lanica's review
4.0
The Audiobook version of this is so well done! I would recommend it over a paper version...and I don't usually say that. The voice actors were perfect for their roles.
Librarian's Recommendation:
I would put this in a high school, maybe a middle school that isn't too conservative. There are references to sex and some drinking scenes, and the kids are not avoiding it, it's just a normal part of their experience. If that's going to cause parent complaints...you should be aware of them. I, however, would defend this book and would put it in my school.
This is a great book for teaching kids that friendships can be broken...and it's hard to repair them. A single action, or inaction, can have lasting effects and these cannot always be fixed with an 'I'm sorry'.
The families here are broken...but not through anything devious or illegal...just life taking bad turns. Each family has to deal with unimaginable loss before the book begins, and it is interesting to see how the pre-history of the character defines their outlook in the face of a new tragedy.
Librarian's Recommendation:
I would put this in a high school, maybe a middle school that isn't too conservative. There are references to sex and some drinking scenes, and the kids are not avoiding it, it's just a normal part of their experience. If that's going to cause parent complaints...you should be aware of them. I, however, would defend this book and would put it in my school.
This is a great book for teaching kids that friendships can be broken...and it's hard to repair them. A single action, or inaction, can have lasting effects and these cannot always be fixed with an 'I'm sorry'.
The families here are broken...but not through anything devious or illegal...just life taking bad turns. Each family has to deal with unimaginable loss before the book begins, and it is interesting to see how the pre-history of the character defines their outlook in the face of a new tragedy.
imdunn's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really good! It covered a pretty heavy topic, but it also managed to stay lighthearted and easygoing. I felt a whole range of emotions while reading it, and I think that shows how well it was written. The chapters were also quite short, and the pacing was very snappy, so I was able to get through all 400+ pages in a very short amount of time. Overall, I really liked this book and I would highly recommend it.
lynnnnn's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
al_ce's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
cnoodles's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
annelisegordon's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.5
andrearbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds grabbed me by the feels so hard. It was such a unique premise and such a wonderful and emotional story of friendship. Jamal and Q are estranged best friends. Then, Q dies in a tragic accident. Through an experimental procedure, Q is able to come back to life. The only thing is this is a time-bound return, and he has a limited number of days left. During this return, Jamal commits to reconciling with Q and making the most of this time. This means working through the reason the relationship was fractured in the first place. The story then explores the past where the friendship fell apart and what Q's real-time return looks like. This was just so, so well done. I was so drawn into the characters, and I was in literal tears by the end. I don't want to delve too, too much into what really drew me in because that's where the power of this story lies. This is my second Justin A. Reynolds (and I'm ready for me), and I love the masterful way he uses time as a plot device.
aleenabeth's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
meeks5679's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0