Scan barcode
kat_smith24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia, and Xenophobia
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
thetinysnail's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
ladybug12793's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A warm-hearted and whimsical book with a great message but everything felt too surface level. Good for children or middle grade. I wanted to love this book, but found it difficult to get all the way through. I liked it, but I didn’t love it like I expected I was going to.
Like others have said, I think this would make for a great children’s show or movie. I think it would translate better that way. I do not recommend the audio. I still plan on reading the sequel and hope I enjoy it more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse
cmkrasman's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Xenophobia, and Abandonment
Minor: Fatphobia, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
kmsander4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
This story is unlike any other you'll ever read. It's mythical and fantastical while being firmly planted in our reality. It's about magical creatures and it's about every day people. Those that are different and outcasts. Ones who don't belong and ones who find their family along the way.
It's a tale about love and acceptance but also hatred and prejudice. The metaphors are abundant but every single one hits perfectly.
I cannot wait to pick up the next book in this series and dive back into this incredibly rich and beautifully bright world and the characters that inhabit it.
It's a tale about love and acceptance but also hatred and prejudice. The metaphors are abundant but every single one hits perfectly.
I cannot wait to pick up the next book in this series and dive back into this incredibly rich and beautifully bright world and the characters that inhabit it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Abandonment
milesdrn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Xenophobia, and Abandonment
panopticemu's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
I cried. 10/10 would cry again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Hate crime, Xenophobia, and Abandonment
This book is written in a hopeful tone, with many loveable characters doing their best to foster love and kindness in a world full of hatred for anything and anyone that doesn't conform to their societal norms. Any mention of the above triggers is consistently dealt with in a very respectful way, acknowledging their existence in the world, and encouraging the reader to remain hopeful and keep doing what they can to foster kindness and inclusivity wherever they can regardless of the situation.marmalade_and_books's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
tense
slow-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
A slow read for me, but so incredibly charming. Whoever said this book is like a warm hug was absolutely correct. It reminded me of all the joys that come with working with kids and drove home that they deserve to live and thrive, not merely survive.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, and Abandonment
midwifereading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book is character-driven vacation with some deep substance to it. When people talk about books as palate cleansers, THIS is what I want them to mean: Something well-written, light, happy, and with just enough conflict to create reasons to root for the characters. A book that leaves your heart feeling wrapped in a sturdy, squeezy, anxiety-calming HUG.
This book is so sweet and cozy and cheerful and homey! I loved every minute in this unnamed country, with this rag-tag found family of ostracized kids. I'm not going to say another word about any of the kids -- it would steal some of your delight when you meet them. Go into this one as fresh as you can!
The main character, Linus, is an absolute dear! He's a true everyman, just doing the best he can with what he has, trying so hard to do everything by the book, until he meets those who never have and never will fit into the book. At all.
He is kind, thoughtful, thorough, and open-hearted. His chemistry with the kids is pure sweetness, and he treats each one with the dignity and kindness they deserve, even though he's quite discombobulated when he meets them.
And when push comes to shove, he can certainly hold his own! His character arc is wonderful, and he finds that he does, indeed, have a rather sturdy backbone.
I loved it and can't wait to read the next one in the series!
This book is so sweet and cozy and cheerful and homey! I loved every minute in this unnamed country, with this rag-tag found family of ostracized kids. I'm not going to say another word about any of the kids -- it would steal some of your delight when you meet them. Go into this one as fresh as you can!
The main character, Linus, is an absolute dear! He's a true everyman, just doing the best he can with what he has, trying so hard to do everything by the book, until he meets those who never have and never will fit into the book. At all.
He is kind, thoughtful, thorough, and open-hearted. His chemistry with the kids is pure sweetness, and he treats each one with the dignity and kindness they deserve, even though he's quite discombobulated when he meets them.
And when push comes to shove, he can certainly hold his own! His character arc is wonderful, and he finds that he does, indeed, have a rather sturdy backbone.
I loved it and can't wait to read the next one in the series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Abandonment
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
This book is exceptional. Not only is it hilarious but it has such a great message of acceptance and love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Child abuse and Abandonment