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A review by skylarkblue1
Keedie by Elle McNicoll
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Representations: https://trello.com/c/4xFdu0RV/114-a-kind-of-spark-0-keedie-by-elle-mcnicoll
This was a very hard read for me, but I couldn't stop reading it for very long. Absolutely a book that everyone must read at least once, especially kids in school.
I loved the characters so much, even the complete assholes. Though while characters like Keedie, Addie, Nina and similar where pretty well rounded out, characters like Bonnie and Angel while feeling important really didn't get much development at all. I know kids books keep on getting larger and larger and it is an issue.. but I do feel like it could have used an extra scene or 2 just spending more time with those 2 instead of us just being told about them.
Of course, not too much about the world and a plot. This is a very character focused book, building on characters and topics explored in A Kind of Spark. Only thing was I'm not too sure about what happened to the forced institutionalisation which was a decent sized topic in A Kind of Spark, but didn't seem to get reached in this book. The history about the town was nice but small, and the bullying storylines was very well explored.
If you're autistic though and faced ableist bullying, restraining, or any other related topics then this will be a hard read for you. It's very frank, very honest and brutal. It's not a happy go lucky read, it might make you happy at some point but this is more a book to find who you are, know you're not alone, and for those who aren't autistic to learn more and learn empathy.
This was a very hard read for me, but I couldn't stop reading it for very long. Absolutely a book that everyone must read at least once, especially kids in school.
I loved the characters so much, even the complete assholes. Though while characters like Keedie, Addie, Nina and similar where pretty well rounded out, characters like Bonnie and Angel while feeling important really didn't get much development at all. I know kids books keep on getting larger and larger and it is an issue.. but I do feel like it could have used an extra scene or 2 just spending more time with those 2 instead of us just being told about them.
Of course, not too much about the world and a plot. This is a very character focused book, building on characters and topics explored in A Kind of Spark. Only thing was I'm not too sure about what happened to the forced institutionalisation which was a decent sized topic in A Kind of Spark, but didn't seem to get reached in this book. The history about the town was nice but small, and the bullying storylines was very well explored.
If you're autistic though and faced ableist bullying, restraining, or any other related topics then this will be a hard read for you. It's very frank, very honest and brutal. It's not a happy go lucky read, it might make you happy at some point but this is more a book to find who you are, know you're not alone, and for those who aren't autistic to learn more and learn empathy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Self harm, Dementia, and War