Reviews

Becoming Bindy Mackenzie, by Jaclyn Moriarty

iluvbooks13's review against another edition

3.0

This compainion novel to The Year of the Secret Assignments wasn't quite as good as aforementioned book. The story, yet again, was interesting and new, but it lacked in some areas.

healnotslay's review against another edition

5.0

Just what I needed
This is a reread I'm glad I bought the book for like $5 or whatever time to go thru the rest of my physical tbr

trixie_reads's review against another edition

3.0

I spent the first 2/3 of the book wishing someone would get on with murdering Bindy because she was so unlikeable and obnoxious. I didn't realize this book was part of a series, and I wonder if I would have liked it more had I read the others? Maybe it wouldn't have mattered; my 14-year-old LOVED this book.

I ended up liking the book and Bindy, but thought it was quite slow and went on and on a bit too long.

stenaros's review against another edition

4.0

I may be over identifying a tad, but I think Bindy Mackenzie is perhaps the most lively character in a book I've read this year and I fell completely in love with her. She is smart as a whip and entirely clueless as to why her actions anger and annoy people. The teacher in me kept thinking, "Oh Bindy! How could you?" while the straight-laced high school me hearkened back to my own slightly alienating teenage choices. She wants to help, but her helping comes from the wrong place, like when she first sends notes to some of her classmates telling them they are certain poison animals. Her intent is to be mean to them and show them what they really are. I'm sure her meanness went right over their head. Later, to make amends, she writes notes recasting those same classmates as more noble animals, which also went right over their heads.

Through her diaries, transcriptions and various reports we see what shaped Bindy and the various forces acting around her for this difficult year. There is a mystery, but it isn't the best part. The best part is watching Bindy navigate through her year. Characters from the previous two books appear, which is quite fun.

kristenbooks's review against another edition

3.0

This was one of those books that I tried reading several times before I actually powered through. I used to see it at Barnes and Noble all the time and thought it was interesting. Then, it was on sale, so I finally picked it up. THEN, I started it twice, and got only like 30 pages in each time before putting it down. Finally, the third time, I powered through. I did like it, but it was hard to get past the annoyance with the main character. It wasn't great, but when you actually get into the book, it's entertaining.

6.5/10. (3/5)

stuffinmybrainhole's review against another edition

funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

tabbrower's review against another edition

4.75

This is one of many, many times I’ve read Bindy—and each time, I devour it with both delight and regret, desperate to get to the next astonishing/hilarious/moving bit but wanting whatever chapter I’m in to never end. One of my absolute favorite stories and some of my very favorite characters—long live Bindy and the FAD gang.

bdwerner's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I was really tempted to stop reading this book for about a third of the way through, and I’m SO glad that I kept going. After reading the first 2 books of this series, I was expecting something similar. Bindy McKenzie was a character in the first 2 books of the series (I know she is in the 2nd one, not sure about the first) and I thought I thought I knew what to expect from the way she had been portrayed. I got so much more. I went through so many emotions reading this and I did NOT expect what happened. I’m usually not surprised by books, but this one got me. Best one of the series so far.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Drug use, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

clarkco's review against another edition

4.0

Who could be plotting to kill type-A Bindy Mackenzie. And more importantly will she ever reign in her blunt personality to make some friends?

cmphill's review against another edition

3.0

This wasn't as good as The Year of Secret Assignments, but still pretty good and funny at times. I wish that it could incorporate more of the characters from the last book. I missed Seb and Lydia. I enjoyed reading about the way Bindy's personality evolves throughout the book