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fierygecko's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
Linus Baker begins this book as a painfully normal man with a relatively open mind who works a bland job and is attempting a diet. This book made me love him by the end. Every character in this story is unique, and many of them are lovable (or rightfully hate-able). This book is wordy, and can be repetitive, but I think at times it’s an effective way to show the reader Linus’ anxiety-ridden thought process. Linus’ obsession with his diet, and his conviction to follow the rules did bother me at the beginning, but by the end I understood why they were so important to mention. I found this story hopeful and fun, despite its darker subjects and the horrible realities Linus faces. He faces them with a good heart and a growing confidence, which is really satisfying to witness. It is also narrated with enthusiasm and a plethora of character voices that really bring the island to life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Fatphobia
lindsaymscott's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
sbaryluk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.0
Weird body image/fat phobia stuff about the main character throughout
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia
cmlalonde's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Hate crime
sierrabowers's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
If I could rate this book a 6, I would! This was a great read that included so much diversity and I loved the message it was trying to present. The theme being: love others no matter what, even if you don’t understand them. I also believe the author included another theme: people are afraid of what they don’t understand. As someone who works with children and sees the corrupt foster care system, I encourage all to read. It is enlightening and also very funny. It was lighthearted while also touching on important subjects!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Fatphobia, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Violence and Cannibalism
kathleendayle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Sweet story with endearing characters. Seems written for an adolescent-to-young-adult audience. Not typically my taste, but I did enjoy it. Even as a straight reader, queer stories are important!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Grief and Outing
capriqueen's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
- 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
How absolutely wonderful. I was gripped from the beginning. Linus’ dry, witty humor and the world charmed me. Then the island and the family there were overwhelming but glorious, and I fell for them just as Linus did. I love in the audiobook how Linus’ voice got warmer through the story. I got teary toward the end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse and Fatphobia
Minor: Religious bigotry
Child abuse is off page and told to the readerkaneebli's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent
micaelamariem's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
5.0
I adored this book! It was the perfect touch of whimsical while still revealing important lessons with quirky characters. The descriptions were vivid and the dialogue fun.
My one critique is that I think some of the turnaround (or bubble popping) in characters happened a bit too quickly.
Otherwise it was a great book!
My one critique is that I think some of the turnaround (or bubble popping) in characters happened a bit too quickly.
Otherwise it was a great book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, and Cursing
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
supernumeraryemily's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
This is a sweet YA story about a grumpy average government inspector whose world opens up when he visits a top-secret orphanage for magical youth. The book is heartwarming overall, with themes of celebrating difference and finding chosen family.
The novel brings up and fictionalizes issues that are present in our real world: discrimination against those who are undocumented and violence in residential schools in North America that forced [native] youth to conform. I think this book could have benefitted from more seriously exploring these themes, though its focus was pretty tight around the characters and their relationships rather than looking too deeply at the systems of power in the fictional society.
The novel brings up and fictionalizes issues that are present in our real world: discrimination against those who are undocumented and violence in residential schools in North America that forced [native] youth to conform. I think this book could have benefitted from more seriously exploring these themes, though its focus was pretty tight around the characters and their relationships rather than looking too deeply at the systems of power in the fictional society.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia