The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
amberlfaris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I had no clue what this book was about upon picking it up and didn't know it was in-verse as well. I have nothing bad to say about it. I think I'll have to reread it again after completing it since I know the ending and how it changes things with the new knowledge.
I will say it could be triggering to some (I was in a pretty serious car accident when I was 18, and the mention/descriptions of the one in the book kind of brought some of the trauma back but not enough for me to stop me from reading or have a negative reaction while reading. it could be different for others) and recommend checking content warnings just in case.
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Child death, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Suicidal thoughts
leslie_overbookedsocialworker's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Drug use, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Racism, and Grief
_savannahreads_'s review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Car accident, Colonisation, Grief, and Death of parent
rtaire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Grief and Mental illness
Moderate: Car accident, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism
Minor: Bullying, Genocide, Hate crime, and Drug use
ladygetslit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Abandonment, and Physical abuse
Minor: Bullying
mangolover72's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Child abuse
thesaltiestlibrarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
...which you the readers are probably not gonna like very much.
Okay...
Listen.
Rating an OwnVoices book low has absolutely no reflection on me as a person. Anyone with their hackles up can take a deep breath. Merely glimpse at my shelves and tell me I don't read widely or think hard enough about things.
As a work of written story, this book was objectively disappointing.
As a work of crafting sentences, this book was a gilded piece of art.
McBride clearly knows how to string words together. Even when the plot went way out somewhere North of "Huh??" I stuck around for the way these sentences were carefully constructed. The probability for me coming back to McBride's work in future books is 99%. "Only 99, Caitlin?! You're insensitive!"
No. I'm leery.
The main characters showed up. Within two pages of reading them, I physically set aside my Kindle and said, "Oh no." Whenever Moth or Sani spoke, I had the distinct feeling I somehow found my way into a John Green novel. Teenagers just don't talk in abstract pseudo-philosophical compound thoughts. Would they write in their journals that way? Absolutely! Even I did, once upon a time. But I don't think I've ever once heard a teenager spew words like a second-year philosophy major who's favorite thought-master is Nietzsche.
The character writing needs work. A lot of work. Sani sauntered onto the scene with his best "wounded badboy cliche" skinsuit on, and Moth was no better in her instalove "hee hee it's so cute that this boy I don't know calls me honey" romper. And anyone with eyeballs--functioning or no--could see the reveal coming.
I just...I wanted to love this book. It has all of the elements that I gravitate towards in anything, from picture books to la-dee-dah literature. It just fell flat. I know I'm in the minority here. Part of me wonders if the five-stars read the same book as I did.Â
Graphic: Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Car accident, and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts