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rexials's review against another edition
4.0
Middle grade. Cultural celebration and conservation messages.
ashmeanything's review against another edition
4.0
Such a charming book! I really enjoyed this, and I am dismayed to say that it was my first time reading anything by an Indigenous person (to my knowledge). Seeing how the story incorporated Native culture and beliefs added something special, and I appreciate the nods to conservation and caring for the Earth. The concept of two converged worlds was really cool, and the author did a great job balancing the perspectives of multiple characters to tell the story. Following a story with multiple distinct personalities was never difficult, and I always adore a ragtag team. I would love to know more about the Reflecting World! Lots of things here made me smile.
I did have two big issues with the book, and I struggled on whether I'd give this 3.5 or 4 stars... I ultimately decided that, while annoying and very noticeable, the problem didn't take away so much from the many parts that were good. It bothered me how many unnecessary details were added in depth, almost as if the author wasn't sure how to make the world seem real without erroneous pieces of information. (Ironically, they did a good job without them already.) It's not important to explain every detail of the video-sharing app Nina uses, for example, and someone can have an easy-to-understand motivation without needing to explain a specific relationship that doesn't affect the story. Name-dropping multiple students in the school was irrelevant, and the one line about a main character being ace didn't matter at all beyond being a fun fact. It felt bad to have that as a throwaway. Lastly, I did not like Nina's speaking at all. We follow her across multiple ages throughout the story, and all but one follow the same cadence and sentence structure for speaking; this is especially jarring since that structure sounds like a prepared speech most of the time. It was not realistic ever, but especially not in the earlier years. I suppose you could argue that she did write down her long passages before doing videos, but it never sounds like words a teenager (nor someone younger) would say.
Used for 2o22 r/Fantasy Bingo (non-human protagonist, hard mode); also fits family matters (hard mode), shape-shifters (hard mode), weird ecology (hard mode), standalone (hard mode), non-linear time (hard mode), BIPOC author (hard mode).
I did have two big issues with the book, and I struggled on whether I'd give this 3.5 or 4 stars... I ultimately decided that, while annoying and very noticeable, the problem didn't take away so much from the many parts that were good. It bothered me how many unnecessary details were added in depth, almost as if the author wasn't sure how to make the world seem real without erroneous pieces of information. (Ironically, they did a good job without them already.) It's not important to explain every detail of the video-sharing app Nina uses, for example, and someone can have an easy-to-understand motivation without needing to explain a specific relationship that doesn't affect the story. Name-dropping multiple students in the school was irrelevant, and the one line about a main character being ace didn't matter at all beyond being a fun fact. It felt bad to have that as a throwaway. Lastly, I did not like Nina's speaking at all. We follow her across multiple ages throughout the story, and all but one follow the same cadence and sentence structure for speaking; this is especially jarring since that structure sounds like a prepared speech most of the time. It was not realistic ever, but especially not in the earlier years. I suppose you could argue that she did write down her long passages before doing videos, but it never sounds like words a teenager (nor someone younger) would say.
Used for 2o22 r/Fantasy Bingo (non-human protagonist, hard mode); also fits family matters (hard mode), shape-shifters (hard mode), weird ecology (hard mode), standalone (hard mode), non-linear time (hard mode), BIPOC author (hard mode).
elliefish's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
bookishlass's review against another edition
3.75
I am a fan of books about the importance of stories, and I'd recommend this one to YA readers who enjoy tales with little to no romance.
leasummer's review against another edition
4.0
Seek out diverse reviewers.
It took me two tries to get into the book. The first time I didn’t understand the back and forth between animal people world with Oli and our world with Nina. The second time I was immediately pulled into the animal people world. Nina’s story was slow and took longer for me to gather what was happening in her/our world. There’s a larger climate change plot point, which wasn’t immediately apparent to me. It is a long, slower story but I loved it and really felt pulled into their worlds.
It took me two tries to get into the book. The first time I didn’t understand the back and forth between animal people world with Oli and our world with Nina. The second time I was immediately pulled into the animal people world. Nina’s story was slow and took longer for me to gather what was happening in her/our world. There’s a larger climate change plot point, which wasn’t immediately apparent to me. It is a long, slower story but I loved it and really felt pulled into their worlds.
cardboard_triptych's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
chaifanatic18's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
3.75
wardo2700's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this story was going to grab my interest more than it did because at times I wanted to just skim through some portions to get to the end of the book. It did improve as I got further into the story so maybe I need to give it a second reading to see if I react differently. It is a well written fantasy story that was intriguing but just had some sections that just had too many details for me to truly enjoy it. I think my biggest issue with the author would be how they flipped back and forth between two separate but interconnected stories chapter by chapter. I just wonder had the story been woven together would I have enjoyed it more?
tlcollier1's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. I thought I had read about 50% and just couldn’t keep going. Turns out I was at 20%. The idea sounded great but the execution was bland and disconnected. It felt like a kids book with some adult themes. I rarely DNF so I’m bummed but I keep falling asleep when reading. At this rate I won’t finish any time soon.
thebooknerdscorner's review against another edition
4.0
Two worlds collide when Oli, a cottonmouth snake spirit of the other world, crashes down onto Nina's life.
Nina is a Lipan girl who has always believed in her grandmother's tales of alternative worlds and mysterious shapeshifters. Oli is one such snake spirit, but he doesn't know anything about Nina or the planet Earth. But when Oli's best friend, Ami, starts suffering from a mysterious ailment, it's high time that Nina and Oli end up meeting. The two must work together to save the ones they love before it's too late.
This book has a bit of a slow start, with Nina being a young girl learning about the rich stories of the Lipan and Oli figuring out how to survive without his mother's constant care. As the book progresses, we see random glimpses of their lives and it isn't about halfway through until the main plot really starts up. However, I really enjoyed reading Nina and Oli's slice of life stories as they both discover the magic that is present in both their worlds.
I really enjoy the cast of characters in this one. Nina was pretty mid for me, but I love Oli's gang. The coyote twins, Reign and Risk, are both fun in their own respects. Brightest the hawk shifter is pretty cool too and I came to really enjoy their sporadic appearances. But my favorite of the group by far is Ami. He is such a precious little toad and I just think that he is the cutest little guy. He may be mute, but I really appreciate everything he does all the same.
I really related to Oli in many ways. This book really got me thinking that if I was born as an animal, I would still be blind and need glasses. I thought that this was quite a comical problem that Oli had to manage and it felt so relatable despite the fact that I am not a snake. Oli's default setting tends to be panicking and he also really appreciates his alone time, so me and Oli really have a bunch in common.
The themes that touch on climate change and protecting the environment are really heartfelt; you can tell how passionate Little Badger is about these topics. The other world in which Oli lives in is directly affected by the conditions of Earth. The animal populations that are thriving in our world flourish in their world as well, and those that are suffering are likewise mirrored in the otherworld. I feel that this does a great job of showcasing the extreme affect that humans have on animal populations and the natural world. We will always be connected, and we both impact each other immensely.
Overall, "A Snake Falls to Earth" is a fun read with a bit of a slow start. If you are willing to sit through a meandering story with little structured plot line, Oli's adventures really are a jolly good time. The look into Lipan stories and mythology are also a joy and the themes that this book pushes are really important. I've been enjoying my time with Little Badger's books, and I'm sure I'll pursue more of them in the future. I hope that she decides to write a companion to this book, because I really enjoy the world and the characters. Besides, there is a pretty big side story that is left unresolved that could easily fuel an entire novel.
Nina is a Lipan girl who has always believed in her grandmother's tales of alternative worlds and mysterious shapeshifters. Oli is one such snake spirit, but he doesn't know anything about Nina or the planet Earth. But when Oli's best friend, Ami, starts suffering from a mysterious ailment, it's high time that Nina and Oli end up meeting. The two must work together to save the ones they love before it's too late.
This book has a bit of a slow start, with Nina being a young girl learning about the rich stories of the Lipan and Oli figuring out how to survive without his mother's constant care. As the book progresses, we see random glimpses of their lives and it isn't about halfway through until the main plot really starts up. However, I really enjoyed reading Nina and Oli's slice of life stories as they both discover the magic that is present in both their worlds.
I really enjoy the cast of characters in this one. Nina was pretty mid for me, but I love Oli's gang. The coyote twins, Reign and Risk, are both fun in their own respects. Brightest the hawk shifter is pretty cool too and I came to really enjoy their sporadic appearances. But my favorite of the group by far is Ami. He is such a precious little toad and I just think that he is the cutest little guy. He may be mute, but I really appreciate everything he does all the same.
I really related to Oli in many ways. This book really got me thinking that if I was born as an animal, I would still be blind and need glasses. I thought that this was quite a comical problem that Oli had to manage and it felt so relatable despite the fact that I am not a snake. Oli's default setting tends to be panicking and he also really appreciates his alone time, so me and Oli really have a bunch in common.
The themes that touch on climate change and protecting the environment are really heartfelt; you can tell how passionate Little Badger is about these topics. The other world in which Oli lives in is directly affected by the conditions of Earth. The animal populations that are thriving in our world flourish in their world as well, and those that are suffering are likewise mirrored in the otherworld. I feel that this does a great job of showcasing the extreme affect that humans have on animal populations and the natural world. We will always be connected, and we both impact each other immensely.
Overall, "A Snake Falls to Earth" is a fun read with a bit of a slow start. If you are willing to sit through a meandering story with little structured plot line, Oli's adventures really are a jolly good time. The look into Lipan stories and mythology are also a joy and the themes that this book pushes are really important. I've been enjoying my time with Little Badger's books, and I'm sure I'll pursue more of them in the future. I hope that she decides to write a companion to this book, because I really enjoy the world and the characters. Besides, there is a pretty big side story that is left unresolved that could easily fuel an entire novel.