katiewhocanread's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, Medical content, and Bullying
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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? No
4.0
This book has the potential to be something exceptional for readers.
I was hesitant about the book in the beginning because it started a bit slow for me, but the themes and values throughout the book hold true to the overarching message: Love who you are, always, no matter what.
I adored the characters of Cora and Adrian. Their friendship was special and unique and McNicoll did a great job creating depth and texture. This is one thing, if done right, that I really appreciate about middle-grade stories. The friendships can be so powerful.
I appreciate Adrian's outlook on life and the way he so unapologetically encourages and supports Cora.
Adrian's mother - love her.
And Cora, a truly strong, powerful female main character. I enjoyed her development throughout the book and feel that her character has the ability to spark inspiration among young readers.
I was hesitant about the book in the beginning because it started a bit slow for me, but the themes and values throughout the book hold true to the overarching message: Love who you are, always, no matter what.
I adored the characters of Cora and Adrian. Their friendship was special and unique and McNicoll did a great job creating depth and texture. This is one thing, if done right, that I really appreciate about middle-grade stories. The friendships can be so powerful.
I appreciate Adrian's outlook on life and the way he so unapologetically encourages and supports Cora.
Adrian's mother - love her.
And Cora, a truly strong, powerful female main character. I enjoyed her development throughout the book and feel that her character has the ability to spark inspiration among young readers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cancer, Death of parent, Ableism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Car accident and Medical content
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
This is another heart-felt story from Elle McNicholl about friendship, loss, grief, and hope. I really enjoyed how uplifting this was and, having come to terms with a slightly bittersweet ending, was very pleasantly surprised by the happy ending we got.
Content warnings for car accident, family death, grief.
Content warnings for car accident, family death, grief.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Injury/injury detail, Death, and Death of parent
stvnh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Ableism
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Bullying, Medical content, and Gaslighting
t_higgsreviews's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
5 Stars
CAWPILE = 9.29
CAWPILE = 9.29
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Car accident, Grief, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Misogyny and Terminal illness
femmenova's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
BRILLIANT. Without revealing too much about the book, this was so brilliantly written. This is exactly the kind of book I would want my students, my younger self read and feel absolutely seen. I cannot speak for the representation of the characters as this is not an own voices review, but I find that the exploration of ableism and eugenics in digital AI is very thoroughly unpacked and digestible for a child to understand. It got me genuinely thinking about the way we immortalized people in our life after their passing. How much we sanitized people to shape them to be the way we want them to be to suit a narrative that is.. comfortable.
I have so many other things to say about the book but I have yet to properly process it. All I know is that this book had me bawling my eyes out, snot in my mask on a public bus at 4 in the afternoon. I was clutching my chest to calm myself down.
Among many favorite powerful lines in the book, "children are not extensions of their parents." Absolutely powerful and empowering to have that read if I was a child, let alone an adult with *tada* parental issues! I don't want to expose on a public site why this book hit me the way it hit, I'm just a neurodivergent person who saw a little of child me in this book and it healed a tiny part of me that grieved the times an adult has made me felt inadequate.
I have so many other things to say about the book but I have yet to properly process it. All I know is that this book had me bawling my eyes out, snot in my mask on a public bus at 4 in the afternoon. I was clutching my chest to calm myself down.
Among many favorite powerful lines in the book, "children are not extensions of their parents." Absolutely powerful and empowering to have that read if I was a child, let alone an adult with *tada* parental issues! I don't want to expose on a public site why this book hit me the way it hit, I'm just a neurodivergent person who saw a little of child me in this book and it healed a tiny part of me that grieved the times an adult has made me felt inadequate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Ableism
creativeworld's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Ableism, Bullying, Car accident, and Gaslighting
mx_socks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A brilliant story about accepting who you are, despite other people trying to "fix" you or limit you based on certain traits they say are "undesirable"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Car accident, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Bullying
Minor: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
anniereads221's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Medical content
Ableist slursmarinable_books's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Gaslighting, Grief, and Car accident