wathykite's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
tinathesmall89's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so hauntingly beautiful. I loved this book, it was recommended to me at a really good time.
tishreads's review against another edition
5.0
So after reading the book, I'm not so sure about the cover... but putting that aside. I really enjoyed this one and read it in a single sitting. What I love about LaCour's writing is that she manages to be simultaneously poetic and to-the-point. Her novels are shorter than many others crowding the YA shelf, but they pack dramatic and emotional punches. This particular text is a ghost story, though not of the sort you might imagine at first. It's worth a read both for ghost lovers and non-ghost lovers alike. At it's core is a yearning to be accepted and loved for who we are. This book is about both the literal ghosts, but also those figurative ghosts of memories that seem to haunt us forever.
Mila has been in foster care since a fire that killed her mother's boyfriend left her homeless at age 11. Now, at 18, she thinks she has finally found a home.
She is invited to live and work on a farm in a remote area of Northern California. The couple who owns the farm care for as many foster children as they can in an effort to provide them with a good education and a loving home. Mila will teach some of the younger children, sell flowers at the farmer's market, and be of general help. In exchange she will be provided with food, housing, friendship, and love.
What no one warned her about was the ghosts.
**SPOILERS**
One thing I particularly loved about this is that there's a period in the middle where I thought something sinister was going to happen. The ghosts were going to catch up with everyone and someone was going to die, etc. The usual horror story stuff. And then...instead it was magical. Instead of ending in running for her life, Mila was able to face her fears and gain what she needed - a loving home despite (or perhaps because of) the difficulties she had faced and the choices she had to make as a child.
Mila has been in foster care since a fire that killed her mother's boyfriend left her homeless at age 11. Now, at 18, she thinks she has finally found a home.
She is invited to live and work on a farm in a remote area of Northern California. The couple who owns the farm care for as many foster children as they can in an effort to provide them with a good education and a loving home. Mila will teach some of the younger children, sell flowers at the farmer's market, and be of general help. In exchange she will be provided with food, housing, friendship, and love.
What no one warned her about was the ghosts.
**SPOILERS**
One thing I particularly loved about this is that there's a period in the middle where I thought something sinister was going to happen. The ghosts were going to catch up with everyone and someone was going to die, etc. The usual horror story stuff. And then...instead it was magical. Instead of ending in running for her life, Mila was able to face her fears and gain what she needed - a loving home despite (or perhaps because of) the difficulties she had faced and the choices she had to make as a child.
oriana_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
vanamonkukka's review against another edition
4.0
a beautiful and haunting tale of grief, ghosts, acceptance and found family <3
there is just something about the feeling nina lacour manages to create in all of her books that lingers in your mind for ages afterwards
lee. you own my heart.
there is just something about the feeling nina lacour manages to create in all of her books that lingers in your mind for ages afterwards
lee. you own my heart.
chandraleereads's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn’t seem to put down this haunting and emotional book. The story is loneliness, beauty, doubt, belonging, grief, love... and so much more.
arinreads's review against another edition
3.0
idk what i expected tbh but this was... fine.
the writing is pleasant to read, the story has a certain shine to it, i just didn't really connect to the story, though i did like the main character
the writing is pleasant to read, the story has a certain shine to it, i just didn't really connect to the story, though i did like the main character
skyroxy's review against another edition
3.0
Creepy, kind of Stepford Wife-ish. I knew what the author was trying to get at, but it made me feel claustrophobic. I get the point the author was trying to get, but the end was disturbing.