kid and I am very close to my mom and I can’t imagine going through what Lucy goes through with her mom being re-diagnosed with cancer. I felt like a lot of Lucy’s reactions and struggles were pretty accurate, however there were some of the things that she seemed okay with that seemed unnatural because I know I personally would have been in more shock if I were to be confronted with certain issues. 3/5 Stars.
scrollsofdragons's review against another edition
2.0
Lucy, the protagonist, was just bland and so the first part of the book before the camp was so boring, only the camp and the people in it were the only good thing about it and made it an okay read rather then a shitty read.
Then there was the religion which whoever lied and told me the religion was not a big part of the story, dude seriously? I avoid books with a focus on religion because I don't agree with any of it, like my personal beliefs are opposite to everything the church says so, so I tend to avoid for that reason. But it wasn't too forced in your face so I appreciate that.
And what's with that fricking ending? Told us fuck all.
Then there was the religion which whoever lied and told me the religion was not a big part of the story, dude seriously? I avoid books with a focus on religion because I don't agree with any of it, like my personal beliefs are opposite to everything the church says so, so I tend to avoid for that reason. But it wasn't too forced in your face so I appreciate that.
And what's with that fricking ending? Told us fuck all.
thebookdance's review against another edition
5.0
BEAUTIFUL
That's what this book was.
From beginning to end.
I really loved the story, I'm glad I decided to read it after a recommendation from my favorite booktuber, she usually has the same taste as me on contemporary books.
It's such a nice idea to have a camp for people who are going through a bad time, I believe that in reality things wouldn't go as smoothly, but it's the thought that counts.
I LOVED the friendship between the counselors, they were so important to each other and valued their friendship a lot. I think it's really awesome. And I loved all of them, and how they were all so completely different but so great together.
And of course that Lucy and Henry were bound to happen, all those times in that room talking or he was reading and she was playing the piano. I loved it.
And how she helped all those kids in a way, it was wonderful that she was able to teach that girl how to swim. And I wasn't expecting her mom to have been at camp before, much less that she and Brian had a kid and gave her up for adoption? That was big, I wish we got to know her though. I liked her mom, she was funny even while sick, I wish the book ended with her free from cancer.
I really liked the whole 'religious' aspect of the story. I'm not religious in the slightest but I do like to learn about it even though I'm not sure it I believe in God or not, I guess it's nice that there are people who do believe.
I can't wait to dive into more Emery Lord, because now that she's on my radar, I have to check out the rest of her work.
That's what this book was.
From beginning to end.
Spoiler
It portraits such a nice message, I just wish it was a bit longer, I wanted to see how her mother's situation would evolve, and see everyone until the last day of camp.I really loved the story, I'm glad I decided to read it after a recommendation from my favorite booktuber, she usually has the same taste as me on contemporary books.
It's such a nice idea to have a camp for people who are going through a bad time, I believe that in reality things wouldn't go as smoothly, but it's the thought that counts.
I LOVED the friendship between the counselors, they were so important to each other and valued their friendship a lot. I think it's really awesome. And I loved all of them, and how they were all so completely different but so great together.
And of course that Lucy and Henry were bound to happen, all those times in that room talking or he was reading and she was playing the piano. I loved it.
And how she helped all those kids in a way, it was wonderful that she was able to teach that girl how to swim. And I wasn't expecting her mom to have been at camp before, much less that she and Brian had a kid and gave her up for adoption? That was big, I wish we got to know her though. I liked her mom, she was funny even while sick, I wish the book ended with her free from cancer.
I really liked the whole 'religious' aspect of the story. I'm not religious in the slightest but I do like to learn about it even though I'm not sure it I believe in God or not, I guess it's nice that there are people who do believe.
I can't wait to dive into more Emery Lord, because now that she's on my radar, I have to check out the rest of her work.
deeenisseeee's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I thought this was a really beautiful story about redefining your faith. It was beautifully written, I teared up several times. I also liked that the love story was a secondary plot - not pulling focus from the main theme. Will add it to my library.
I thought this was a really beautiful story about redefining your faith. It was beautifully written, I teared up several times. I also liked that the love story was a secondary plot - not pulling focus from the main theme. Will add it to my library.
bookclubtrivia's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5. It's better than a four, but not one that I would rank among my favorite reads of the year, if that makes sense.
I picked this up thinking it was a deconversion story... I guess it's a little deconstruction-y, but I wouldn't call it deconversion. I do appreciate that the Christianity of this character is the graceful kind; she's more about the love aspects, less about the Bible-thumping rules. Which is cool. I might recommend it to Christian teens, see what they think of it. Could be good for getting people to see people who are different from them as more human, etc.
As for the actual plot: very sweet story! Lucy's mom has cancer, and rather than working at the Christian summer camp with her parents, her mom encourages her to be a counselor at a camp down the road, for kids with mental health struggles/bad homes/past trauma. She goes and meets kids who are different from her, but also kind of the same. Makes good friends and has a sweet romance.
The writing is good, although Lucy occasionally uses words that I think feel unnatural in a teenager's dialogue (like "doggedly;" that one threw me). There were one or two instances where I also felt like her friends were expecting her to read their minds and made her apologize for not reading their minds; I didn't love that, but there were far more instances where both parties were understanding, so I'll give it a pass. Maybe I misunderstood the intention of the scene. I just don't think Lucy should be apologizing for having emotions or for saying something with good intentions that didn't land well. Learn from it, but don't apologize when you didn't do anything wrong.
I picked this up thinking it was a deconversion story... I guess it's a little deconstruction-y, but I wouldn't call it deconversion. I do appreciate that the Christianity of this character is the graceful kind; she's more about the love aspects, less about the Bible-thumping rules. Which is cool. I might recommend it to Christian teens, see what they think of it. Could be good for getting people to see people who are different from them as more human, etc.
As for the actual plot: very sweet story! Lucy's mom has cancer, and rather than working at the Christian summer camp with her parents, her mom encourages her to be a counselor at a camp down the road, for kids with mental health struggles/bad homes/past trauma. She goes and meets kids who are different from her, but also kind of the same. Makes good friends and has a sweet romance.
The writing is good, although Lucy occasionally uses words that I think feel unnatural in a teenager's dialogue (like "doggedly;" that one threw me). There were one or two instances where I also felt like her friends were expecting her to read their minds and made her apologize for not reading their minds; I didn't love that, but there were far more instances where both parties were understanding, so I'll give it a pass. Maybe I misunderstood the intention of the scene. I just don't think Lucy should be apologizing for having emotions or for saying something with good intentions that didn't land well. Learn from it, but don't apologize when you didn't do anything wrong.
fatimareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I needed a quick, light contemporary read and picked this up... I guess I should have read the synopsis first bc this was depressing as hell :((
noura_rizk's review against another edition
3.0
The thing about faith is it exists whether we believe or not. Sometimes we choose to believe because believing gives us hope, other times we just hope our beliefs are right so we would be able to move on. For me that's what this book was about. I just wasn't ready for this book though..