orionoconnell's review against another edition
4.0
While 'Starfish' has set the bar at a five star, both of Bowman's works have consistently impressed. When I am asked to recommend an author, she is generally on my top three. There is a unique, metaphorical, poetic quality to the writing, while exploring difficult subjects. Harley in the Sky did not disappoint.
The one point I wish would have been addressed would be to not leave the audience wondering 'does Harley have something like' or is Vas ? I feel like it would have added an extra layer to have validated the WHAT behind something that was already there, especially for the readers who can relate, although Harley's choice of not knowing is valid in everyday life as well.
The story was easy to follow, pace was good, characterizations were lovely, and I love the depth and imperfections Bowman gives to her characters. The only thing I'd like to see now is a trans character to go with these Harry Potter references XD
The one point I wish would have been addressed would be to not leave the audience wondering 'does Harley have something like
Spoiler
bipolar disorderSpoiler
autistic or neurodivergentThe story was easy to follow, pace was good, characterizations were lovely, and I love the depth and imperfections Bowman gives to her characters. The only thing I'd like to see now is a trans character to go with these Harry Potter references XD
pages_of_devin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
denaiir's review against another edition
3.0
It was a typical YA including the theme that the author likes (mental health, difficiult family relationships) but I thought it would have more impact. I enjoyed it but it didn't feel very special
jaybelzebabe's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
offinherownmind's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this. I didn't relate to the main character as much as I did in Summer Bird Blue. However, I think a lot of people can. Part of me wishes there wasn't any romance in the book (surprising as normally I wish for books to have more). I think it would have been nice fore it to be purely about Harley finding herself.
popthebutterfly's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this book in a Once Upon a Book Club box! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Harley in the Sky
Author: Akemi Dawn Bowman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Main character is a quarter Chinese and a quarter Japanese
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, circus, running away from home
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (running away, mental health, slight violence, TW mention of sexual violence, depression, suicidal thoughts TW)
Publisher: Ink Road
Pages: 410
Synopsis: Harley Milano has dreamed of being a trapeze artist for as long as she can remember. With parents who run a famous circus in Las Vegas, she spends almost every night in the big top watching their lead aerialist perform, wishing with all her soul that she could be up there herself one day.
After a huge fight with her parents, who continue to insist she go to school instead, Harley leaves home, betrays her family and joins the rival traveling circus Maison du Mystère. There, she is thrust into a world that is both brutal and beautiful, where she learns the value of hard work, passion and collaboration. But at the same time, Harley must come to terms with the truth of her family and her past—and reckon with the sacrifices she made and the people she hurt in order to follow her dreams.
Review: I really loved this story! I thought the plot was intriguing and while it was a spin on the old “fed-up teen runs away from home” the author managed to make it something new in my opinion. The character development of Harley alone was amazing and I loved how the author woved in details about Harley’s mental health. I also liked all the other characters developments, including the mother and how we explore her mental health in this story as well. The book was also well paced and extremely well written.
However, I do feel like the author could have done better at the end. While I think that everyone’s mental health is their own personal exploration, I think that Harley and her mother need outside help from a therapist to help them develop skills and tools to help them reach equilibrium with their mental wellbeing.
Verdict: A well done novel!
Book: Harley in the Sky
Author: Akemi Dawn Bowman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Main character is a quarter Chinese and a quarter Japanese
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, circus, running away from home
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (running away, mental health, slight violence, TW mention of sexual violence, depression, suicidal thoughts TW)
Publisher: Ink Road
Pages: 410
Synopsis: Harley Milano has dreamed of being a trapeze artist for as long as she can remember. With parents who run a famous circus in Las Vegas, she spends almost every night in the big top watching their lead aerialist perform, wishing with all her soul that she could be up there herself one day.
After a huge fight with her parents, who continue to insist she go to school instead, Harley leaves home, betrays her family and joins the rival traveling circus Maison du Mystère. There, she is thrust into a world that is both brutal and beautiful, where she learns the value of hard work, passion and collaboration. But at the same time, Harley must come to terms with the truth of her family and her past—and reckon with the sacrifices she made and the people she hurt in order to follow her dreams.
Review: I really loved this story! I thought the plot was intriguing and while it was a spin on the old “fed-up teen runs away from home” the author managed to make it something new in my opinion. The character development of Harley alone was amazing and I loved how the author woved in details about Harley’s mental health. I also liked all the other characters developments, including the mother and how we explore her mental health in this story as well. The book was also well paced and extremely well written.
However, I do feel like the author could have done better at the end. While I think that everyone’s mental health is their own personal exploration, I think that Harley and her mother need outside help from a therapist to help them develop skills and tools to help them reach equilibrium with their mental wellbeing.
Verdict: A well done novel!
girlreading's review against another edition
5.0
I will forever and ever be in complete awe of Akemi Dawn Bowman's talent for writing. The way she uses words is truly something else. She portrays everything with a clear, beautiful, simplicity that can only be achieved with pure talent and artistry.
So, what did I love about this book?
- Harley. Harley might have one of the most honest, raw voices I've read this year and reading through her POV was such a fantastic experience. Her ambition, passion and drive were intoxicating and the thought processes and actions it led to made her such an interesting character to follow and one unlike many I've come across. She was imperfect, confused and selfish at times but also cared so deeply. I loved following her journey as she grappled with the consequences of her actions causing both hurt and happiness for different parts of her heart. She had a ruthlessness I often come across in YA fantasy but rarely contemporary and I hugely admire Akemi for the way she crafted Harley's character.
- Vas. Vas was another characters who's growth and journey throughout the book was so enjoyable but also incredibly interesting to follow. Somehow this motor cycling, leather wearing bad-boy turned into a soft, kind hearted, socially anxious conductor and I loved him all the more for it.
- Harley's Family. Harley's family, but especially her mother, were some of the most interesting, complex characters throughout the book. I loved watching as their stories and motives were slowly unveiled throughout the book.
- Mother/Daughter Relationship. Going into this book, the last thing I expected was for one of my favourite part of it to be a mother daughter relationship but that's exactly what happened. Harley's relationship with her mother and the consequent conversations that came out of it blew me away. I felt every piece of raw frustration, pain and love they had for each other so deeply. Their relationship was somehow so complex yet so simple in that it bottled down to a mothers protectiveness over her child and a hesitancy towards/lack of communication causing an ever growing rift between them.
- The Romance. Harley and Vas's relationship made my slow burn romance loving heart oh so very happy. It built over time from instant intrigued to wariness to cool acknowledgement to friendship to 'we're something different than friends but let's not talk about it' to eventual 'yeah, you're cute and mine' romance. Yes, they were cute but they also felt brilliantly read and I loved their open discussions surrounding mental health, sex, identity and family.
- The World. The circus setting was just as atmospheric and magical as I'd hoped. This is the first contemporary circus set book I've read and I almost think I enjoyed it more? The fact that these were real people, working a real job and living in a life that was equally as unglamorous as it was glamorous, somehow made it all the more captivating. The descriptions of the setting and the circus acts themselves were truly cinematic.
- The Discussions Surrounding Mental Health. As always, Akemi explores the complexities of mental health and mental illness with care, sensitivity and nuance. Harley and Vas's honest and positive dialogue about their struggles with mental health was so encouraging to read. Scenes that encourage open dialogue about mental health that are met without stigma or judgement are so necessary and I thought Akemi did an excellent job at highlighting the positive impact having those kinds of discussions can have. In contrast, Harley's parents' hesitancy towards having this same discussion was explored brilliantly although. From Harley's extreme highs and lows (which, despite the word never being used, were heavily indicative of bipolar), to Vas's social anxiety, to Harley's mothers own struggles with what Harley thinks is the same issues she struggles with (i.e. depression and maybe bipolar), each issue was approached with care and honesty.
- The Discussions Surrounding Identity and Race. As the daughter of two biracial parents, with the Chinese, Japanese, Irish and Italian parts of her family and heritage often clashing, Harley struggles to find a sense of self and belonging within her identity and family. I'm white, so I can't speak from personal experience but the open and honest way in which this topic was approached, very much gave me he sense that this part of Harley's person and story was given the nuance, time and care it deserved and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have a feeling this might be the longest review I've written all year but honestly? There was so much excellence in this book. Its pages are filled with magic, pain, love and ambition. It's a story of complexities; the complexities of family, relationships, ambition, growing up and mental health. Akemi Dawn Bowman has once again solidified her place in my mind as not only of my favourite authors, but one of the most talented voices and writers in YA.
TW: depression, references to suicidal ideation, racism
So, what did I love about this book?
- Harley. Harley might have one of the most honest, raw voices I've read this year and reading through her POV was such a fantastic experience. Her ambition, passion and drive were intoxicating and the thought processes and actions it led to made her such an interesting character to follow and one unlike many I've come across. She was imperfect, confused and selfish at times but also cared so deeply. I loved following her journey as she grappled with the consequences of her actions causing both hurt and happiness for different parts of her heart. She had a ruthlessness I often come across in YA fantasy but rarely contemporary and I hugely admire Akemi for the way she crafted Harley's character.
- Vas. Vas was another characters who's growth and journey throughout the book was so enjoyable but also incredibly interesting to follow. Somehow this motor cycling, leather wearing bad-boy turned into a soft, kind hearted, socially anxious conductor and I loved him all the more for it.
- Harley's Family. Harley's family, but especially her mother, were some of the most interesting, complex characters throughout the book. I loved watching as their stories and motives were slowly unveiled throughout the book.
- Mother/Daughter Relationship. Going into this book, the last thing I expected was for one of my favourite part of it to be a mother daughter relationship but that's exactly what happened. Harley's relationship with her mother and the consequent conversations that came out of it blew me away. I felt every piece of raw frustration, pain and love they had for each other so deeply. Their relationship was somehow so complex yet so simple in that it bottled down to a mothers protectiveness over her child and a hesitancy towards/lack of communication causing an ever growing rift between them.
- The Romance. Harley and Vas's relationship made my slow burn romance loving heart oh so very happy. It built over time from instant intrigued to wariness to cool acknowledgement to friendship to 'we're something different than friends but let's not talk about it' to eventual 'yeah, you're cute and mine' romance. Yes, they were cute but they also felt brilliantly read and I loved their open discussions surrounding mental health, sex, identity and family.
- The World. The circus setting was just as atmospheric and magical as I'd hoped. This is the first contemporary circus set book I've read and I almost think I enjoyed it more? The fact that these were real people, working a real job and living in a life that was equally as unglamorous as it was glamorous, somehow made it all the more captivating. The descriptions of the setting and the circus acts themselves were truly cinematic.
- The Discussions Surrounding Mental Health. As always, Akemi explores the complexities of mental health and mental illness with care, sensitivity and nuance. Harley and Vas's honest and positive dialogue about their struggles with mental health was so encouraging to read. Scenes that encourage open dialogue about mental health that are met without stigma or judgement are so necessary and I thought Akemi did an excellent job at highlighting the positive impact having those kinds of discussions can have. In contrast, Harley's parents' hesitancy towards having this same discussion was explored brilliantly although
Spoiler
I thought the eventual conversation Harley has about their mental health with her Mother was superb- The Discussions Surrounding Identity and Race. As the daughter of two biracial parents, with the Chinese, Japanese, Irish and Italian parts of her family and heritage often clashing, Harley struggles to find a sense of self and belonging within her identity and family. I'm white, so I can't speak from personal experience but the open and honest way in which this topic was approached, very much gave me he sense that this part of Harley's person and story was given the nuance, time and care it deserved and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have a feeling this might be the longest review I've written all year but honestly? There was so much excellence in this book. Its pages are filled with magic, pain, love and ambition. It's a story of complexities; the complexities of family, relationships, ambition, growing up and mental health. Akemi Dawn Bowman has once again solidified her place in my mind as not only of my favourite authors, but one of the most talented voices and writers in YA.
TW: depression, references to suicidal ideation, racism
renel's review against another edition
4.0
The book follows Harley, who has the big dream of becoming an aerialist but her parent's don't support her. She runs away from home and joins a circus with a pretty shady image: Maison du Mystère. Here she doesn't have the best of luck since their current aerialist Maggie sees Harley as a rival and doesn't not want to train her and spreads nasty rumors about Harley. She has to fight for her spot but luckily there are just a few people who support her and don't believe Maggie.
I really liked Harley and her flaws. She doesn't have a label (which was an intentional choice from the author) but she struggles with her mental health throughout the book. She is such a hardworking girl that she can totally lose herself in her current obsession and I honestly can relate. Harley is 18 which I can also appreciate since I'm always looking for books that are older than your average YA MC's so an 18-year old in an YA book is pushing the age-limit in a good way.
I really liked the other characters such as Popo, Dixie and Viv. Vas was very vague and not my favorite character per se, but he fit in the story. The characters were very diverse and came from all over the world which was nice to see.
The book displays Harleys growth and struggle in a really good way and I also liked the pacing of the story. It was quick, kept me interested and I did not loose my attention. So, if you like the circus and diverse books - this is one for you.
I got a proofcopy from the author
I really liked Harley and her flaws. She doesn't have a label (which was an intentional choice from the author) but she struggles with her mental health throughout the book. She is such a hardworking girl that she can totally lose herself in her current obsession and I honestly can relate. Harley is 18 which I can also appreciate since I'm always looking for books that are older than your average YA MC's so an 18-year old in an YA book is pushing the age-limit in a good way.
I really liked the other characters such as Popo, Dixie and Viv. Vas was very vague and not my favorite character per se, but he fit in the story. The characters were very diverse and came from all over the world which was nice to see.
The book displays Harleys growth and struggle in a really good way and I also liked the pacing of the story. It was quick, kept me interested and I did not loose my attention. So, if you like the circus and diverse books - this is one for you.
I got a proofcopy from the author