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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
Although it's not my typical choice of writing, I can understand why teens would enjoy this. Trying to remove my personal bias, it included some heavy topics that most adults tend to avoid with teens. It did so in a way that made depression, suicide, teenage love/lost, drugs, drinking, and bullying a part of every day life for the average American teen.
Loved every page of this. It's so unique and important, so helpful. I loved the entire cast of characters and their connection and the teacher and the school. I really like how the protagonist matures and changes, and I like the plot twist, as well. It's very outside of the norm.
I'm giving this 3 stars because the writing was pretty good and I liked the "idea" of the book itself. The downfall of this book is you have to suspend your disbelief for parts of it, and it's hard to explain without giving spoilers, but the ending was a little too convenient. Books always lose points with me for that. There was a twist near the end of the book that I didn't see coming and I have mixed feelings about it. I was hoping to like the book more than I did.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Meh. It did make we want to read more Sylvia Plath though. Not a horrible YA novel but just not that exciting and did not care for Jam, the main character, all that much. The "twist" at the end added some flavor.
I had a very ambivalent reaction to this. It's definitely an interesting one to discuss.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I know this is not going to be for everybody, but easily one of my favorite reads of 2014. The story's well done, I never felt bogged down, I never wanted it to END, and it totally made me want to pick up The Bell Jar (and it was not heavy handed, the study of Plath's work. Not at all). Jam's grief is real and I loved how these damaged people came together to take care of each other and in the process, find healing for themselves. It's best for me not to say more because I loved going into this without knowing very much. I make little happy eager claw hands whenever I talk about this book. Maybe you will too!
Related: I get why people really like Meg Wolitzer now.
Related: I get why people really like Meg Wolitzer now.
What a strange book. At first I liked it, and then I was pretty sure I liked it, and then I was getting pretty wary, and then when you find out the big secret? NO. What the heck? HATE this book. Well, I guess I didn't hate the book, I just legitimately cannot understand the main character at all. I feel like it ruined the book. I think Wolitzer could have written quite a fine book if she hadn't made the main character quite so insane.