becxreadz's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Liked
*Boy and grandmother adventure
*South American mythology
*Adventurous
Disliked
*Audio narration
*I zoned out because the story felt more like a documentary and not a well done one
*No connection to the charactera
*Boy and grandmother adventure
*South American mythology
*Adventurous
Disliked
*Audio narration
*I zoned out because the story felt more like a documentary and not a well done one
*No connection to the charactera
federica123's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
scari's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
fast-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? N/A
4.0
melissa_canela's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good book and an entertaining story. I just felt like it was a bit too juvenile for me.
jetpackdolphin's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it. The description is beautiful, the story is great, and the characters are great.
mrspenningalovesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I technically did not finish this book. I read 102 pages and broke up with it. I was hoping it would be good for my Lit. Of the Americas class, but if I wasn’t engaged 100 pages in, my students won’t be for sure! Bummer because I liked the idea of the magical realism in the Amazon. Oh well...
cocogoran's review against another edition
3.0
I read this and Song of Achilles in the span of a week during a summer camp, and I have mixed feelings about both of them. The story was complex and fascinating, but it was also incredibly unrealistic. The author seemed to make it out as a realistic world with a sort of fantasy side line and it didn't make much sense to me. It was a very quick read, and took me only a few days to finish, but I felt like it wrapped up rather quickly. I also felt like there was too much action/narration and not enough dialogue.
gitanita's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book in a YA trilogy featuring young Alex and Nadia, who experience great adventures and end up "saving the world".
Alex is a 15-year old boy, who never went out of his village in California, except once for a family trip to Italy. Now, his mother is sick with cancer and his father is sending him and his sisters to their grandmothers. Alex ends up with his outwardly cold and adventurous grandmother Kate Cold (pun intended?!), a reporter for International Geographic, who takes him on a trip to Amazonas to search for the legendary Beast. On his way through Amazonas, Alex will experience many dangers, make long-lasting friendships and get to know his true self, one he never imagined to be.
Isabel Allende is a great storyteller. Her descriptions of nature make you see everything clearly in your head. I do not know much about the indigenous people of Amazonas, so I do not know how accurate her descriptions of their ways are, but they are, all the same, very interesting. With the part of the story about white "civilised" people trying to get rid of the native tribes for the riches of the land, Allende is trying to convey a message of the importance of protecting the native people and the intact nature in South America.
Alex is a 15-year old boy, who never went out of his village in California, except once for a family trip to Italy. Now, his mother is sick with cancer and his father is sending him and his sisters to their grandmothers. Alex ends up with his outwardly cold and adventurous grandmother Kate Cold (pun intended?!), a reporter for International Geographic, who takes him on a trip to Amazonas to search for the legendary Beast. On his way through Amazonas, Alex will experience many dangers, make long-lasting friendships and get to know his true self, one he never imagined to be.
Isabel Allende is a great storyteller. Her descriptions of nature make you see everything clearly in your head. I do not know much about the indigenous people of Amazonas, so I do not know how accurate her descriptions of their ways are, but they are, all the same, very interesting. With the part of the story about white "civilised" people trying to get rid of the native tribes for the riches of the land, Allende is trying to convey a message of the importance of protecting the native people and the intact nature in South America.
elanashyong's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.25
lilliterate's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5