The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kerrifilippazzo's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely could not put this down. Watch out Brian Selznick, Pam Sny has arrived.
What a sad, dark, moving story. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.
What a sad, dark, moving story. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.
bjramirez's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
xxpumpkincatxx's review against another edition
5.0
OH. MY. GOSH.
When I first read that this book was two story lines mingled into one I was skeptical that my current brain function would not be able to process and keep up with this novel - even if it was a children's fiction.
HOWEVER; I was proved wrong. The main story line is written via diary entry and the secondary story line is entirely in photos. This entire novel was so beautiful and dark and sad and everything I never knew I needed.
The author not only wrote the book, but also illustrated it as well and that always impresses me.
For a children's fiction it's extremely dark, but that's my kind of cup of tea so it's OK! Just a warning to parents who may want to skim through before handing it over to their child.
I may have to go out and buy this book to be honest so that in itself is a huge honor!
When I first read that this book was two story lines mingled into one I was skeptical that my current brain function would not be able to process and keep up with this novel - even if it was a children's fiction.
HOWEVER; I was proved wrong. The main story line is written via diary entry and the secondary story line is entirely in photos. This entire novel was so beautiful and dark and sad and everything I never knew I needed.
The author not only wrote the book, but also illustrated it as well and that always impresses me.
For a children's fiction it's extremely dark, but that's my kind of cup of tea so it's OK! Just a warning to parents who may want to skim through before handing it over to their child.
I may have to go out and buy this book to be honest so that in itself is a huge honor!
margeryb's review against another edition
3.0
This is a Brian Selznik-style book, told in alternating pages of text and pages of wordless illustrations (save for a few newspaper articles and hand written notes). In this case, the story alternatives between a diary written by a girl named Mary, who is living in a girl's home in 1982, who is conflicted with selective mutism and another girl who terrorizes, and illustrations of the life of Ella, a girl in 2017 who is living a very lonely life with an implied dead mother and workaholic father.
This story is creepy and unsettling, as it is meant to be. The isolation of the dual protagonists is created not just by the narrative, but by the form the narrative takes. Mary's diary as the only text portion of the story means there is no third person narration to give perspective. We are limited to her point of view and thus are drenched in her loneliness, while the loneliness of Ella's life through the illustrations where she is constantly alone and searching for connections is more than evident.
I could nitpick, but I give this story four stars because I read it eagerly in one day. I wanted to know what was going to happen next with each of the girl's story lines, I wanted to know how they would intersect, I want to know, and I kept turning pages. The book hit the marks and had the effect that it was trying to hit.
My only hesitation is that this was labeled as a children's book in my library. I would disagree. Its more appropriate for a YA audience. It is dark with no happy ending except a twisted one.
This story is creepy and unsettling, as it is meant to be. The isolation of the dual protagonists is created not just by the narrative, but by the form the narrative takes. Mary's diary as the only text portion of the story means there is no third person narration to give perspective. We are limited to her point of view and thus are drenched in her loneliness, while the loneliness of Ella's life through the illustrations where she is constantly alone and searching for connections is more than evident.
I could nitpick, but I give this story four stars because I read it eagerly in one day. I wanted to know what was going to happen next with each of the girl's story lines, I wanted to know how they would intersect, I want to know, and I kept turning pages. The book hit the marks and had the effect that it was trying to hit.
My only hesitation is that this was labeled as a children's book in my library. I would disagree. Its more appropriate for a YA audience. It is dark with no happy ending except a twisted one.
rainmisoa's review against another edition
4.0
samidhak's review against another edition
2.0
Underwhelming. I just felt like the story and the characters were very underdeveloped, even though it’s a brick of a book.
latelykelsey's review against another edition
4.0
Hmm. This book. I think the concept of this book, where it is part novel part graphics novel is a great idea. And I like it overall, but I don't get the creepy vibe that I think the main purpose of the book was meant for. I found it more eerily and not creepy or scary. It was a quick read since a large chunk of the book is illustrations. It's still a solid read
johannaerikaly's review against another edition
4.0
Allt man vill ha i en bra spökhistoria. Kul format.