krissyronan's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the characters their fierce love for each other through life & grief. What I loved most is their laughter during sad or tough moments, which something that I do to cope.
wendytheowl's review against another edition
2.0
FR
Alors, oui, l'écriture est très belle, l'histoire de base est bien aussi. Mais les stéréotypes et le sexisme.. Non merci ! C'est dommage, parce que sans ce côté, j'aurai vraiment pu apprécié plus ma lecture. Donc, si vous lisez ce livre, soyez prêt(e)s !
ENG
So, yes, the writing is very beautiful, the story is good too. But stereotypes and sexism.. No thanks ! It's a shame, because without this side, I could really have enjoyed my reading more. So if you are reading this book, be prepared !
Alors, oui, l'écriture est très belle, l'histoire de base est bien aussi. Mais les stéréotypes et le sexisme.. Non merci ! C'est dommage, parce que sans ce côté, j'aurai vraiment pu apprécié plus ma lecture. Donc, si vous lisez ce livre, soyez prêt(e)s !
ENG
So, yes, the writing is very beautiful, the story is good too. But stereotypes and sexism.. No thanks ! It's a shame, because without this side, I could really have enjoyed my reading more. So if you are reading this book, be prepared !
carolyn_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
Coming-of-age story, self-discovery, identity-centric, character-centered, grief, family relationships
jenna_cross's review against another edition
4.0
A modern day family that is made with love instead of blood. Vicente is an amazing father to all the children in his life. Sammy, Sally, and Fito are quite the trio. I love how they build each other up and have each other’s backs without a second thought. Mima is a beautiful soul and they are lucky to have her in their lives. This story meanders around so just be happy you are along for the ride.
nmorales's review against another edition
4.0
I went into this book with zero expectations and came out feeling like I just got as close to walking into someone else's life as I have before. Salvador is such a relatable character, in that I understand how he's feeling in the way that he DOESN'T know what he's feeling. Characters in books often explain their feelings, or you can relate to the known emotions they are experiencing. But what about when you just don't understand what is going on in your life or how you feel about it? What if you don't even truly know who you are anymore? What about that confusion and process of discovery?
That is what this book is about. This book addresses family, friendship, loss, identity, acceptance, and discovery. What makes a family a family? How do you truly know who you are?
This book was so beautiful. It doesn't have a huge problem that needs to be tackled. The biggest plot line in this book is Salvador's journey to finding his own identity and learning how to exist in a life that doesn't make sense or go as planned.
That is what this book is about. This book addresses family, friendship, loss, identity, acceptance, and discovery. What makes a family a family? How do you truly know who you are?
This book was so beautiful. It doesn't have a huge problem that needs to be tackled. The biggest plot line in this book is Salvador's journey to finding his own identity and learning how to exist in a life that doesn't make sense or go as planned.
ajsterkel's review against another edition
2.0
This book made me very aware that I’m no longer the target audience for young adult stories. It’s a slow, character-driven novel about a sad, angry, spoiled teen boy and his sad, angry, less-spoiled friends. I’m not entirely sure why they’re friends because the girl is mean to the boys and constantly pressures them do things they don’t want to do. I guess that’s realistic for teenagers.
The book is basically 500 pages of teens wallowing in their own misery. I think I would have loved it when I was younger because I was also a sad, angry, spoiled teenager. As an adult, the book reads like overwrought tragedy porn. It’s just nonstop misery. Don’t these kids have something to do? They sit around all day and text each other sad, philosophical stuff. There’s a sexual assault that I don’t think is handled well by the author. It happens and then is barely mentioned again. Why is it in the book if the sex assault plotline goes nowhere? There’s more than enough angst without it!
I found this book frustrating, but I didn’t hate it. It’s well-written. I like the discussions about cultural identity. The main character is a white kid who was adopted by a Mexican father. He doesn’t feel white or Mexican. I thought those bits of the story were interesting, but the rest got on my nerves. I’m just not the target audience for this novel. I’m way past my teen angst phase. I’m old and don’t have the energy for angst.
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The book is basically 500 pages of teens wallowing in their own misery. I think I would have loved it when I was younger because I was also a sad, angry, spoiled teenager. As an adult, the book reads like overwrought tragedy porn. It’s just nonstop misery. Don’t these kids have something to do? They sit around all day and text each other sad, philosophical stuff. There’s a sexual assault that I don’t think is handled well by the author. It happens and then is barely mentioned again. Why is it in the book if the sex assault plotline goes nowhere? There’s more than enough angst without it!
I found this book frustrating, but I didn’t hate it. It’s well-written. I like the discussions about cultural identity. The main character is a white kid who was adopted by a Mexican father. He doesn’t feel white or Mexican. I thought those bits of the story were interesting, but the rest got on my nerves. I’m just not the target audience for this novel. I’m way past my teen angst phase. I’m old and don’t have the energy for angst.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense?
I have a blog for that.
jazzyfae123's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
I don’t know where to begin. It’s been a long time since a book and it’s story truly touched me like this one. I felt everything these characters felt every step of the way, and I loved every minute of it. In fact I didn’t want it to end. Sam and Salvador’s entire dynamic was so inspiring, put simply the overall trust and respect they held for one another; a perfect example of how platonic friendships are just as important and just as valid as romantic ones. All of the love in this book was at times actually overwhelming but in the best way; I adored Vincente and the whole Silva family. The kindness and patience Vincente would exhibit as a father, or as an overall father figure, at times moved me to tears. Fito and his story is one I’m sure too many must face, but watching the friendship with him, Sam, and Sal flourish both broke my heart and made it full again. It was truly a journey, displaying the absolute lows in life along with all of the highs. Beautiful. I’ll be thinking of this book and these characters for a long, long time.
I don’t know where to begin. It’s been a long time since a book and it’s story truly touched me like this one. I felt everything these characters felt every step of the way, and I loved every minute of it. In fact I didn’t want it to end. Sam and Salvador’s entire dynamic was so inspiring, put simply the overall trust and respect they held for one another; a perfect example of how platonic friendships are just as important and just as valid as romantic ones. All of the love in this book was at times actually overwhelming but in the best way; I adored Vincente and the whole Silva family. The kindness and patience Vincente would exhibit as a father, or as an overall father figure, at times moved me to tears. Fito and his story is one I’m sure too many must face, but watching the friendship with him, Sam, and Sal flourish both broke my heart and made it full again. It was truly a journey, displaying the absolute lows in life along with all of the highs. Beautiful. I’ll be thinking of this book and these characters for a long, long time.
wordsareweapons's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly, I loved this. His writing is just so beautiful it's ridiculous. I love Aristotle and Dante, so I figured I'd also enjoy this one, and I did. The audio was also really good. The relationships between the characters was really well done, and realistic. Families weren't perfect, and neither were the friendships. Sal struggles with growing up, and dealing with changes, and death. The way this family helps each other and loves each other is beautiful. Benjamin Alire Saenz has such a way with words, I'd quote the whole thing, I can't wait for his next book.
daisycakesco's review against another edition
3.0
I...couldn't, with the casual sexism and homophobia, especially. I listened almost to the end but each time a character said "like a girl" or "for a gay person" I started to get really annoyed.