Take a photo of a barcode or cover
kmartucci's review
4.0
Loved this book! The juxtaposition between Nora's strength and Kettle's gentleness made for a great duo that you can't help but root for! Keeping my eyes open for book number 2!
eclipse888's review
3.0
My main two points are that I expected more Peter Pan and that I underestimated the domestic abuse part
tesibesi's review
adventurous
inspiring
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
Well written, dives straight into the plot from page one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent
naharobed's review
3.0
This story takes place in post-WWII California and we follow our two main characters who are just trying to navigate their lives. It deals with a lot of heavy topics and I admired the strength of the characters and the subtle social commentary from the author.
The book is quite slow in the beginning, but definitely picks up in the second half. While the writing style is whimsical and lyrical, there is an underlying tone of darkness and harsh reality to it. Both our characters are broken, but resilient in their own ways. My only gripe was that the story didn't fully immerse me in the setting. I feel that the story could have taken place anywhere during any time period and it still wouldn't have made much difference. But that being said it was overall an enjoyable read.
The book is quite slow in the beginning, but definitely picks up in the second half. While the writing style is whimsical and lyrical, there is an underlying tone of darkness and harsh reality to it. Both our characters are broken, but resilient in their own ways. My only gripe was that the story didn't fully immerse me in the setting. I feel that the story could have taken place anywhere during any time period and it still wouldn't have made much difference. But that being said it was overall an enjoyable read.
livres_de_bloss's review
4.0
I think this is the best book I've ever got for free from iBooks.
It's very sad and dark but the characters were immensely strong and admirable. I was a bit surprised when I found out this is geared towards YA as, unlike most YA I find, it wasn't written in an overly simplistic or trite way. The subject matter is heavy and it's a bit upsetting at times, but worth the read!
This is a book that I wouldn't mind owning in print.
It's very sad and dark but the characters were immensely strong and admirable. I was a bit surprised when I found out this is geared towards YA as, unlike most YA I find, it wasn't written in an overly simplistic or trite way. The subject matter is heavy and it's a bit upsetting at times, but worth the read!
This is a book that I wouldn't mind owning in print.
roseyleaf's review
5.0
Wow .
the main theme in this book was family relationships and its told by the perspective of Nora and Kettle, their individual lifes until something happens and they meet .
The writing was magical I was immediately hooked by page 1, I highly recommend this book to everyone.
the main theme in this book was family relationships and its told by the perspective of Nora and Kettle, their individual lifes until something happens and they meet .
The writing was magical I was immediately hooked by page 1, I highly recommend this book to everyone.
indoorsybookclub's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
maryquitecontrary_22's review
3.0
Loved the premise. Pacing could use some work - first 100 pages were slow (and sometimes confusing), then the ending was rushed.
the_horror_maven's review
4.0
Nora & Kettle is by far the most original novel that I have read in 2016. Even though it has been publicized as a new take on Peter Pan, it was so much more than that and its story line is one that is important and rarely seen in literature. Nora & Kettle is unapologetic and explores child abuse as well as the Japanese internment camps that are so often forgotten in our history. Lauren Nicolle Taylor doesn't sugarcoat anything, and her novel is of vital importance in young adult literature today.
In his eyes are the reflections of the beating I didn't know how to stop, and even though my heart remembers, the rest of me would like to forget.
Nora & Kettle is written in chapters alternating between the title characters as they struggle to survive and eventually cross each others' paths. Nora suffers physical abuse at the hand of her father, while Kettle is a young Japanese orphan who was cast out of an orphanage due to his heritage during World War II. Their story reflects how their lives have always run right along each other, until tragedy captures both of them and they crash into one another by an act of fate.
My father watches me, his eyes crinkling in disgust with every movement. I have his ears, nose, and hair...and he can't stand it. I wish I could scrub out my face and start again. Not because it would protect me, but because it would mean I wouldn't see him in my reflection.
Taylor is a truly poetic author. She doesn't over explain sections of her plot or characters, but she adds in beautiful lines of literature that can sum up an entire scene in one sentence. I found myself awestruck at Taylor's words, and her artistry filled my veins with a warmth that I find hard to find in today's young adult literature. Her novel is one that I believe everyone needs to read - girls, boys, men, women - whoever you are, your life will be better after reading this novel.
His eyes are intense. Dark. They look like they've seen things I don't want to know about.
As I said in the beginning, this novel is so much more than just a re imagining of Peter Pan, and it is sure to make you see beyond the smokescreen that has prevented us from our painful past for years and years.
In his eyes are the reflections of the beating I didn't know how to stop, and even though my heart remembers, the rest of me would like to forget.
Nora & Kettle is written in chapters alternating between the title characters as they struggle to survive and eventually cross each others' paths. Nora suffers physical abuse at the hand of her father, while Kettle is a young Japanese orphan who was cast out of an orphanage due to his heritage during World War II. Their story reflects how their lives have always run right along each other, until tragedy captures both of them and they crash into one another by an act of fate.
My father watches me, his eyes crinkling in disgust with every movement. I have his ears, nose, and hair...and he can't stand it. I wish I could scrub out my face and start again. Not because it would protect me, but because it would mean I wouldn't see him in my reflection.
Taylor is a truly poetic author. She doesn't over explain sections of her plot or characters, but she adds in beautiful lines of literature that can sum up an entire scene in one sentence. I found myself awestruck at Taylor's words, and her artistry filled my veins with a warmth that I find hard to find in today's young adult literature. Her novel is one that I believe everyone needs to read - girls, boys, men, women - whoever you are, your life will be better after reading this novel.
His eyes are intense. Dark. They look like they've seen things I don't want to know about.
As I said in the beginning, this novel is so much more than just a re imagining of Peter Pan, and it is sure to make you see beyond the smokescreen that has prevented us from our painful past for years and years.