wildforwillow's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
readinglover22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I hated this!!! So slow so boring! No mystery at all!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, and Mental illness
emperor_e's review against another edition
2.0
Beware spoilers below.
First of all I do not like the writing style, the pacing is weird. I didn’t feel like the writing really made me care about the characters.
The main character is ridiculously annoying and often makes unwise decisions. I also don’t think that her character is always the most believable. For example when her dad is gone in France hanging out with some lady, and her mom is with Apollo and she doesn’t seem to care. Ripping down the artist in residence sign too just because you’re angry is super dangerous. She also really should have told someone about her mom. Also Apollo’s “lost love” being her mom was completely predictable. How exactly did it take her so long to figure that out?
Richard and Alex’s characters also kind of fell flat to me. If seems like Alex is just the active dude who never stops moving without any development, and Richard only cares about monsters.
First of all I do not like the writing style, the pacing is weird. I didn’t feel like the writing really made me care about the characters.
The main character is ridiculously annoying and often makes unwise decisions. I also don’t think that her character is always the most believable. For example when her dad is gone in France hanging out with some lady, and her mom is with Apollo and she doesn’t seem to care. Ripping down the artist in residence sign too just because you’re angry is super dangerous. She also really should have told someone about her mom. Also Apollo’s “lost love” being her mom was completely predictable. How exactly did it take her so long to figure that out?
Richard and Alex’s characters also kind of fell flat to me. If seems like Alex is just the active dude who never stops moving without any development, and Richard only cares about monsters.
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I liked the little mysteries in this book - wondering if artwork was being copied and the mystery of her father. It was a little slow at times for students, I think.
I did like the representation of having a mother with depression and how that feels as a kid.
I did like the representation of having a mother with depression and how that feels as a kid.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
Great depiction of life in SoHo in the 1980s (in the mid-80s I worked nearby and enjoyed the trip down memory lane). Olympia's friendships and activities are also very well depicted; her struggle to keep what's going on at home with her mother's depression will disturb those who don't remember that era and public schools not being as involved in student home lives. The art aspect added a nice touch, but I wonder if the use of pencil was chosen because it was easier to reproduce in print.
eARC provided by publisher.
eARC provided by publisher.
erinmccurdy's review against another edition
3.0
This was a sweet story that dealt with tough topics like depression and divorce. However, it was a super slow start for me. I nearly abandoned several times, but ultimately stuck it out. I felt like I was almost done with the book before I was really into it. There was a bit of a mystery involving a piece of art and Olympia’s dad and I found myself confused as to what the focus of the story was... was it the mystery or was it Olympia’s mother and her depression?
marielouise17's review against another edition
4.0
Very Rebecca Stead-ish. Just moved a little too slowly.
muddypuddle's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book about color and art and being part of an artist community in Soho, NYC, in 1981. There is both innocence and maturity in Ollie that makes her a really interesting protagonist. Character development, setting, and plot were all very strong in the wonderful book. Exceptionally well narrated. There's an afterward talking about depression in parents and helping to explain a bit about it to a middle grade reader, telling where they could get help for themselves and the parent who may suffer from it.
honey_ob's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
this is most definitely a middle school read as opposed to a middle grade read in my opinion. The writing is beautiful and the story is heart rendering. The details of the 80’s era, of New York and the process (actually driving need) to create art, balance the realities of a story of abandonment. Olympia is neglected by her Mom who is in the grips of depression and her father has disappeared. She is processing it all as she traverses her days with the help of her friends and other adults she has grown up with. Well written, All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker is worth the read.
this is most definitely a middle school read as opposed to a middle grade read in my opinion. The writing is beautiful and the story is heart rendering. The details of the 80’s era, of New York and the process (actually driving need) to create art, balance the realities of a story of abandonment. Olympia is neglected by her Mom who is in the grips of depression and her father has disappeared. She is processing it all as she traverses her days with the help of her friends and other adults she has grown up with. Well written, All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker is worth the read.