Reviews

The Anti-Book by Raphael Simon

sara_berlin's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-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

4.0

I have very fond memories of reading The Secret Series and the Bad Books, but I’m also glad that Raphael Simon has finally decided to write under his own name and that are closer to his heart, without losing the sincere weirdness of his storytelling. I think this is a great book for the younger target audience,  but I still managed to enjoy it. 

alifromkc1907's review

5.0

Gut Instinct Rating: 5
Characters: 5
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 5
Excitement Factor: 4
Story Line: 4.75
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 4.86

arp363's review

I was not invested enough to continue

becandbooks's review

4.0

Trigger warnings:

Spoiler

bullying, homomisia

This was a fantastic kids' book that I would recommend for any middle-grade readers!

The premise is fun and interesting (what kid doesn't want to wish away all their problems?). The setting and characters are both fun and hilarious. The writing style is easy, whimsical and undoubtedly would have any child in giggles.

A fantastic book all-around.

Note: Review copy (audio) received via Libro.FM. This does not impact opinions within this review.

blog • trigger warning database • more links

Happy reading! ❤

rlbooks's review

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

megdiane's review

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

summer_reader_vne's review

5.0

The anti-book has a fantasy theme unique to middle grade novels, the imagination to turn a roller coaster of the emotions of living a life where there are problems into a fantastical tale with a weir magic (really weird) was present here and i loved it. Waking into this book I knew right away that Mickey would make everything 'get lost' and ultimately find he didnt hate all those things, but it is enjoyable nonetheless.

ashleyeila's review

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is filled with emotions of a preteen boy going through his parents’ divorce and remarriages. It  is a unique way of showing how things you don’t appreciate may be important to you. It does include a lot about lgbq in it (two mothers, encouraging gayness) so be aware of this especially if you are having your child read it.

charireads's review

5.0

Mickey is mad because his parents are getting a divorce and for a lot of other reasons. One day he sees an advertisement in a pack of gum that promises if he buys the AntiBook that he can make people go away. Mickey writes the names of all of his family, teachers, friends etc and suddenly he's transported to a fictional world where none of these people exist. When Mickey tries to undo it, he's sent on a fun journey. Absolutely loved this book. It is darling!

the_fabric_of_words's review

5.0

This was a middle grade exploration of a What if? speculation, specifically: What if you could write out of your life anything you wanted to? Who and what would you write out? And would you ever want to write them back in?

That's exactly what 12-year-old Mickey does. He gets a coupon for a journal in a package of bubble gum, just about the only thing he enjoys any more. He hates his dog, his big sister Angie, her bullying 17-year-old boyfriend, his parents, and pretty much everyone at school.

The Anti-Book promises to erase everything he writes down.

Boy, does he write. And he keeps writing.

When he next wakes up, very little is left. Some desert cactus where his house once stood, which he promptly writes out.

But as you may guess, Mickey wants everyone to disappear precisely because he does care about them -- what they think of him, how they treat him. And when his house reappears as an annoying-but-talking fly, and his sister in super-small MCU Ant-Man form, he begins to realize he wants them back. All of them.

A shadow -- non-corporeal, but confident, witty, everything Mickey has ever wanted to be -- appears and makes friends with Mickey. It promises the King, the bubble gum King, will grant Mickey whatever he wants. Mickey just has to navigate the anti-world to get there.

But the shadow, despite his cool veneer, shouldn't be trusted and has a nefarious plan in mind for Mickey -- one very close to Mickey's heart.

The book was kinda hard to get into. It has a rocky start, as Mickey's not an altogether likeable or even relatable character. But kids get angry at those they love, for lots of reasons, and they all handle it in different ways. I really felt like as the book progressed it got much better. Mickey becomes a more relatable character, and this was a fantastic exploration of what happens when you write out -- or push away -- everyone in your life. Both the anger and the urge were feelings I felt many young readers may connect with.

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