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kristenbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This was one of those books that I tried reading several times before I actually powered through. I used to see it at Barnes and Noble all the time and thought it was interesting. Then, it was on sale, so I finally picked it up. THEN, I started it twice, and got only like 30 pages in each time before putting it down. Finally, the third time, I powered through. I did like it, but it was hard to get past the annoyance with the main character. It wasn't great, but when you actually get into the book, it's entertaining.
6.5/10. (3/5)
6.5/10. (3/5)
ashmeanything's review against another edition
3.0
Well? This book was a trip. I can see why I bounced off of it as a teen. Following the first two books in the series (one of which I had also read back years ago), the tonal shift is stark and hard to grasp. I always wonder what makes an author write a variety of characters in the same universe, but it can be totally fine. This? This felt like a weird choice. Bindy is intentionally insufferable and holier-than-thou, which feels out of alignment with the relatable-yet-quirky thing that Moriarty seemed to prioritize in the first two books. Why focus on this character next? I think the book could have shown her growth in a lot fewer than 500 pages. Oof. It was rough. Plus, the murder plot was... random? There is already a bit of disbelief being suspended with this series and its goofiness, but trying to murder a high schooler feels like a step in a very different direction.
Saving this book are the small character moments and details that the author does so well; it's internally very consistent and tight (despite being odd as a series). The depiction of friendship is especially wholesome and sweet, and I can definitely relate to the parts where Bindy feels weird, isolated, and self-conscious. Separating the pacing issues and weird plot choices, the character development is nice and feels realistic. I now have absolutely no idea what the final book in the series will be like, but I look forward to whatever that is.
Content warnings for bullying, vomit, mental health, hallucinations, death (mention), animal death (mention), neglect, divorce (I think? long book, lol) and poisoning.
Saving this book are the small character moments and details that the author does so well; it's internally very consistent and tight (despite being odd as a series). The depiction of friendship is especially wholesome and sweet, and I can definitely relate to the parts where Bindy feels weird, isolated, and self-conscious. Separating the pacing issues and weird plot choices, the character development is nice and feels realistic. I now have absolutely no idea what the final book in the series will be like, but I look forward to whatever that is.
Content warnings for bullying, vomit, mental health, hallucinations, death (mention), animal death (mention), neglect, divorce (I think? long book, lol) and poisoning.
maggiegrizzy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lilacwine17's review against another edition
3.0
I think this book is really relatible in that every school has that one brainiac who gets strait A's and thinks it is the end of the world if they dont get those A's that is how our main character Bindy Mackenzie is all she wants to do is fit in when in reality that's hard for her.her hobby is typing transcripts about peoples conversations and one conversation she typed may get her murdered.
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
I don't like The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie (originally published in Australia as Becoming Bindy Mackenzie) as much as I like the other books in this series. The pacing is really strange, the suspension of disbelief is harder, and being in Bindy's head the whole time can be kind of a struggle.
However, this is one of the best character portraits I've ever read. Jaclyn Moriarty once again draws a detailed, compassionate, and accurate portrait of a flawed teenager and captures that teenager's voice perfectly. She expands the cast of characters at Ashbury High. She explores a very silly but also very high-stakes murder mystery plot.
Bindy Mackenzie is an insufferable character with every reason to be how she is. I adore the scene late in the book when her FAD group analyzes all of the reasons why she's like this. It's exactly what the reader will have already been doing, and yeah it's a bit obvious, but it's also very in-character for everyone involved.
Bindy reminds me of myself in a lot of ways, though I was kind of the opposite high-achieving student: I was so good at school that I never learned how to study, and when I finally had to, I crashed and burned.
Not to diagnose fictional characters, but WOW is Bindy undiagnosed autistic. I don't think Moriarty did this on purpose, but it's very much there.
And also, I really hope that she will work through her comphet eventually and realize that she's a lesbian.
However, this is one of the best character portraits I've ever read. Jaclyn Moriarty once again draws a detailed, compassionate, and accurate portrait of a flawed teenager and captures that teenager's voice perfectly. She expands the cast of characters at Ashbury High. She explores a very silly but also very high-stakes murder mystery plot.
Bindy Mackenzie is an insufferable character with every reason to be how she is. I adore the scene late in the book when her FAD group analyzes all of the reasons why she's like this. It's exactly what the reader will have already been doing, and yeah it's a bit obvious, but it's also very in-character for everyone involved.
Bindy reminds me of myself in a lot of ways, though I was kind of the opposite high-achieving student: I was so good at school that I never learned how to study, and when I finally had to, I crashed and burned.
Not to diagnose fictional characters, but WOW is Bindy undiagnosed autistic. I don't think Moriarty did this on purpose, but it's very much there.
And also, I really hope that she will work through her comphet eventually and realize that she's a lesbian.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Murder
Additional content warning for poisonstephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
Jaclyn Moriarty is back with another story about her Australian Ashbury high-schoolers! Bindy Mackenzie is and has been the smartest, most talented girl in school. Year 11, however, starts with a bad start as she is forced to take a Friendship and Development class with classmates she deems venomous and stupid. What Bindy doesn’t realize is that her superior attitude is not earning her any new friends, and pretty soon nearly all of her FAD group has turned against her.
It is only when Bindy reexamines her life that she begins to change. She is determined to look for the positive qualities of the people in her FAD group, no matter how hard it is or how much history they might have with one another. Meanwhile, Bindy’s having family problems. She’s living with her aunt and uncle, and her father, a single-minded successful property developer, doesn’t know that her younger brother Anthony is attending a drama school, paid for by their mother. Bindy’s also been feeling weak and apathetic lately, but refuses to go see a doctor about her symptoms. Nevertheless…could it be that someone is trying to murder her? How else can one explain her sudden bad grades and tiredness?
THE MURDER OF BINDY MACKENZIE is laden with Jaclyn Moriarty’s usual bunch of wacky incidents and outrageous premises. However, it works for the fun book. All of the characters are excellently developed. Through notes, diary entries, and Bindy’s extremely accurate transcripts, readers will grow to embrace Bindy and her FAD group as good friends. As with all of her previous books, Jaclyn Moriarty’s THE MURDER OF BINDY MACKENZIE is a real treat.
It is only when Bindy reexamines her life that she begins to change. She is determined to look for the positive qualities of the people in her FAD group, no matter how hard it is or how much history they might have with one another. Meanwhile, Bindy’s having family problems. She’s living with her aunt and uncle, and her father, a single-minded successful property developer, doesn’t know that her younger brother Anthony is attending a drama school, paid for by their mother. Bindy’s also been feeling weak and apathetic lately, but refuses to go see a doctor about her symptoms. Nevertheless…could it be that someone is trying to murder her? How else can one explain her sudden bad grades and tiredness?
THE MURDER OF BINDY MACKENZIE is laden with Jaclyn Moriarty’s usual bunch of wacky incidents and outrageous premises. However, it works for the fun book. All of the characters are excellently developed. Through notes, diary entries, and Bindy’s extremely accurate transcripts, readers will grow to embrace Bindy and her FAD group as good friends. As with all of her previous books, Jaclyn Moriarty’s THE MURDER OF BINDY MACKENZIE is a real treat.
lizzielynn13's review against another edition
4.0
The Murder of Bindy Machenzie is part of the Ashbury series. If you read The Year of Secret Assignments, then you briefly met the incredibly annoying Bindy Mackenzie. This book focuses on her. Bindy is the kind of person that you love to hate, but throughout the book, you begin to feel sorry for her and sympathize with her. Throughout this, you learn lessons about not judging people without getting to know them first. An excellent book.
callmecat's review against another edition
2.0
UUUUGH. I really like the second book but this is totally different and I couldn't STAND Bindy. I actually enjoyed the twist ending of the book but it was so difficult to get that far that I will never even attempt it again!