sglance9's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
thereadingwren's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5
I can't get over how interesting this was. I never thought about what happens to the family when a kid goes to a portal world, and I definitely never thought about what happens when they come back.
I didn't know this was middle grade going in but I was pleasantly surprised all the way through. At times the characters felt a little older but they are pre-teens so it was acceptable. As often happens in middle grade books the parents are pretty awful. Not only were they written unrealistically - the dialogue sometimes was too explanatory - but they were also not the best parents. The parents weren't abusive by any means and I understand how they couldn't believe Aidan but I just wanted them to accept his story anyways.
I really adored Lucas and Aidan and their brotherly relationship. Even when Lucas was questioning Aidan's story he still believed in his brother and that means a lot to me. I also love the way Lucas really understood Aidan, he knew all these little quirks about Aidan because he loved his brother so much, and he knew when Aidan wasn't acting like himself or when he was. It was a beautiful thing.
I'll admit right up until the end I was questioning Aidan's story, I wanted to believe but I think I expected the book to go in a certain direction so I kept questioning. I think that's really great storytelling.
Brandi is my favourite character, what a supportive aunt she was! I always love having trans characters (as a queer trans person myself) but the thing I loved about the representation with Brandi was that it was so normalized and her being trans wasn't at all her defining quality. She was everything Lucas and Aidan needed in that difficult time. What a star.
Also gotten mention my love for Aidan finding himself a boyfriend, I love a queer story and I really hoped (and kind of suspected) that Aidan might be queer. It was a nice little touch, even if it was only mentioned at the end - but this wasn't a love story so it made no sense to weave it into the story, if you look hard enough there are subtle hints that Aidan isn't hetero.
This was such an interesting concept and the writing was amazing. I was hooked the whole time and could hardly put it down. I utterly adore this book and will think about it for years to come.
I can't get over how interesting this was. I never thought about what happens to the family when a kid goes to a portal world, and I definitely never thought about what happens when they come back.
I didn't know this was middle grade going in but I was pleasantly surprised all the way through. At times the characters felt a little older but they are pre-teens so it was acceptable. As often happens in middle grade books the parents are pretty awful. Not only were they written unrealistically - the dialogue sometimes was too explanatory - but they were also not the best parents. The parents weren't abusive by any means and I understand how they couldn't believe Aidan but I just wanted them to accept his story anyways.
I really adored Lucas and Aidan and their brotherly relationship. Even when Lucas was questioning Aidan's story he still believed in his brother and that means a lot to me. I also love the way Lucas really understood Aidan, he knew all these little quirks about Aidan because he loved his brother so much, and he knew when Aidan wasn't acting like himself or when he was. It was a beautiful thing.
I'll admit right up until the end I was questioning Aidan's story, I wanted to believe but I think I expected the book to go in a certain direction so I kept questioning. I think that's really great storytelling.
Brandi is my favourite character, what a supportive aunt she was! I always love having trans characters (as a queer trans person myself) but the thing I loved about the representation with Brandi was that it was so normalized and her being trans wasn't at all her defining quality. She was everything Lucas and Aidan needed in that difficult time. What a star.
Also gotten mention my love for Aidan finding himself a boyfriend, I love a queer story and I really hoped (and kind of suspected) that Aidan might be queer. It was a nice little touch, even if it was only mentioned at the end - but this wasn't a love story so it made no sense to weave it into the story, if you look hard enough there are subtle hints that Aidan isn't hetero.
This was such an interesting concept and the writing was amazing. I was hooked the whole time and could hardly put it down. I utterly adore this book and will think about it for years to come.
briaraq's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really good middle grade book! I love the characters and their relationships, especially Aidan and Lucas’. I love that Lucas knew his brother so well that he believed him even though he didn’t understand, and I love that Lucas and their dad got a chance to see Aveinieu. I just wish they talked about it.
jaye_123's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
sierranorgan's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
VRC #3! It was okay, not what I was expecting.
beardedbarista's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure what I just read? Is it the beginning of a series? A standalone that goes nowhere? I enjoyed the book but I feel like it didn't give us anything as a reader to continue on. I do think this is a great ya novel for beginning readers. I just wish that it had more to it. Perhaps there will be sequels but even then it's far too short of a first story. It was an easy listen and I again appreciate PRHAudio for giving me this complimentary audiobook.
starsnstitchin's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
What i enjoyed: the kids told the truth as it happened instead of it just being a secret cuz adults wouldn't believe them. There wasn't a cover up for it, but it also didn't become an obsession to go back or any usual trope. It faded away and became just normal life and they moved on even though it was a big thing. That was realistic, and it felt like how this sort of thing would go if it had really happened in real life. The characters acted the waybreal people would, and all of them felt so real. Everything about the story didnt feel tropey and one dimensional. I also enjoyed having some queer characters but the whole point wasn't telling a queer story, they were just characters. It was as big a deal as being a redhead would be, which is to say it was part of them, but not all of who they were.
What i didnt like: honestly I wouldn't change the story at all because it didnt really need to change. Any time i think about something that would have been enjoyable to include, it would have changed the story in subtle yet impactful ways that overall probably wouldn't have made it as enjoyable. Initially i was going to say i didnt like how the only adult who truly believed the kids was portrayed as somebody with psychosis, but technically thats exactly how we would treat somebody who had that sort of experience in real life too. We have no idea whether the character was actually psychotic or whether he was believed to be and treat as somebody suffering a mental illness because we get such a very short scene with them.
What i didnt like: honestly I wouldn't change the story at all because it didnt really need to change. Any time i think about something that would have been enjoyable to include, it would have changed the story in subtle yet impactful ways that overall probably wouldn't have made it as enjoyable. Initially i was going to say i didnt like how the only adult who truly believed the kids was portrayed as somebody with psychosis, but technically thats exactly how we would treat somebody who had that sort of experience in real life too. We have no idea whether the character was actually psychotic or whether he was believed to be and treat as somebody suffering a mental illness because we get such a very short scene with them.
gerwigverse's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have read David's books before, but they were YA, not middle grade books, but then I read the summary and I thought the cover was so beautiful, I thought: why not trying?
I was not disappointed.
This book is MAGICAL. It's so powerful in how it's written it makes you feel like you're going back in time to experience your childhood all over again. It filled me with nostalgia and warmed my heart with how David mixed fantasy and realism all in one story. I also really loved the dynamic between the two brothers, made me think of the one I have with my own sister. Simply stunningly beautiful and magical. I couldn't recommend this one more, I think children will love it.
I have read David's books before, but they were YA, not middle grade books, but then I read the summary and I thought the cover was so beautiful, I thought: why not trying?
I was not disappointed.
This book is MAGICAL. It's so powerful in how it's written it makes you feel like you're going back in time to experience your childhood all over again. It filled me with nostalgia and warmed my heart with how David mixed fantasy and realism all in one story. I also really loved the dynamic between the two brothers, made me think of the one I have with my own sister. Simply stunningly beautiful and magical. I couldn't recommend this one more, I think children will love it.
kirstenjoan's review against another edition
5.0
A non-stop story. Love the message of what stories are.
socialphobia_88's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25