Reviews

When We Hold Each Other Up by Phoebe Wagner

pvbobrien's review

inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

wunder's review

3.0

I guess solarpunk can include fantasy elements, but this was too far into fantasy and magic for me. I see solarpunk as saying something practical about our future, but in the first paragraph, we have a person who is draining "life energy" (or something like that) from an apple tree. And, maybe this is nitpicking, but how do you heal part of an aspen grove, when it is a single organism with a common root system? Characterization was pretty light, focusing mostly on the world building. That would be OK if the ecological society was given in more detail. We never find out how Haven City feeds themselves after ten years of improvement, only that the city feels better through the feet of the skateboarders. Right.

longstorieshort's review

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

ms_rey's review

hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

85% of this book is lovely and then the ending is

taking down capitalism with skateboarding & feeding the hungry

.

hollyn_middle's review

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

spicewitch's review

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? No

4.0

essjay's review

I really wanted to like this, but just couldn't get into it. 

drewsbookandteareviews's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.5

beansandfungi's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.5

My thanks to Android Press for the e-ARC.

This is a lovely novella about stories and hope and community. When the old ways of hierarchy and power threaten the solarpunk ideals of the future, Rowan must learn that the best way to fight back isn't to fight back at all, but to ensure that everyone is cared for, that everyone is safe and healthy. Only by holding each other up can we stand against oppression.