mbomersheim's review against another edition
1.0
I honestly didn't really expect anything going into this book, yet I was somehow still not anticipating what this book had to offer. For some reason, I thought that there would be some sort of fantastical element to the book, but that is not the case and honestly, I think that it would have been slightly better if there was.
These characters honestly had so much angst and the "you don't understand me" attitude and I was not really vibing with that. I recognize that I am not really in the age demographic for this book, but I believe that if I had read this in fifth grade, I still would have found the characters annoying. Additionally, there was just so much left unexplained throughout the course of the book and the sense of time throughout the book is a little bit choppy.
All of this being said, this book is an easy read and I liked how it had short chapters; it just makes me feel like I've read more than I actually have. The author does try to have a good moral to the story, bit it seems rather forced throughout.
These characters honestly had so much angst and the "you don't understand me" attitude and I was not really vibing with that. I recognize that I am not really in the age demographic for this book, but I believe that if I had read this in fifth grade, I still would have found the characters annoying. Additionally, there was just so much left unexplained throughout the course of the book and the sense of time throughout the book is a little bit choppy.
All of this being said, this book is an easy read and I liked how it had short chapters; it just makes me feel like I've read more than I actually have. The author does try to have a good moral to the story, bit it seems rather forced throughout.
sierra_color's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those books that's so wonderful that I'm not quite sure on where to start my review. What should I talk about first? The writing? The setting? The characters?
Because I love all of that.
I feel that this is a fairly unique story-- a story about Ware, a kid who doesn't exactly fit in, and a girl, Jolene, who isn't exactly what people consider "normal" either, who find an old church, and decide to make it theirs. What I loved about this book was how the main characters built their own place of refuge from the world, and how they slowly grew to trust each other throughout the book. Their friendship feels natural, and doesn't feel forced at all. You can see how both are scared, hesitant, to make friends, but eventually, they both warm up to each other. Again, this was written wonderfully realistically-- they've had arguments, disagreements, points where they don't understand each other, and I really liked that. It wasn't a perfect friendship, but a genuine one.
Besides the friendship, I also loved how Ware, the main character, developed. He goes from wanting to be someone else, to finally realizing that he likes himself the way he is! Not only is that a wonderful lesson for children to learn, but it's just a wonderful lesson in general. I also liked Jolene's character development, she goes from mean and aggressive, to someone who's hard but soft on the inside. You also see how her home life affected her. I do wish we could've gotten more of her side of the story, and could've seen more of her life like I had for Ware, but other than that, I have no critiques of the book.
It's an amazing, well written read filled with heart, intrigue, and compassion. Pennypacker has an amazing way of writing-- immediately, I related to Ware. I couldn't help but be angry for him at the beginning of the story, and then, I grew to enjoy the church too, to enjoy the plants, to love the world as he saw it. The way Pennypacker manages to capture Ware's unique view of the world is amazing, and I can't help but love her writing. It's a mixture of descriptive, heart felt, and beautiful. I couldn't help but read this book within a few hours, because I couldn't put it down it was so good! I feel like this is a wonderful story, and honestly, it makes me interested to read more from Pennypacker. She has an amazing way of writing not only compelling characters and stories, but also ones that are realistic and heartfelt. The ending isn't exactly happy, and that's okay. It's real, but even if it is real, doesn't mean that it's bad. The book put it wonderfully--
"Because you're right. Bad stuff happens. But the real world is also all the things we do about the bad stuff. We're the real world, too."
This book is an amazing show of how the world can be bad sometimes, unfair, but it can also be good, but we have to do our best to make it a compassionate, good world. All in all, it's an amazing book that I enjoyed reading that has messages of self love, acceptance, and friendship.
Because I love all of that.
I feel that this is a fairly unique story-- a story about Ware, a kid who doesn't exactly fit in, and a girl, Jolene, who isn't exactly what people consider "normal" either, who find an old church, and decide to make it theirs. What I loved about this book was how the main characters built their own place of refuge from the world, and how they slowly grew to trust each other throughout the book. Their friendship feels natural, and doesn't feel forced at all. You can see how both are scared, hesitant, to make friends, but eventually, they both warm up to each other. Again, this was written wonderfully realistically-- they've had arguments, disagreements, points where they don't understand each other, and I really liked that. It wasn't a perfect friendship, but a genuine one.
Besides the friendship, I also loved how Ware, the main character, developed. He goes from wanting to be someone else, to finally realizing that he likes himself the way he is! Not only is that a wonderful lesson for children to learn, but it's just a wonderful lesson in general. I also liked Jolene's character development, she goes from mean and aggressive, to someone who's hard but soft on the inside. You also see how her home life affected her. I do wish we could've gotten more of her side of the story, and could've seen more of her life like I had for Ware, but other than that, I have no critiques of the book.
It's an amazing, well written read filled with heart, intrigue, and compassion. Pennypacker has an amazing way of writing-- immediately, I related to Ware. I couldn't help but be angry for him at the beginning of the story, and then, I grew to enjoy the church too, to enjoy the plants, to love the world as he saw it. The way Pennypacker manages to capture Ware's unique view of the world is amazing, and I can't help but love her writing. It's a mixture of descriptive, heart felt, and beautiful. I couldn't help but read this book within a few hours, because I couldn't put it down it was so good! I feel like this is a wonderful story, and honestly, it makes me interested to read more from Pennypacker. She has an amazing way of writing not only compelling characters and stories, but also ones that are realistic and heartfelt. The ending isn't exactly happy, and that's okay. It's real, but even if it is real, doesn't mean that it's bad. The book put it wonderfully--
"Because you're right. Bad stuff happens. But the real world is also all the things we do about the bad stuff. We're the real world, too."
This book is an amazing show of how the world can be bad sometimes, unfair, but it can also be good, but we have to do our best to make it a compassionate, good world. All in all, it's an amazing book that I enjoyed reading that has messages of self love, acceptance, and friendship.
bethanysbooknook21's review against another edition
3.0
The first five chapters are the worst. Parents are portrayed as out of touch and too busy to care, and the MC (who is only 11) defies them and lies to them throughout the book with zero repercussion. In a book for 8-12 year olds.
Religious terminology and references throughout that are just plain sacrilegious and heretical, not much to be expected on this front from a secular book.
The good parts - somehow the narrator captures that feeling of being lost in your own head, in your own world, that mental space of being an introvert and an over thinker. Explores a young artist discovering his passion and talent, using a camera to express feelings and to create.
In the end they do have to take responsibly for their actions (like making up for a huge water bill they caused), although they lie to the parents' face and never make up for it.
The best line of the book: "I don't want things to be magically what they're not. I want them to be what they could be. And somebody has to want that, or nothing bad will ever get better."
Religious terminology and references throughout that are just plain sacrilegious and heretical, not much to be expected on this front from a secular book.
The good parts - somehow the narrator captures that feeling of being lost in your own head, in your own world, that mental space of being an introvert and an over thinker. Explores a young artist discovering his passion and talent, using a camera to express feelings and to create.
In the end they do have to take responsibly for their actions (like making up for a huge water bill they caused), although they lie to the parents' face and never make up for it.
The best line of the book: "I don't want things to be magically what they're not. I want them to be what they could be. And somebody has to want that, or nothing bad will ever get better."
bayburay's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
molexreads's review against another edition
5.0
This book came to me in a big library haul! I loved it! The truth in its pages as a kid who is striving to fit into what the world wants him to be. Believing that’s what he wants too. Such an important read for our children struggling to understand who they are as well as parents and humans in general. Understanding your place here in the real world! The world you make! Highly recommend!
kirstenjoan's review against another edition
4.0
A great read. If you have ever been told you are "in your own world" you will relate to this story. For me, I love this author's way of writing stories.
winona_reads3's review against another edition
4.0
in the beginning i was very unsure of this book, didn't find it interesting didn't see how it could pull child readers in.. however
the messages within the conversations/dialogue in this book are SO powerful... the emotions and 'who am i' 'who do i want to be' 'who do my parents want me to be' 'do i fit in'.. it's all such a pull on your heart and SO very important for children and development i do recommend this book absolutely
the messages within the conversations/dialogue in this book are SO powerful... the emotions and 'who am i' 'who do i want to be' 'who do my parents want me to be' 'do i fit in'.. it's all such a pull on your heart and SO very important for children and development i do recommend this book absolutely
introverted_reader's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
eni_luap's review against another edition
4.0
Ce livre sort de mes lectures habituelles, il est très "chill" à lire !
L'effet minis chapitres donne un autre dynamisme facile et cool au livre.
La fin m'a beaucoup touché, c'était très mignon.
Hâte de lire son autre livre "Pax et le petit soldat"
L'effet minis chapitres donne un autre dynamisme facile et cool au livre.
La fin m'a beaucoup touché, c'était très mignon.
Hâte de lire son autre livre "Pax et le petit soldat"