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charlereads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
balfies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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? Yes
4.5
Thought I didn't like scifi, but it turns out I really like first contact stories!
This is a really fun, funny, gripping read from YouTube science dad Hank Green, which explores first contact through the lens of its impacts on people: themes include the all consuming and uncontrollable nature of fame, becoming someone whose brand is expressing hope for humanity, and the ways we dehumanise ourselves as individuals in efforts to humanise a collective experience.
Also contains Carly Rae Jepsen lyrics, so truly the perfect fun read.
This is a really fun, funny, gripping read from YouTube science dad Hank Green, which explores first contact through the lens of its impacts on people: themes include the all consuming and uncontrollable nature of fame, becoming someone whose brand is expressing hope for humanity, and the ways we dehumanise ourselves as individuals in efforts to humanise a collective experience.
Also contains Carly Rae Jepsen lyrics, so truly the perfect fun read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore
nightowlreading's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Death, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
jeanetho's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Biphobia
gabbyblayden's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am blown away by how much I enjoyed this book. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before (I’m not normally a sci-fi reader). Twitter and human emotions are right up my alley, but the aliens and Dream Sequence code added a spin to my reading that I couldn’t get enough of.
While I found the writing a bit clunky at times, the plot was meticulously thought out and researched, and Hank totally nailed April as a narrator. Who knew the science brother could also be an amazing writer?!
Pretty psyched to read the sequel!
While I found the writing a bit clunky at times, the plot was meticulously thought out and researched, and Hank totally nailed April as a narrator. Who knew the science brother could also be an amazing writer?!
Pretty psyched to read the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Xenophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Gore
tays_books's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Death, and Gun violence
jenarae's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Biphobia, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a quirky one! It was fun seeing all of the crowdsourcing that powers the Carls mystery. That is a very fun element of this read. The social and political commentary is also interesting as opposing groups form to challenge the Carl situation. I didn't like April very much, sadly. She seemed like someone wasn't sure what 20 year olds are like and used YouTube and Instagram to research
📘The Gist 📘: April May is down on her luck until she and her friends make a video about a mysterious art instillation in New York. She becomes a quick success after that, and is embroiled in an international crowdsourcing puzzle and incident.
📒Representation📒: bi mc, bipoc mc
💕 For readers looking for 💕: a quirky read, crowdsourcing, social media, social commentary, aliens, giant robots, shared dreams
📘The Gist 📘: April May is down on her luck until she and her friends make a video about a mysterious art instillation in New York. She becomes a quick success after that, and is embroiled in an international crowdsourcing puzzle and incident.
📒Representation📒: bi mc, bipoc mc
💕 For readers looking for 💕: a quirky read, crowdsourcing, social media, social commentary, aliens, giant robots, shared dreams
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Terrorismamandabcook's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
galacticvampire's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
"Human beings are terrible at accepting uncertainty, so when we’re ignorant, we make assumptions based on how we imagine the world. And our guess is so obviously correct that other guesses seem, at best, willful ignorance— at worst, an attack."
April May is one of the most human characters I have ever read. And that's because she comes across as a, albeit well-intentioned, total shitty person. When you're observing someone uninterrupted by the social filters and from an outside pov this is bound to happen (e.g.: reality shows), but her flaws are dealt with brilliantly to deliver the point.
Yes, this is a sci-fi story. Yes, it has aliens and weird things happening. But that's not what the book is about. This is a social commentary about humanity, about fame and social media and the real people behind the digital ones. April's internet persona quickly becomes more real than the actual April, known by so little compared to the image portrayed that even she dehumanizes her identity to be measured in likes, views and replys.
And it all bleeds Hank Green. It's an interesting experience, knowing much more about an author than that little name on the cover, knowing that so much of it it's written from experience. The ideas about information and violent rhetoric scream louder because I've seen him talk (and care) about it before; the incredibly crafted explanations on chemistry and neuroscience hold more credibility because I'm conscious he either actually knows the subject or made sure it's scientifically accurate. For sure the story tells itself, but knowing the author's background definitely adorns the margins.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Biphobia