jdalton's review
5.0
A good quick read for fans of murder mysteries and how things can go too far even with the best of intentions
whatever1441's review against another edition
3.0
Lgbt commentary good
Characterization not all there
Not much happened
Characterization not all there
Not much happened
onehundredmarys's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Dark and twisty ya that reads like my so-called life fanfic in the best way!! If you know, you like, know
silenthillda's review against another edition
3.0
Todd has been left frozen to death at a park. He is seeing his lifeless body there, now but a ghost. Georgia is a girl who feels intrigued and connected to Todd without knowing him. Both narratives intertwine in a fast paced whodunit mystery.
Mariko Tamaki’s Cold never lets go of the tension. Never lingers too long on a thought or idea. I do wish other themes were explored more but at the same time it doesn’t need to be. What’s there helps support the narrative. The thing is this story becomes somewhat predictable. One thing that saved it from being overtly cliché is the inclusion of other queer characters and POC. The commentary is there just not delved into deep. One thing I could maybe say, is that Georgia’s character, which is the one that’s alive is delved into more while Todd’s ghost character is a bit more exposition in nature. Todd’s voice is not as strong as Georgia which I wish was more equal. Thankfully, it is a short read and entertaining enough with some messaging.
Mariko Tamaki’s Cold never lets go of the tension. Never lingers too long on a thought or idea. I do wish other themes were explored more but at the same time it doesn’t need to be. What’s there helps support the narrative. The thing is this story becomes somewhat predictable. One thing that saved it from being overtly cliché is the inclusion of other queer characters and POC. The commentary is there just not delved into deep. One thing I could maybe say, is that Georgia’s character, which is the one that’s alive is delved into more while Todd’s ghost character is a bit more exposition in nature. Todd’s voice is not as strong as Georgia which I wish was more equal. Thankfully, it is a short read and entertaining enough with some messaging.
suzanna_gg's review against another edition
2.0
silly little fluff book w a skeleton plot and flat characters and a dead co-narrator but it was an easy read and im not mad that I read it
ladyheather10's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
charlotte_jane_w's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
katie_2711's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
ariellesbooked's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Cold is a book unlike any other I've ever read. It definitely sparked my interest from the very beginning. However, it ultimately left me wanting more from it.
It is told from two different perspectives -- the first POV is from Georgia, who attends an all-girls private school. And the other is from Todd, a senior at an adjacent all-boys private school, whose naked body has just been discovered in a local park. Sorry, I should clarify: the perspective is provided by Todd's ghost. The connectedness of their stories becomes pretty clear early-on, given that certain people in their lives provide overlap between them. As a result, Georgia is determined to find out the truth behind Todd's mysterious death.
The mystery is gripping. The characters have potential. The representation is solid (as there are various queer characters featured throughout). And initially, I felt like this was a book that I - a human dementor, in most sad situations - would find myself emotionally invested in. As a teacher (but also as a human, in general), reading about a young, gay high schooler's torment, bullying, and eventual death was something I found extremely upsetting. Her commentary on society's lingering homophobia, misconceptions, and the idea of toxic masculinity was well done.
There are some solid bones here. A good foundation. This story simply needs to be fleshed out. It is remarkably short, given the amount of ground it tries to cover. I think with additional writing, I would have enjoyed this a thousand times more. The pacing started off well, as many of the gaps felt very intentional. Yet, as the story continued, I wanted more of those gaps to be filled in. I wanted to know more about Georgia and Todd and even some of the other side characters (such as Mark and Carrie). We didn't get enough from them. By the end, it felt like a lot of telling, rather than showing.
Definitely a unique book that I feel would really resonate with certain kids. But, in my opinion, it needed a little more development to really hit the mark.
Cold is a book unlike any other I've ever read. It definitely sparked my interest from the very beginning. However, it ultimately left me wanting more from it.
It is told from two different perspectives -- the first POV is from Georgia, who attends an all-girls private school. And the other is from Todd, a senior at an adjacent all-boys private school, whose naked body has just been discovered in a local park. Sorry, I should clarify: the perspective is provided by Todd's ghost. The connectedness of their stories becomes pretty clear early-on, given that certain people in their lives provide overlap between them. As a result, Georgia is determined to find out the truth behind Todd's mysterious death.
The mystery is gripping. The characters have potential. The representation is solid (as there are various queer characters featured throughout). And initially, I felt like this was a book that I - a human dementor, in most sad situations - would find myself emotionally invested in. As a teacher (but also as a human, in general), reading about a young, gay high schooler's torment, bullying, and eventual death was something I found extremely upsetting. Her commentary on society's lingering homophobia, misconceptions, and the idea of toxic masculinity was well done.
There are some solid bones here. A good foundation. This story simply needs to be fleshed out. It is remarkably short, given the amount of ground it tries to cover. I think with additional writing, I would have enjoyed this a thousand times more. The pacing started off well, as many of the gaps felt very intentional. Yet, as the story continued, I wanted more of those gaps to be filled in. I wanted to know more about Georgia and Todd and even some of the other side characters (such as Mark and Carrie). We didn't get enough from them. By the end, it felt like a lot of telling, rather than showing.
Definitely a unique book that I feel would really resonate with certain kids. But, in my opinion, it needed a little more development to really hit the mark.