Scan barcode
caseythereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Car accident, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer
tomnoor's review against another edition
dark
sad
3.0
It’s not that I didn’t like this book, it’s just that the entire thing read as if it were an introductory chapter to the real story which we never get to.
Also, just a weird thing I noticed and totally unrelated to the plot or themes- I counted at least 10 occasions when a character’s primary physical description was just whether they were skinny or not. No hair color, no clothing description…idk, it felt very insidious to me, like no wonder little kids grow up so self conscious when YA messaging is subtly insisting that weight is their most important attribute. Part of this is maybe bc the characters are going through adolescence and are hyper aware of changing bodies, but it just felt unnecessary that even in apocalyptic times the 23 year old narrator was still so focused on how much those children (let’s be real, mostly the girls) had weighed ten years earlier.
Also, just a weird thing I noticed and totally unrelated to the plot or themes- I counted at least 10 occasions when a character’s primary physical description was just whether they were skinny or not. No hair color, no clothing description…idk, it felt very insidious to me, like no wonder little kids grow up so self conscious when YA messaging is subtly insisting that weight is their most important attribute. Part of this is maybe bc the characters are going through adolescence and are hyper aware of changing bodies, but it just felt unnecessary that even in apocalyptic times the 23 year old narrator was still so focused on how much those children (let’s be real, mostly the girls) had weighed ten years earlier.
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Death of parent
eregriel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Unfortunately, this was sold to me as a "hopeful, sci-fi" which it 100% is NOT. Beautiful language and some very moving sections, but it's a depressing and sad dystopia. Multiple characters didn't click for me, and the plot seemed to peter out rather than end.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Violence, and Car accident
Moderate: Cancer
More...