Scan barcode
barbaraskalberg's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
I assume this takes place in some small fictional town in Africa (I tried "searching the web" for the village names and got nothing), but that's purely based on the dreadlocks that were mentioned a couple of times. I also assume it is some time present or future bc there was mention of phone chargers. It was frustrating to me to not have a handle on the setting. The Grey being contained to this one small village felt like a major plot hole and the resolution at the end seemed too convenient. I did like the way the kids created a new family, but overall I just found it boring and unbelievable.
I assume this takes place in some small fictional town in Africa (I tried "searching the web" for the village names and got nothing), but that's purely based on the dreadlocks that were mentioned a couple of times. I also assume it is some time present or future bc there was mention of phone chargers. It was frustrating to me to not have a handle on the setting. The Grey being contained to this one small village felt like a major plot hole and the resolution at the end seemed too convenient. I did like the way the kids created a new family, but overall I just found it boring and unbelievable.
lnoronha's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.75
osnapitzmajri's review against another edition
3.0
this was definitely a dark book with a lot of death due to the illness that was spreading in the town, but it also had themes of hope which i liked. i didn’t like how dark it was, but it had a good story? do what you will with it!
sci_mom's review
4.0
I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. I have mostly avoided dystopian stories centered around a pandemic in the past few months because, well...you know. When I found out I won this one, I was conflicted. Interestingly, it is only a pandemic for one specific community, so that made it different enough to make it not as hard to read. The writing is beautiful and the story is fascinating. It does jump around and different scenes are told from various POVs, which can be distracting, but I mostly found it to be enlightening. Without giving anything away, the ending was where I was most dissatisfied. It was a little too abrupt, even though it was sufficient, and felt more optimistic than what I would have expected.
moyecome's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
th_959's review
4.0
I really liked this book. Have you ever read a book that was so good and you enjoyed it so much, but couldn’t quite put into words what it was about the book that made you feel this way? This was that book for me. Perhaps it was the way the words were so eloquently placed together; I do like this author’s style. Maybe it was the hope of triumph I had for the characters. Or maybe it was seeing the growth and strength of the characters as they learned to live a new normal while still learning a little more about themselves along the way. Whatever it is that drew me in, I’m glad I stayed the course. I’ve added Umar Turaki to my list of authors.
ireadtoescape_'s review against another edition
I really tried with this one.
It was dragging so much.
It had such a good premise. I really wanted to know more about the Grey and see the struggles of this community shut out from the world in the worst time of suffering.
The book is full of inexplicable violence. I don’t see how it adds depth to the story at all and it was just so hard to read through. I just couldn’t go on anymore.
DNF at 47%.
It was dragging so much.
It had such a good premise. I really wanted to know more about the Grey and see the struggles of this community shut out from the world in the worst time of suffering.
The book is full of inexplicable violence. I don’t see how it adds depth to the story at all and it was just so hard to read through. I just couldn’t go on anymore.
DNF at 47%.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Bullying and Abandonment
Minor: Rape and Pregnancy