Reviews

Capriole sotto il temporale by Katherine Rundell

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meganac's review against another edition

4.0

Neither could speak. It was that day that a silence settled on the pair of them, and they were bound close by it. Will felt, in that moment, too small to face such misery, but she knew that she would have to expand now, with a terrible rush, to fill the empty space.

3.5 stars. It's rare that I read middle-grade novels, these days. They just don't hold my attention - and if I think they're too slow and disjointed to pay attention to, it's no wonder the eleven-year-olds don't want to read them - and so I usually pass them by. I do try to keep up on the trends and read a fair few so I can recommend them to patrons, but there's a definite trend. Beautiful book, slow/dull pacing, good story. More often, it feels like the author is trying to make a point with their writing and you feel like the book is just a soapbox so they can be famous for promoting something politically correct.

However, Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms, though slowly paced, was good. It deals with the strangeness of being a foreigner, the heartbreak of loss, and the impression that you as a child must live up to a certain standard to suit adults. Wilhelmina was a strong, fierce, wildcat of an MC. I rather liked it, and besides, this book IS gorgeous and it's also crammed with Zimbabwean culture.

anniejohnson's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

I've been looking for something comforting and warming but not too emotionally jarring and The Girl Savage was absolutely perfect. Rundell writes so sensitively, conveying big, serious, important themes in such a gentle way. I felt utterly immersed in Will's world, engaged and completely empathetic to her struggles, and yet this wasn't a painful read. The narrative intertwines beautifully with descriptions celebrating the beauty of Will's childhood on her Zimbabwean farm. There is a golden world to be seen through Will's eyes. The Girl Savage is nurturing and often heart-warming and in the end bravely hopeful and leaves the reader feeling more optimistically about the world.

megancrews's review against another edition

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5.0

This book is awesome. I absolutely loved it. I love the author's style, I love the characters, I even love the cover art.

internationalkris's review against another edition

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3.0

Will was too perfect to be believed at the start of the book in Zimbabwe but as she struggled at boarding school in England she was amazing in her pain, vulnerability and continual strength.

quartofgoats's review against another edition

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5.0

The only way this could end is with an Irish grandmother and I hope to grow up to be like her and Will

lindasdarby's review against another edition

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5.0

This is an absolutely wonderful book filled with heart. There is a lot of happiness and pain and heartache and hope in this story. Will is such an endearing 12 year old girl and I loved this story.