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kristenreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness
zoiejanelle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
had no idea this middle grade fantasy book would have me weeping at 1am over my mommy trauma and my relationship with grief/death but here i am, covered in tears and snot!
anyway, the newberry award was well-deserved. this book is extremely complex and layered, but perfectly appropriate in plot and style for its intended audience.
i loved the multi-POV, the different perspectives and details that the reader experienced through the larger cast of characters. i loved the overarching themes—which seemed heavy for a MG book, but were handled with care—such as broken families, generational trauma, motherhood, loss, grief, death, identity, adoption, indoctrination, forgiveness, and love.
i somehow came away from this book with a more secure understanding of death and loss, as well as an appreciation for the complexities of parenthood and the trauma that comes with it for both the parent and the child. i did not expect this book to fall so firmly into the “mommy issues” category for me, but damn, it did.
the only flaw was that this was not an “unputdownable” book for me as the reviews suggest. it was definitely a page turner, but only after i got about 60% of the way through it. the beginning was interesting and caught my attention, but i was able to put it down and pick it back up without distress.
this was a perfect example of the MG genre, and i plan to give this book as a gift to all my young reader buddies.
anyway, the newberry award was well-deserved. this book is extremely complex and layered, but perfectly appropriate in plot and style for its intended audience.
i loved the multi-POV, the different perspectives and details that the reader experienced through the larger cast of characters. i loved the overarching themes—which seemed heavy for a MG book, but were handled with care—such as broken families, generational trauma, motherhood, loss, grief, death, identity, adoption, indoctrination, forgiveness, and love.
i somehow came away from this book with a more secure understanding of death and loss, as well as an appreciation for the complexities of parenthood and the trauma that comes with it for both the parent and the child. i did not expect this book to fall so firmly into the “mommy issues” category for me, but damn, it did.
the only flaw was that this was not an “unputdownable” book for me as the reviews suggest. it was definitely a page turner, but only after i got about 60% of the way through it. the beginning was interesting and caught my attention, but i was able to put it down and pick it back up without distress.
this was a perfect example of the MG genre, and i plan to give this book as a gift to all my young reader buddies.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
srjennings's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
I really enjoyed this book! It is written for young people, but like all good children's stories there's more to it than surface reading so adults can get something from it too. I thought it was a great story about the power of hope, love, and family. I even found it a powerful metaphor of the nature of the United States' militaristic and capitalistic sadism that lives off of what is loss and grief for others.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Grief
itsjayden's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
First two-thirds are primarily to set the scene, to show which characters are part of the story and how they develop over the course of roughly a decade. The last thirds are quite dynamic in comparison. Heartfelt message at the core of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Grief
peggyluwho's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Vomit
totallywickedruth333's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This is one of my all-time favorite books. Ever. Kelly Barnhill is an amazing writer. This book will make you laugh, cry, and laugh and cry all at the same time. Even if you don't like fantasy, you will like this book. The characters and story are well crafted, with all of it intertwined beautifully. I'd recommend this book to anyone! ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood
technicolorxsn's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
I reread this book A LOT as a kid. I fell in love with it instantly. I haven't read it since I was in middle school I don't think, but it really impacted me. It's a good book for weird kids; its very comforting.
Luna's mother walked so Pelafina could run /j
Luna's mother walked so Pelafina could run /j
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Grief
gemstonejasper's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a beautiful fairy tale style story about the power of love over sorrow. It explores themes of family (both found/adopted and biological), love, sorrow, and memory. It especially focuses on the relationship between a mother/grandmother and daughter/granddaughter. I really enjoyed it. I listened to the audiobook while following along in my physical copy. The audiobook is good. I love the voices she does for the characters. I could tell them each apart without paying attention to the "Luna said," "Xan said."
I think this would also be an excellent grandmother/mother/daughter buddy read idea because of the focus it puts on those relationships. I think it would be especially so in families that have one or more adopted members.
I would tell people to consider the content warnings before reading this. It's a middle grade story, so it isn't heavy on gore and violence. But it talks a lot about grief, losing a parent, losing a child, mental illness, kidnapping, confinement, gaslighting, etc. I think these are important themes and topics for kids to learn about (especially in that middle grade range) because if they haven't already, they will experience grief in some form. Just be careful and take care of yourself before anything else.
I think this would also be an excellent grandmother/mother/daughter buddy read idea because of the focus it puts on those relationships. I think it would be especially so in families that have one or more adopted members.
I would tell people to consider the content warnings before reading this. It's a middle grade story, so it isn't heavy on gore and violence. But it talks a lot about grief, losing a parent, losing a child, mental illness, kidnapping, confinement, gaslighting, etc. I think these are important themes and topics for kids to learn about (especially in that middle grade range) because if they haven't already, they will experience grief in some form. Just be careful and take care of yourself before anything else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
readsandsuch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A book so full of love that it gave me heartache.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
caoxtina's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Grief, and Abandonment