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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautifully written and incredibly delightful cast of characters.
The core audience for this book is definitely younger teenagers - The romance elements are understandably limited. The real life situations children face when they're considered different and are taken away from their communities and placed in government facilities historically is heavily heavily softened. There were several moments at the beginning where I thought the author might explore these darker events, but it seemed like he turned away and chose the simpler, happier ending.
There is a controversy with this book where the author explicitly mentions being influenced by the 'Sixties Scoop' where Indigenous Canadian children were taken from their families and put in foster homes or adopted out https://whatever.scalzi.com/2020/03/17/the-big-idea-tj-klune/?amp . While I do think this story could represent a broad number of situations where marginalized communities are abused, for a white author to explicitly and intentionally exchange indigenous children for magical creatures, deeply sanitize their trauma is, and then act like the foster home/adopted by a white family is a good thing... is super bad.
The core audience for this book is definitely younger teenagers - The romance elements are understandably limited. The real life situations children face when they're considered different and are taken away from their communities and placed in government facilities historically is heavily heavily softened. There were several moments at the beginning where I thought the author might explore these darker events,
There is a controversy with this book where the author explicitly mentions being influenced by the 'Sixties Scoop' where Indigenous Canadian children were taken from their families and put in foster homes or adopted out https://whatever.scalzi.com/2020/03/17/the-big-idea-tj-klune/?amp . While I do think this story could represent a broad number of situations where marginalized communities are abused, for a white author to explicitly and intentionally exchange indigenous children for magical creatures, deeply sanitize their trauma is, and then act like the foster home/adopted by a white family is a good thing... is super bad.
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Shallow and grating. The sort of book that thinks it's progressive because two men kiss chastely at one point.
Having the plot revolve around the One Good Residential School was certainly a choice.
If you forget that the main character is fat, don't worry, the author will remind you every few pages.
Fantasy racism is a difficult tightrope to walk for the best of books. This was not the best of books.
Having the plot revolve around the One Good Residential School was certainly a choice.
If you forget that the main character is fat, don't worry, the author will remind you every few pages.
Fantasy racism is a difficult tightrope to walk for the best of books. This was not the best of books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Abandonment
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury
fantasy racism
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
reflective