lakesidegirl's review
5.0
I loved this book. It's an adorable story of a post-college couple traveling the world. Change a few details, add a man into my life, and their story would be my dream.
herlifewithbooks's review
4.0
I didn't think I was going to like this, and the prose is a little diary-ish for my liking, but I have to say the 200 pages or so zipped by and I was sad it had to end! I wonder where they will go next...
heykellyjensen's review
3.0
I really enjoyed reading this, and the style of the book itself was refreshing. But there were draggy parts, and I'd have really liked to read Steven's point of view, too, at times. One of the things that really bothered me was how much there was privilege in what they were doing, and it was never addressed -- this bothered me in the beginning, and it bothered me moreso in the end when there was a lot of being depressed about being harassed for money.
I'm not sure why this is marketed as YA since I think a lot will be unrelatable to most high school kids (and it's not for middle school students). Casey and Steven's relationship is post-college, so it's really kind of beyond most high schoolers. I think college age and 20somethings (and older) will like this one.
Casey's voice reminded me of my best friend a LOT, which was enjoyable. She's super honest and willing to touch on some subjects with honesty many wouldn't. I know a lot of people my age who'll dig this. I liked "visiting" places I know little or nothing about.
The art's good, but honestly, I didn't pay much attention to it.
I'm not sure why this is marketed as YA since I think a lot will be unrelatable to most high school kids (and it's not for middle school students). Casey and Steven's relationship is post-college, so it's really kind of beyond most high schoolers. I think college age and 20somethings (and older) will like this one.
Casey's voice reminded me of my best friend a LOT, which was enjoyable. She's super honest and willing to touch on some subjects with honesty many wouldn't. I know a lot of people my age who'll dig this. I liked "visiting" places I know little or nothing about.
The art's good, but honestly, I didn't pay much attention to it.
lauren_endnotes's review
1.0
This could have been such an interesting story had it been written by someone else entirely... disjointed, frenetic, immature, and in need of a good editor. The writing style offended me a few times, and as some of the other reviewers mentioned, there was just this air of "privilege" that came across in the writing. I read the first third of the book and then just skimmed - couldn't really stand it anymore.
jndcks's review
3.0
Wow, this travelogue (reads like a journal) is really something. Illustrating daily life, rather than showing photographs, was neat for me. The chapters about Africa were sometimes scary and enraging though. Most times I envy a well-traveled person, but this time I did not. I appreciate all the honesty coming from this book and I wish we could have heard more from Steven’a perspective. I also would have loved to hear more insights and observations instead of just “and then we did this, and then we did that, and then we ate this, and then we met this person.”
kmelso's review
4.0
Such a great tale of adventure that makes me want to travel again! loved the combination if story telling with cartoons along side. Some parts did feel very rushed though and I wish there would have been more detail or mention of the time line. Great book to read though for anyone who enjoys adventure!
clairelorraine's review
4.0
It ached reading this - the good and the bad of living abroad rushed back at me.
annarocks's review
3.0
I liked it. A very interesting story of two college kids going to foreign countries to learn something about the world and about themselves. Certainly I found their insights and perspectives on China and Mali interesting. That is the nice thing about reading -- it can take you places you've never been, or have no plans to visit and make you feel as if you are experiencing what they are experiencing. The only thing I'd have liked is an epilogue. I understand this was their story of certain period of time, but there were projects in place and tentative plans for the future that it would have been nice to know about.
yes_smam's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I disagree with the young adult classification though. I would argue that it fits more for the college/post-college set.
tashrow's review
5.0
Travel, romance and finding oneself are what makes this book irresistible. Casey and Steven met in Morocco, had a long distance relationship across the US, and then moved together to China and eventually Mali. This book celebrates taking leaps of faith with one another, experiencing life to the fullest, embracing different cultures, and just being entirely human in the process. Come spend a year with an engaging couple who teach, write, draw, and inspire.
Scieszka’s writing is frank and inviting. She captures travel and the experience of other cultures with an honesty that is very refreshing. From the rush of a new country and its own unique culture to the isolation and boredom that sometimes result, there is no shrinking away from even the bowel-churning portions of travel. At the same time, she depicts a growing relationship with Weinberg that slowly deepens and naturally evolves.
Weinberg’s illustrations are equally refreshing with their rough edges, free lines and widely smiling faces. As one turns the pages in the book, each new page is often a new story, a moment captured from their travels. The illustrations help make this work very well.
Reading this would send me into memories of my own travels, thinking about times when I had felt the same or done something similar. If you are a traveler, this book will speak directly to you and your experiences. If you are hoping to become one, this book will inspire you to do it.
A winning combination of illustration and story, this book will inspire older teen readers to take a different course in life: a path all their own. Appropriate for ages 16-adult.
Scieszka’s writing is frank and inviting. She captures travel and the experience of other cultures with an honesty that is very refreshing. From the rush of a new country and its own unique culture to the isolation and boredom that sometimes result, there is no shrinking away from even the bowel-churning portions of travel. At the same time, she depicts a growing relationship with Weinberg that slowly deepens and naturally evolves.
Weinberg’s illustrations are equally refreshing with their rough edges, free lines and widely smiling faces. As one turns the pages in the book, each new page is often a new story, a moment captured from their travels. The illustrations help make this work very well.
Reading this would send me into memories of my own travels, thinking about times when I had felt the same or done something similar. If you are a traveler, this book will speak directly to you and your experiences. If you are hoping to become one, this book will inspire you to do it.
A winning combination of illustration and story, this book will inspire older teen readers to take a different course in life: a path all their own. Appropriate for ages 16-adult.