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freadomlibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating 4.5 stars
HOW DID IT END LIKE THAT?!?
HOW DID IT END LIKE THAT?!?
pedanther's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Child death, Confinement, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Dementia, Medical content, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, Alcohol, Blood, War, Homophobia, Deportation, and Mental illness
Minor: Excrement, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Slavery, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Bullying
kalliste's review
3.0
I enjoyed the idea of this book plus anything with multiple point of views and time travel is a sure bet to get me interested but there just wasn't enough there to make this a great book.
Kai and Ellie were pretty bland with Kai always in awe of Ellie when she really hadn't done anything deserving of it. I can't imagine a person in the position he was in would find such amazement in someone so ordinary.
I know it's a series but for the most part the characters weren't really fleshed out well and we only know surface facts about them.
Kai and Ellie were pretty bland with Kai always in awe of Ellie when she really hadn't done anything deserving of it. I can't imagine a person in the position he was in would find such amazement in someone so ordinary.
I know it's a series but for the most part the characters weren't really fleshed out well and we only know surface facts about them.
papertraildiary's review against another edition
3.0
So, I liked this - mostly for the concept. I had some problems with the writing style, like there were things that could have been explained better, I found the connection between Kai and Ellie sort of took off too quickly, and we didn't get a motive for what was happening until the very end (is that normal?) I am really into the concept of it, and the existential question it creates (which I won't say because spoilers) but I felt like things could've been smoother. I have a hard time with series so I think some of my opinion comes from that, but I'd be into checking out #2.
rmarcin's review
4.0
I was not aware of anything about this book. I think I decided to download it because it was on a book list or book recommendation somewhere. It is a young adult novel set in Berlin, Germany. It is the first in a series.
I grew to really like Ellie Baum, and Kai and Mitzi, the main characters in the book. While it is a bit of fantasy / magic, it really brings forth the question on what you would do if you could remake / change history. Would it be better or worse, or should you not try to change it?
This was an interesting take on the holocaust, and its repercussions on those who survived and future generations.
There is a 2nd book in the series which I will read to see how the story develops.
#TheGirlWithTheRedBalloon #KatherineLocke
I grew to really like Ellie Baum, and Kai and Mitzi, the main characters in the book. While it is a bit of fantasy / magic, it really brings forth the question on what you would do if you could remake / change history. Would it be better or worse, or should you not try to change it?
This was an interesting take on the holocaust, and its repercussions on those who survived and future generations.
There is a 2nd book in the series which I will read to see how the story develops.
#TheGirlWithTheRedBalloon #KatherineLocke
b00kluver's review against another edition
4.0
Magical elements, a conspiracy, a strong female character, and history combined into one story spanning three time periods. A good read with a message of hope, love, and doing the right thing.
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did.
The Girl with the Red Balloon seemed like it was going to be a book that left my mind blown. However, it didn't. I liked how it was unique and everything.. but honestly, nothing really struck out to me. Which kind of ended up disappointing the heck out of me.
Now I liked Ellie. She was so naïve and young. I loved it. She went to Germany, even thought her grandfather didn't want her to. It was for school, well her German Class, and since I have never been to Germany I was twiddling my thumbs to see her POV about it. Especially when the red balloon comes into play.
When we dive into Berlin, 1988, man was that an eye-opener. I have a love/hate relationship with books that revolve around our world's bitter past. Mostly because I love getting to see different sides to a story but hate that I end up ugly crying. It happens a lot but I know that our history sucks ass. I hate that people went through things that they didn't have to.
So yeah, I definitely ugly cried while reading this book.
Overall, I'm happy that I finally dove into this and now I'm pumped/scared to dive into the second book of this series.
The Girl with the Red Balloon seemed like it was going to be a book that left my mind blown. However, it didn't. I liked how it was unique and everything.. but honestly, nothing really struck out to me. Which kind of ended up disappointing the heck out of me.
Now I liked Ellie. She was so naïve and young. I loved it. She went to Germany, even thought her grandfather didn't want her to. It was for school, well her German Class, and since I have never been to Germany I was twiddling my thumbs to see her POV about it. Especially when the red balloon comes into play.
When we dive into Berlin, 1988, man was that an eye-opener. I have a love/hate relationship with books that revolve around our world's bitter past. Mostly because I love getting to see different sides to a story but hate that I end up ugly crying. It happens a lot but I know that our history sucks ass. I hate that people went through things that they didn't have to.
So yeah, I definitely ugly cried while reading this book.
Overall, I'm happy that I finally dove into this and now I'm pumped/scared to dive into the second book of this series.
katie_chandler's review against another edition
3.0
I like that this fantasy YA book covers the Berlin Wall in the late 1980’s. It’s a period in history that I don’t know a lot about, though I have an interest in WWII historical fiction. Having read this, I am primed to be educated on what East Berlin was like after WWII and how the wall came to be and fall.
The book was entertaining, but didn’t give me a full enough picture of East Berlin beyond general paranoia and restrictions in the setting. In the final few chapters, characters that hadn’t sworn the entire time let off a series of F-bombs that seemed out of place. Didn’t love the ending.
The book was entertaining, but didn’t give me a full enough picture of East Berlin beyond general paranoia and restrictions in the setting. In the final few chapters, characters that hadn’t sworn the entire time let off a series of F-bombs that seemed out of place. Didn’t love the ending.
cami19's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
owlyreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
The Girl with the Red Balloon quickly became one of my favorites of the year. Yes, there are so many things in here that are painful to read, several that made me cry, many that brought hope and a better understanding of Berlin, The Holocaust, and everything that can be too difficult to read but must be read pertaining to that time and the years after.
This novel was so well written and was made even more memorable and I became emotionally invested with all the characters that filled the pages. Kai is the brooding guy (for good reason) who loves with a passion, knowing that every single moment is precious and every minute could be his last. There was Ellie who learned and grew so much more after having traveling back into that time, the hardest thing she's ever had to do.
If those two leading characters weren't enough to make this novel a fave, there is also Mitzi who is the toughest person they could have fighting by their side, as well as Kai's sister Sabina who is very important to the future of those within these pages. None of them have an easy life, far from it, but they stay strong because they have each other and the hope that magic will change things, hopefully for the better for many.
That's where the red balloons come in and everything they meant to the story. Magic exists in this universe, where there is more hope than ever imaginable. It's how Ellie finds herself in the past, going through the fears and worries that many had to endure and painfully leave that world with. This isn't a fairy-tale story though, of salvation and peace, it is only partial truths and that was intensely painful to read, but I left me feeling more blessed and thankful for what I have now.
Even with several of those pages that I couldn't find solace within, even with the heartbreaking recounting of Benno's (another important character to the story) life, throughout those harrowing years of his existence, I appreciated everything that was said and shown. Something like this should never be forgotten, their hardships, their lives, it should be remembered, so that we as a whole never allow something as gruesomely brutal to happen again in any lifetime.
This novel makes you have all feels possible, of love, sadness, of joy, and wonder, of hope, and so many more. Magic though, as distressing as this book could be, gave it that enchanting vibe that allowed hope that should have been, a way to be free from such an appalling way of life that should never have happened. Even though there wasn't many happily ever afters at the end of this world, it was more truthful and full of meaningful moments. More appreciation for it than if it had been left perfectly wrapped with a pretty bow on top. I'm absolutely adding a copy to my shelves.
***I received this copy from Albert Whitman Company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
This novel was so well written and was made even more memorable and I became emotionally invested with all the characters that filled the pages. Kai is the brooding guy (for good reason) who loves with a passion, knowing that every single moment is precious and every minute could be his last. There was Ellie who learned and grew so much more after having traveling back into that time, the hardest thing she's ever had to do.
If those two leading characters weren't enough to make this novel a fave, there is also Mitzi who is the toughest person they could have fighting by their side, as well as Kai's sister Sabina who is very important to the future of those within these pages. None of them have an easy life, far from it, but they stay strong because they have each other and the hope that magic will change things, hopefully for the better for many.
That's where the red balloons come in and everything they meant to the story. Magic exists in this universe, where there is more hope than ever imaginable. It's how Ellie finds herself in the past, going through the fears and worries that many had to endure and painfully leave that world with. This isn't a fairy-tale story though, of salvation and peace, it is only partial truths and that was intensely painful to read, but I left me feeling more blessed and thankful for what I have now.
Even with several of those pages that I couldn't find solace within, even with the heartbreaking recounting of Benno's (another important character to the story) life, throughout those harrowing years of his existence, I appreciated everything that was said and shown. Something like this should never be forgotten, their hardships, their lives, it should be remembered, so that we as a whole never allow something as gruesomely brutal to happen again in any lifetime.
This novel makes you have all feels possible, of love, sadness, of joy, and wonder, of hope, and so many more. Magic though, as distressing as this book could be, gave it that enchanting vibe that allowed hope that should have been, a way to be free from such an appalling way of life that should never have happened. Even though there wasn't many happily ever afters at the end of this world, it was more truthful and full of meaningful moments. More appreciation for it than if it had been left perfectly wrapped with a pretty bow on top. I'm absolutely adding a copy to my shelves.
***I received this copy from Albert Whitman Company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***