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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
First on my tour of "Reading 1-2 books per YA shelf at my library," this book seemed a bit misplaced. While the characters are all in middle school, it felt like a late elementary school book to me. I would reason it can be used with reluctant readers, as the sentence structures are all very simple, and the plot is well explained.
The story of "Firegirl" revolves around our main character Tom and his unsure feelings about how his classmates are treating the new girl at school, Jessica. Jessica is not only a new student, but she is also a burn victim with scars up and down her body. The students are all afraid of her, including Tom, but quite a few of them talk behind her back about how she could've ended up the way she did. On the whole, the majority of students ignore Jessica.
It was hard to become invested in the story as Tom was a very passive participant in the events. He is more like our eyes and ears, rather than an actor in the story. The story does pick up near the end, but oddly enough Tom learns that he needs to speak up and act the next time someone is getting kind of bullied.
The story of "Firegirl" revolves around our main character Tom and his unsure feelings about how his classmates are treating the new girl at school, Jessica. Jessica is not only a new student, but she is also a burn victim with scars up and down her body. The students are all afraid of her, including Tom, but quite a few of them talk behind her back about how she could've ended up the way she did. On the whole, the majority of students ignore Jessica.
It was hard to become invested in the story as Tom was a very passive participant in the events. He is more like our eyes and ears, rather than an actor in the story. The story does pick up near the end, but oddly enough Tom learns that he needs to speak up and act the next time someone is getting kind of bullied.
_Firegirl_ is about a girl who shows up in Tom's seventh grade class and screws up everybody's perceptions. Jessica has survived a terrible fire that left her almost completely scarred. Several of the kids are scared of her and make fun of her behind her back. When Tom's friend Jeff starts being cruel and manipulative, Tom starts to question if Jeff is really his friend at all and what kind of person he wants to be. The book had an excellent message but it felt a little short/underdeveloped to me. It might be very well suited for the target age group though.
I rate it 4.5 stars! It deserves it!
The writing is consistent, the tone is perfect, and the way it sets up things is so good as well.
I like how Tom and Jessica both relate to each other, they're both the quiet kids who learn to be better, louder, and more affectionate people from each other. Even Jessica, who really isn't the main character, has some character development, which was surprisingly pleasant! She goes from this sad, lonely girl, to a girl who smiles and shows more emotion. I love that.
I also love Tom's character development! He turns from a shy, insecure boy, to a boy who now has a back bone, and who really see what matters in life-- not what others think, but life itself. The living aspect of life, how life can easily be pulled from under our feet. I feel like that's the whole lesson of the book, along with not judging others.
All in all, it's a wonderful read. The writing sounds like a nervous middle schooler (which Tom is) and changes into someone who has a bit more confidence, and has the ability to stand up not only for himself, but others as well. It also show cases toxic friendships really well too, showing how, when you hang out with people who judge you, or don't care about you for YOU, that something gets taken away from you. And I love that lesson. The way the characters grow in this novel is amazing, especially since it's so short. I remember I read this all the way in sixth grade, so about eight years ago now, and I can see why I still remember it being such a good book. I will definitely read it again.
The writing is consistent, the tone is perfect, and the way it sets up things is so good as well.
I like how Tom and Jessica both relate to each other, they're both the quiet kids who learn to be better, louder, and more affectionate people from each other. Even Jessica, who really isn't the main character, has some character development, which was surprisingly pleasant! She goes from this sad, lonely girl, to a girl who smiles and shows more emotion. I love that.
I also love Tom's character development! He turns from a shy, insecure boy, to a boy who now has a back bone, and who really see what matters in life-- not what others think, but life itself. The living aspect of life, how life can easily be pulled from under our feet. I feel like that's the whole lesson of the book, along with not judging others.
All in all, it's a wonderful read. The writing sounds like a nervous middle schooler (which Tom is) and changes into someone who has a bit more confidence, and has the ability to stand up not only for himself, but others as well. It also show cases toxic friendships really well too, showing how, when you hang out with people who judge you, or don't care about you for YOU, that something gets taken away from you. And I love that lesson. The way the characters grow in this novel is amazing, especially since it's so short. I remember I read this all the way in sixth grade, so about eight years ago now, and I can see why I still remember it being such a good book. I will definitely read it again.
I find myself thinking about these characters at odd times--they have not yet left my consciousness, and that's saying something.
I liked how short and simple this book was, though the topic was fairly deep. The main character learns some important things about his classmates without it ever feeling that the story is lecturing.
Concept that is kind of an intermediate grades Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (which came out I guess six years later, and I was also meh on...great adaptation, though)...only Jeff is no Earl, and no humor...I assume the book version was funny, I honestly can’t remember.
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. It left me with a lingering, unsettled feeling that I think pursues the main character throughout the novel. Nothing is resolved, and there’s not really enough follow-up to the events of the main story to give you a sense of whether the main character has undergone anything but minor change.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
At least the author was honest when in the book's second line he says, "If you look at it, nothing much happened." There's not a whole lot of action, just a short series of events surrounding a girl who has been badly burned and how her presence affects the narrator. There's actually some interesting tension as the narrator struggles to balance his own repulsion by Jessica's appearance with his repulsion at the cruel way some of his classmates react. It's not a painful read by any means, and the pages turn quickly. It's...interesting.
But in the end, nothing happens. I finished it and was more than ready to move on to a more engaging book.
Side note: Even though I thought the book was kind of "meh" as a whole, I ADORED the chapter where Tom and Jessica talked about how great it would be to have "small powers" (invincible finger, an incredibly loud whistle, ect.) instead of super powers. That chapter alone was easily the best part of the book, and I think that on its own and slightly re-worked it that conversation could have been turned into a good short story.
But in the end, nothing happens. I finished it and was more than ready to move on to a more engaging book.
Side note: Even though I thought the book was kind of "meh" as a whole, I ADORED the chapter where Tom and Jessica talked about how great it would be to have "small powers" (invincible finger, an incredibly loud whistle, ect.) instead of super powers. That chapter alone was easily the best part of the book, and I think that on its own and slightly re-worked it that conversation could have been turned into a good short story.
This book was a lot like Wonder, but it was told only from the perspective of one of the children in the class with a girl who had horrible burns. It was more compelling than Wonder because nothing really works out in the end, there is no resolution. The only thing that happens is that the main characters life was forever affected by his relationship with firegirl. I don't believe that the author intended that the main character almost seemed to have a breakdown and become slightly crazy, but that is how I took it.