natcommon's review
5.0
I loved this book. It's a must read realistic fiction. The characters seemed very real and I could see a lot of kids relating to this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
accidental_jumpscare's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ritampragana's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
elmeeks's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
june_solberg's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
evamadera1's review against another edition
4.0
This time my expectations worked in favor of the reading experience since I did not really have any expectations. Carr created a believable character in Rigel, an 11 year old dealing with her parents' divorce, a move to Connecticut from the Alaska bush that she loves, and starting middle school. She holds onto hope that in 365 days she can go home to the life and father she loves while facing bullying, finding and losing a friend and then figuring out how to deal with people letting you down. I ended up really enjoying this book.
kmspedden's review
5.0
*I received a free eARC of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review*
365 Days to Alaska is a book that takes you by surprise. You know from the description that it’s about a girl that goes to live in Connecticut and is counting down until she can go back to Alaska to live with her father. That much is right there for you. But what the description doesn’t give you is what life is like for an eleven year old that’s dropped into a world that she doesn’t know when all she wants to do is go back to where she grew up. It’s the ultimate new person in a new place story but with everything turned up to 100. Rigel isn’t just a girl starting at a new school and struggling to fit in. She’s a girl that grew up in a cabin with no electricity or running water, the perfect life in her opinion, suddenly living in small town Connecticut and dealing with so many new things at once. It’s a coming of age story while also being one that deals with divorce in a way that’s important for kids.
Some books do make it seem like everything is fine when there is a divorce or start years after it’s already happened. But that isn’t how Cathy Carr writes it. You get all of the painful details and honestly it’s heartbreaking. I’ve never experienced something like that but my heart broke for Rigel to see how she handled not only being away from her father but having communication suddenly stop. Sadly it’s something kids deal with but Cathy weaves in so much to the story that you start to see that not everyones lives are as perfect as they want them to be. And that maybe Rigel and a broken crow have a lot more in common than you might thing. They just need to be healed and set free to live their lives in a new place where they can be how they want.
The book deals with a lot of heavy topics and honestly its handled beautifully especially for a debut novel. Sure sometimes it’s a little stomach turning to talk about skinning a hare or a dead possum but Rigel is a tough girl and things like that don’t get to her.
365 Days to Alaska is a book that takes you by surprise. You know from the description that it’s about a girl that goes to live in Connecticut and is counting down until she can go back to Alaska to live with her father. That much is right there for you. But what the description doesn’t give you is what life is like for an eleven year old that’s dropped into a world that she doesn’t know when all she wants to do is go back to where she grew up. It’s the ultimate new person in a new place story but with everything turned up to 100. Rigel isn’t just a girl starting at a new school and struggling to fit in. She’s a girl that grew up in a cabin with no electricity or running water, the perfect life in her opinion, suddenly living in small town Connecticut and dealing with so many new things at once. It’s a coming of age story while also being one that deals with divorce in a way that’s important for kids.
Some books do make it seem like everything is fine when there is a divorce or start years after it’s already happened. But that isn’t how Cathy Carr writes it. You get all of the painful details and honestly it’s heartbreaking. I’ve never experienced something like that but my heart broke for Rigel to see how she handled not only being away from her father but having communication suddenly stop. Sadly it’s something kids deal with but Cathy weaves in so much to the story that you start to see that not everyones lives are as perfect as they want them to be. And that maybe Rigel and a broken crow have a lot more in common than you might thing. They just need to be healed and set free to live their lives in a new place where they can be how they want.
The book deals with a lot of heavy topics and honestly its handled beautifully especially for a debut novel. Sure sometimes it’s a little stomach turning to talk about skinning a hare or a dead possum but Rigel is a tough girl and things like that don’t get to her.
dim_light's review
4.0
365 Days to Alaska is a story about a girl named Rigel, who is used to the wilderness and life of remote Alaska. So her parents divorcing, and one of them dragging her Rigel and her sisters to Connecticut is not convenient. Rigel isn't impressed by middle school, the crowded neighborhoods, the light pollution, or the abundance of people.
Anxiety exists.
Rigel is hanging on to a thread of hope that her father will keep her promise of bringing her back to Alaska the next summer but is disappointed to find out that even though she's kept her end of the bargain, her father, not so much. Rigel makes a friend, but it's a crow. She gets attached to animals more than to people and notices her sister is changing and she doesn't think it's for the better. Finally though, things seem to bright up for Rigel. She meets Sam, Sylvie, and Corey.
Rigel learns to adapt to Connecticut, even though she still misses Alaska. This story is about the ups and downs of life, and how change affects us.
But I think we can all agree the Haydens of life shouldn't even exist.
-The Rosebush :D
Anxiety exists.
Rigel is hanging on to a thread of hope that her father will keep her promise of bringing her back to Alaska the next summer but is disappointed to find out that even though she's kept her end of the bargain, her father, not so much. Rigel makes a friend, but it's a crow. She gets attached to animals more than to people and notices her sister is changing and she doesn't think it's for the better. Finally though, things seem to bright up for Rigel. She meets Sam, Sylvie, and Corey.
Rigel learns to adapt to Connecticut, even though she still misses Alaska. This story is about the ups and downs of life, and how change affects us.
But I think we can all agree the Haydens of life shouldn't even exist.
-The Rosebush :D
lisamcdreads's review
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC of 365 Days to Alaska by Cathy Carr. Rigel was raised in the wilds of Alaska and loves it there. After her parents divorce, she is forced to relocate to Connecticut, which she is certain she will hate. She makes a pact with her father to stick it out for a year, after which she can move back to Alaska to live with him. A fun read I think kids will really enjoy!
jamikaye1980's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I liked the character development and the way Rigel's connection with Blueberry made her feel like she belonged.