Scan barcode
the_loudlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt Books for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 and all the feels for this 9/18/18 release. Teodore’s family hasn’t been the same since his brother Manny went overseas with the military. When T meets and old, now crazy beautiful, friend when he is wandering around the University of Washington’s campus, he promises her that they’ll both go there together after graduating high school. The problem? Besides his family’s sad state, his grades are even sadder. He kicks it into gear to round out his junior year, and just when things are looking up, his brother comes homes with serious PTSD. As he moves into the summer before his senior year, T is ready to put his family’s new troubles out of his mind and focus on making himself U-Dub worthy. His siblings have something else in mind though, and it is a trip that changes everything. The characters in this are fantastic, and the story packs all kinds of emotional punches. I would recommend this for mature middle schoolers (like, 8th grade) and up.
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 and all the feels for this 9/18/18 release. Teodore’s family hasn’t been the same since his brother Manny went overseas with the military. When T meets and old, now crazy beautiful, friend when he is wandering around the University of Washington’s campus, he promises her that they’ll both go there together after graduating high school. The problem? Besides his family’s sad state, his grades are even sadder. He kicks it into gear to round out his junior year, and just when things are looking up, his brother comes homes with serious PTSD. As he moves into the summer before his senior year, T is ready to put his family’s new troubles out of his mind and focus on making himself U-Dub worthy. His siblings have something else in mind though, and it is a trip that changes everything. The characters in this are fantastic, and the story packs all kinds of emotional punches. I would recommend this for mature middle schoolers (like, 8th grade) and up.
roxy324's review against another edition
2.0
I really wish I had enjoyed the novel. It covers all the things I've pledged to read more of and about: Writers of color
People of color
Struggle of marginalized communities
YA writers I've never read before
However, it was a slooooooog to get through. I finished it out of respect for the author and the subject but it was not easy because it just wasn't for me.
Structurally:
Most of the YA authors I've read have been women so I looked forward to read a book written by a man where the protagonist is a boy. The novel is written like the diary of a young guy who's forced to keep a journal against his will but gets used to it well enough. That is to say, there's very little flow. If I'm generalizing, from all the stereotypes we have about adolescent boys, the novel is written in just that way. Very direct, no frills, no overly descriptive language. I didn't get a sense of the picture being fully fleshed out. It felt like I was getting a general overview of the daily life of his slow summer.
Another odd point is that the characters kept referring to each other by name multiple times within the same conversation which I've NEVER heard actual people do. It would be something like:
"How are you Wendy?"
"I'm okay Teodoro. How was your exam?"
"I'm not really sure how I did, Wendy."
"Don't worry, Teodoro, I'm sure you did fine."
"Thanks, Wendy."
What.
Plot Wise
T brother, Manny, returns from Iraq with some major PTSD. Their parents are so busy because angry at each other that they ignore the mental health problems all together, leaving their daughter to play the glue between her entire family at the detriment to her own aspirations. That frustrated me the most. The lack of parental awareness of the characters. It's only after Xochitl has essentially fixed everything that her parents decide to they to come to and act like actual parent.
For all her caring, Xochitl's lying was enraging. In an effort to fix her family she begins to drag T down with her. Rather than shaking sense into her parents, she lies, manipulates, and tricks the all into doing what she thinks they need. A sibling road trip ending in NM at their uncle's farm. It worked out in the end and she meant well, but girl, NO. Your younger brother is trying to make something of himself. Give him that shot.
I tried to like it. I really did. It just wasn't for me.
People of color
Struggle of marginalized communities
YA writers I've never read before
However, it was a slooooooog to get through. I finished it out of respect for the author and the subject but it was not easy because it just wasn't for me.
Structurally:
Most of the YA authors I've read have been women so I looked forward to read a book written by a man where the protagonist is a boy. The novel is written like the diary of a young guy who's forced to keep a journal against his will but gets used to it well enough. That is to say, there's very little flow. If I'm generalizing, from all the stereotypes we have about adolescent boys, the novel is written in just that way. Very direct, no frills, no overly descriptive language. I didn't get a sense of the picture being fully fleshed out. It felt like I was getting a general overview of the daily life of his slow summer.
Another odd point is that the characters kept referring to each other by name multiple times within the same conversation which I've NEVER heard actual people do. It would be something like:
"How are you Wendy?"
"I'm okay Teodoro. How was your exam?"
"I'm not really sure how I did, Wendy."
"Don't worry, Teodoro, I'm sure you did fine."
"Thanks, Wendy."
What.
Plot Wise
T brother, Manny, returns from Iraq with some major PTSD. Their parents are so busy because angry at each other that they ignore the mental health problems all together, leaving their daughter to play the glue between her entire family at the detriment to her own aspirations. That frustrated me the most. The lack of parental awareness of the characters. It's only after Xochitl has essentially fixed everything that her parents decide to they to come to and act like actual parent.
For all her caring, Xochitl's lying was enraging. In an effort to fix her family she begins to drag T down with her. Rather than shaking sense into her parents, she lies, manipulates, and tricks the all into doing what she thinks they need. A sibling road trip ending in NM at their uncle's farm. It worked out in the end and she meant well, but girl, NO. Your younger brother is trying to make something of himself. Give him that shot.
I tried to like it. I really did. It just wasn't for me.
bookwormmichelle's review against another edition
5.0
The jacket description for this book is terrible. However, the BOOK is fabulous. I cried the whole last few chapters. LOVED this. This story deals with family, economic hardship, PTSD, falling in love, determination, and what it means to show up for someone. Beautiful, beautiful little book, and I hope it goes places.
thatmccradylady's review against another edition
5.0
While the story does wrap up in a tidy, probably-too-good-to-true happy ending, it was exactly the happy ending that I wanted and I read it with tears streaming down my face. The dialogue was witty and surprising. The characters felt authentic. The overall story was charming.
I love that the author resolved her characters’ genuine frustration with the bureaucracy of the VA with a note at the end explaining their change in policies and advocating for public support to help improve VA services.
This is definitely on my to-book-talk list for the fall.
Lastly, the author includes a list of resources for vets and their families in the back. I’m going to add them here because they need to be shouted from the rooftops:
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 ext #1
stopsoldiersuicide.org
www.ptsd.va.gov/public/index.asp
woundedwarriorproject.org
For families of returning vets whose mental health may have been impacted by contact with a soldier suffering from PTSD:
www.ptsd.va.gov/public/family/index.asp
veteransfamiliesunited.org
familyofavet.com/secondary_ptsd.html
giveanhour.org
mentalhealth.gov
I love that the author resolved her characters’ genuine frustration with the bureaucracy of the VA with a note at the end explaining their change in policies and advocating for public support to help improve VA services.
This is definitely on my to-book-talk list for the fall.
Lastly, the author includes a list of resources for vets and their families in the back. I’m going to add them here because they need to be shouted from the rooftops:
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 ext #1
stopsoldiersuicide.org
www.ptsd.va.gov/public/index.asp
woundedwarriorproject.org
For families of returning vets whose mental health may have been impacted by contact with a soldier suffering from PTSD:
www.ptsd.va.gov/public/family/index.asp
veteransfamiliesunited.org
familyofavet.com/secondary_ptsd.html
giveanhour.org
mentalhealth.gov
molly_dettmann's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
3.0
I thought this was a really solid realistic fiction (though maybe a bit historical being set in 2008) where we have a teen boy deciding to get his grades and life together so he can go to college but ending up involved in helping his siblings. One brother is going through PTSD post Iraq tour and the other sister tried giving up her music career to help their older brother. There’s a sweet romance and lots of dark moment a with the older brother but overall was a really interesting and authentic look at PTSD and what it means to be there for your family.
librarydancer's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars
I can only hope this wonderful book, my first of the year, is a good sign for 2021.
Powerful, moving YA book about a teen facing both normal issues of school,love and family strife, but also more adult ones of watching his older brother struggle with PTSD from his service days.
I can only hope this wonderful book, my first of the year, is a good sign for 2021.
Powerful, moving YA book about a teen facing both normal issues of school,love and family strife, but also more adult ones of watching his older brother struggle with PTSD from his service days.
mshir089's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
4.0
agmaynard's review against another edition
3.25
Adding to teen bibliography. The Avila siblings--sometimes reluctantly--hit the road to make rounds of family. They all have some struggling to work through, giving a decent story balance. Ends in a satisfying place, with more work to be done, though with better things on the way for all. Content warning for suicide ideation and attempts.
dexterovna's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: War
somelitreference's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Heartfelt story. Grounded writing. The ending was a bit too neat for me, but it is a YA novel so the ending makes sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt