Reviews tagging 'Death'

When Life Gives You Mangos by Kereen Getten

16 reviews

nadiamasood's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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? Yes

5.0

This is an atmospheric MG novel set in a Jamaican village. The island scenes are vivid, with hints of magic and superstition. It’s about friendship, loss, and community. 

There’s a mystery in this book and its resolution makes for a SHOCKING PLOT TWIST toward the end of the book! I did not see it coming and it’s all I’m thinking about right now! I find myself re-reading from the start to check for clues I'd missed!

Loved this book!
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mrs_gale's review against another edition

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

2.25

Not for me. I don't enjoy sad books. It was ok. Potentially good for 10-12 year olds, but I felt the resolution happened too fast and too easily for both Clara and her Uncle.
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ceilidhwilliams's review against another edition

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

4.5

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disnelyse's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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amberinpieces's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

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aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

5.0

I really enjoyed this. Discusses friendship, community, trauma, and grief in a good way as a middle grade. Def teared up by the end of it. 
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brookey8888's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad 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

4.0

I had no clue what this was about when I picked this up. I did enjoy this and I liked the discussion about friendships and family. There is a twist that happen that I did not see coming. Which I really enjoyed. I also really liked learning a little bit about Jamaica. 
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unicornsbookshelf's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

 This book read so fast. I don't usually read contemporary, especially middle-grade contemporary, but the cover and the summary really interested me so I gave it a try. And I wasn't disappointed. This book really flew by, I loved discovering and guessing what had really happened during the time Clara didn't remember. I loved that it talked about friendship and family.

I do feel it was a bit optimistic with showing the whole community coming together this fast after all the prejudices they had but it's a middle-grade book so it has every right to be this hopeful and optimistic. In its own way, it was very wholesome and made me feel like a bit of a cynic for doubting it.

I enjoyed it very much and I highly recommend it! 
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a_libra_library's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Clara and her best friend drifting apart because of a new girl in their small town... But are they really drifting apart or have they already? The plot twist was just... when did middle grade get so dark..? I loved this. It felt like a normal story until you got to the 75% mark and it too a turn. 
Clara is dealing with grief and the lost of her best friend but she doesn't know it
 
Focusing on grief and mental illness in families and small town mob mindset.




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charlottejones952's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad 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

4.5

This has one of the best twists I've ever read. If you want a middlegrade, better version of We Were Liars, look no further!
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