carahorlyk's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
So so boring
jamesdrt's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
alvirareads's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
orchardmoon's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Comfort series at the moment. A good, quick read!
flora_b's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
isab3llaa's review
3.0
Whilst I liked the idea of this, the writing itself felt a bit simplistic and I found it hard to identify with the characters. It was very quick and easy though, and definitely very informative for learning about the troubles. If you want eloquent prose, it's not for you, but if you want a sharp novel about a relavant issue then I'd reccomend it.
wordsofclover's review
5.0
4.5 stars
The Kevin and Sadie’s series is based around two teenagers living in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during a time where there is great tension between the protestants and catholics living in the area, aka ‘The Troubles’. Kevin and Sadie used to be enemies but now at 17 and 18 years old, they meet again and end up falling in love at a time when no-one wants them to be together.
This is a book series I originally read as a child and I was really happy to see it up as an audiobook in my library’s e-services. It was fantastic getting back into the story and remembering the finer details of Kevin and Sadie’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ story that I had forgotten. This was narrated by Gerard Murphy who did a great job and I loved that he was also Northern Irish so everyone’s accents were correct, and I also find that accent to be extremely soothing and nice to listen to so bonus points. This is marketed as a series for children aged 10+ which I do find a bit odd as Kevin and Sadie are teenagers and the series does go on to explore their eventual marriage and family life but as a kid this didn’t bother me at all so I guess it was all okay then and all okay now.
This is a book that looks finely at the tensions during The Troubles - a time when a Catholic boy couldn’t walk out with a Protestant girl without getting beat up. Kevin and Sadie have to live with violence every single day and the reader is with them as their tolerance grows less and less with the way they’re forced to live and hide their relationship. Kevin has to work hard to not be forced into doing violent things he doesn’t want to do and not become involved with old schoolfriends being involved with the IRA, or IRA activities. Sadie’s father is in the Orange Order, and her own brother has to constantly explain to others why he himself doesn’t want to join up as he is also sick of violence.
I was sad near the end of the book as I had forgotten one of the things that did happen and it is quite heartbreaking. But I’m definitely going to reread the rest of the series as I had forgotten how much I loved it.
Note: This is technically the second book in the series but I actually think it can be read as the first, as the first is a bit of a prequel from when they were children and you more or less find out what happens in that one in Across the Barricades.
The Kevin and Sadie’s series is based around two teenagers living in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during a time where there is great tension between the protestants and catholics living in the area, aka ‘The Troubles’. Kevin and Sadie used to be enemies but now at 17 and 18 years old, they meet again and end up falling in love at a time when no-one wants them to be together.
This is a book series I originally read as a child and I was really happy to see it up as an audiobook in my library’s e-services. It was fantastic getting back into the story and remembering the finer details of Kevin and Sadie’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ story that I had forgotten. This was narrated by Gerard Murphy who did a great job and I loved that he was also Northern Irish so everyone’s accents were correct, and I also find that accent to be extremely soothing and nice to listen to so bonus points. This is marketed as a series for children aged 10+ which I do find a bit odd as Kevin and Sadie are teenagers and the series does go on to explore their eventual marriage and family life but as a kid this didn’t bother me at all so I guess it was all okay then and all okay now.
This is a book that looks finely at the tensions during The Troubles - a time when a Catholic boy couldn’t walk out with a Protestant girl without getting beat up. Kevin and Sadie have to live with violence every single day and the reader is with them as their tolerance grows less and less with the way they’re forced to live and hide their relationship. Kevin has to work hard to not be forced into doing violent things he doesn’t want to do and not become involved with old schoolfriends being involved with the IRA, or IRA activities. Sadie’s father is in the Orange Order, and her own brother has to constantly explain to others why he himself doesn’t want to join up as he is also sick of violence.
I was sad near the end of the book as I had forgotten one of the things that did happen and it is quite heartbreaking. But I’m definitely going to reread the rest of the series as I had forgotten how much I loved it.
Note: This is technically the second book in the series but I actually think it can be read as the first, as the first is a bit of a prequel from when they were children and you more or less find out what happens in that one in Across the Barricades.
godotwillseeyounow's review
3.0
Maybe it's a little too predictable, but enjoyable non the less.
Easy to read, the pages flew by.
And since I didn't know much of anything about the conflict, it was quite interesting as well.
Easy to read, the pages flew by.
And since I didn't know much of anything about the conflict, it was quite interesting as well.
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