Scan barcode
xangemthelibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? No
5.0
This was SO wholesome. The author touches on grief, loss, and trauma in such a tender way. Rafa, Marcus, and Jennie are wonderful characters that I found so easy to root for. Most stunning of all is Rafa's natural sense of empathy and care for others. Maybe it's just because he knows, with his mom being sick and Beto's brother dealing with trauma, but whenever Marcus struggles with his PTSD, he immediately goes into empathy mode and gives Marcus exactly the space he needs to ground himself again.
Do I think that it is absolutely terrible for a 12 year old to be acting like a fully mature adult? Yeah, I do. Rafa shouldn't know what it's like to watch someone struggle with their mental health or their past. He's only 12. But I love how he has chosen to respond to the people around him. Gentle soul I want to give him a hug.
Do I think that it is absolutely terrible for a 12 year old to be acting like a fully mature adult? Yeah, I do. Rafa shouldn't know what it's like to watch someone struggle with their mental health or their past. He's only 12. But I love how he has chosen to respond to the people around him. Gentle soul I want to give him a hug.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cancer, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Medical content, Vomit, and Terminal illness
Minor: Car accident
library_kb's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I listened to this audiobook via @Libro.fm's ALC program for educators. It took a genre turn I wasn't expecting, since I went in expecting a ghost story mystery, but at the end some science fiction aspects were added in. I did like the way that was done, I just wasn't expecting it! I liked the characters and how they were developed through the story, especially Rafa and Julie. There definitely are some emotional and sad topics dealt with in this book--like death of a parent and chronic illness of a parent, as well as PTSD of a side character, and anxiety of the main character. Recommend for upper elementary and up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Death of parent
More...