teddy_2023's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
alifromkc1907's review against another edition
4.0
Gut Instinct Rating: 4
Characters: 4.5
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 4
Writing Style: 4
Excitement Factor: 3
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 4
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.28
Characters: 4.5
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 4
Writing Style: 4
Excitement Factor: 3
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 4
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.28
ps_a22's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I was so in love with Skye and how she described people and moments in terms of how she would capture them in art. I liked how despite all the trauma she went through as a child, she finally stood up for herself and for the safety of her sister and told her mom how her boyfriend molested her when she was 12. I loved how she made a mural with broken pieces of tiles show that broken things can become beautiful. I can't count the number of times I cried reading this book, and I loved how she finally found the courage to get with ben at the end. I loved how even when she hit rock bottom, she rose back up again.
resslesa's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent look at what happens when sexual assault gets ignored by caregivers suffering themselves so that children/teens turn to destructive behaviors rather than confronting their issues. The main character learns this about herself and also learns to speak up, much like Melinda in speak. A little bit of a drag and less character development and resolution with the perpetrator, Mom’s on again/off again boyfriend, this is still an excellent book and a great audio.
ajreadsbooks_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book deals with heavy topics and I feel it does it very elegantly. The characters(especially Skye) all have depth and it honestly broke me, made me angry, but healed me all in one go.
__allison__'s review against another edition
5.0
giving Laura Sibson's novel anything less than 5 stars is honestly a crime
alicia_bentholm's review against another edition
5.0
Not just another cliche YA-book. It has a very serious theme, sexual harassment of a minor, and the main character struggles with the incident throughout the book. But she develops a great deal throughout the book, which is a pleasure to read. And I like reading about other young people in books, who enjoy making art, which I do as well.
inked_orca's review against another edition
4.0
These stories always show how strong a person can be. It’ll break you, then rebuild you back again. A heartfelt story about abuse and trauma.
lmniday's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very fast read! It was beautiful but very reminiscent of other, perhaps better, YA books of the same nature. Still, Sibson does a good job of discussing SA in a respectful and meaningful way, and I appreciate that the drug use in the book wasn't inherently condemned—I think it's important to realize that an audience of teenagers and young adults don't want to read a D.A.R.E. pamphlet... so props to her for the complexity she wrote. The subplot with Ellen and Ashton was completely dropped, and therefore, it bothered me the most, not to mention that the book tried to make me like Keith even though it seemed like he was complicit in Ashton's behavior.