zeeohee's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting premise. Feels unique but also not somehow. A teen boy has lived his whole life inside a hospital for “gravely ill children” in Belarus until one day he meets a leukemia patient and it shifts something for him. It has some controversial reviews due to the narrators explanations of other disabled children within the hospital but I didn’t find it offensive but rather the musings and thoughts of a sad 17 year old boy with limited interaction with the world and who is very depressed. That, rather than anything intentionally malicious. It was a sweet story though sad
hope2026's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
anastasiamalikova's review
5.0
Ughhhh its amazing, notes from underground meets angsty disabled teenage boy, descriptions - amazing, polina's story - heartbreaking, absolutely wonderful, all the russian lit references - delightful
Natalya's relationship with ivan just 🥺🥺👉👈 so heartwarming and sweet and i loved all the characters in this 💖💖💖💖
Natalya's relationship with ivan just 🥺🥺👉👈 so heartwarming and sweet and i loved all the characters in this 💖💖💖💖
wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rbreesy's review against another edition
4.0
This was heartbreaking and honest and I want to hug everyone in the story.
carstensena's review against another edition
4.0
Very good audiobook. This is a decent read, and made me laugh out loud more than once. It's also affecting and flat-out bizarre. A strange combination. Clear teen appeal.
caseyjayner's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this book would be depressing but it’s completely captivating- Ivan is funny and angry and loving and human and candid in the best possible way. I am floored this was his work about just life at such a young age- better writer than I could dream to be. READ THIS!
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
4.0
Book #98 Read in 2016
The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach
This was an odd book but I liked it. Ivan is a deformed young boy who lives in a Russian orphanage/hospital. He has one arm, nubs for legs and loves to read and write. This book tells his story....as he sees it. He describes fellow patients, his daily routine and the various nursing staff who rotate in and out of his life. It is a quick read. I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.
The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach
This was an odd book but I liked it. Ivan is a deformed young boy who lives in a Russian orphanage/hospital. He has one arm, nubs for legs and loves to read and write. This book tells his story....as he sees it. He describes fellow patients, his daily routine and the various nursing staff who rotate in and out of his life. It is a quick read. I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in exchange for a honest review.
amandadelbrocco's review against another edition
3.0
It’s been a week and I still can’t parse through my feelings about this book. In some ways, I think it’s probably a pretty accurate depiction of how an orphaned teenage boy with physical disabilities caused by Chernobyl would act when growing up in a hospital with children rotating in and out with various disabilities and sicknesses. In other ways, I found the language and descriptions that were used to be disgusting and cringe worthy, both in the way that he described his fellow patients and the way that he described his every day life.