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kaygo2490's review against another edition
5.0
A Magical Story
"Because here’s the thing: Death does come for everything. But Death can also be bargained with, if you know how to strike a deal."
This story wasn't only beautifully crafted but it was also beautifully written in a way that captures your heart whole.
It's about a seemingly normal kid, that lives in small-town Ohio, until one day an old friend comes back into his life. And with him, he rattles our main character's life completely.
This is one of those stories that sounds pretty lame in synopsis but incredible while reading it.
As the main character unravels his life and unveils the truth behind his family and the world he lives in. We as the reader, are also grasping at the breadcrumbs that are thrown at us, until it's complete.
This book is magical and nostalgic. One of my favorite magical realism books.
4.5 stars!!!
"Because here’s the thing: Death does come for everything. But Death can also be bargained with, if you know how to strike a deal."
This story wasn't only beautifully crafted but it was also beautifully written in a way that captures your heart whole.
It's about a seemingly normal kid, that lives in small-town Ohio, until one day an old friend comes back into his life. And with him, he rattles our main character's life completely.
This is one of those stories that sounds pretty lame in synopsis but incredible while reading it.
As the main character unravels his life and unveils the truth behind his family and the world he lives in. We as the reader, are also grasping at the breadcrumbs that are thrown at us, until it's complete.
This book is magical and nostalgic. One of my favorite magical realism books.
4.5 stars!!!
neylane's review against another edition
5.0
Uma expressão pra esse livro: uau! Além da história ser muito interessante ela é incrivelmente bem escrita. O autor consegue descrever algumas sensações que eu consegui absorver de poucos livros até hoje (Leve-me Com Você da Catherine Ryan Hyde e Os Garotos Corvos da Maggie Stiefvater são alguns exemplos) e é uma leitura encantadora. Apesar de percebemos o rumo que a história vai tomar ela não deixa de ser surpreendente pela forma que o autor exprime os acontecimentos. É uma história de amor, magia, relações familiares e descoberta pessoal. E é uma escrita muito bonita.
lydiashigley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
evelyn_mosby's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
High 3.5. Possibly 3.75 I like the writing style and will check out the author's other works.
coco_lolo's review against another edition
3.0
I went into this knowing only that it was a Stonewall Honor Book and supposedly for fans of The Raven Cycle; normally, I do extensive research before I read anything, but I decided to check out Wonders of the Invisible World based solely on the synopsis and the fact that it was LGBT. I believe that payed off, because it was the suspense—the sense of not knowing—that allowed me to better connect with the main character's journey.
To be honest, though, the first couple of chapters made me wonder whether I would like it or not. The story opened in an unusual way: most books have a definite starting point that allows you to get a fairly solid feel for the main character, but not so here. I can't even really explain why it was so strange, only that I got the impression that I'd missed something. What I didn't realize until I'd read further on was that was the point: the narrator started out with vague and almost nonexistent memories before this pivotal moment, so instead of developing an idea of who he is in the first chapter, you spend the entire book doing so. I don't think this completely worked, but I did appreciate what Barzak was doing. He also crafted an engaging story, and I loved the concept of the invisible world and people's relationships with it, from curses to exchanging memories to death omens. Aidan rediscovering these various elements, as well as himself, and uncovering the mystery surrounding his family made for quite the compelling drama. The ending was a little anticlimactic, though, but it wasn't too detrimental.
What the book had in plot, I think it lacked in characters, because most of then were kind of boring. Aidan was interesting in that, at the start, he was supposed to be bland—there was a legitimate reason for this, and as the story progressed, he began finding old pieces of himself and creating knew ones to where he should have had a distinct personality. Unfortunately, he remained rather dull: I liked that he hadn't completely returned to being himself by the end, but there was nothing that made him unique or even entirely likeable. His brother and father weren't any better, instead being basic examples of stereotypical men. I was much more intrigued by Aidan's ancestors and his mother, who often aggravated me but who was such a great, nuanced individual and, in many ways, the heart of the book. Jarrod was pretty good as well, serving as a nice foil to Aidan's introspective tendencies, and what I liked most about him was that despite turning Aidan's world upside down, he had a very grounding effect. Barzak gave him an important role, both as a friend and love interest, and I really enjoyed the romance because while it was never the central focus, it contributed profoundly to the story's outcome.
This book takes place in a small town, and I fully believe Barzak captured that feeling in his writing—there was the monotony of living on a farm, of having to drive one town over to even go to the mall, of not being sure where you want to go, only that you want to go somewhere else. There were so many beautiful lines, so many things that made me nostalgic or tapped at my chest.
But I do wish Barzak had been more subtle, and by that I mean everything was just so obvious and overexplained. It was oddly emotionless as well, or maybe that was just Aidan.
Overall, Wonders of the Invisible World is a nice book to check out if you're curious about magical realism, family curses, and the ways in which words can shape the world.
To be honest, though, the first couple of chapters made me wonder whether I would like it or not. The story opened in an unusual way: most books have a definite starting point that allows you to get a fairly solid feel for the main character, but not so here. I can't even really explain why it was so strange, only that I got the impression that I'd missed something. What I didn't realize until I'd read further on was that was the point: the narrator started out with vague and almost nonexistent memories before this pivotal moment, so instead of developing an idea of who he is in the first chapter, you spend the entire book doing so. I don't think this completely worked, but I did appreciate what Barzak was doing. He also crafted an engaging story, and I loved the concept of the invisible world and people's relationships with it, from curses to exchanging memories to death omens. Aidan rediscovering these various elements, as well as himself, and uncovering the mystery surrounding his family made for quite the compelling drama. The ending was a little anticlimactic, though, but it wasn't too detrimental.
What the book had in plot, I think it lacked in characters, because most of then were kind of boring. Aidan was interesting in that, at the start, he was supposed to be bland—there was a legitimate reason for this, and as the story progressed, he began finding old pieces of himself and creating knew ones to where he should have had a distinct personality. Unfortunately, he remained rather dull: I liked that he hadn't completely returned to being himself by the end, but there was nothing that made him unique or even entirely likeable. His brother and father weren't any better, instead being basic examples of stereotypical men. I was much more intrigued by Aidan's ancestors and his mother, who often aggravated me but who was such a great, nuanced individual and, in many ways, the heart of the book. Jarrod was pretty good as well, serving as a nice foil to Aidan's introspective tendencies, and what I liked most about him was that despite turning Aidan's world upside down, he had a very grounding effect. Barzak gave him an important role, both as a friend and love interest, and I really enjoyed the romance because while it was never the central focus, it contributed profoundly to the story's outcome.
This book takes place in a small town, and I fully believe Barzak captured that feeling in his writing—there was the monotony of living on a farm, of having to drive one town over to even go to the mall, of not being sure where you want to go, only that you want to go somewhere else. There were so many beautiful lines, so many things that made me nostalgic or tapped at my chest.
Small towns in remote corners of the world are really quaint, unless you don't fit into them. Then they're just small.
But I do wish Barzak had been more subtle, and by that I mean everything was just so obvious and overexplained. It was oddly emotionless as well, or maybe that was just Aidan.
Spoiler
Like dude, your dad's just died, and I get that you two weren't close, but seriously? Give me some emotion, or at least recognize that not feeling anything isn't normal.Overall, Wonders of the Invisible World is a nice book to check out if you're curious about magical realism, family curses, and the ways in which words can shape the world.
tobbled's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting, enjoyable book that just didn’t hit the mark. It’s a personal bias I have against first person - especially YA first person. It tends to be clumsy and overwritten. But story wise I found this book interesting, it definitely picked up a lot more near the end when things actually started making sense.
kxmgxna's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
fastandfurriest's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.75
songwind's review against another edition
4.0
Aidan is floating through life, mostly ignored by the people around him. Then an old friend he doesn't even remember comes back to their school, and Aiden's life is turned upside down.
This story weaves a few threads together to form a complex and breathing tapestry. Family and disillusionment with your parents is a major theme. So are interpersonal relationships. Identity and its relationship to memory are another major point. Barzak also paints a well detailed world behind the scenes, where some people can affect the world around them through mystical powers.
The book is well written, and draws you into all these developments. Seeing Aiden learn the truth about himself, his family, his friend, and the life he has led is gripping, most of the time. I think perhaps the author spent a bit too much time rehashing similar points from Aiden's point of view, which bogs the flow down a bit here and there.
This story weaves a few threads together to form a complex and breathing tapestry. Family and disillusionment with your parents is a major theme. So are interpersonal relationships. Identity and its relationship to memory are another major point. Barzak also paints a well detailed world behind the scenes, where some people can affect the world around them through mystical powers.
The book is well written, and draws you into all these developments. Seeing Aiden learn the truth about himself, his family, his friend, and the life he has led is gripping, most of the time. I think perhaps the author spent a bit too much time rehashing similar points from Aiden's point of view, which bogs the flow down a bit here and there.