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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I felt for Leon and liked how realistic this story was written, but I just couldn't get pulled into it as deeply as I had hoped. I think it is an important area that needs written on, but for me it was just okay.
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
No
oh, this book. I've read a few books through the POV of a child that treat the character too simply - not Kit de Waal. Leon is a fully realised character with a complex narrative. My heart broke for him all the way through; he just wanted the same things any other little boy did, but his need for family and belonging, something that shouldn't even enter the mind of a child, nearly ruined me. The story stayed with me the whole time, and when I wasn't reading it, I wanted to be reading it. I don't think I'll forget Leon in a hurry.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I really wanted to like it more than I did--especially because it held so much promise. The plight of Leon (a young mixed race boy in the foster care system) is way too common and realistic. You feel the emotion and pain every time Leon thinks about his brother, Jake. You grieve as Carol (Leon and Jake's mother) never steps up to the plate to take care of her sons. And because Leon is "old" he is less desirable--this bothers the reader.
However, the book lost me midway through; I wish it hadn't. I ceased to be as engaged with the story as I had been earlier in the book. The writing style changed, too many characters were introduced. And I get it--the core message of the book is that "family" looks VERY different than we imagine it to look, that it can be found in many places with many people. But there were too many people. It also went on too long (and it is a relatively short book). I stopped caring--not about Leon--but about everyone else. So.....can I really give an opinion on the end of the book? No. Because I just don't remember that much about it.
However, the book lost me midway through; I wish it hadn't. I ceased to be as engaged with the story as I had been earlier in the book. The writing style changed, too many characters were introduced. And I get it--the core message of the book is that "family" looks VERY different than we imagine it to look, that it can be found in many places with many people. But there were too many people. It also went on too long (and it is a relatively short book). I stopped caring--not about Leon--but about everyone else. So.....can I really give an opinion on the end of the book? No. Because I just don't remember that much about it.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated