kandicez's review against another edition
4.0
Quick's books always touch me. This was no exception, and while it seemed unrealistic for the last third, I don't really care. I wanted a happy ending and Quick gave me one.
jenndaniells's review against another edition
4.0
Great book! I was reading it with my grade 10 English class through an audio book, and I think it does a good job discussing trauma. It contained really heavy elements, but it did a good job wrapping everything up at the end.
freesien's review against another edition
3.0
Eine gute Geschichte. Aber das Ende fand ich eher unrealistisch.
ianthereader0's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book a lot, but I feel like it was a bit lacking due to its size. There could have been some really powerful moments, but there just weren’t. If it had been more fleshed our, this could have been a much higher rating. I still enjoyed it a lot!
caqvile's review against another edition
5.0
„- Za każdym razem, kiedy myślę sobie, że świat jest paskudny, że życie nie ma żadnego znaczenia, przypominam sobie, że to tu jest i zawsze na mnie czeka - mówi Russ. - Zawsze mogę spojrzeć w kosmos i się zachwycić, bez względu na to, co się dzieje. A gdy spoglądam w górę, moje problemy robią się takie małe. Nie wiem czemu, ale zawsze czuję się wtedy lepiej.”
mmchampion's review against another edition
4.0
A great YA book about making tough choices in order to live your best life.
onestep524's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lumos_libros's review against another edition
5.0
What a peculiar book. I'm not saying it was necessarily too offbeat but it was different in a way I didn't expect it to be. In a good way. In an excellent way actually.
Finley is heading into his senior year. Things look good for the most part. As good as things can be with living in Belmont--a town run by the Irish mob. He's been training all summer with his girlfriend Erin for basketball season. They both are on basketball teams. Erin is a star on the girls’ team and is pinning her hopes on getting a basketball scholarship. Finley would follow her anywhere. He is the point guard on the boys’ team, and though he's not good enough to get into a college team he needs basketball like air. One day his coach asks him a favor, to become friends from a boy out of state. Finley always listens to the coach, so he does what he says. The new guy only goes by Boy21. Boy21 used to play basketball but his parents have been murdered and real life is too hard for him right now. Together Finley and Boy21 slowly but surely become friends, and this friendship changes both of them for the better.
Quick did, quite frankly, fantastic with the characterization of each character in this story. It's a short book but I grew to love the characters fast. What also is done well is the setting. It's told through Finley's point of view so he sees his surroundings as something normal. I can only describe it as gritty but not in your face gritty. Finley has come to accept his situation and doesn't moan and groan about it. He is a quiet character and it's cool to see how much he is thinking about while everyone else is talking. Boy21 has such a great character arc in this story. He goes from being fragile to strong and becomes an important person in Finley’s life. It was interesting to see the correlation between Finley and Boy21 characters. Their friendship is odd, but it works for them. The writing style is so unique and gives the perfect atmosphere for this story.
I can see how the cover could be off putting to some people because it's not that appealing, but I would have to say it fits the story. I wouldn't change it. I was sure this book was going to become a new favorite, but the book took a turn I didn't expect. It wasn't bad, but I wish I had seen if the story had panned out another way. I know I'm being ambiguous, but I don't want to give anything away.
I think I need to re-read this, scratch that I know I should re-read this. It's a book about unlikely friendships, overcoming obstacles, and seizing hope. Most of all it’s about how the most important thing you need to hold on to is people.
Finley is heading into his senior year. Things look good for the most part. As good as things can be with living in Belmont--a town run by the Irish mob. He's been training all summer with his girlfriend Erin for basketball season. They both are on basketball teams. Erin is a star on the girls’ team and is pinning her hopes on getting a basketball scholarship. Finley would follow her anywhere. He is the point guard on the boys’ team, and though he's not good enough to get into a college team he needs basketball like air. One day his coach asks him a favor, to become friends from a boy out of state. Finley always listens to the coach, so he does what he says. The new guy only goes by Boy21. Boy21 used to play basketball but his parents have been murdered and real life is too hard for him right now. Together Finley and Boy21 slowly but surely become friends, and this friendship changes both of them for the better.
Quick did, quite frankly, fantastic with the characterization of each character in this story. It's a short book but I grew to love the characters fast. What also is done well is the setting. It's told through Finley's point of view so he sees his surroundings as something normal. I can only describe it as gritty but not in your face gritty. Finley has come to accept his situation and doesn't moan and groan about it. He is a quiet character and it's cool to see how much he is thinking about while everyone else is talking. Boy21 has such a great character arc in this story. He goes from being fragile to strong and becomes an important person in Finley’s life. It was interesting to see the correlation between Finley and Boy21 characters. Their friendship is odd, but it works for them. The writing style is so unique and gives the perfect atmosphere for this story.
I can see how the cover could be off putting to some people because it's not that appealing, but I would have to say it fits the story. I wouldn't change it. I was sure this book was going to become a new favorite, but the book took a turn I didn't expect. It wasn't bad, but I wish I had seen if the story had panned out another way. I know I'm being ambiguous, but I don't want to give anything away.
I think I need to re-read this, scratch that I know I should re-read this. It's a book about unlikely friendships, overcoming obstacles, and seizing hope. Most of all it’s about how the most important thing you need to hold on to is people.