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ameliabiblio's review against another edition
3.0
This book is one of few to actually make me gasp while reading it. It tells an important story with likable characters. It tells the story of a mistake who learns that she is so much more than what she believes she is.
Spoiler
, although the big reveal turned out to be not quite so true after allarundlestl's review against another edition
1.0
"This book was terrible. I wish I could give it negative stars.
The plot makes no sense whatsoever and the characters are poorly developed. All of a sudden, Henry's agoraphobic mom leaves the house after 15 years of solitude and starts hanging out with Bean's mom? And Bean's Mom never gave any indication she was gay for 15 years?
I understand that Bean's mom, Lexie, was putting on an act for Gus, and when he died, it was time to be herself. But not just the next day. And if this Claire was her partner for the last 15 years, she would have been nicer to Bean. She also wouldn't have gone all dyked out with her hairstyle suddenly. Gus wasn't Claire's Dad, so she could have looked as gay as she wanted.
It makes me wonder if the author has ever met a real-life lesbian.
While reading Lexie's coming-out scene, a co-worker described my face as "Like someone is making you eat worms."
The plot makes no sense whatsoever and the characters are poorly developed. All of a sudden, Henry's agoraphobic mom leaves the house after 15 years of solitude and starts hanging out with Bean's mom? And Bean's Mom never gave any indication she was gay for 15 years?
I understand that Bean's mom, Lexie, was putting on an act for Gus, and when he died, it was time to be herself. But not just the next day. And if this Claire was her partner for the last 15 years, she would have been nicer to Bean. She also wouldn't have gone all dyked out with her hairstyle suddenly. Gus wasn't Claire's Dad, so she could have looked as gay as she wanted.
It makes me wonder if the author has ever met a real-life lesbian.
While reading Lexie's coming-out scene, a co-worker described my face as "Like someone is making you eat worms."
joyousreads132's review against another edition
2.0
Pearl and Henry practically grew up together. From not fitting in among kids of their own age, to not ever knowing their fathers, they’re kindred spirits who promised to never let the other grow old lonely. And maybe their absent fathers was the shared ground that bonded them together, or maybe it was from having a couple of mothers who seem to be more involved in their own dramas rather than raising their kids. Regardless of what it was, theirs was a relationship on the brink of something more.
Henry’s mother hasn’t left the house since his father disappeared and Pearl’s mom can only deal with her only if she’s had enough alcohol in her system. Really, the only people in Bean’s life she could count on aside from Henry was Gus, her grandfather. But when he died in his sleep, Pearl’s sad life slowly unravels, exposing secrets that threatened everything she’d come to know, including her relationship with Henry.
This is one of those books that should’ve reduced me to tears. But oddly enough, I didn’t feel anything at all. The characters weren’t able to reach me. I couldn’t feel pity. I was just reading for the sake of finishing a book I started.
There was nothing wrong with the writing, or the plot (I wouldn’t know how to crit those, anyway). I review books mainly to say whether or not I liked what I just read. There was just something that missed the spot here and I couldn’t put my finger on it.
The friendship between Bean/Pearl & Henry wasn’t able to convince me that they were the best of friends. Half the time, I felt some indifference with these two. It was like watching a couple of actors who were playing a part…actors who has no chemistry on screen. I couldn’t feel a trifle of pity for Pearl’s mother. I thought she was selfish throughout the book. Sally (Henry’s mother) was slightly better but not so much. Her life was sad though. Soap operas, Doritos and a couch and you’ve got yourself a peek at a day in the life of Sally.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect with this book. I might’ve read the synopsis when I added it on my To-Read shelf but I certainly did not expect this reality.
Henry’s mother hasn’t left the house since his father disappeared and Pearl’s mom can only deal with her only if she’s had enough alcohol in her system. Really, the only people in Bean’s life she could count on aside from Henry was Gus, her grandfather. But when he died in his sleep, Pearl’s sad life slowly unravels, exposing secrets that threatened everything she’d come to know, including her relationship with Henry.
This is one of those books that should’ve reduced me to tears. But oddly enough, I didn’t feel anything at all. The characters weren’t able to reach me. I couldn’t feel pity. I was just reading for the sake of finishing a book I started.
There was nothing wrong with the writing, or the plot (I wouldn’t know how to crit those, anyway). I review books mainly to say whether or not I liked what I just read. There was just something that missed the spot here and I couldn’t put my finger on it.
The friendship between Bean/Pearl & Henry wasn’t able to convince me that they were the best of friends. Half the time, I felt some indifference with these two. It was like watching a couple of actors who were playing a part…actors who has no chemistry on screen. I couldn’t feel a trifle of pity for Pearl’s mother. I thought she was selfish throughout the book. Sally (Henry’s mother) was slightly better but not so much. Her life was sad though. Soap operas, Doritos and a couch and you’ve got yourself a peek at a day in the life of Sally.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect with this book. I might’ve read the synopsis when I added it on my To-Read shelf but I certainly did not expect this reality.
findthosedreams's review against another edition
2.0
I really liked the first half... The way everything was set up and wonderfully described really struck me. (I even got a little teary eyed. )
Pearl, the outcome of teen pregnancy, struggles with knowing that her existence is a mistake that ruined lives. She lives with her emotionally distant mother and tender-hearted grandfather (who adamantly hate each other) in a lower class neighborhood plagued by crime and pollution. Henry, Pearl's best/only friend since childhood, lives with his shut-in mother in equally bleak circumstances.
However, once the plot gets going, the story really loses its enchanting backdrop and sinks into a dramatic soap opera. The plot is wild, and even twisted enough to be straight out of real life. However, like I said, the second half lost its magic. Four stars for the first half, two for the second.
Pearl, the outcome of teen pregnancy, struggles with knowing that her existence is a mistake that ruined lives. She lives with her emotionally distant mother and tender-hearted grandfather (who adamantly hate each other) in a lower class neighborhood plagued by crime and pollution. Henry, Pearl's best/only friend since childhood, lives with his shut-in mother in equally bleak circumstances.
However, once the plot gets going, the story really loses its enchanting backdrop and sinks into a dramatic soap opera. The plot is wild, and even twisted enough to be straight out of real life. However, like I said, the second half lost its magic. Four stars for the first half, two for the second.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't care for this one. It was a bit melodramatic for me, and all of the instances with the fathers felt inauthentic. This was a story about the parents and not the kids, and so when the kids show no emotions about being fatherless, I can't really connect or feel it's realistic (*I* was ready to scream repeatedly on the deadbeat fathers here, maybe because the fatherless storyline was so familiar to me as one of those kids. But these two showed no emotions at all about it - just...why not? That was where the story could have gone!).
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/12/pearl-by-jo-knowles.html
(Sometimes, fyi, what I write on GoodReads is much more my gut reaction than what I end up thinking when I revisit the book for a more thorough review -- this happened to be one of those cases).
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/12/pearl-by-jo-knowles.html
(Sometimes, fyi, what I write on GoodReads is much more my gut reaction than what I end up thinking when I revisit the book for a more thorough review -- this happened to be one of those cases).
katiecoops's review against another edition
3.0
Knowles' books are always slightly unusual, different from most contemporary stories and I love it. There are no other characters like Bean and her mother. I did feel like Henry wasn't developed enough and I knew hardly nothing about him, but the rest of the story just seemed so real, like it could happen in your neighborhood or town. This wasn't my favorite story personally, but like all of her other books, it is extremely well-written.
andye_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I'll start out by saying that this isn't really my type of book. I don't read a lot of contemporary, especially books that deal with issues, because, frankly, they depress me. And this book definitely had a sad tone to it, but it was also very sweet. I quickly read through the 224 pages, eager to find out how Bean (Pearl), Henry, Sally, and Lexie would resolve the years of tension, heartache, lies, betrayals, and shattered dreams.
Jo Knowles is a fantastic writer who makes you really feel the story. My heart ached for Bean. And I could almost feel the hot, humid temperatures of this "stuck town" in the middle of the city. Would you know what I meant if I said it reminded me of My Girl, or Fried Green Tomatoes? Even though this story didn't take place in the country, the town almost had a old, country feel to it. I think this was helped along by the names Pearl (Bean) and Henry.
I really loved Bean and Henry. They were just so sweet together. They did seem (to me) like they were younger than they were supposed to be, maybe 13 or 14. The way that they were with each other, and the way that they responded to things, just didn't seem like they were 15. But they really were so endearing. There isn't much in the way of romance (though there is some), but it is huge when it comes to friendship, and the love of family.
If you enjoy contemporary reads that deal with families, friendship, love and loss, I think you will love Pearl.
Andye
Jo Knowles is a fantastic writer who makes you really feel the story. My heart ached for Bean. And I could almost feel the hot, humid temperatures of this "stuck town" in the middle of the city. Would you know what I meant if I said it reminded me of My Girl, or Fried Green Tomatoes? Even though this story didn't take place in the country, the town almost had a old, country feel to it. I think this was helped along by the names Pearl (Bean) and Henry.
I really loved Bean and Henry. They were just so sweet together. They did seem (to me) like they were younger than they were supposed to be, maybe 13 or 14. The way that they were with each other, and the way that they responded to things, just didn't seem like they were 15. But they really were so endearing. There isn't much in the way of romance (though there is some), but it is huge when it comes to friendship, and the love of family.
If you enjoy contemporary reads that deal with families, friendship, love and loss, I think you will love Pearl.
Andye
kmostow's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really loved the detail in this book and the way Beans emotions are described so beautifully. An amazing YA read.
amdame1's review
3.0
Pearl, who is really known as Bean is best friends with Henry. They both have mothers with issues. Henry's mom has not left the house in years. Bean's mom is usually drunk and mad at her father, Gus. When Gus dies, life is in turmoil for all these people.
Some heavy issues are addressed here, but the characters are fairly young (11 or 12) and so there won't be as much appeal for middle school/high school readers.
Some heavy issues are addressed here, but the characters are fairly young (11 or 12) and so there won't be as much appeal for middle school/high school readers.
thegruester's review against another edition
1.0
I think some YA books should only for the entertainment of YA. This book is one of those books. It's angsty and there is adolescent confusion, and I feel like their issues seem larger than life. But that is how it is during your teen years. Not that enjoyable for this 30 year old.