gabieowleyess's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
skinnygetout's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book!
This is a very different book from Jason Reynold's other literary ventures. The story takes place in rural North Hill, Virginia where the protagonist Genie, and his older brother, Ernie are spending a month long summer vacation with their grandparents. Their parents who are "having problems," plan a trip to Jamaica to reconnect and save their marriage.
Genie is a wonderfully curious kid who carries a little beat-up notebook to write down questions to a million different questions. As Genie and Ernie's time with Grandma and Grandpop goes by, Genie makes some mistakes that eat away at his already anxious, inquisitive mind. Ernie also makes some mistakes that have a lasting impact on him.
At the center of this story is family history, connecting with the past, and finding the joy and wonder in small details.
Reynolds writes the best characters, and Genie is just as memorable and enjoyable as Ali, Noodles, Needles, Ghost, Patina, Rashad, or Will.
Fans of Reynolds, Jesmyn Ward, and Kwame Alexander will enjoy this book!
This is a very different book from Jason Reynold's other literary ventures. The story takes place in rural North Hill, Virginia where the protagonist Genie, and his older brother, Ernie are spending a month long summer vacation with their grandparents. Their parents who are "having problems," plan a trip to Jamaica to reconnect and save their marriage.
Genie is a wonderfully curious kid who carries a little beat-up notebook to write down questions to a million different questions. As Genie and Ernie's time with Grandma and Grandpop goes by, Genie makes some mistakes that eat away at his already anxious, inquisitive mind. Ernie also makes some mistakes that have a lasting impact on him.
At the center of this story is family history, connecting with the past, and finding the joy and wonder in small details.
Reynolds writes the best characters, and Genie is just as memorable and enjoyable as Ali, Noodles, Needles, Ghost, Patina, Rashad, or Will.
Fans of Reynolds, Jesmyn Ward, and Kwame Alexander will enjoy this book!
bethanymartin's review against another edition
2.0
- felt really long
-highlight: Genie's growing understanding of why other's might behave as the do
- wish some of the relationships had been more fully developed
booktalk- 6th grade (possibly)
-highlight: Genie's growing understanding of why other's might behave as the do
- wish some of the relationships had been more fully developed
booktalk- 6th grade (possibly)
jaa_2003's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
heyhannahrae's review against another edition
4.0
This wasn't a difficult read by any means, and having now finished the novel, I, like Genie, still have a bunch of questions ricocheting around in my head... but I really and truly did enjoy As Brave As You. The story itself keeps you reading because the author, Jason Reynolds, does a nice job of weaving plot-related questions into the book. Overall, I'd recommend it.
ktcarlston's review against another edition
3.0
As far as YA books are concerned - especially YA books that boys might be interested in . . . this one is excellent. I really enjoyed the sweet story and found it a nice change of pace from some of the more depressing or heart-wrenching books that I have read lately. That being said, as I "read" and "listen" to books more and more I am learning what an art it is to have someone read a book well for audio . . .Guy Lockard- KILLS IT! He was fantastic. He did different voices for the different characters in a way that wasn't distracting but was completely appropriate. So what I am saying is - if you like YA and are looking for a nice sweet little story - listen to this book.
blondeeishere's review against another edition
5.0
I really like this author :) I want to read them out loud to my class
ajsterkel's review against another edition
4.0
The Good: This is my first Jason Reynolds book, and I have to confess that I mostly bought it because of the cover. If you look really close, the scene on the cover is actually kind of terrifying. A kid is running away from a creepy old house. But, the bright colors make it not-creepy. I love it.
Jason Reynolds is a strong writer who definitely remembers what it’s like to be a kid. The voice in this novel is spot-on. I loved the narrator, Genie, right away. His curiosity and nerdyness are relatable because—just like me—he’s addicted to Googling every random thought that pops into his head. Genie’s older brother, Ernie, is the opposite of Genie. Ernie likes fashion, and being social, and flirting with girls. The brothers make an entertaining pair. Their banter is hilarious.
There is a lot going on in this novel, but mostly it’s about asking questions and confronting problems rather than avoiding them. Ignoring a bad situation usually makes it worse. The characters learn to talk through their problems, apologize for their mistakes, and speak up when something makes them uncomfortable. These are all good lessons for young readers to learn.
The Bad: As Brave As You is a character-driven novel. Most of the tension comes from wondering whether or not Genie will come clean about the mistakes he has made. There isn’t a lot of plot. Since the book is 400+ pages, I wondered if kids would have the attention span to get through it.
I realize that this is a kids’ book, but I wanted to know more about the adult characters. The adults have a lot of issues with each other. Genie’s parents have marriage issues. His parents don’t get along with his grandparents. There are a lot of family secrets. I understand that it’s realistic for kids to be kept away from adult problems, but that doesn’t work in fiction. Genie tells the reader about the problems, and then they’re magically solved when Genie isn’t around.
The Bottom Line: I liked it. Genie is an easy narrator to love, and I enjoyed reading about his adventures in the country. I will look for more Jason Reynolds books.
Want to see more reviews? Check out Read All The Things!
Jason Reynolds is a strong writer who definitely remembers what it’s like to be a kid. The voice in this novel is spot-on. I loved the narrator, Genie, right away. His curiosity and nerdyness are relatable because—just like me—he’s addicted to Googling every random thought that pops into his head. Genie’s older brother, Ernie, is the opposite of Genie. Ernie likes fashion, and being social, and flirting with girls. The brothers make an entertaining pair. Their banter is hilarious.
There is a lot going on in this novel, but mostly it’s about asking questions and confronting problems rather than avoiding them. Ignoring a bad situation usually makes it worse. The characters learn to talk through their problems, apologize for their mistakes, and speak up when something makes them uncomfortable. These are all good lessons for young readers to learn.
The Bad: As Brave As You is a character-driven novel. Most of the tension comes from wondering whether or not Genie will come clean about the mistakes he has made. There isn’t a lot of plot. Since the book is 400+ pages, I wondered if kids would have the attention span to get through it.
I realize that this is a kids’ book, but I wanted to know more about the adult characters. The adults have a lot of issues with each other. Genie’s parents have marriage issues. His parents don’t get along with his grandparents. There are a lot of family secrets. I understand that it’s realistic for kids to be kept away from adult problems, but that doesn’t work in fiction. Genie tells the reader about the problems, and then they’re magically solved when Genie isn’t around.
The Bottom Line: I liked it. Genie is an easy narrator to love, and I enjoyed reading about his adventures in the country. I will look for more Jason Reynolds books.
Want to see more reviews? Check out Read All The Things!
lindbladpaige's review against another edition
5.0
This book follows two brothers adjusting to staying with their grandparents while their parents go on a trip to try and fix their marriage. I really liked this book because it talked about topics such as different family dynamics, making mistakes, being scared, and disabilities. I feel like this book has various aspects in it that children could relate to. Even for children who can't relate, I think they could learn from seeing the different perspectives.
Copyright Date: 2016
Award: Schneider Family Book Award
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Copyright Date: 2016
Award: Schneider Family Book Award
Genre: Realistic Fiction