Scan barcode
nickabockaglory's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.75
I don't know if it's because I read it over multiple sessions but I thoroughly enjoyed the first 3/4s of this book but was a little disappointed by the last part. The climax felt a bit rushed and having the "one year later" right after the action felt like a bit of a let down when i wanted to see what happened after the action
I thought the pacing, plot delivery and character development in the first half was great! I felt really involved in the journey and adventure.
Overall I did enjoy it and I'm most certainly not the target audience, though I do often favour children's/YA books.
I thought the pacing, plot delivery and character development in the first half was great! I felt really involved in the journey and adventure.
Overall I did enjoy it and I'm most certainly not the target audience, though I do often favour children's/YA books.
aimeesbookishlife's review against another edition
4.0
A classic adventure tale of a girl on a fantasy island trying to find her missing best friend, served with a generous helping of mythical beasts and magic maps.
Isabella, the eponymous 'Girl of Ink and Stars', is a reluctant hero who is easy to warm to. She's no Katniss Everdeen, taking everything in her stride and suppressing her emotions; Isa has known the loss of her mother and twin brother already and she doesn't want to lose anyone else. She has a real sense of adventure too, and although the primary 'push' factor is Lupe's disappearance, she is also excited to be exploring and making maps just like she had always dreamt of.
However I liked Lupe more, even though she was a spoilt brat. There was something about the way she wanted to come down off her pedestal and attend school with the other children that made me feel she had potential early on, and I kept rooting for her all the way through.
That ending though - MAJOR SPOILERS HERE:
I would say this book is primarily suitable for 8-12 year olds. Older young people, and even adults like myself, can enjoy it but it might seem a little simplistic and lacking in depth. I kept forgetting that Isa and Lupe were meant to be teenagers - to me, they both felt more like eleven year olds than thirteen year olds. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, but if you're planning to buy this for a teenager then be aware that they may find it a bit babyish.
Isabella, the eponymous 'Girl of Ink and Stars', is a reluctant hero who is easy to warm to. She's no Katniss Everdeen, taking everything in her stride and suppressing her emotions; Isa has known the loss of her mother and twin brother already and she doesn't want to lose anyone else. She has a real sense of adventure too, and although the primary 'push' factor is Lupe's disappearance, she is also excited to be exploring and making maps just like she had always dreamt of.
However I liked Lupe more, even though she was a spoilt brat. There was something about the way she wanted to come down off her pedestal and attend school with the other children that made me feel she had potential early on, and I kept rooting for her all the way through.
That ending though - MAJOR SPOILERS HERE:
Spoiler
I never expected Lupe to die, and it floored me. I really thought we were aiming for a happily-ever-after, especially when it turned out that Pablo and Isa's dad were both okay. Right up to the end, I thought someone would swim down and get Lupe out. But I get why the author chose that ending for Lupe, both for her own personal journey ("I'll prove I'm not rotten") and because of the Arinta myth, so it makes sense.I would say this book is primarily suitable for 8-12 year olds. Older young people, and even adults like myself, can enjoy it but it might seem a little simplistic and lacking in depth. I kept forgetting that Isa and Lupe were meant to be teenagers - to me, they both felt more like eleven year olds than thirteen year olds. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, but if you're planning to buy this for a teenager then be aware that they may find it a bit babyish.
sqiddo13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ahauntedzombie's review against another edition
5.0
Got it for my birthday from a good friend and I’ve reread it so many times.
Love love love the book.
The story, the characters, the mythology and the maps.
Everything. Fantastic.
Kind of wish for a prequel based on the original myth in the book.
Love love love the book.
The story, the characters, the mythology and the maps.
Everything. Fantastic.
Kind of wish for a prequel based on the original myth in the book.
k_baney's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
thepiqht's review against another edition
5.0
Blog post titled 'You Are Too Young for The Girl of Ink and Stars' to come! Look out for it in the next month or so.
The art of buying books has become a hesitant action of mine while I wait for the $50 all-you-can-into-a-box book buffet that’s about to arrive. It’s a once in a year thing for my entire country, and so I don’t want to be wasting my money on just any old book. So I cajoled my mum into buying this for me, secondhand mind you, instead. Thanks mum!
However, despite the somewhat negative connotations that both the title of this post and the implication that I didn’t buy this myself might give you, this book was a little gem in it’s own right. The content matched the cover; gorgeous both inside and out. Not only that, but the pages were printed with orange stars, compasses and carefully coloured maps that are supposed to resemble the ones that are described within the pages. Even if I hadn’t enjoyed the story, I’m sure that the beautiful designs would have earned it at least an extra star on goodreads.
I debated on what to give this. While it was a wonderful story and I enjoyed it quite a great deal – I do think that it has been marketed incorrectly. Skeletons and beloved pets almost being eaten don't seem all that appropriate for middle graders (who I am assuming are 9-13). I also really didn't like the first chapter, in fact, I almost put the book down because of it. So I've settled on:
4.5 stars
The art of buying books has become a hesitant action of mine while I wait for the $50 all-you-can-into-a-box book buffet that’s about to arrive. It’s a once in a year thing for my entire country, and so I don’t want to be wasting my money on just any old book. So I cajoled my mum into buying this for me, secondhand mind you, instead. Thanks mum!
However, despite the somewhat negative connotations that both the title of this post and the implication that I didn’t buy this myself might give you, this book was a little gem in it’s own right. The content matched the cover; gorgeous both inside and out. Not only that, but the pages were printed with orange stars, compasses and carefully coloured maps that are supposed to resemble the ones that are described within the pages. Even if I hadn’t enjoyed the story, I’m sure that the beautiful designs would have earned it at least an extra star on goodreads.
I debated on what to give this. While it was a wonderful story and I enjoyed it quite a great deal – I do think that it has been marketed incorrectly. Skeletons and beloved pets almost being eaten don't seem all that appropriate for middle graders (who I am assuming are 9-13). I also really didn't like the first chapter, in fact, I almost put the book down because of it. So I've settled on:
4.5 stars
vickylovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautiful book. A lovely haunting story that mirrors the myth within.