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blowp0p's review against another edition
4.0
Content warnings: violence, gay bashing, mentions of death
Read the full review here at Blow Pop's Book Reviews.
Read the full review here at Blow Pop's Book Reviews.
paulablanc's review against another edition
5.0
Cuando lo empecé tenía la idea de que tal vez no me iba a gustar tanto. Pero estaba equivocada porque lo amé, fue realmente precioso
yoongitloml's review against another edition
5.0
"I got to thinking that poems were like people. Some people you got right off the bat. Some people you just didn't get- and never would get"
Angel Aristotle Mendoza, an angry teen, a sad teen, who suffers from self doubt and has a hard time talking. He missed his brother, whom he never knew and who was now in prison. He missed his father, even if he was right there, he felt so far away, he wanted to talk to him, about the war, but never found the right words to do so. He wanted to love his mother, but he never knew how to do so. Ari was lost in the world of his own thoughts, in his own personal war ("Everyone is fighting their own private wars."). He was lost in the secrets of the universe.
Then Ari met Dante Quintana, an articulate and self assured, who loved art and poetry. A boy who always knew his way around, whom everyone loved to talk to. For him starting conversations was a never problem. A boy who was crazy about his parents. (And he hated shoes
Angel Aristotle Mendoza, an angry teen, a sad teen, who suffers from self doubt and has a hard time talking. He missed his brother, whom he never knew and who was now in prison. He missed his father, even if he was right there, he felt so far away, he wanted to talk to him, about the war, but never found the right words to do so. He wanted to love his mother, but he never knew how to do so. Ari was lost in the world of his own thoughts, in his own personal war ("Everyone is fighting their own private wars."). He was lost in the secrets of the universe.
Then Ari met Dante Quintana, an articulate and self assured, who loved art and poetry. A boy who always knew his way around, whom everyone loved to talk to. For him starting conversations was a never problem. A boy who was crazy about his parents. (And he hated shoes
samanthacullen's review against another edition
5.0
The most beautiful and raw portrayal of discovering just who you are in that ecotone of adolescence and adulthood.
devyn_everts's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
graciegrace1178's review against another edition
4.0
I really wanted to absolutely love this book but I just mostly loved it. Maybe I just couldn’t relate to the subplot of Ari trying to work through his inner turmoil of his brother. Maybe the tone was a little too poetic and detached for me right now. Whatever the reason, I didn’t fall head over heels in love with this. BUT it’s definitely worth noting that the characters are real and sweet and easily lovable. Their conflicts are of the real-world nature which made them all the more fantastic and relatable in their actions. A good book overall, but being a coming of age story, it was more flowery and introspective than what I was searching for. I think, when I inevitably return to this story, I’ll give it a solid five. For now though, four stars and the knowledge that the author is pretty dang talented.
EDIT: I’ve re-evaluated and you know what? The family dynamics here, the adolescent angst, the purity of friendship that becomes love? Five stars. You earned it little book. You earned your five stars. Plus, having Lin-Manuel Miranda say “I sure as hell don’t wanna study Alexander Hamilton” as the narrator has changed my life. I cackled for five solid minutes and shared the audio clip with everyone I know.
EDIT (September 2020) hm no. I’ve re-RE evaluated and decided that my initial four star review should stand. This book didn’t speak to me like the other five star books.
EDIT: I’ve re-evaluated and you know what? The family dynamics here, the adolescent angst, the purity of friendship that becomes love? Five stars. You earned it little book. You earned your five stars. Plus, having Lin-Manuel Miranda say “I sure as hell don’t wanna study Alexander Hamilton” as the narrator has changed my life. I cackled for five solid minutes and shared the audio clip with everyone I know.
EDIT (September 2020) hm no. I’ve re-RE evaluated and decided that my initial four star review should stand. This book didn’t speak to me like the other five star books.
ttucker's review against another edition
5.0
This book sat with me for a long time after reading it and I couldn’t quite place why until I realised that it was because I felt such a heavy connection to Ari and his experiences with growing up and finding his place. It was such a beautifully written story and the familial relationships were so authentic. Definitely worth a read.