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missbookiverse's review against another edition
4.0
In vielen Reviews zu diesem Buch fiel das Wort “instafriendship” als Pendant zum allseits verhassten “instalove”. Ich kann nicht verleugnen, dass Kate und Mark “Freunde auf den ersten Blick” sind (sie kennen sich allerdings flüchtig aus der Schule), aber ich muss dazu sagen: ich kenne das. Sowas funktioniert. Manchmal sieht man jemanden, mit dem man schon ein paar Jahre zur Schule geht, in einer anderen Umgebung, kommt ins Gespräch und plötzlich macht es klick. Man entdeckt all diese Gemeinsamkeiten oder kann sich einfach nur gut miteinander unterhalten und schwuppdiwupp ist das Freundschaftsfundament gegossen und hart wie Stein. Außerdem haben Kate und Mark neue Freunde dringend nötig. Ihre bisherigen taugen eher wenig, stellen sich gegen Ende aber immerhin als heraus.
Kates Seite der Geschichte hat sich tiefer in mein Herz gebohrt als Marks, denn ich fand ihre Ängste so nachvollziehbar. Die Schule ist fast vorbei, sie scheut die Veränderung, weiß nicht, ob sie wirklich aufs College gehen möchte oder sich erst noch ausprobieren, vertraut nicht ganz in ihr Talent und ihre Persönlichkeit. Sie ist eben noch nicht ganz angekommen, dabei schimmert durch ihr ganzes Sein eine zauberhafte Persönlichkeit. Intelligent, liebenswert, bedacht, kreativ und loyal.
Was dem Buch fehlt, sind mehr Seiten. Es erzählt eine schöne Geschichte, in der es um homosexuelle Teenager, aber nicht um ihr Coming Out geht, sondern um alltägliche Probleme. Dabei werden Umrisse von liebenswerten Charaktere gezeichnet, aber nie ganz ausgefüllt. Man bekommt einen Einblick in Kates und Marks Gedankenwelt, aber es hätte noch viel mehr Zeit, mehr Entwicklung und mehr Einblicke gebraucht, um ein Erlebnis daraus zu machen, das sich lange im Gedächtnis verhaken kann.
Bonusfaktoren
Kunst: wie gerne würde ich eine Ausstellung mit Kates Zeichnungen sehen, gerade ihr Zirkusthema klingt so magisch
Poetry Slam: ich mag diese Art von Lyrik, vor allem weil hier nicht nur ein Slam besucht wird sondern es ganze Beispielvorträge zu lesen gibt
San Francisco Pride: diese Parade ist mit unserem Christopher Street Day zu vergleichen. Ausgelassen und fröhlich feiern die Protagonisten verschiedene Sexualitäten und es ist schön sie dabei zu begleiten und mit in den bunten Trubel einzutauchen.
Kates Seite der Geschichte hat sich tiefer in mein Herz gebohrt als Marks, denn ich fand ihre Ängste so nachvollziehbar. Die Schule ist fast vorbei, sie scheut die Veränderung, weiß nicht, ob sie wirklich aufs College gehen möchte oder sich erst noch ausprobieren, vertraut nicht ganz in ihr Talent und ihre Persönlichkeit. Sie ist eben noch nicht ganz angekommen, dabei schimmert durch ihr ganzes Sein eine zauberhafte Persönlichkeit. Intelligent, liebenswert, bedacht, kreativ und loyal.
Was dem Buch fehlt, sind mehr Seiten. Es erzählt eine schöne Geschichte, in der es um homosexuelle Teenager, aber nicht um ihr Coming Out geht, sondern um alltägliche Probleme. Dabei werden Umrisse von liebenswerten Charaktere gezeichnet, aber nie ganz ausgefüllt. Man bekommt einen Einblick in Kates und Marks Gedankenwelt, aber es hätte noch viel mehr Zeit, mehr Entwicklung und mehr Einblicke gebraucht, um ein Erlebnis daraus zu machen, das sich lange im Gedächtnis verhaken kann.
Bonusfaktoren
Kunst: wie gerne würde ich eine Ausstellung mit Kates Zeichnungen sehen, gerade ihr Zirkusthema klingt so magisch
Poetry Slam: ich mag diese Art von Lyrik, vor allem weil hier nicht nur ein Slam besucht wird sondern es ganze Beispielvorträge zu lesen gibt
San Francisco Pride: diese Parade ist mit unserem Christopher Street Day zu vergleichen. Ausgelassen und fröhlich feiern die Protagonisten verschiedene Sexualitäten und es ist schön sie dabei zu begleiten und mit in den bunten Trubel einzutauchen.
janai's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I used to read David Levithan’s books in high school so this felt like a blast to the past. It made me so nostalgic.
quinn3030's review against another edition
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
theowlerybooks's review against another edition
3.0
Real Rating 3.5
So the two main characters and most of the side characters are queer which I think is great but a few of my friends who identify as queer have mentioned that this book has a lot of problems with stereotypes just a heads up going into this novel! During my read of the book, I didn't catch these things but I am not queer but after talking to my peers about it I can definitely see the stereotypes throughout the story!
So I really wanted this to be a one-night adventure type story but even though it wasn't I still really enjoyed the character and their romances. The main female character kind of annoyed me with her self-sabotage and how she constantly put down herself and her art but for me, this wasn't a bad book it just wasn't great!
So the two main characters and most of the side characters are queer which I think is great but a few of my friends who identify as queer have mentioned that this book has a lot of problems with stereotypes just a heads up going into this novel! During my read of the book, I didn't catch these things but I am not queer but after talking to my peers about it I can definitely see the stereotypes throughout the story!
So I really wanted this to be a one-night adventure type story but even though it wasn't I still really enjoyed the character and their romances. The main female character kind of annoyed me with her self-sabotage and how she constantly put down herself and her art but for me, this wasn't a bad book it just wasn't great!
kian_annus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
theresa929's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thelibraryskeeper's review against another edition
4.0
"All of us with love in our hearts. We are all a part of this."
I really adored this book by Nina LaCour and David Levithan. I have read a few of Nina's books and I love her writing style. I thought this book would be really cool going into it only knowing that Nina and David wrote alternating chapters. In the acknowledgements the writing process is further explained, they sent emails back and forth with the chapters in them to write the book.
Once I started reading, I learned that the book was about Pride week leading up to the Pride parade. I really enjoyed that it wasn't a coming out story. So many LGBTQ books are all about someones coming out story or having a gay romance for the first time. Honestly it feels like a breath of fresh air reading a story where nearly all the characters are gay and the reader can focus more on the characters and their interests rather than the coming out process (not that its a bad thing to have books on that subject it just truly feels like they all are). The descriptions of Pride were absolutely gorgeous and I loved the little touch at the end of the book with Wyatt and his tiny rainbow pin.
Overall I recommend this book for a different take than the usual of LGBTQ novels.
I really adored this book by Nina LaCour and David Levithan. I have read a few of Nina's books and I love her writing style. I thought this book would be really cool going into it only knowing that Nina and David wrote alternating chapters. In the acknowledgements the writing process is further explained, they sent emails back and forth with the chapters in them to write the book.
Once I started reading, I learned that the book was about Pride week leading up to the Pride parade. I really enjoyed that it wasn't a coming out story. So many LGBTQ books are all about someones coming out story or having a gay romance for the first time. Honestly it feels like a breath of fresh air reading a story where nearly all the characters are gay and the reader can focus more on the characters and their interests rather than the coming out process (not that its a bad thing to have books on that subject it just truly feels like they all are). The descriptions of Pride were absolutely gorgeous and I loved the little touch at the end of the book with Wyatt and his tiny rainbow pin.
Overall I recommend this book for a different take than the usual of LGBTQ novels.
nklosty's review against another edition
4.0
It's the strength of the characters that drive this story. Friendship conquers. 92
reddyrat's review against another edition
4.0
This is a nice book. I don't mean that in the "This was so dull I can't think of a better word to say." I mean in the sense that the lead characters, Mark and Kate, are nice as are most of the side characters. They both go through various trials and travails in love throughout the book, but you get the feeling that things will go well for them eventually.
When I say that Mark and Kate are nice, I don't mean prosaically boring. Kate is super excited to meet her long-time crush/sorta long distance girlfriend. But the she is incredibly intimidated. Violet is accomplished, poised, and very grown-up seeming. Violet, like many teenagers (and many adults), doesn't have the self-confidence to see herself as worthy of being loved by someone so perfect. So she does some really dumb things to avoid Violet. As a result I spent much of the book being frustrated with her. I understood her reasons, but I frequently wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her.
Mark is an easier person spend time with as a character. I think it could also be a difference between the writing styles of Nina and David that I felt more comfortable and sympathetic towards Mark...but it's hard to say. Mark is a nice kid, but just as emo in his way as Kate. He's been in love with his best friend since forever. But he increasingly realizes that his friend isn't into him after all; it's not that he's scared about coming out officially. Moreover circumstances in the book push Mark to decide who he wants to be. He's the type of kid who impresses a lot of other people and he has yet to embrace that he is worthy of that acclaim - not in the self-conceited sense but in the self-assured sense.
The non-spoken theme of this book really is one of self-discovery and encouragement to be self-confident. But the more overt theme is the friendship between Mark and Kate. I love that they see things in each other that old friends don't, because they don't have the baggage of history. They encourage each other, rely on each other, and generally make the other person better.
Another thing that I loved about this book is that it's about two LGBT teens (a lot more than two, but two main characters) having regular teenage angst and relationships. For the most part, the fact that they're LGBT is not an issue. It just is. And that's an important leap for YA books to take.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and fun. Not super memorable. I can't exactly explain why. I liked the writing, but there wasn't that intangible "It" factor that made me fall in love with it. But that's the case with many if not most books. This is a worthy and fun YA book to fill your reading time.
Recommendation: Borrow unless you're a David Levithan or Nina LaCour completist
When I say that Mark and Kate are nice, I don't mean prosaically boring. Kate is super excited to meet her long-time crush/sorta long distance girlfriend. But the she is incredibly intimidated. Violet is accomplished, poised, and very grown-up seeming. Violet, like many teenagers (and many adults), doesn't have the self-confidence to see herself as worthy of being loved by someone so perfect. So she does some really dumb things to avoid Violet. As a result I spent much of the book being frustrated with her. I understood her reasons, but I frequently wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her.
Mark is an easier person spend time with as a character. I think it could also be a difference between the writing styles of Nina and David that I felt more comfortable and sympathetic towards Mark...but it's hard to say. Mark is a nice kid, but just as emo in his way as Kate. He's been in love with his best friend since forever. But he increasingly realizes that his friend isn't into him after all; it's not that he's scared about coming out officially. Moreover circumstances in the book push Mark to decide who he wants to be. He's the type of kid who impresses a lot of other people and he has yet to embrace that he is worthy of that acclaim - not in the self-conceited sense but in the self-assured sense.
The non-spoken theme of this book really is one of self-discovery and encouragement to be self-confident. But the more overt theme is the friendship between Mark and Kate. I love that they see things in each other that old friends don't, because they don't have the baggage of history. They encourage each other, rely on each other, and generally make the other person better.
Another thing that I loved about this book is that it's about two LGBT teens (a lot more than two, but two main characters) having regular teenage angst and relationships. For the most part, the fact that they're LGBT is not an issue. It just is. And that's an important leap for YA books to take.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and fun. Not super memorable. I can't exactly explain why. I liked the writing, but there wasn't that intangible "It" factor that made me fall in love with it. But that's the case with many if not most books. This is a worthy and fun YA book to fill your reading time.
Recommendation: Borrow unless you're a David Levithan or Nina LaCour completist