Reviews

Firegirl by Tony Abbott

ajaubrey1's review

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

sumayyaha's review

3.0

Rating - 3 Stars // Recommended for anyone (IMO).
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I really don't even know if this deserves three stars because even though I was satisfied with the story I thought the characters were just the worst. The main character Tom, was okay but he definitely had some jerkish qualities. And his friend, oh my God, I hated him at first I felt a little bad for him because I felt like he had some neglect issues and he was just really trying hard to be noticed but he was awful and that's no reason to bully someone. I really don't understand why the author made the 7th graders seem like 3rd graders or something they use language like 'it was so dumb I know but...' basically I felt like they were just no characters that I could really like besides Jessica the one who had the burnt skin cuz I just feel like none of the reactions that the kids gave or actually something that a legitimate seventh-grader would give and that the author was just making the kids seem like younger than they were. Sorry if this seems like a rant but I am currently recording my voice which is like why it sounds like I'm talking, and it is so convenient I recommend anyone try it.

annashiv's review

3.0

Loved the story, but I think it could have been written better.

protoman21's review

4.0

Even though not a lot happens in this book it is still enjoyable and poignant. I have a friend who was burned and I've had to deal with some difficult and confusing emotions. Tony Abbott did an excellent job at conveying what a situation like this really feels like.

izzys_internet_bookshelf's review

1.0

I was hoping this book would be a nice little short story before I start reading my next wave of books that I had checked out. I was wrong, this book was in the perspective of a seventh grader and the story was very bland. I only was interested in the story behind the girl and it took the whole book to get the whole story. I was annoyed to the fact where I ended up skipping through pages and trying to find the parts where it was all about the girl. the boys were of course getting on my nerves because their seventh grade boys, at that grade, most boys were annoying.

tay123's review against another edition

fast-paced

3.0

I felt I could kind of relate to Jessica. I feel like a lot of the things that were said behind Jessica's back is what is said with anyone with a physical disability especially if it affects your appearance.

quietweather's review

3.0

I read this about a year ago and it was really sketchy and I was sad when Jessica left :{

allysonbogie's review

3.0

This book tells an important story, but it lacks depth. The story is too simplistic for the middle grade readers that seem to be its target audience. It would be worth a comparison read with Wonder by RJ Palacios, but if you're only going to read one, I'd go with Wonder.

kkdemarco's review

2.0

While I think Firegirl has a good overall message, this book fell very flat for me. There was hardly any detail in the writing (how are we supposed to teach kids to "show, not tell" with something like this as an example?), the characters were completely one-dimensional (I know 7th graders are more interesting than this), and the plot was, honestly, pretty boring. The main character, Tom, is supposed to be in 7th grade, but with all his whining, I thought he seemed much younger/immature. I simply could not garner any sympathy for Jeff, either. it would have almost been more exciting if he had lied about the Cobra. I also did not like the resolution--why did Jessica have to leave in order for the class to go back to normal? Why couldn't they learn to accept her and get to know her for who she is?

wendiwoo1's review

2.0

Meh. I gave it the second star for effort. If you want to read a life-changing novel not just for yourself, but for the characters as well, and it has a deformed child, read "Wonder". There was more character development surrounding the antagonist Jeff, than there was around the narrator Tom or Jessica, the burn victim. I was left wanting to know more about Tom. Why did he only talk to one person at school? What were his fears? Insecurities? Okay, yeah, he has a crush on the pretty girl. So does everyone else. What about him made him connect to Jessica? And Jessica, clearly some major issues in her head. Clearly a very cool girl. Let me learn more about her. Make her more than the victim. Make me forget about what she looks like. Oh, and as for the writing. If you want to be realistic and add some shock value, don't say "and he cursed." Just curse! Say shit, fuck, damn, whatever! This novel is written about 7th graders. They can handle it. They will connect better. I always tell my students to show, not tell in their writing.