lazygal's review
3.0
A kind of odd mixture: there's a lot going on, but perhaps a bit too much. The major plot surrounds Felix, who at age three was somehow fused with an alien being during a scientific accident. This has led to physical issues not to mention the emotional and psychological ones of having another being inside his brain. And, in 30 days (the book is a countdown) there will be a Procedure to - they hope - separate the two. Then there's the Felix-and-Hector friendship, or possibly more. And Hector being mixed-race. And Felix's Granby, a gender-fluid grandparent who spends half the week as Vern, half as Vera (and one day naked) using the pronoun "vo". And Mom's soon-to-be former boyfriend and possible new girlfriend.
I love that the diversity isn't a preachy one. And that Felix is relatively normal, given the whole embedded alien thing. But, is it too much? I wonder if the alien part of the story, which is fascinating enough to hold our interest, isn't overshadowed by the gender-fluidity all the other stuff. Or how much stronger each side would have been had they been given their own story.
I love that the diversity isn't a preachy one. And that Felix is relatively normal, given the whole embedded alien thing. But, is it too much? I wonder if the alien part of the story, which is fascinating enough to hold our interest, isn't overshadowed by the gender-fluidity all the other stuff. Or how much stronger each side would have been had they been given their own story.
catherineelkhattabystrauch's review
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.75
book_nut's review
3.0
Bonus points for a gender fluid, bi, and gay characters. It wasn't bad, over all.
madelinefmcguire's review
3.0
When Felix was three there was an accident that merged him with a fourth-dimensional being. Pretty soon he's going to have a procedure to separate the two of them. This book is Felix's secret blog entries in the days leading up to the procedure.
I really don't know what to make of this book. Its all very weird and strange. It's well written and I like Felix's voice. But I don't know who I'd recommend this to or who would like it. It has strong queer elements that I like. But I don't understand the alien that's merged with Felix. Over-all I think I'm confused.
I really don't know what to make of this book. Its all very weird and strange. It's well written and I like Felix's voice. But I don't know who I'd recommend this to or who would like it. It has strong queer elements that I like. But I don't understand the alien that's merged with Felix. Over-all I think I'm confused.
msaplusteacher's review
3.0
I listen to the audiobook of this title as it was on my public library’s 2018 Mock Newbery list. On one hand, I loved Felix’s voice & the countdown to “zero day” really added to the tension and complexity of the story. I also loved the banter between Felix & his fused alien. I can see the concept pulling in many readers.
However, on the other hand, I felt like there was too much going on. Gender-fluid grandparent, bisexual Mom, dead dad, prodigy sister, a hidden family secret & first crush on a boy. I liked (to a point) the boundaries this text is breaking in middle grade fiction, yet I’m not sure it enhances the story but instead has it losing some of its luster. Why? Felix must explain the special pronouns for Grandy & give back story to so many characters, it almost bogs down some of the great relationships among the characters. I wish we got to know one or two special characters instead of running the gamut of gender identity.
However, on the other hand, I felt like there was too much going on. Gender-fluid grandparent, bisexual Mom, dead dad, prodigy sister, a hidden family secret & first crush on a boy. I liked (to a point) the boundaries this text is breaking in middle grade fiction, yet I’m not sure it enhances the story but instead has it losing some of its luster. Why? Felix must explain the special pronouns for Grandy & give back story to so many characters, it almost bogs down some of the great relationships among the characters. I wish we got to know one or two special characters instead of running the gamut of gender identity.
shogins's review
2.0
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I thought the conceit was cool and it’d be easy to booktalk but it wasn’t actually particularly well written or memorable.
I thought the chess parts were funny though.
I thought the chess parts were funny though.
abigailbat's review
2.0
So, yeah, this book was bananas. And I was warned about that. But I think I could have gotten on board if I could have figured out where it was going with everything. I guess I never connected with Felix in a way that made me care about his story, possibly because there was a LOT going on that was distracting to the central story. I appreciate the efforts of the author to include a diverse cast of characters, but it all felt like too much going on and I was never able to latch onto a thread that carried me through the whole book.
This is definitely different than any middle grade I've read before. I would try it on kids who liked Jennifer Holm's The Fourteenth Goldfish and R.J. Palacio's Wonder in equal measure.
This is definitely different than any middle grade I've read before. I would try it on kids who liked Jennifer Holm's The Fourteenth Goldfish and R.J. Palacio's Wonder in equal measure.
authorlibrarianrachel's review
3.0
This is a great book AND there’s a gender fluid character. Unfortunately, the author didn’t speak to any actual gender fluid people because Grandy has scheduled when vey will be masculine, feminine, and non-binary so well that vir family knows what to call ven based on what day of the week it is. Half a star for trying minus a full star for lack of research.
heliosrobbie's review
5.0
I NEVER THOUGHT A MIDDLE GRADE BOOK WOULD MAKE ME CRY but then felix started talking about the Zeroday and the possibility that he will die and how he doesn't want it to end hits hard because i'm scared of the idea of death too :<
THE REPRESENTATIONS, THE DIVERSITY OF THE CHARACTERS, A GENDERFLUID CHARACTER HELLO I LOVE THIS BOOK SM WHAT A BANGER
THE REPRESENTATIONS, THE DIVERSITY OF THE CHARACTERS, A GENDERFLUID CHARACTER HELLO I LOVE THIS BOOK SM WHAT A BANGER
katrinadreamer's review
3.0
I enjoyed this and connected with the character who had a strong voice. It reminded me of Wonder. But, as others have commented, I feel like there were a few things that didn’t quite work. While I love that the author was making the book inclusive, the multitude of LGBTQIA characters felt like trying too hard, like it wasn’t quite natural. I say that as a queer woman who really appreciates seeing LGBTQIA characters, especially in middle grade fiction. But, the way it was done was enough to take me out of the story at times. Further, as others here have mentioned, the reveal of a non-binary character’s gender was frustrating.