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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.
knitticism's review against another edition
4.0
I received access to the galley for free through the First to Read program, in compliance with FTC guidelines.
Although I wasn't a huge fan of this book, it really stuck with me for a long time after I finished reading it. The writing style emphasized the narrator's innocence, which makes the whole story more heartbreaking. The story jumps back and forth between their lives before and after they came to the castle. This book deals with some very tough topics like homelessness, addiction, and loss, but the ending left me with some hope for their futures, even with that twist.
Although I wasn't a huge fan of this book, it really stuck with me for a long time after I finished reading it. The writing style emphasized the narrator's innocence, which makes the whole story more heartbreaking. The story jumps back and forth between their lives before and after they came to the castle. This book deals with some very tough topics like homelessness, addiction, and loss, but the ending left me with some hope for their futures, even with that twist.
readerwitha_coffeeaddiction's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
jessslb's review
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
monsterenergies's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75