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catalinagm11's review against another edition
4.0
It had a really interesting plot twist but I was disappointed in so many parts. But I really liked the idea and how she expressed what the characters were feeling, it was a really nice and interesting book.
maryam162424's review against another edition
4.0
*3.75 stars* I became really attached to the main character, Sam. The twist at the end had me kinda confused but it did catch me by surprise. This is a good read but I am kind of lost about the ending!
readsbyross's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my God this book!! It was so beautiful and the twist at the end — jaw-dropping. I had suspected it towards the end but that didn’t make it any less shocking or harrowing. A beautiful debut and Carroll clearly has heaps of potential.
remusreads's review against another edition
2.0
Actual rating: 2.5*'s.
I'm incredibly mixed in my rating...
This book is confusing to say the least - I have to say that even after finishing it I'm still extremely perplexed and confused as to what actually happened. I understand the "twist" and all, but before that I'm not exactly sure. I don't understand. I think, honestly, this book is a big question mark for me wherein it'll take a while for it to sink in and for me to genuinely soak it all up.
Despite my confusion at the plot, I did enjoy this book in a strange way and I read through it all in one sitting, so it is obviously well written enough to keep me sucked in. The characters are interesting, the smaller woven plots are intriguing and the writing style is impeccable and that is certainly what kept me interested throughout. The way it is written is enthralling and keeps you interested as you read, even with the lacking plot. I think what redeems this book for me is the writing - the writing is absolutely brilliant and the way it is written kept me involved in the story.
There was something utterly charming about the characters that kept me intrigued and the topic of homelessness in this novel is something that is rarely covered in YA fiction and that gripped me too; it was interesting to read something so vastly different than the norm.
So, despite my lack of absorption in the plot, I think this book has a lot of promise. To be entirely honest, I think it was me that didn't quite gel with the plot as opposed to the plot being absent.
I would recommend this book if the premise sucks you in! Even if the plot doesn't turn out to be your cup of tea, I think it's definitely worth it for the writing alone.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy for review!
I'm incredibly mixed in my rating...
This book is confusing to say the least - I have to say that even after finishing it I'm still extremely perplexed and confused as to what actually happened. I understand the "twist" and all, but before that I'm not exactly sure. I don't understand. I think, honestly, this book is a big question mark for me wherein it'll take a while for it to sink in and for me to genuinely soak it all up.
Despite my confusion at the plot, I did enjoy this book in a strange way and I read through it all in one sitting, so it is obviously well written enough to keep me sucked in. The characters are interesting, the smaller woven plots are intriguing and the writing style is impeccable and that is certainly what kept me interested throughout. The way it is written is enthralling and keeps you interested as you read, even with the lacking plot. I think what redeems this book for me is the writing - the writing is absolutely brilliant and the way it is written kept me involved in the story.
There was something utterly charming about the characters that kept me intrigued and the topic of homelessness in this novel is something that is rarely covered in YA fiction and that gripped me too; it was interesting to read something so vastly different than the norm.
So, despite my lack of absorption in the plot, I think this book has a lot of promise. To be entirely honest, I think it was me that didn't quite gel with the plot as opposed to the plot being absent.
I would recommend this book if the premise sucks you in! Even if the plot doesn't turn out to be your cup of tea, I think it's definitely worth it for the writing alone.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy for review!
lazygal's review against another edition
2.0
Homeless teens are a rarity in YA lit, which makes this story so important and yet it's presented almost as an adventure thus lessening any impact it may have had on readers. It's clear that Ma has problems, and that our unnamed main character is scared (and hungry) but beyond that? Perhaps this was better in outline than fleshed out.
bolynne's review against another edition
4.0
****I received a copy of this ARC as a part of Penguin's FirstToRead program in exchange for an honest review!****
So many emotions. I personally know people who are like Ma in this story and it tore me up so badly watching her continue to drink, make mistakes and put her daughter in danger repeatedly and the situation with the Monkey Man just made me so mad. She couldn't get her to stop, yet couldn't leave her either, because she's just a kid. I also appreciated the naiveté of the narration, because a girl who hasn't continuously had normal education or experiences wouldn't know that the Authorities would be there to help her. Any book that can make me feel such strong emotions deserves a great rating.
I got a whiff of the twist super early on, but kept thinking maybe I'm supposed to think that and there will be an opposite twist at the end. Even though my original thought ended up being correct, I still enjoyed the ride of going back and forth in my mind about it.
So many emotions. I personally know people who are like Ma in this story and it tore me up so badly watching her continue to drink, make mistakes and put her daughter in danger repeatedly and the situation with the Monkey Man just made me so mad. She couldn't get her to stop, yet couldn't leave her either, because she's just a kid. I also appreciated the naiveté of the narration, because a girl who hasn't continuously had normal education or experiences wouldn't know that the Authorities would be there to help her. Any book that can make me feel such strong emotions deserves a great rating.
I got a whiff of the twist super early on, but kept thinking maybe I'm supposed to think that and there will be an opposite twist at the end. Even though my original thought ended up being correct, I still enjoyed the ride of going back and forth in my mind about it.
Spoiler
The title is brilliant as well, because it doesn't exactly spoil the story, but can hold multiple meanings such as her being between life and death and being between safety and danger, between Ma and Gran, etc.rojoreads's review
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
bookishmisfit's review against another edition
4.0
I would akin this story to "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" by J. Boyne.
It is a story about some of life's darker things being told from the perspective of a child who does not yet understand them.
The story got darker as it went on and I began to catch onto what it was that the narrator was referencing along the way.
Here, we have a child and her addict mother living as squatters and the emotional traumas that come with such an experience.
It may be a harder read for some, but it is a good read nonetheless. It is a story that really gives perspective to what it is like to be the child of an addict.
The ending has a twist. A twist that I did not see coming. I have to say it was a well written plot twist. Usually, advanced readers can get hints of them along the way but this one truly made the end just...wow.
raciethereader's review against another edition
2.0
I see what the author wanted to do but the execution did not work.
tess_hoffman03's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the book, but I was confused at times. Was she a ghost, was she Rose, or was she a human? Is the book some kind of metaphor for life moving on? The book was beautifully written, but confusing.