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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
I really really struggle with first person adolescent boy narration. Not for me.
challenging
reflective
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
This book was really hard to imagine before i started reading it. Thematically, it kept making me think of the poem "We Were Happy During the War," which i think of often--how we just live and have regular love and struggles between our family and friends and community while things are really hard around us, in the world and in our lives. People die and we have crushes. Nightmares come true and we hang out with our friends. Battles rage around us and we listen to music. We write poems. We connect.
I appreciated reflecting on that and the book really brought it to life. Overall, though, the book was not my favorite. The pacing wasn't my favorite, and there were parts where i was unsatisfied. Some pros, some cons! Solid 3 stars!
This was a NetGalley ARC.
I appreciated reflecting on that and the book really brought it to life. Overall, though, the book was not my favorite. The pacing wasn't my favorite, and there were parts where i was unsatisfied. Some pros, some cons! Solid 3 stars!
This was a NetGalley ARC.
This book was really hard to imagine before i started reading it. Thematically, it kept making me think of the poem "We Were Happy During the War," which i think of often--how we just live and have regular love and struggles between our family and friends and community while things are really hard around us, in the world and in our lives. People die and we have crushes. Nightmares come true and we hang out with our friends. Battles rage around us and we listen to music. We write poems. We connect.
I appreciated reflecting on that and the book really brought it to life. Overall, though, the book was not my favorite. The pacing wasn't my favorite, and there were parts where i was unsatisfied. Some pros, some cons! Solid 3 stars!
This was a NetGalley ARC.
I appreciated reflecting on that and the book really brought it to life. Overall, though, the book was not my favorite. The pacing wasn't my favorite, and there were parts where i was unsatisfied. Some pros, some cons! Solid 3 stars!
This was a NetGalley ARC.
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I think you could easily have a very interesting conversation about whether this book is unique and poetic or cluttered and disjointed. I unfortunately feel like I fall into the latter.
It certainly was unique at least from most of the books that I’ve read this year. And I thought that all of the characters were lively and enjoyable to read. But the plot had a lot going on which made me struggle to connect with any of those characters. I’m very much 50/50 on it but again, I do think it would prompt a lot of good discussions and I appreciate that since not every book has that quality.
It certainly was unique at least from most of the books that I’ve read this year. And I thought that all of the characters were lively and enjoyable to read. But the plot had a lot going on which made me struggle to connect with any of those characters. I’m very much 50/50 on it but again, I do think it would prompt a lot of good discussions and I appreciate that since not every book has that quality.
This book was not keeping my attention. I may try again at a later date.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I feel like this book was a bit disjointed, but it was a quick read, vibrant and youthful, with a healthy dose of sorrow, as the title implies. I liked Andy, but felt this story could have been a bit more cohesive.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really wanted to like this more, but the character is hard to like, and the writing was uninteresting in general. I think the only thing I liked about the book was that it took place in Nigeria, and I think it’s important to have more books about more places in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes