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chris10b's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this book and the interesting point of view of it offers. Was leaning toward 4.5 stars, but I finished this book in a day (which is something that I rarely ever do any more), so I think that says something about how much I enjoyed it. So, rounding up to 5 stars.
silentgoblin2's review against another edition
3.0
The book was definitely a slow burn but kept me wanting to know what the ending was going to be throughout. Once the twists started though, they had me hooked until the end!
librarydosebykristy's review against another edition
3.0
This was a great accomplishment, beautifully written and researched. But oh, so sad. Reminded me alot of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn but without the frequent moments of beauty and hope. This was grim grim grim with only the slightest possibility of redemption near the end.
For that reason I had trouble reading it. I kept avoiding picking it up.
This is not the author’s fault... this is my relationship with sad stories.
For that reason I had trouble reading it. I kept avoiding picking it up.
This is not the author’s fault... this is my relationship with sad stories.
jcgrenn_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I had a good time listening to this audiobook! I think I would have enjoyed it more had it been in my hands though.
sierrayak's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
laflormorada's review against another edition
5.0
This layered, poignant story is about two young girls: Frankie who is temporarily left in an orphanage with her sister in 1940's Chicago and Pearl, a ghost who can't quite remember who she is. Frankie's life has been traumatic, but is no different from the lives of the other girls and boys at The Guardians Catholic Orphanage (alive and dead). The nuns are strict if not cruel, the food is terrible and the place may be haunted but at least they have a roof over their heads. Then WWII begins and what little Frankie has slowly begins slipping away. Little does she know, there is someone who cares, someone who is watching, someone who knows her story.
This book, wow. It's just a must-read. I had no idea that Laura Ruby also wrote Bone Gap until I was halfway through this book, but now it all makes sense. Her books are so magical and eerie and powerful but still grounded in real life. It's hard to separate the "reality" from the magic because it all feels so true. I was completely immersed in this emotional story and all the stories within the story (often told by the ghosts). It's hard to even describe what this book is about because there's so much to it. It's just a snippet of two lives that were or could have been, but it's also a story about girls: their dreams, desires, hopes, sadness, realities and strength. All I can really say is that it was beautiful.
This book, wow. It's just a must-read. I had no idea that Laura Ruby also wrote Bone Gap until I was halfway through this book, but now it all makes sense. Her books are so magical and eerie and powerful but still grounded in real life. It's hard to separate the "reality" from the magic because it all feels so true. I was completely immersed in this emotional story and all the stories within the story (often told by the ghosts). It's hard to even describe what this book is about because there's so much to it. It's just a snippet of two lives that were or could have been, but it's also a story about girls: their dreams, desires, hopes, sadness, realities and strength. All I can really say is that it was beautiful.
amaranth_wytch's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Abandonment, Colonisation, Death, Child abuse, Bullying, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Misogyny, Blood, Mental illness, War, and Animal death
Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Classism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence
bookish_manders's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
ralphiereads76's review against another edition
5.0
I'm loving this fantasy/historical fiction mash-up genre. The title is a motif. The style is gorgeous and literary. This is the first book in a while that I felt I needed to DISCUSS with someone who's read it. There's so much to dig into! I think I could reread it! The audiobook was excellent.
missbookiverse's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. There were a lot of characters and storylines but even though I might have missed some of the connections between them (due to my wavering attention span during audiobooks), I cared about and was interested in all of them (especially Frankie). I liked how this was a WWII story that was set more on the sidelines. It's not about an occupied country or characters in the middle of the war, it's about those who stay behind and anxiously wait to hear from their loved ones. Interwoven with the stories are some fairy tale and paranormal elements that add a unique twist to the narrative. Also, up to now this remains my favorite book title ever, especially in connection with the last paragraph of the novel.