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deb_is_reading's review against another edition
3.0
Ok so like I really started liking this at the beginning but there were some things along the way that I didn’t really like that seemed a little out of character. I was gonna still give this 4 stars but the ending has really weird pacing and I didn’t like how it ended because it seems like the buildup was pointless? It was barely a 3 starts tbh.
ncrozier's review against another edition
5.0
This book was the cutest YA book I've read in a long time. Relatable characters, a realistic situation, fast-paced, hilarious, and all around adorable, it's a perfect lighthearted read.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
A sweet, funny story about a teenage Russian physics prodigy who winds up at NASA to help stop an asteroid from wiping out a good chunk of the Western Hemisphere. Along the way he gets dismissed by "colleagues", meets an artist (Dovie), visits an American high school, crashes a prom, and learns to swear in English. Plus there's a little bit about Kant. My brain immediately inserted Star Trek's Chekhov as Yuri's voice (RIP Anton Yelchin <3).
Read for Teen Book Group this month - as a bonus, the author Katie Kennedy came to our meeting tonight :)
Read for Teen Book Group this month - as a bonus, the author Katie Kennedy came to our meeting tonight :)
faithl's review against another edition
4.0
'Learning to Swear in America' is an unexpected pleasure to read! An intelligent, endearingly naive Russian boy tries to save the world through the power of mathematics and science is just the kind of character to pick you from a dreary day/month/year. Add an adorable story of first love, this novel was both original and entertaining.
Despite the fact that I understood less than half of the science mentioned in the story, I still loved reading about it. The research to ensure that the book felt genuine was successful in shaping the whole end-of-the-world situation. However, the book still retained a lot of its lightness due to Yuri's adorable personality. His high intelligence is accompanied with the most endearing lack of self-awareness - most literally, the epitome of the cute nerd. Hence, the novel was such a delight to read since Yuri's pure innocence amongst the arrogance of adults and the face of impending doom highlighted how underrated naivety can be. Kennedy did a great job of characterising this trait without it being too childish or ignorant but simply sweet.
Kennedy also did a great job with the romance. A lot of YA romances are overwhelmed with passion and desperation however this one was just really chill. I didn't feel frustrated or swept away in its development but instead calm. Their relationship was a great combination of aloofness, spontaneity but also sense, despite Dove being a very unique and boisterous character. At first glance, she is the typical manic pixie girl we're all tired of seeing but as the story continues, she surpasses this archetype. She voices her distaste for her school environment, she doesn't revel in being tortured or cynical but tries her very best to just be a kind, good person without being basic. This was probably the best part of the novel - even amongst the very high chance of a whole city being decimated by an asteroid, her and Yuri still remain calm, kind and collected. A book like this could've easily been too fast-paced, emotional and distressed but instead, was optimistic.
All in all, 'Learning to Swear in America' is a refreshing book that goes beyond the archetypes and habits of the Young Adult Genre. It focuses on a hopeful view of the world and humanity, revelling in the beauty of simply being alive and breathing.
oneanjana's review against another edition
4.0
It’s an unexpected reading joy for me. I’m starting this book with no high expectation, just read the synopsis and it looks like a light yet fun read, so I take it. Turns out that this book is very good.
I love all the characters here. Yuri, the 17-years-old scientist from Russia who worked on the NASA to save the earth from the asteroid, dedicated his life to his dream of winning the Nobel Prize. So serious all the time, calculating everything with his mathematical ability, awkward for socializing, and kind of lonely till he meets with Dovie and Lennon. Dovie is such a bold hippie quirky girl, which is, I like her so much! Her energy is so extra, and I like the way she thinks. Like when she didn't let herself down with the treatment of his teacher who limited her expression in art. She understood that it’s all about putting her in a box but she just keeps being herself. And don’t forget about Lennon, a truly spotlight stealer here. I think all of us must admire his big heart and his self love. He’s in a wheelchair and don’t give a damn about it. Oh, also I think he is the one who mostly make me snorted and laugh with all his lines.
One thing I don’t really like is the slow pace of the story. Oh, and, where’s the swearing part? Like, I am literally waiting when the part of learning to swear is coming. But no, it didn’t come, and it makes me feel like I was lied to. Lol.
Despite the false advertising for the title, I really enjoy reading this book. I hardly put it down, the banter was all laughable, all the funny part was really really funny.
I’ll end this review with one of my favorite quote about rainbow from this book:
Dovie? Do you love rainbows?”
“Yeah”
“Why?”
She looked at him for a moment. “Because they start with us, reach up to touch God, and still come back down to be with us. The treasure isn't at the end of the rainbow; it's that the rainbow cared enough to come back.”
I love all the characters here. Yuri, the 17-years-old scientist from Russia who worked on the NASA to save the earth from the asteroid, dedicated his life to his dream of winning the Nobel Prize. So serious all the time, calculating everything with his mathematical ability, awkward for socializing, and kind of lonely till he meets with Dovie and Lennon. Dovie is such a bold hippie quirky girl, which is, I like her so much! Her energy is so extra, and I like the way she thinks. Like when she didn't let herself down with the treatment of his teacher who limited her expression in art. She understood that it’s all about putting her in a box but she just keeps being herself. And don’t forget about Lennon, a truly spotlight stealer here. I think all of us must admire his big heart and his self love. He’s in a wheelchair and don’t give a damn about it. Oh, also I think he is the one who mostly make me snorted and laugh with all his lines.
One thing I don’t really like is the slow pace of the story. Oh, and, where’s the swearing part? Like, I am literally waiting when the part of learning to swear is coming. But no, it didn’t come, and it makes me feel like I was lied to. Lol.
Despite the false advertising for the title, I really enjoy reading this book. I hardly put it down, the banter was all laughable, all the funny part was really really funny.
I’ll end this review with one of my favorite quote about rainbow from this book:
Dovie? Do you love rainbows?”
“Yeah”
“Why?”
She looked at him for a moment. “Because they start with us, reach up to touch God, and still come back down to be with us. The treasure isn't at the end of the rainbow; it's that the rainbow cared enough to come back.”
purrfectpages's review against another edition
3.0
A huge asteroid is headed towards Earth. Can a team of hotshot scientists, including our protagonist teen whiz, save the world in time?
Even though I haven't had as much time as I'd like to read lately, I still had a hard time connecting with this book. I liked the premise, and expected a quirky, offbeat read, sprinkled with some scientific jargon. Instead I found the formula to be flipped. This book was a lot more jargon and a lot less humor than I planned for. Yes, there are still amusing moments, but I also feel that there are more amusing opportunities that were missed than seized, if that makes sense. The story itself is pretty straightforward and doesn't really offer much in way of surprises. That is, of course, unless you count the ending. But I won't spoil that for you.
Even though I haven't had as much time as I'd like to read lately, I still had a hard time connecting with this book. I liked the premise, and expected a quirky, offbeat read, sprinkled with some scientific jargon. Instead I found the formula to be flipped. This book was a lot more jargon and a lot less humor than I planned for. Yes, there are still amusing moments, but I also feel that there are more amusing opportunities that were missed than seized, if that makes sense. The story itself is pretty straightforward and doesn't really offer much in way of surprises. That is, of course, unless you count the ending. But I won't spoil that for you.
shonari's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book. I can relate to young Yuri, jumping ahead of everyone your age and then trying to play catch up at life (not sure I can relate to the whole trying to save the world part however).
What I find unbelievable though is how... calm everyone is when faced with the apocalypse. Life going on, kids going to school... I expect chaos and lots of church going lol.
Fine. They regular people dont understand the magnitude of the situation but the US government doesnt even try to evacuate anyone? (before they find out about the extinction level event)
What I find unbelievable though is how... calm everyone is when faced with the apocalypse. Life going on, kids going to school... I expect chaos and lots of church going lol.
Fine. They regular people dont understand the magnitude of the situation but the US government doesnt even try to evacuate anyone? (before they find out about the extinction level event)
mary_kate's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
woodennord's review against another edition
2.0
I was SOOO lost at the end. Why did they do that???
The only good thing in this book is Yuri, he is icon!!
The only good thing in this book is Yuri, he is icon!!