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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
This strikes me as a somewhat unusual middle-grade novel, and one that I have a hard time mentally categorizing - it's sort of realistic, something of a mystery, kind of fantasy, a little bit dystopian, eerie and unsettling and totally compelling. Even though I figured out fairly early where it was going, it was still fascinating and moving and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A tightly written story about the necessity and complexity of grief.
Something that really struck me about this book - based on the description I thought it was going to dip into horror, but it doesn't, really. As a reader I never felt like things were going to turn out badly for Elodee and her family. The focus is fully on their experiences and feelings after the Welcome Center, an the two people who run the Welcome Center never feel powerful or even threatening, really.
Also - there is a small but impactful nod to how POC and queer people's suffering would draw them to a place like Eventown, which I found really interesting.
Something that really struck me about this book - based on the description I thought it was going to dip into horror, but it doesn't, really. As a reader I never felt like things were going to turn out badly for Elodee and her family. The focus is fully on their experiences and feelings after the Welcome Center, an the two people who run the Welcome Center never feel powerful or even threatening, really.
Also - there is a small but impactful nod to how POC and queer people's suffering would draw them to a place like Eventown, which I found really interesting.
I loved this book! Set in a beautifully imagined dystopia that's part Pleasantville, part Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, this book explores really big themes about pain, and how sorrow shapes us as humans. I especially liked it's exploration of the idea that emotions aren't detached from one another, that a memory containing sadness might also contain joy, frustration, bittersweetness, anger, fear. It really expertly explored the idea that you can't compartmentalize emotions, because they're all valuable (and all intertwined).
I also liked the way this book talked about depression, both from the view of someone who loves another person with depression, and from the perspective of someone dealing with their own depression. I related a lot to the main character trying and trying to be happy, but not being able to force herself to be, despite having (arguably) happy circumstances, and despite other people telling her she should be happy.
I also liked the way this book talked about depression, both from the view of someone who loves another person with depression, and from the perspective of someone dealing with their own depression. I related a lot to the main character trying and trying to be happy, but not being able to force herself to be, despite having (arguably) happy circumstances, and despite other people telling her she should be happy.
It dragged a wee bit in the middle but I loved the ending.
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When Naomi and Elodee move to Eventown, they definitely notice that things change. Elodee notices more than Naomi. Everything is the same. Some things aren't allowed. No one is mean about it because everyone is happy all the time. But somehow Elodee's desire to make things differently, to be different, doesn't quite work in Eventown.
It takes a long time to really get to the meat of this story. There's a lot of time showing, which is generally a good thing though as an adult, I saw the issues early and I wanted to know more about the problems. I wanted to know more about what the family had left behind. The ending makes all these things clear, so that is satisfying.
It's also a book about what it means to be happy and to have a variety of experiences and emotions. I'm not sure it quite gets at the point for me, but I already knew it. I wonder if it wouldn't have been different if we got to be in Naomi's head for a little while, and understand what it felt like to truly understand Eventown.
I do think this could be easily read in school, as an easy entry into utopia/dystopia. I would be curious to read this alongside the intended age group to see what their takeaways are.
It takes a long time to really get to the meat of this story. There's a lot of time showing, which is generally a good thing though as an adult, I saw the issues early and I wanted to know more about the problems. I wanted to know more about what the family had left behind. The ending makes all these things clear, so that is satisfying.
It's also a book about what it means to be happy and to have a variety of experiences and emotions. I'm not sure it quite gets at the point for me, but I already knew it. I wonder if it wouldn't have been different if we got to be in Naomi's head for a little while, and understand what it felt like to truly understand Eventown.
I do think this could be easily read in school, as an easy entry into utopia/dystopia. I would be curious to read this alongside the intended age group to see what their takeaways are.
I was disappointed in this book; I wanted to really love it. I couldn't get the glaring editing errors at the beginning out of my head as I read it. The obvious and constant references to some *big sad event* were a bit much for me. I did enjoy the ending though.
I like parts of this a lot. I think Elodee is a relatable character and readers will be able to identify with her, especially when it comes to sibling closeness/rivalry, whether you're a twin or not. I liked Veena a lot and wish we'd gotten a bit more of her.
But, the slow pace and the repetitiveness...oof. A lot of reviews seem to love/hate the big reveal at the end of what the tragedy the Lively family is running from. I don't hate it, in part because I knew it was going to come at the end, but the constant dancing around it gets annoying. As does Elodee's slow burn realization that Eventown isn't quite right. It was too drawn out for me. The last quarter of the book picked up, but it started to feel like a slog to get there.
But, the slow pace and the repetitiveness...oof. A lot of reviews seem to love/hate the big reveal at the end of what the tragedy the Lively family is running from. I don't hate it, in part because I knew it was going to come at the end, but the constant dancing around it gets annoying. As does Elodee's slow burn realization that Eventown isn't quite right. It was too drawn out for me. The last quarter of the book picked up, but it started to feel like a slog to get there.
I enjoyed reading Eventown, but felt there was something lacking in the second half. It ended to abruptly after the reveal of the town. I felt that the character building was exquisite but the storyline fell flat. 3/5 stars.