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wintergirl94's review against another edition
5.0
This book got me through my late childhood/early teenage years. I have read it so many times my copy is literally falling to pieces!
It’s been a few years so it need a reread, but it was just so fun and amazing. I didn’t know it was a series!? Give it to me now.
It’s been a few years so it need a reread, but it was just so fun and amazing. I didn’t know it was a series!? Give it to me now.
janina_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Becoming Bindy Mackenzie is probably the Jaclyn Moriarty book I struggled most with at the beginning. All of her books have been a little hard for me to get into – I have to reach a certain point in the story before I am totally immersed. But then it is almost impossible to stop reading. That certain point came very late this time. In fact, I had already considered giving up. Now I have to say: While Bindy isn't my favourite in the Ashbury series, I am still very, very glad I read it.
From the outside, Bindy is a very hard character to like. Not knowing what the reader knows, I can understand that her classmates are not very friendly towards her, that some even despise her. She looks down on others (even if she does not realise that), she is a know-it-all, and she often unconsciously hurts the people around her with what she says. Yet, understanding what has made her the way she is, I just felt incredibly sad for her. She is a good person, kind and caring, but she has never learned to openly show it and in trying to be helpful, she often just comes across as mean.
I loved seeing Bindy change throughout the year, discover new things about her character and learn her story through past diary entries. The mystery surrounding her health (is it stress? is it an illness? might it even be glandular fever? is it *gasp* murder?) kept me guessing the whole time, turning the pages in a frenzy, cursing my train to arrive at uni so fast (normally it takes ages) and the outcome really surprised me – which happens rarely, I have to admit.
All in all, a great addition to the Ashbury series. In contrary to the first two installments, [b:Feeling Sorry for Celia|82783|Feeling Sorry for Celia (Ashbury/Brookfield, #1)|Jaclyn Moriarty|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312026150s/82783.jpg|1013926] and [b:Finding Cassie Crazy|82779|Finding Cassie Crazy|Jaclyn Moriarty|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316809686s/82779.jpg|2161186], it focuses a little more on family issues and overall is much sadder and less funny (more along the lines of [b:Dreaming of Amelia]), but I recommend them all! Although each one of them tells its own story, I would say they are best enjoyed in the order, as you will understand the references made.
#9 Aussie YA challenge 2011
From the outside, Bindy is a very hard character to like. Not knowing what the reader knows, I can understand that her classmates are not very friendly towards her, that some even despise her. She looks down on others (even if she does not realise that), she is a know-it-all, and she often unconsciously hurts the people around her with what she says. Yet, understanding what has made her the way she is, I just felt incredibly sad for her. She is a good person, kind and caring, but she has never learned to openly show it and in trying to be helpful, she often just comes across as mean.
I loved seeing Bindy change throughout the year, discover new things about her character and learn her story through past diary entries. The mystery surrounding her health (is it stress? is it an illness? might it even be glandular fever? is it *gasp* murder?) kept me guessing the whole time, turning the pages in a frenzy, cursing my train to arrive at uni so fast (normally it takes ages) and the outcome really surprised me – which happens rarely, I have to admit.
All in all, a great addition to the Ashbury series. In contrary to the first two installments, [b:Feeling Sorry for Celia|82783|Feeling Sorry for Celia (Ashbury/Brookfield, #1)|Jaclyn Moriarty|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312026150s/82783.jpg|1013926] and [b:Finding Cassie Crazy|82779|Finding Cassie Crazy|Jaclyn Moriarty|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316809686s/82779.jpg|2161186], it focuses a little more on family issues and overall is much sadder and less funny (more along the lines of [b:Dreaming of Amelia]), but I recommend them all! Although each one of them tells its own story, I would say they are best enjoyed in the order, as you will understand the references made.
#9 Aussie YA challenge 2011
banans13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
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
5.0
_lost_in_wonderland_'s review against another edition
5.0
This book is amazing, I was given it by a friend to borrow and genuinely wasn't expecting it to hook me like it did (ended up reading it in about two days). I was stook on whether to give it four or five stars, ended up stuck on four just because a five-star book has to be life-altering, I feel like, but I'm itching for a sequel, or just to read more books by the author. The characters are all so well thought out, and the way that Bindy, the protagonist, assumes she knows the people around her so well and ends up so completely wrong kind of reminded me of the 'subversion of the manic-pixie-dream-girl-trope' thing that John Green almost/kind of did in Paper Towns (I barely remember that book, I only know that's what he was trying to do with the ending because of Wikipedia). Bindy reminded me of people I knew, and she reminded me of myself and that was really cool, and it felt like this is truly an author that actually understands what going through school and being a teenager is like, unlike thousands of other books I've read with the same theme and story. What shocked me the most was how quickly the genre almost changed, because I was expecting this to be a coming-of-age, simple story about friendship and getting through school, etc, which is definitely a huge part of the book, but I definitely wasn't expecting it to turn into a murder-plot or mystery towards the end - that was great. Edit; nvm maybe I'll give it five stars, the book deserves it
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
My review of all four books in the series can be found here.
cammschwartz's review against another edition
2.0
It took me so long to get into this book. I didn’t like anything about it and none of the characters. I read a little bit one day and put it aside for the rest. This is the first I read in the series. I actually brought it to school and a friend pointed it out and said it took a while to get into but it turned out to be one of her favorite books. So I picked it up and decided to finish where I left off. It gets really interesting as you near the last 100 pages. Bindy notices things aren’t going that well. She calls up Finnegan and he takes her to a night club. Not to mention Bindy also thought she heard two sub teachers fighting and she offered to be the witness. Although that actually wasn’t the case. Bindy wasn’t feeling well lately and then we figure out that she was being poisoned. It took me a while to understand what was going on. But I must admit it did get much better.
owls_rainbow's review against another edition
5.0
This book is amazing. I wasn't too sure about the writing style at first but Bindy and her story really drew me in. Despite her misgivings Bindy was actually a really interesting and dare I say it likeable character especially when she let's her guard down at the end. She's flawed and that's a good thing. I also loved the whole conspiracy against her and that ending...
Also side note I didn't realise that this book was part of a series and I don't think it's necessary to read the others before this one.
Also side note I didn't realise that this book was part of a series and I don't think it's necessary to read the others before this one.
alexandriapaige's review against another edition
3.0
Check out my review: http://thebookbanner.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-murder-of-bindy-mackenzie.html
wordsmithreads's review against another edition
4.0
Really more a 4.5.
Very interesting plot, had me hooked the whole time, totally did not expect the ending at all!
Love/hate relationship with Bindy... she seems vain and conceited, then likable, even lovable. I found myself seeming more and more like her!
A great read for anyone who wants something that flows nicely (easy read) or something that will keep them entertained (it's long, but worth every word!)
All in all, great book.
Very interesting plot, had me hooked the whole time, totally did not expect the ending at all!
Love/hate relationship with Bindy... she seems vain and conceited, then likable, even lovable. I found myself seeming more and more like her!
A great read for anyone who wants something that flows nicely (easy read) or something that will keep them entertained (it's long, but worth every word!)
All in all, great book.
rinn4's review against another edition
3.0
This book was good. I wish though that the middle could have been shorter and the end longer. The ending fantastically planned, there was no way I would have suspected that at all. The main character is really annoying though for the most part, though you forgive her later because certain issues come to light. I wish there was more on these set of characters and I want her to be with Ernst they would make such an amazing couple because no matter what he always stands by her and she doesn't look down on him at all compared to the other people. I didn't mind the character overlap with The Year of Secret Assignments though overall I think that novel is better.