Reviews

Eventown by Corey Ann Haydu

fionak's review

4.0

Conceptually, I really liked this but the pacing was hellish.

Note to self: check all of Haydu's books out from the library.

kjersten's review

4.0

**spoilers**

Overall this book was cute, but not what I expected. I picked it up on a whim at the library, but did not understand all of the symbolism illustrated on the cover until I finished the book. Really well thought-out and beautifully designed.

This book was a clearly middle school / elementary level take at some pretty serious issues, and there were some undertones from classics like The Giver and Farenheit 451 sprinkled throughout.

Spoiler

The library bothered me the most. Made my skin crawl!

Elodee was a lovely protagonist. Honestly written and really fleshed out. Her love for cooking/baking was contagious, and the descriptions of her very specific creations really added a lot to the book creatively and emotionally. I also had a soft spot for her charming but not overwhelmingly/unrealistically so Dad. Zeena and her family brought needed warmth to the story as well.

If I could tweak anything about this book it would be the pacing. I appreciate the suspense of a good reveal, but for me the first 100 pages were interesting but almost not engaging enough. I will admit I had to flip ahead to figure out just a hint of what was going on, with the possibility of not finishing the book on the line.

I also found Elodee to be a bit too forgiving of Naomi. I understand that siblings don't get along perfectly, but throughout the majority of the book it was not a good example of sibling relationships. I wish Elodee had stood up for herself a bit more in that department to show younger readers that being treated that way is not okay.

Spoiler

I also of course question the parents' decision to bring them to Eventown in the first place, and have their memories erased without their consent.

All in all it was a cute read. The setting of Eventown is enchanting and brings up interesting points about society's view towards discomfort and differences. Is living "in a bubble" as happy as it seems?

jrfehr's review

5.0

4.5 rounded up. I continue to be mesmerized by Corey Ann Haydu. Her writing is so simply yet so beautiful. And it explains complicated emotional experiences in such a way that even adults want to keep listening. Love love love everything she writes

dlsmall's review

5.0

What a beautiful book with such an intricate structure. That structure was tough to balance for maybe the first quarter, but Corey pulled it off.

turrean's review

4.0

I found this novel dark and lovely and understated and more than a little scary. It was unexpected, as well, because every time I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, it veered off somewhere else.

I spotted inconsistencies (e.g., grade level of the kids) and a bit of hand waving over HOW things happened (like the weather or skill at gymnastics) that made it harder to suspend my disbelief. The story was more *metaphorical* than I’d anticipated, as the exact mechanism by which things in Eventown happen is not explained at all. The book just wonders, if this thing were possible, should it be done?

But I loved it.

madsamp's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

the_knitting_librarian's review against another edition

2.0

Choppy pace and plot BUT I think kids will like the story. I do wish Naomi was developed a lot more in the story. The depth of her character is off (to say the least) that I found myself surprised at some of her reactions to Elodee and wondering why in the world she would respond that way.

alinaborger's review against another edition

Haydu's novel is a grief dystopia, similar to THE GIVER in that the characters think they're living in a happy place and have left sadness behind them. The world building here is oddly successful in its simplicity:

Spoiler

people tell their stories to story keepers and then those stories disappear.

This creates a meta element to the narrative since it, too, is a story. It does take a lot longer than I'd expect for the protagonist to really start questioning society, and there's no clear incident that changes those questions into demands for change--that gradualness surprised me in a MG.

hannaht_11's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? No

3.5

sc104906's review against another edition

2.0

Find my original review on my blog:

Something tragic happened last year and Elodee's family is struggling. Everything that her friends and family do make her angry and she has been getting in fights. Elodee's twin Naomi has retreated into herself and the twins don't seem to have as strong of a bond as they once did. The family is moving to Eventown, where they have very happy memories. The town is perfect and has an awesome ice cream parlor. Elodee is excited to move to this new place, but once she gets there, things seem strange. Elodee begins questioning things about the town, causing unrest in this perfect town. Will Elodee be able to fit in anywhere and find happiness like her family has in this new town?

I really thought the twin was a figment of the main character's imagination...this went on much longer than it should have. Other than that, it was a solid book about a Pleasantville like town.