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stories's review
challenging
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.5
Fascinating. Sold as a “modernised response to Lord of the Flies”, and certainly there are nods to it. But trap the teens (plus baby) in a shopping centre, rather than a desert island. (And thus add a bizarre magical gimmick to make it plausible).
Very readable, and it would be interesting to compare more directly to LotF, particularly in regards to characters and pacing.
Somewhat gimmicky “like” and consumerism moments, and an irritatingly “literary” ending when contrasted against some of the more heavy handed moments elsewhere, but an interesting take
Very readable, and it would be interesting to compare more directly to LotF, particularly in regards to characters and pacing.
Somewhat gimmicky “like” and consumerism moments, and an irritatingly “literary” ending when contrasted against some of the more heavy handed moments elsewhere, but an interesting take
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Pandemic/Epidemic, Car accident, Vomit, Ableism, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, and Homophobia
teachreadreview's review against another edition
DNF at page 216...out of 261. I know, I know. I could have read another 45 pages to actually finish this book. But I had been reading it with the smallest hope that it would improve and it just...didn't? The time I would have spent finishing this one has been allocated to the writing of this review. So, you're welcome.
I was sent an email by the publisher a few months ago asking if I was interested in receiving an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review (and honest it shall be!). I was absolutely drawn in by the premise and the beautiful cover. Plus, a wheelchair user depicted amongst the character art promised diversity. I was in. However, that's where my joy ceased.
On receiving the book I realised it wasn't organised into chapters, but instead 4 parts. As a neurodivergent reader this was a blocker to picking it up in the first place. It meant that everything dragged.
But then as I read, I realised that perhaps the reason why there were no chapters was because there were no natural points of plot shift or emotional change. Not in the way traditional chapters would ebb and flow. So it really was just one long drag of monotony.
The MC is Shannon. She is Chinese-Australian and the most boring MC you will ever come across. Her character is unlikeable and she spends pages detailing every bathroom visit, every bubble tea, and every single store visit. And that's it. She has a twin brother whom she misses dearly but that's about the extent of her personality. She thinks some things that are just not ok, like hoping someone will 'switch teams' because she finds them attractive but everyone thinks they are gay. Honestly I read the book hoping there would be a strong character arc and point out how her thinking was awful but it didn't happen. I guess it kind of did in a roundabout way by having Shannon make friends with the other 5 teens, but these problems were never addressed directly as they should have been. Plus she was just boring.
I did like the diversity of the characters but overall I don't think (or at least I hope it didn't) have the author's intended effect.
We have James, who has ADHD. At first he was described as an 'eshay' and even as a 20-something living in the Eastern States of Australia I had no idea what on earth the author was getting at. Google was my friend. Didn't really like the term but I persisted and gave benefit of the doubt...then we find out James is Greek and a self-described 'wog'. Stereotyping. Sigh.
Our next characters on the block are Grace and Tiannah, cousins. Grace is Kamilaroi and Tiannah is Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri. I actually really liked these two characters. Other than trying to find redemption for our MC, these two kept me going. Particularly Grace.
Akira is non-heteronormative, and no particular labels are given. Used as more of a love interest than anything else. And an opportunity to throw in a bazillion pop culture references.
Next, we have Jordan. Jordan is a wheelchair user and I appreciated his character and how conversations around disability, accessibility, and ableism were handled.
Finally, the author threw in a baby for funsies. I guess it helped with some sort of character growth and added to the list of things to do apart from visiting the bathrooms, drinking bubble tea, and browsing the stores.
Honestly, I really wanted this to be good. That's why I read so much of it. But it was just so incredibly bland. Nothing happened! This great premise...for nothing. And the reviews suggest that the ending doesn't explain anything anyway! So I gave up on it.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for sending me a copy of this review in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately it wasn't for me but maybe it will hit better with other readers.
Content warnings: swearing, HP reference, ableism, racism, homophobia (reference to past), death of a sibling (reference to past), Drug use references
I was sent an email by the publisher a few months ago asking if I was interested in receiving an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review (and honest it shall be!). I was absolutely drawn in by the premise and the beautiful cover. Plus, a wheelchair user depicted amongst the character art promised diversity. I was in. However, that's where my joy ceased.
On receiving the book I realised it wasn't organised into chapters, but instead 4 parts. As a neurodivergent reader this was a blocker to picking it up in the first place. It meant that everything dragged.
But then as I read, I realised that perhaps the reason why there were no chapters was because there were no natural points of plot shift or emotional change. Not in the way traditional chapters would ebb and flow. So it really was just one long drag of monotony.
The MC is Shannon. She is Chinese-Australian and the most boring MC you will ever come across. Her character is unlikeable and
I did like the diversity of the characters but overall I don't think (or at least I hope it didn't) have the author's intended effect.
We have James, who has ADHD. At first he was described as an 'eshay' and even as a 20-something living in the Eastern States of Australia I had no idea what on earth the author was getting at. Google was my friend. Didn't really like the term but I persisted and gave benefit of the doubt...then we find out James is Greek and a self-described 'wog'. Stereotyping. Sigh.
Our next characters on the block are Grace and Tiannah, cousins. Grace is Kamilaroi and Tiannah is Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri. I actually really liked these two characters. Other than trying to find redemption for our MC, these two kept me going. Particularly Grace.
Akira is non-heteronormative, and no particular labels are given. Used as more of a love interest than anything else. And an opportunity to throw in a bazillion pop culture references.
Next, we have Jordan. Jordan is a wheelchair user and I appreciated his character and how conversations around disability, accessibility, and ableism were handled.
Finally, the author threw in a baby for funsies. I guess it helped with some sort of character growth and added to the list of things to do apart from visiting the bathrooms, drinking bubble tea, and browsing the stores.
Honestly, I really wanted this to be good. That's why I read so much of it. But it was just so incredibly bland. Nothing happened! This great premise...for nothing. And the reviews suggest that the ending doesn't explain anything anyway! So I gave up on it.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for sending me a copy of this review in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately it wasn't for me but maybe it will hit better with other readers.
Content warnings: swearing, HP reference, ableism, racism, homophobia (reference to past), death of a sibling (reference to past), Drug use references
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Child death, and Homophobia
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Drug use
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