angeldevoursliterature's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
luckynumber7's review against another edition
slow-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? Yes
2.5
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
In 2008 some teenagers broke into what had been Robert Frost's former home and trashed it. Their sentence included taking a course in Frost's poetry. Hawes used this story as an inspiration for this novel. Instead of a dead poet she used a local author who was still alive and who decided to teach a poetry course to the vandals.
danielsnkyla's review against another edition
4.0
Such a great story of the impact that individuals in different generations can have on each other. This was a sweet story and allows you to remember not to give up on life until its over. I appreciated the ending and was grateful for the closure her poem gave.
alinaborger's review against another edition
The poet Rufus Baylor is more alive to me now than my real idols. I enjoyed this exploration of a teen girl finding that love is a multiplier not a subtracter, that noticing is what makes us alive, that telling the people you love what you really want is not always going to explode. Thanks Louise Hawes for a charmer of a book. I loved living in that world.
onlyongracexm's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I absolutely loved the poetry parts, those beautiful parts where Sarah and the other characters reveal deeper parts about themselves that we normally wouldn’t verbalize aloud, let alone even write them down. Those parts I think we can really learn from and apply to our own lives.
The parts where Sarah turned into a gushing mess around her asshole boyfriend, Fry? Didn’t like those much.
But seriously, Sarah’s life Sucked Hard. No joke, I would run away if I were in Sarah’s life—parents who dictate their child’s life like that are bonkers nuts. No wonder Sarah’s life was so devoid of color.
I liked the ending, despite the sad bits that I won’t spoil. Though I really hope that last “stay” wasn’t for Fry. Ugh.
The parts where Sarah turned into a gushing mess around her asshole boyfriend, Fry? Didn’t like those much.
But seriously, Sarah’s life Sucked Hard. No joke, I would run away if I were in Sarah’s life—parents who dictate their child’s life like that are bonkers nuts. No wonder Sarah’s life was so devoid of color.
I liked the ending, despite the sad bits that I won’t spoil. Though I really hope that last “stay” wasn’t for Fry. Ugh.
rainbowreader's review against another edition
this book made me cry. it gave me words for the way i think about language -- i can't explain it, and this isn't even a good review, but i adored this book.
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