luckybydesign's review
1.0
I really tried hard with this book, but I could not finish it. The description, comparing it to Code Name Verity and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, made me super excited to read it, because I loved both those books. But I just couldn’t get into it. Choppy writing and an unbelievable plot (and not in a good way) made this a forgettable read for me. I tried a few times to get into it, and I just couldn’t. I knew I just needed to call it a day and shelf it. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
cewhisenant's review
4.0
Hot damn.
That was one of the best debuts I have ever read. The characters, the story, the writing... all so, so good. Bonus points for rep and bringing historical events to life.
I adored this. Even though I was anxious over the lives of my main men throughout the whole novel.
Full review to come!
That was one of the best debuts I have ever read. The characters, the story, the writing... all so, so good. Bonus points for rep and bringing historical events to life.
I adored this. Even though I was anxious over the lives of my main men throughout the whole novel.
Full review to come!
emmehuffman's review
1.0
I had just finished reading the book when I stumbled across Own Voices reviews on Twitter. Instead of inserting my own voice into this, I am going to amplify theirs:
"Listen, Americans. I get it. There's a whole world out there with varied histories that you want to explore for your book. Thank you for being interested in our backgrounds.
But unless you're willing to center OUR voices, you don't get to tell that story.
Can you imagine having a book set in your country, set during a very real tragedy that happened to you or to people you care about, and it's not even about you?
It's one of the most insulting and demeaning things I can think of.
The author of A Place for Wolves essentially reduced the Kosovo War and the thousands of civilians who were murdered or displaced into a backdrop. A setting. A background for his two characters who are not Muslim, not Roma, not Albanian, not anything related to this tragedy.
And this isn't even distant history, mind you!!! Children from that time would be teenagers and adults in their twenties now. That's how recent it was.
Authors, do better."
[email protected]
"Listen, Americans. I get it. There's a whole world out there with varied histories that you want to explore for your book. Thank you for being interested in our backgrounds.
But unless you're willing to center OUR voices, you don't get to tell that story.
Can you imagine having a book set in your country, set during a very real tragedy that happened to you or to people you care about, and it's not even about you?
It's one of the most insulting and demeaning things I can think of.
The author of A Place for Wolves essentially reduced the Kosovo War and the thousands of civilians who were murdered or displaced into a backdrop. A setting. A background for his two characters who are not Muslim, not Roma, not Albanian, not anything related to this tragedy.
And this isn't even distant history, mind you!!! Children from that time would be teenagers and adults in their twenties now. That's how recent it was.
Authors, do better."
[email protected]
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review
I'm not not enjoying this book but I'm not really enjoying it either. The setting feels very opaque to me at 50 pages in, and that's after doing a bunch of googling about the Kosovo war (when and where the book is set). And I don't feel especially interested in the main character. I think other people will probably love this book, but I'm trying to get better at not forcing myself through books I'm not enjoying. So bail!
kaliishacole's review
5.0
I am legit trying to process everything I have just read! Like this story was so diverse and took place in Kosovo in the middle of a flipping war! Like there was no time to think, it was constant motion like GO GO GO MOVE IT MAN! What a fantastic debut!
readershark's review
2.0
Imma be honest. When I first read this book, I liked it. I liked it because I knew nothing of the Kosovo war and nothing of the genocide. I was confused by what was happening and where the country even was on the map, and more excited by two queer kids of color having a relationship, though knowing placing a romance during a war probably wasn't...great.
I've since read the review that brought all the issues to my attention. I've grown and learned about what happened in Kosovo and understand that this book hurts many people and places the victim in the role of a villain, and that by no means is okay. I wish that this book was given to sensitivity readers who would understand and analyze it better than I did, a white kid living in Chicago.
In the future, I hope that Sourcefire and other publishing companies see the importance of sending ARCs out to the minorities the book represents, and not just people who have larger followings.
I've since read the review that brought all the issues to my attention. I've grown and learned about what happened in Kosovo and understand that this book hurts many people and places the victim in the role of a villain, and that by no means is okay. I wish that this book was given to sensitivity readers who would understand and analyze it better than I did, a white kid living in Chicago.
In the future, I hope that Sourcefire and other publishing companies see the importance of sending ARCs out to the minorities the book represents, and not just people who have larger followings.
timebeings's review
1.0
listen. I was excited when I read “ari and dante meets code name verity” bc I LOVED THOSE BOOKS but damn. chief said this ain’t it.
hoping to one day find that perfect ari and dante meets code name verity story, with empathy and sentimentality and respect.
...or maybe i’ll just write it? ;)
hoping to one day find that perfect ari and dante meets code name verity story, with empathy and sentimentality and respect.
...or maybe i’ll just write it? ;)
fragglefrancis's review against another edition
2.0
I was aware this book was based on actual events but had no idea they had been so shamefully misrepresented. I believe if someone is going to write historical fiction, they should write it accurately, and not twist the truth to serve their story. My below review came out of my ignorance at not knowing the history of the actual war this book is set in.
James is the son of activists - his family’s been globetrotting his whole life, making a difference in every war-torn, underserved country they visit. But once his sister leaves for college, James is all on his own. As the clashing groups in his current home, Kosovo, begin to escalate their conflict, he’s forced to find comfort in two places - the detailed and hopeful letters he sends to his sister, and a relationship he hopes will grow to mean more than his past one-country stands. But, when the unimaginable happens, James is forced to fall back on his lifetime of survival training and do the best he can to protect the ones he loves.
I was surprised by the fact that A Place For Wolves is a historical fiction novel. It takes place in the late nineties, right at the start of the Kosovo War. There’s a lot of research in this fairly heavy book, which was helpful since I assume most kids who read this book, like me, know very little about the subject matter. The description of the ARC I got makes A Place For Wolves sound a lot like a romance novel, and while James and Tomas’ relationship is prevalent, it’s definitely not the main subject matter.
Fear is masterfully portrayed in A Place For Wolves, realistic to how teenagers would behave but not annoyingly overdramatic. The Hunger Games-esque world the boys were forced to deal with was actually terrifying, but they didn’t have any sponsor willing to pay for a parachute. However, I feel like the whole situation could’ve been even more impactful if we’d gotten to see even just the smallest bit of James’ regular life through something other than his letters. To be really blunt, A Place For Wolves needed to be longer. Or have a sequel or a slightly more resolved epilogue. While I appreciate this book’s portrayal of real life, it’s still a YA novel, and teenagers would appreciate at least a little bit of a happy ending or just a page or two more of resolution.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it definitely didn’t live up to my expectations. It was Kosoko Jackson’s debut novel, so I’m excited to see the incredible work he’s going to produce in the future. With an original plot, strong characters, and serious conflict, A Place For Wolves delivers a unique and enjoyable novel that is just the beginning of the new generation of YA. (Edited) Rating: two/five
James is the son of activists - his family’s been globetrotting his whole life, making a difference in every war-torn, underserved country they visit. But once his sister leaves for college, James is all on his own. As the clashing groups in his current home, Kosovo, begin to escalate their conflict, he’s forced to find comfort in two places - the detailed and hopeful letters he sends to his sister, and a relationship he hopes will grow to mean more than his past one-country stands. But, when the unimaginable happens, James is forced to fall back on his lifetime of survival training and do the best he can to protect the ones he loves.
I was surprised by the fact that A Place For Wolves is a historical fiction novel. It takes place in the late nineties, right at the start of the Kosovo War. There’s a lot of research in this fairly heavy book, which was helpful since I assume most kids who read this book, like me, know very little about the subject matter. The description of the ARC I got makes A Place For Wolves sound a lot like a romance novel, and while James and Tomas’ relationship is prevalent, it’s definitely not the main subject matter.
Fear is masterfully portrayed in A Place For Wolves, realistic to how teenagers would behave but not annoyingly overdramatic. The Hunger Games-esque world the boys were forced to deal with was actually terrifying, but they didn’t have any sponsor willing to pay for a parachute. However, I feel like the whole situation could’ve been even more impactful if we’d gotten to see even just the smallest bit of James’ regular life through something other than his letters. To be really blunt, A Place For Wolves needed to be longer. Or have a sequel or a slightly more resolved epilogue. While I appreciate this book’s portrayal of real life, it’s still a YA novel, and teenagers would appreciate at least a little bit of a happy ending or just a page or two more of resolution.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it definitely didn’t live up to my expectations. It was Kosoko Jackson’s debut novel, so I’m excited to see the incredible work he’s going to produce in the future. With an original plot, strong characters, and serious conflict, A Place For Wolves delivers a unique and enjoyable novel that is just the beginning of the new generation of YA. (Edited) Rating: two/five