findthosedreams's review against another edition
2.0
I really liked the first half... The way everything was set up and wonderfully described really struck me. (I even got a little teary eyed. )
Pearl, the outcome of teen pregnancy, struggles with knowing that her existence is a mistake that ruined lives. She lives with her emotionally distant mother and tender-hearted grandfather (who adamantly hate each other) in a lower class neighborhood plagued by crime and pollution. Henry, Pearl's best/only friend since childhood, lives with his shut-in mother in equally bleak circumstances.
However, once the plot gets going, the story really loses its enchanting backdrop and sinks into a dramatic soap opera. The plot is wild, and even twisted enough to be straight out of real life. However, like I said, the second half lost its magic. Four stars for the first half, two for the second.
Pearl, the outcome of teen pregnancy, struggles with knowing that her existence is a mistake that ruined lives. She lives with her emotionally distant mother and tender-hearted grandfather (who adamantly hate each other) in a lower class neighborhood plagued by crime and pollution. Henry, Pearl's best/only friend since childhood, lives with his shut-in mother in equally bleak circumstances.
However, once the plot gets going, the story really loses its enchanting backdrop and sinks into a dramatic soap opera. The plot is wild, and even twisted enough to be straight out of real life. However, like I said, the second half lost its magic. Four stars for the first half, two for the second.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't care for this one. It was a bit melodramatic for me, and all of the instances with the fathers felt inauthentic. This was a story about the parents and not the kids, and so when the kids show no emotions about being fatherless, I can't really connect or feel it's realistic (*I* was ready to scream repeatedly on the deadbeat fathers here, maybe because the fatherless storyline was so familiar to me as one of those kids. But these two showed no emotions at all about it - just...why not? That was where the story could have gone!).
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/12/pearl-by-jo-knowles.html
(Sometimes, fyi, what I write on GoodReads is much more my gut reaction than what I end up thinking when I revisit the book for a more thorough review -- this happened to be one of those cases).
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/12/pearl-by-jo-knowles.html
(Sometimes, fyi, what I write on GoodReads is much more my gut reaction than what I end up thinking when I revisit the book for a more thorough review -- this happened to be one of those cases).
katiecoops's review against another edition
3.0
Knowles' books are always slightly unusual, different from most contemporary stories and I love it. There are no other characters like Bean and her mother. I did feel like Henry wasn't developed enough and I knew hardly nothing about him, but the rest of the story just seemed so real, like it could happen in your neighborhood or town. This wasn't my favorite story personally, but like all of her other books, it is extremely well-written.
andye_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I'll start out by saying that this isn't really my type of book. I don't read a lot of contemporary, especially books that deal with issues, because, frankly, they depress me. And this book definitely had a sad tone to it, but it was also very sweet. I quickly read through the 224 pages, eager to find out how Bean (Pearl), Henry, Sally, and Lexie would resolve the years of tension, heartache, lies, betrayals, and shattered dreams.
Jo Knowles is a fantastic writer who makes you really feel the story. My heart ached for Bean. And I could almost feel the hot, humid temperatures of this "stuck town" in the middle of the city. Would you know what I meant if I said it reminded me of My Girl, or Fried Green Tomatoes? Even though this story didn't take place in the country, the town almost had a old, country feel to it. I think this was helped along by the names Pearl (Bean) and Henry.
I really loved Bean and Henry. They were just so sweet together. They did seem (to me) like they were younger than they were supposed to be, maybe 13 or 14. The way that they were with each other, and the way that they responded to things, just didn't seem like they were 15. But they really were so endearing. There isn't much in the way of romance (though there is some), but it is huge when it comes to friendship, and the love of family.
If you enjoy contemporary reads that deal with families, friendship, love and loss, I think you will love Pearl.
Andye
Jo Knowles is a fantastic writer who makes you really feel the story. My heart ached for Bean. And I could almost feel the hot, humid temperatures of this "stuck town" in the middle of the city. Would you know what I meant if I said it reminded me of My Girl, or Fried Green Tomatoes? Even though this story didn't take place in the country, the town almost had a old, country feel to it. I think this was helped along by the names Pearl (Bean) and Henry.
I really loved Bean and Henry. They were just so sweet together. They did seem (to me) like they were younger than they were supposed to be, maybe 13 or 14. The way that they were with each other, and the way that they responded to things, just didn't seem like they were 15. But they really were so endearing. There isn't much in the way of romance (though there is some), but it is huge when it comes to friendship, and the love of family.
If you enjoy contemporary reads that deal with families, friendship, love and loss, I think you will love Pearl.
Andye
kmostow's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really loved the detail in this book and the way Beans emotions are described so beautifully. An amazing YA read.
amdame1's review
3.0
Pearl, who is really known as Bean is best friends with Henry. They both have mothers with issues. Henry's mom has not left the house in years. Bean's mom is usually drunk and mad at her father, Gus. When Gus dies, life is in turmoil for all these people.
Some heavy issues are addressed here, but the characters are fairly young (11 or 12) and so there won't be as much appeal for middle school/high school readers.
Some heavy issues are addressed here, but the characters are fairly young (11 or 12) and so there won't be as much appeal for middle school/high school readers.
thegruester's review against another edition
1.0
I think some YA books should only for the entertainment of YA. This book is one of those books. It's angsty and there is adolescent confusion, and I feel like their issues seem larger than life. But that is how it is during your teen years. Not that enjoyable for this 30 year old.
dodie's review
5.0
Jo Knowles packs a lot into this story of two best friends, their strange families, and the way that love changes and disrupts life. Pearl goes by the pet name of Bean, and spends most of her free time with neighbor Henry. Both bored with the slow pace of life in a dying town, they spend time on the couch with Henry's homebound (by choice) mother watching soap operas. Bean's mom Lexie is a hardworking (and hard drinking) waitress who seems to resent having Bean and grandfather Gus to take care of, and when Gus dies, Lexie seems almost exuberant. As family secrets begin to leak out, Henry and Bean begin to question their hopes and plans for the future.
Beautifully written, full of descriptive detail, readers will be taken with the challenges that life has put before Knowles' characters, and more importantly, how they choose to address those challenges.
Beautifully written, full of descriptive detail, readers will be taken with the challenges that life has put before Knowles' characters, and more importantly, how they choose to address those challenges.
kellyhager's review
5.0
Pearl (who's called Bean by everyone) lives with her mom and grandfather. She has exactly two friends: Henry and his mom, Sally. After her grandfather dies, things get weird. Her mom's best friend Claire moves in and her mom is ridiculously happy all the time. It's like Bean's the only one who misses him. And it turns out that her mom's been keeping a lot of secrets from her and this is the summer they all are revealed.
I read this book in one giant gulp and completely loved it. How could I not, really? Sweet, smart heroine? Yes. Strange family with secrets? Yes. Characters that are great but also flawed (and thus realistic)? Yes. But the thing I loved the most? (very slight spoiler) When Bean finds out her mom's secret, she's only mad that it was kept from her.
I loved this book, maybe even more than Jumping Off Swings. I hope I don't have to wait long for her fourth book. (And meanwhile, I guess I should track down book 1.)
SO recommended.
I read this book in one giant gulp and completely loved it. How could I not, really? Sweet, smart heroine? Yes. Strange family with secrets? Yes. Characters that are great but also flawed (and thus realistic)? Yes. But the thing I loved the most? (very slight spoiler) When Bean finds out her mom's secret, she's only mad that it was kept from her.
I loved this book, maybe even more than Jumping Off Swings. I hope I don't have to wait long for her fourth book. (And meanwhile, I guess I should track down book 1.)
SO recommended.
melissayabookshelf's review
4.0
This book is, quite simply, unputtdownable. Must read for contemporary YA lovers.