biblioemily's review against another edition
4.0
There's enough swearing and the issues are complex enough that this is probably best for high school. I'd have no qualms about giving it to mature 8th graders with a warning about language/themes. One m.c. is pansexual and the other is a lesbian. And it's not a romance! Yay for an LGBTQ friendship story!
jessyhayward's review against another edition
2.0
I had high hopes for this story, being a lgbtq+ book focusing on platonic relationships and disabled characters. The plot and backstories sounded interesting, and to their credit, they were. I loved Gus and his chapters, and Kalyn was decent (although a tad boring).
Unfortunately, I didn’t like this book. The representation and characters were fine, but the writing was so, so monotonous. I reached 60% before I decided to just DNF this one. I was super bored, like need-a-nap bored, and honestly think this was a waste of time.
That being said, I may not be the target audience simply because I don’t usually read contemporary novels. If you do, give this a chance because again, this may be a personal taste issue.
Unfortunately, I didn’t like this book. The representation and characters were fine, but the writing was so, so monotonous. I reached 60% before I decided to just DNF this one. I was super bored, like need-a-nap bored, and honestly think this was a waste of time.
That being said, I may not be the target audience simply because I don’t usually read contemporary novels. If you do, give this a chance because again, this may be a personal taste issue.
elsecallerreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. As coming of age story about friendship I really liked it. Even as a somewhat murder mystery story I liked it and thought it was well pieced together and paced well. All the characters had really great development.
Really my issues come down to the fact that this is set in a small Kentucky town in 2007 and given that I was living as a tween in a small Kentucky town in 2007 seven sometimes the details just didn't make sense to me.
The main thing is Gus's mom living openly as a lesbian after being basically a widow to the towns golden boy that was murdered. The town would not rally behind that, its 2023 now and the small Kentucky towns are barely tolerating the LGBTQ community still without them having a scandal.
Also some of the dialogue in story frankly felt too modern while sometimes it was spot on. Obviously my experience growing up here isn't the only right one but this felt far too different from reality.
Really my issues come down to the fact that this is set in a small Kentucky town in 2007 and given that I was living as a tween in a small Kentucky town in 2007 seven sometimes the details just didn't make sense to me.
The main thing is Gus's mom living openly as a lesbian after being basically a widow to the towns golden boy that was murdered. The town would not rally behind that, its 2023 now and the small Kentucky towns are barely tolerating the LGBTQ community still without them having a scandal.
Also some of the dialogue in story frankly felt too modern while sometimes it was spot on. Obviously my experience growing up here isn't the only right one but this felt far too different from reality.
alyssadorn's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably the most genuine, pure story of platonic love I’ve ever read. I’m not usually into YA, especially contemporary YA, but this book might change that for me. 5/5 in every way— beautiful prose, wonderful character development, and so many real, compelling themes. Love, forgiveness, hate, regret, hope.
It’s not an action-packed book, but one that’s steady-paced, sweet, and makes you think.
It’s not an action-packed book, but one that’s steady-paced, sweet, and makes you think.
mora55's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE M/F PLATONIC FRIENDSHIPS and this book DEFINITELY HAD THAT! (There's actually no romance whatsoever!)
I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would? I picked it up at the library on a whim (probably in part bc the cover was pretty).
Kalyn and Gus and Phil all had such unique voices - I especially liked Kalyn's, because it was refreshing and she had such an interesting take on the world and her voice was blunt and, as Gus puts it, refreshing. And! Gus/Kalyn had a strong platonic friendship and no! romance! (as i said in all caps above but it bears repeating because you never see that!)
There were so many topics touched upon - like if others' perception of you becomes who you are; or if you're playing a role, would it become the truth? It's about what you'd do for the people you love. Kalyn especially (though Phil and Gus too, of course) would drop a lot of thoughtful lines about these topics as they struggle through it themselves (they all have some sort of identity crisis). They wish things never happened, but then they wonder if they would be who they are if that were true and decide they don't regret the past. The families you choose versus the ones that raise you. What it means to be defined by a label or others' preconceptions. That sort of thing.
That questioning and the characters were at the forefront of the story; the murder mystery thing is merely the backdrop upon which all of this is able to happen.
I did appreciate that instead of just... solving the issue in a couple hours like they did with their lists, (or at least calling into serious doubt everything everyone believed,) Gus and Kalyn and Phil acknowledged that it was not because they were mystery-solving wunderkind but because no one else had bothered to try *cue profound lines and deep contemplation*
(This is small, but it was a well-placed detail:
But later, when Kalyn was talking to her dad on the phone, he said, "The minute someone else pushed me into the fire, James pulled me out again...He pulled me out and called an ambulance and decked the guy in the face for good measure." Even Gus's mom hadn't know that. No one knew that. Goes to show that even the clearest view of a story isn't always right; there are details that are wrong, or perceived differently. It was a good drop of detail, of information here to further a point the author was making.)
It reminds me of a quote from [b:Blanca & Roja|36952596|Blanca & Roja|Anna-Marie McLemore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516986822i/36952596._SY75_.jpg|56020909] by Anna-Marie McLemore: “The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.”
In summary: better than I was expecting; it made me think. Literally just read for the platonic m/f friendships (an elusive creature) and lack of romance.
I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would? I picked it up at the library on a whim (probably in part bc the cover was pretty).
Kalyn and Gus and Phil all had such unique voices - I especially liked Kalyn's, because it was refreshing and she had such an interesting take on the world and her voice was blunt and, as Gus puts it, refreshing. And! Gus/Kalyn had a strong platonic friendship and no! romance! (as i said in all caps above but it bears repeating because you never see that!)
There were so many topics touched upon - like if others' perception of you becomes who you are; or if you're playing a role, would it become the truth? It's about what you'd do for the people you love. Kalyn especially (though Phil and Gus too, of course) would drop a lot of thoughtful lines about these topics as they struggle through it themselves (they all have some sort of identity crisis). They wish things never happened, but then they wonder if they would be who they are if that were true and decide they don't regret the past. The families you choose versus the ones that raise you. What it means to be defined by a label or others' preconceptions. That sort of thing.
That questioning and the characters were at the forefront of the story; the murder mystery thing is merely the backdrop upon which all of this is able to happen.
Spoiler
It was kind of weird and unsatisfactory, actually. Like, my interest piqued when Kalyn, Gus, and Phil made that list of discrepancies in the stories they'd been told and added their own information. Then... it was dropped until all the adults were there too, and then they added info but then Gus's mom just... told them the whole story.I did appreciate that instead of just... solving the issue in a couple hours like they did with their lists, (or at least calling into serious doubt everything everyone believed,) Gus and Kalyn and Phil acknowledged that it was not because they were mystery-solving wunderkind but because no one else had bothered to try *cue profound lines and deep contemplation*
(This is small, but it was a well-placed detail:
Spoiler
in her account of everything that happened, Gus's mom said "Claire had seen James hurt people. She'd sat at Gary's bedside after James pushed him into that bonfire." She had been right in everything about the night James was killed, because she'd been there. Hers was THE testimony.But later, when Kalyn was talking to her dad on the phone, he said, "The minute someone else pushed me into the fire, James pulled me out again...He pulled me out and called an ambulance and decked the guy in the face for good measure." Even Gus's mom hadn't know that. No one knew that. Goes to show that even the clearest view of a story isn't always right; there are details that are wrong, or perceived differently. It was a good drop of detail, of information here to further a point the author was making.)
It reminds me of a quote from [b:Blanca & Roja|36952596|Blanca & Roja|Anna-Marie McLemore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516986822i/36952596._SY75_.jpg|56020909] by Anna-Marie McLemore: “The biggest lie of all is the story you think you already know.”
In summary: better than I was expecting; it made me think. Literally just read for the platonic m/f friendships (an elusive creature) and lack of romance.
alexture's review against another edition
The narrator changes made my head spin sometimes. Otherwise: pretty great!
fletchergross's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
resslesa's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent characters, dialogue and wit. The ending was okay but some of the threads were less well resolved than I wanted, and the character of Phil was a bit chaotic for me.
sab_rose's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this book because it did not make the diversity of the characters part of their personality. What I mean is that the fact that Kalyn is a lesbian and Gus has CP doesn't shape their personalities. It was just who they were as people.
It is a great YA Mystery book for anyone trying to get into that sub-genre.
It is a great YA Mystery book for anyone trying to get into that sub-genre.
story_sanctuary's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a huge fan of Leah Thomas, specifically the way she writes these deep, complex, unusual characters. I'm always drawn in and fascinated by the way she gets me to love people that at first I'm not sure if I can like.
WILD AND CROOKED gave me a lot to think about. I got invested in solving the mystery of what really happened to Gus's dad and why. And I think the story really nailed it on the lesson that even when people use profanity and crude language, they still have the same value as anyone else. I want to pretend I didn't need that reminder, but the truth is, I think I did. I enjoyed reading this book.
If you like Leah Thomas books, you'll find the same complex, great cast of characters and LGBT+ representation in WILD AND CROOKED. I think fans of LAST SEEN LEAVING by Caleb Roehrig may also enjoy this book for its murder-solving elements. The tone is different, but it has some of the same intensity.
WILD AND CROOKED gave me a lot to think about. I got invested in solving the mystery of what really happened to Gus's dad and why. And I think the story really nailed it on the lesson that even when people use profanity and crude language, they still have the same value as anyone else. I want to pretend I didn't need that reminder, but the truth is, I think I did. I enjoyed reading this book.
If you like Leah Thomas books, you'll find the same complex, great cast of characters and LGBT+ representation in WILD AND CROOKED. I think fans of LAST SEEN LEAVING by Caleb Roehrig may also enjoy this book for its murder-solving elements. The tone is different, but it has some of the same intensity.