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kenmakozumehq's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, like how it talked about mental health and wars
no_fxn_club's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol
yourlocalducknamer's review against another edition
3.0
honestly, this book is the complete opposite of the title: nothing but okay.
23missb's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I think this book is timely and relevant regarding issues of supports for returning vets, racism, and politics. It’ll be at home in both junior high and high school libraries.
alexblackreads's review against another edition
2.0
I have rarely read anything that felt so preachy. I read issue driven books all the time and some of them are based around general messages, but this book almost felt like listening to a sermon. I didn't disagree with the message at all.
A lot of this book focused on Islamophobia and racism, with a secondary issue of veterans not being taken care of once they return home. I definitely agree with all of that. But it was so painfully heavy handed and that was the entire point of this book existing. The story and character development didn't matter nearly so much as the Message, and I'm not reading this book to be taught what is honestly a very basic lesson. Maybe it would have been more interesting had it delved deeper into these issues, but it was a bit surface level.
I would've understood this book better had it been intended for a much younger audience. Like maybe if she'd written it for eight year olds, the preachy-ness would have made more sense and been more appropriate. But it felt like geared toward 15 year olds, and they don't need the same message driven into their heads every other page for an entire novel.
One specific issue I had was with the main character's best friend, Farida. I believe (although I'm writing this review weeks later so I'm basing this on other people's reviews) that Farida is an Iraqi-American who also happens to be Muslim. Her entire role in this book is to call out Stella for her white privilege. Here's the thing, it's great when characters are able to call out each other for privilege and great to see characters accepting that and learning from it. But that was Farida's entire role in the book. That was the only thing she ever did. I don't know pretty much anything about her character because every conversation she had was just pointing out Stella's privilege and everything Stella was doing wrong. This was true even when Stella's brother was in jail and going through a mental health crisis. Even when the (I think) candidate for governor was calling for Stella's brother publicly to face long time in jail. Even when Stella was being bullied and harassed and her home vandalized. Farida still took this time to inform Stella how bad that was for her. Normally I wouldn't be so critical of this because I am white and I wouldn't want to talk over any people of color discussing their experiences, but the author is also white. And Farida's character felt so poorly done and tokenized.
I just get so irritated being preached to constantly. A few points I don't mind too much, or if the book has a vague general theme it's pushing, but in this book it was constant and heavy handed and shoving it down my throat. If I hadn't already been so on board with the messages themselves, I don't think this would have even managed two stars.
At the end of the day, a novel has to tell a good story. That's what it is. This didn't feel like a story so much as a painfully drawn out after school special. It dragged for me and I really couldn't find myself recommending this to anyone.
A lot of this book focused on Islamophobia and racism, with a secondary issue of veterans not being taken care of once they return home. I definitely agree with all of that. But it was so painfully heavy handed and that was the entire point of this book existing. The story and character development didn't matter nearly so much as the Message, and I'm not reading this book to be taught what is honestly a very basic lesson. Maybe it would have been more interesting had it delved deeper into these issues, but it was a bit surface level.
I would've understood this book better had it been intended for a much younger audience. Like maybe if she'd written it for eight year olds, the preachy-ness would have made more sense and been more appropriate. But it felt like geared toward 15 year olds, and they don't need the same message driven into their heads every other page for an entire novel.
One specific issue I had was with the main character's best friend, Farida. I believe (although I'm writing this review weeks later so I'm basing this on other people's reviews) that Farida is an Iraqi-American who also happens to be Muslim. Her entire role in this book is to call out Stella for her white privilege. Here's the thing, it's great when characters are able to call out each other for privilege and great to see characters accepting that and learning from it. But that was Farida's entire role in the book. That was the only thing she ever did. I don't know pretty much anything about her character because every conversation she had was just pointing out Stella's privilege and everything Stella was doing wrong. This was true even when Stella's brother was in jail and going through a mental health crisis. Even when the (I think) candidate for governor was calling for Stella's brother publicly to face long time in jail. Even when Stella was being bullied and harassed and her home vandalized. Farida still took this time to inform Stella how bad that was for her. Normally I wouldn't be so critical of this because I am white and I wouldn't want to talk over any people of color discussing their experiences, but the author is also white. And Farida's character felt so poorly done and tokenized.
I just get so irritated being preached to constantly. A few points I don't mind too much, or if the book has a vague general theme it's pushing, but in this book it was constant and heavy handed and shoving it down my throat. If I hadn't already been so on board with the messages themselves, I don't think this would have even managed two stars.
At the end of the day, a novel has to tell a good story. That's what it is. This didn't feel like a story so much as a painfully drawn out after school special. It dragged for me and I really couldn't find myself recommending this to anyone.
reading_binosaur's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
3.0
The book is amazing and I will 100% recommend this to anyone because it covers important topics. However, I think that the character Farida is a little much. She always preaches about inclusivity to her friends because she is Muslim and her parents are Iraqi refugees. I know the character means well in just teaching her friends to think differently about things, but it sometimes gets to the point where she’s being selfish. Like when Stella wants to quit the Class President election because of what is going on at home with her brother, Farida says ‘Are you kidding me? Quit? You drag my family into this mess and now you’re going to quit?’ First off, Stella was hesitant about running, to begin with, and only did so because she was pressured by Farida to ‘make a difference.’ I just think that if Farida was a true friend like she’s constantly saying she is, then she would think about Stella’s feelings about everything before thinking of her own life. There’s a huge difference between teaching about tolerance and being tolerant.
The only other thing that I would complain about is that the book seems to be on a merry-go-round about the same issue multiple times, I feel like it could have cut at least 2-3 chapters if it didn’t keep going back to the same thing; other than that, a great story.
The only other thing that I would complain about is that the book seems to be on a merry-go-round about the same issue multiple times, I feel like it could have cut at least 2-3 chapters if it didn’t keep going back to the same thing; other than that, a great story.
moriah_ellis's review against another edition
3.0
I think this book was well written and I enjoyed the different formats it used. It covered a lot of serious, important subject matters that need to be talked about more. It was in part, a pretty dry read. The author was constantly reiterating the same points, saying the same thing again and again.
I do believe it was a thought provoking, mindful book. I just think it might have been trying to hard to achieve that, almost like it was written with an agenda.
I really loved how supportive and caring the family was, they weren’t perfect but they tried. While I had some issues with the characters, I think the character growth for some of them was really nice to see.
I do believe it was a thought provoking, mindful book. I just think it might have been trying to hard to achieve that, almost like it was written with an agenda.
I really loved how supportive and caring the family was, they weren’t perfect but they tried. While I had some issues with the characters, I think the character growth for some of them was really nice to see.
chiantilya2498's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
let_therebebooks's review against another edition
5.0
This book was awesome. It discussed topics that should be discussed more such as racism and mental health of veterans. The storyline was also very good and well put together! I would definitely recommend this as it is an easy read with a lot of content and lovable characters .