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amanda9269's review against another edition
5.0
This is such an honest and hopeful story about figuring out life and your family. I love the way the author described Lissa’s story. Her character growth was really detailed as well and I really liked how her relationship with Harry her brother came to light throughout the story. Reed is also another great character who developed a lot with his story. From when he first met Lissa to when they began to become friends. Mercy also really helped bring out Reed’s characteristics of protection and kindness. Altogether this was a great book and I would definitely recommend it.
scarlettn2011's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
theravenlyn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
somehow simple and complex, small and big at the same time. everything pretty much happening at Lissa's home or near it but she's naviagting multiple layers of a crisis. masterfully done. i loved the fascination of words throughout, the definitions and implications, the motifs. resolves nicely and also leaves room for the characters to grow, makes them feel real and that they are living on beyond these events. very stressful hahah but i loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
skye_line709's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
gillyreads's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I feel a bit conflicted about this book, it's a pretty emotional older mg/younger ya story that is exactly the sort of thing I loved reading when I was 13. It well written, and did a really good job of capturing that age - which I think is pretty under represented in currently publishing.
The book touches on some important issues, however it felt like the story sort of danced around some of them rather than really tackling them. I felt that the story did a great job of acknowledging the realities of social media, and also adult's total inability to actually help their kids navigate these issues. Ultimately however, I felt like the way this in particular was resolved kind of undermined the severity of it.
I found the italicised parts between chapters confusing, and ended up mostly not reading them. I really can't see what they added to the story at all.
Also the parts with the baby were so stressful to read as an adult.
The book touches on some important issues, however it felt like the story sort of danced around some of them rather than really tackling them. I felt that the story did a great job of acknowledging the realities of social media, and also adult's total inability to actually help their kids navigate these issues. Ultimately however, I felt like the way this in particular was resolved kind of undermined the severity of it.
I found the italicised parts between chapters confusing, and ended up mostly not reading them. I really can't see what they added to the story at all.
Also the parts with the baby were so stressful to read as an adult.
noracalloway's review against another edition
3.0
*2.5 maybe 3 stars probably
I enjoyed the locations in the book but the book just didn’t really work for me.
I enjoyed the locations in the book but the book just didn’t really work for me.
someonetookit's review against another edition
3.0
So I need to say one thing before I get into the guts of this review. Every place I have been has listed this as a middle grade title. Its been in the kids section at QBD, Dymocks and is listed on various websites as Junior Fiction. This is not junior fiction. I gave it to my 12 year old daughter to read before I read it myself, she got 100 pages in and was so upset by it that she had to stop. It may be a younger YA but it is definitely a young adult novel.
Now the cover for this one is gorgeous. I requested it from the publisher based solely upon that simple but gorgeous cover art. When it got to me, then I read the blurb (don’t at me, we have all done it at one time or another).
It’s based around the story of Lissa and her current transition through life. Her brother is probably going to be in trouble with the law for posting things on Instagram he shouldn’t be, her mother is so busy that sometimes she just wants so attention and to top things off, she comes home from school one day to a random boy camping out near her house with a fairly new baby. Her best friend has gone away and the girls at school are all snubbing her for her brothers apparent misdeeds. Basically Lissa is at one of those crossroads in life where things have hit rock bottom and it can only go up from here.
I found Lissa to be an interesting young woman, wise beyond her years and extremely clued in about topics she should have knowledge. She has taken it upon herself to attempt to fix the wrongs in the world, investigating everything she can about how everyone has ended up in their current situation. Although she is the main character, she sort of shares this role with the young man with the sick baby, Reed. Of the two, I would have to say I much prefer him to Lissa. He is charismatic and caring, willing to do anything for baby Mercy, even if it means hiding out and stealing to keep her fed and warm. He seems like an all around good guy, even though running away with a baby may seem initially a little on the suspect side.
When Rain Becomes Snow is so quintessentially Australian in its surrounds but I did find myself forgetting this fact at multiple stages along the way. Every time Ballarat is mentioned, it brought me back but it felt a little like this tale should have been set anywhere but here. Maybe its my brain denying that children could disappear and be living on the road or homeless. It does however bring this issue to the forefront in a way that is nuanced and current.
I said at the beginning that I feel this should have a different classification but I have yet to explain why. For a girl of thirteen, Lissa goes through a whole lot (maybe Babybookworm is sheltered and other kids are actually doing this stuff. I shall never know). First off she discovers a boy and a baby camping out under the house who has a wee baby in tow – not so dramatic or traumatic as a whole but it combined with other events makes it feel a whole lot more mature. Next comes the discover of an Instagram page called ‘Rate Year Eight’ whereby girls are shown naked and visitors are invited to rate their bodies (seriously what 13 year old takes naked pictures of themselves?). Then there is the accusation against her brother that he has an STD and their in depth discussion on this topic. There’s also bullying, conversations about sperm donor and IVF, underage drinking, drug use by other characters and so much more. While I could understand if the target audience was maybe 14+ then I would have no qualms. Aiming it towards 8-12 just seems a little too much, but that’s just my opinion. It could also definitely be that bookstores are shelving this is the wrong placed based directly on the juvenile type cover and its actually supposed to be a YA.
What did I think overall though? Godwin is known for immaculately stringing together a sentence so there is nothing wrong with the prose. I felt like the content was a little mature for the target audience so maybe tweaking it to a young YA seems a little more appropriate. Most of the characters are well rounded and relatable with their plight having many highs and lows. Overall I would recommend it to those who love a good novel that pulls at the heart strings.
Now the cover for this one is gorgeous. I requested it from the publisher based solely upon that simple but gorgeous cover art. When it got to me, then I read the blurb (don’t at me, we have all done it at one time or another).
It’s based around the story of Lissa and her current transition through life. Her brother is probably going to be in trouble with the law for posting things on Instagram he shouldn’t be, her mother is so busy that sometimes she just wants so attention and to top things off, she comes home from school one day to a random boy camping out near her house with a fairly new baby. Her best friend has gone away and the girls at school are all snubbing her for her brothers apparent misdeeds. Basically Lissa is at one of those crossroads in life where things have hit rock bottom and it can only go up from here.
I found Lissa to be an interesting young woman, wise beyond her years and extremely clued in about topics she should have knowledge. She has taken it upon herself to attempt to fix the wrongs in the world, investigating everything she can about how everyone has ended up in their current situation. Although she is the main character, she sort of shares this role with the young man with the sick baby, Reed. Of the two, I would have to say I much prefer him to Lissa. He is charismatic and caring, willing to do anything for baby Mercy, even if it means hiding out and stealing to keep her fed and warm. He seems like an all around good guy, even though running away with a baby may seem initially a little on the suspect side.
When Rain Becomes Snow is so quintessentially Australian in its surrounds but I did find myself forgetting this fact at multiple stages along the way. Every time Ballarat is mentioned, it brought me back but it felt a little like this tale should have been set anywhere but here. Maybe its my brain denying that children could disappear and be living on the road or homeless. It does however bring this issue to the forefront in a way that is nuanced and current.
I said at the beginning that I feel this should have a different classification but I have yet to explain why. For a girl of thirteen, Lissa goes through a whole lot (maybe Babybookworm is sheltered and other kids are actually doing this stuff. I shall never know). First off she discovers a boy and a baby camping out under the house who has a wee baby in tow – not so dramatic or traumatic as a whole but it combined with other events makes it feel a whole lot more mature. Next comes the discover of an Instagram page called ‘Rate Year Eight’ whereby girls are shown naked and visitors are invited to rate their bodies (seriously what 13 year old takes naked pictures of themselves?). Then there is the accusation against her brother that he has an STD and their in depth discussion on this topic. There’s also bullying, conversations about sperm donor and IVF, underage drinking, drug use by other characters and so much more. While I could understand if the target audience was maybe 14+ then I would have no qualms. Aiming it towards 8-12 just seems a little too much, but that’s just my opinion. It could also definitely be that bookstores are shelving this is the wrong placed based directly on the juvenile type cover and its actually supposed to be a YA.
What did I think overall though? Godwin is known for immaculately stringing together a sentence so there is nothing wrong with the prose. I felt like the content was a little mature for the target audience so maybe tweaking it to a young YA seems a little more appropriate. Most of the characters are well rounded and relatable with their plight having many highs and lows. Overall I would recommend it to those who love a good novel that pulls at the heart strings.
klouisea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lawbooks600's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings: death of a mother, sexting, suicidal thoughts, hospitalisation, mention of cancer
7/10, I actually enjoyed this one but it was certainly one of the heavier ones that I've read since it discusses a lot of serious topics and most importantly, nothing is what it seems in this so where do I even begin? I've read a book similar to this called Bus Stop Baby by Fleur Hitchcock and When Rain Turns to Snow succeeded where the last book failed which I liked. It starts off with the main character Lissa living in her home when a person named Reed comes along with a baby whom they name Mercy and she's getting sick and it might get worse so they take care of her as best they can. She then notices that something is wrong with Harry because he left a suicide note and was framed for sexting by taking pictures of another girl and rating her which I found quite gross but I kept on reading to see where this was going. Lissa keeps trying to live her life but apparently, Reed is on the run from his parents and Mercy's health is getting worse; towards the last half of the book it comes to a climax where the truth was revealed when Lissa was actually adopted, her biological father had cancer and her biological mother is dead and she was very shocked at this news. Anyways her brother Harry didn't make the offending pictures, Reed is somehow related to her, she went to a park to confirm the truth from earlier and it just ended like that.
7/10, I actually enjoyed this one but it was certainly one of the heavier ones that I've read since it discusses a lot of serious topics and most importantly, nothing is what it seems in this so where do I even begin? I've read a book similar to this called Bus Stop Baby by Fleur Hitchcock and When Rain Turns to Snow succeeded where the last book failed which I liked. It starts off with the main character Lissa living in her home when a person named Reed comes along with a baby whom they name Mercy and she's getting sick and it might get worse so they take care of her as best they can. She then notices that something is wrong with Harry because he left a suicide note and was framed for sexting by taking pictures of another girl and rating her which I found quite gross but I kept on reading to see where this was going. Lissa keeps trying to live her life but apparently, Reed is on the run from his parents and Mercy's health is getting worse; towards the last half of the book it comes to a climax where the truth was revealed when Lissa was actually adopted, her biological father had cancer and her biological mother is dead and she was very shocked at this news. Anyways her brother Harry didn't make the offending pictures, Reed is somehow related to her, she went to a park to confirm the truth from earlier and it just ended like that.
hgallagher's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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