booksandbraids's review
2.0
Actual Review:
I really wish I could say I liked this book, but I really didn't. Here is why...
1. There were so many editing errors. I just could not get over them.
2. I did not enjoy the writing style. I don't want to say it was necessarily bad, but it just wasn't for me. I did not pull me in. It did not make me like the characters. The characters felt like just that- characters. They did not feel real.
3. The overall story could have been good, but how it was done just felt really back and forth and had a lot of stuff I thought should have been done differently.
Before Reading: After the dozens of books I entered to receive, I finally won my first Goodreads First Reads book!
I am so excited that I won =) The package arrived today, and since I'm away at school, my mom called me and asked what I had ordered and I said I had no idea. When she said it was a couple of books I realized I must have won a giveaway without realizing it.
I will not be able to read the book until I get the chance to pick it up from home- So no earlier then Thanksgiving, but probably not until winter break because after Thanksgiving is Finals Week and there can be no distractions for that.
I really wish I could say I liked this book, but I really didn't. Here is why...
1. There were so many editing errors. I just could not get over them.
2. I did not enjoy the writing style. I don't want to say it was necessarily bad, but it just wasn't for me. I did not pull me in. It did not make me like the characters. The characters felt like just that- characters. They did not feel real.
3. The overall story could have been good, but how it was done just felt really back and forth and had a lot of stuff I thought should have been done differently.
Before Reading: After the dozens of books I entered to receive, I finally won my first Goodreads First Reads book!
I am so excited that I won =) The package arrived today, and since I'm away at school, my mom called me and asked what I had ordered and I said I had no idea. When she said it was a couple of books I realized I must have won a giveaway without realizing it.
I will not be able to read the book until I get the chance to pick it up from home- So no earlier then Thanksgiving, but probably not until winter break because after Thanksgiving is Finals Week and there can be no distractions for that.
kachu's review
3.0
First, thanks to author [a:HJ Lawson|11259135|HJ Lawson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review!
Now, on to the review.
War, war never changes
Ok, so I loved this book. I particularly love war stories, in all their genres, but this is unlike anything I've ever read before. Never have I read war portrayed entirely from the children's perspective. And I thought it was brilliantly done.
I fell for the characters right away, because they were strong and honest, and felt real. Each of them struggling to cope with the horrors they've seen, yet they manage to be kind and generous and trusting towards other kids, even when it.
Also, I liked how, although brief, different takes on war are portrayed. You have the people who are direct victims of it, who in spite of not wanting to have anything to do with it they end up suffering their consequences the most.
Then you got the people who are there to help for the love of the human race. They don't need to be there, they don't have to care, yet they do. They represent what should mean to be human.
Then you have the example of someone from across the globe who thinks a war in a different country has nothing to do with them. Absolutely valid opinion. Why should you want to fight another's man war?
And then you have someone whose job is war.
I think that how all this different people fit together in the story is amazing.
And the mystery! I sure as hell would like to know how that unfolds!
My only complaint would be that the book is too short. I realized from the very beginning the whole story wouldn’t fit in just one book and I don't see the need to partition it. Maybe a longer but stand-alone book would've been better in my opinion.
The last thing it kind of bothered me was the first person, present tense narrative. I found it distracting, especially with so many characters point of view, in the present and the past. I thought a third person would have been much better too. To explain feelings and thoughts that perhaps were a little bit forced or felt untrue on the characters for the sake of the narrative. But that’s it.
It was a great book, a totally recommended read!
I absolutely look forward to reading the next one!
Now, on to the review.
War, war never changes
Ok, so I loved this book. I particularly love war stories, in all their genres, but this is unlike anything I've ever read before. Never have I read war portrayed entirely from the children's perspective. And I thought it was brilliantly done.
I fell for the characters right away, because they were strong and honest, and felt real. Each of them struggling to cope with the horrors they've seen, yet they manage to be kind and generous and trusting towards other kids, even when it
Spoiler
gets them betrayed and killedAlso, I liked how, although brief, different takes on war are portrayed. You have the people who are direct victims of it, who in spite of not wanting to have anything to do with it they end up suffering their consequences the most.
Then you got the people who are there to help for the love of the human race. They don't need to be there, they don't have to care, yet they do. They represent what should mean to be human.
Then you have the example of someone from across the globe who thinks a war in a different country has nothing to do with them. Absolutely valid opinion. Why should you want to fight another's man war?
And then you have someone whose job is war.
I think that how all this different people fit together in the story is amazing.
And the mystery! I sure as hell would like to know how that unfolds!
My only complaint would be that the book is too short. I realized from the very beginning the whole story wouldn’t fit in just one book and I don't see the need to partition it. Maybe a longer but stand-alone book would've been better in my opinion.
The last thing it kind of bothered me was the first person, present tense narrative. I found it distracting, especially with so many characters point of view, in the present and the past. I thought a third person would have been much better too. To explain feelings and thoughts that perhaps were a little bit forced or felt untrue on the characters for the sake of the narrative. But that’s it.
It was a great book, a totally recommended read!
I absolutely look forward to reading the next one!
wondermajica's review
3.0
The story was good and I enjoyed reading things from the different perspectives of the different characters. However, the ending felt slightly rushed. It also felt like the author was trying to hard to tie everything together.
kath_reads's review
5.0
I didn't read the full synopsis of this book when I requested it in NetGalley. The girl on the cover and title caught my attention.
I was aware that this was going to be a sad read so I prepared myself but it was not enough. I had goosebumps and I cannot remember anymore how many times I had to stop reading to wipe away my tears.
This book is told through shifting of different POVs of several children and some adults who were caught in the middle of a civil war in Syria. The author did a great job on this one because not many authors can switch different POVs regularly without confusing the readers.
I personally like the author's writing style in this book. It is descriptively written that I could feel the character's emotions. Despite the heartaches caused by the war, these kids still know how to laugh, love and play. It has quite a lot of characters but it didn't bother me at all because they were all amazing and likeable.
There were surprising twists and revelations towards the end that will left the readers more questions. This will also make you grab the second book to know the answers.
A great and very powerful book that will help us see and feel how it is to be in the middle of a war, not only as a victim but also as a fighter.
Heartbreaking, though-provoking and an eye-opener. I'm excited for the second book and will definitely recommend this to my fellow readers.
I was aware that this was going to be a sad read so I prepared myself but it was not enough. I had goosebumps and I cannot remember anymore how many times I had to stop reading to wipe away my tears.
This book is told through shifting of different POVs of several children and some adults who were caught in the middle of a civil war in Syria. The author did a great job on this one because not many authors can switch different POVs regularly without confusing the readers.
I personally like the author's writing style in this book. It is descriptively written that I could feel the character's emotions. Despite the heartaches caused by the war, these kids still know how to laugh, love and play. It has quite a lot of characters but it didn't bother me at all because they were all amazing and likeable.
There were surprising twists and revelations towards the end that will left the readers more questions. This will also make you grab the second book to know the answers.
A great and very powerful book that will help us see and feel how it is to be in the middle of a war, not only as a victim but also as a fighter.
Heartbreaking, though-provoking and an eye-opener. I'm excited for the second book and will definitely recommend this to my fellow readers.
More...