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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
This is a beautiful story of a homeless boy and a family in mourning. Its also about the invisibility of homelessness and how we are more likely to give money to help people who seem well off than we are homeless people on the street.
Violets family is in turmoil. After losing her beloved Grandmother the family is thrown into mourning. Her father is never around, her brother has stopped speaking and her mother is sad. Financially struggling Violet has agreed to go to the public school instead of the private school she was attending. While she was popular at her old school this new school is very different and she finds herself with only a strange girl as her friend.
Freddie is homeless and an accident finds him living in Violets attic unbeknownst to the family. After he witnesses Violet almost get attacked by a school mate he outs himself and starts a strange and beautiful friendship with Violet. Freddie has goals, he wants to get his own place, and go to college or get an apprenticeship. He doesn't want to be homeless.
This is really an interesting study of how we treat each other and our perceptions of others. I really enjoyed this book.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Violets family is in turmoil. After losing her beloved Grandmother the family is thrown into mourning. Her father is never around, her brother has stopped speaking and her mother is sad. Financially struggling Violet has agreed to go to the public school instead of the private school she was attending. While she was popular at her old school this new school is very different and she finds herself with only a strange girl as her friend.
Freddie is homeless and an accident finds him living in Violets attic unbeknownst to the family. After he witnesses Violet almost get attacked by a school mate he outs himself and starts a strange and beautiful friendship with Violet. Freddie has goals, he wants to get his own place, and go to college or get an apprenticeship. He doesn't want to be homeless.
This is really an interesting study of how we treat each other and our perceptions of others. I really enjoyed this book.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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This book what nothing like I expected, yet it hit all the marks I didn't know I set, and had me attached to the characters on such a deep level!
The story is told from two points of view: Freddie's and Violet. Homeless, dejected, and struggling to pull his paper-thin weight, Freddie finds himself desperate for anything resembling an actual life. A notebook one girl leaves behind, in her rush for her family vacation, is what gives him the break he needs... even if that break is on the floor of their attic. Violet's life is falling apart at the seams. Her brother hasn't spoken in almost a year, her parents are arguing all the time, she's transferring schools, and her friends seem to be moving on without her.
Despite being in the same proximity for weeks, their worlds finally collide when Violet's invitation to a new classmate is misinterpreted, and Freddie has to impulsively step in to save her.
The concept is none like I've ever seen, and even though it's strange and unusual in the beginning, it manages to convey heavy themes so many authors steer away from. Homelessness, mourning, friendship, love, guilt, and loss are all delicately pried in this story.
It's a great read; heartwrenching and heartwarming in the same beat. The characters grew on me so much I finished the book in one sitting!
I'll be posting a full review on my blog on 3rd July, 2021
~
This book what nothing like I expected, yet it hit all the marks I didn't know I set, and had me attached to the characters on such a deep level!
The story is told from two points of view: Freddie's and Violet. Homeless, dejected, and struggling to pull his paper-thin weight, Freddie finds himself desperate for anything resembling an actual life. A notebook one girl leaves behind, in her rush for her family vacation, is what gives him the break he needs... even if that break is on the floor of their attic. Violet's life is falling apart at the seams. Her brother hasn't spoken in almost a year, her parents are arguing all the time, she's transferring schools, and her friends seem to be moving on without her.
Despite being in the same proximity for weeks, their worlds finally collide when Violet's invitation to a new classmate is misinterpreted, and Freddie has to impulsively step in to save her.
The concept is none like I've ever seen, and even though it's strange and unusual in the beginning, it manages to convey heavy themes so many authors steer away from. Homelessness, mourning, friendship, love, guilt, and loss are all delicately pried in this story.
It's a great read; heartwrenching and heartwarming in the same beat. The characters grew on me so much I finished the book in one sitting!
I'll be posting a full review on my blog on 3rd July, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC for an honest review.
4/5 stars
I wasn’t sure what I would think of this one before reading it, but after I thought it was a solid read and I was really drawn into Freddie and Violet’s story.
The writing style is easy to follow, and it was easy to get swept up in. Freddie is homeless, and when he sees Violet’s family go away on vacation and notices that the front door to the house is open because a notebook is blocking it, he decides to go in. He stays while they’re away, but when the family comes back earlier Freddie panics and ends up in the attic. From there, Freddie learns about the family, and he continues staying in this space. I thought Freddie was a good character. I liked the look at teenage homelessness, and I thought it was interesting to watch as Freddie tried to earn money and forge a path for his future. I wish that his grief and trauma had been explored more instead of brought up at a surface level throughout. I also wish that the ending hadn’t been resolved so easily. I would’ve liked to see more of Freddie struggling with his grief and making decisions to forgive himself.
Violet learns about Freddie living in the attic when he jumps in and helps her out of a bad situation. The two strike up a friendship that slowly moves into a relationship while Violet helps to smuggle food up to Freddie and provide him opportunities to come and go. I thought Violet was an interesting character, and her family situation was also interesting. I liked Jamie and seeing his progress. I also liked how Violet’s family is also dealing with their own grief. The different ways of coping with grief by the different characters reinforce the emotions in this story.
Overall I thought this was a lovely book and it was easy to read. The discussions of grief/grieving after the death of a loved one were handled well. Readers looking for a contemporary YA book with characters to root for should pick this one up.
4/5 stars
I wasn’t sure what I would think of this one before reading it, but after I thought it was a solid read and I was really drawn into Freddie and Violet’s story.
The writing style is easy to follow, and it was easy to get swept up in. Freddie is homeless, and when he sees Violet’s family go away on vacation and notices that the front door to the house is open because a notebook is blocking it, he decides to go in. He stays while they’re away, but when the family comes back earlier Freddie panics and ends up in the attic. From there, Freddie learns about the family, and he continues staying in this space. I thought Freddie was a good character. I liked the look at teenage homelessness, and I thought it was interesting to watch as Freddie tried to earn money and forge a path for his future. I wish that his grief and trauma had been explored more instead of brought up at a surface level throughout. I also wish that the ending hadn’t been resolved so easily. I would’ve liked to see more of Freddie struggling with his grief and making decisions to forgive himself.
Violet learns about Freddie living in the attic when he jumps in and helps her out of a bad situation. The two strike up a friendship that slowly moves into a relationship while Violet helps to smuggle food up to Freddie and provide him opportunities to come and go. I thought Violet was an interesting character, and her family situation was also interesting. I liked Jamie and seeing his progress. I also liked how Violet’s family is also dealing with their own grief. The different ways of coping with grief by the different characters reinforce the emotions in this story.
Overall I thought this was a lovely book and it was easy to read. The discussions of grief/grieving after the death of a loved one were handled well. Readers looking for a contemporary YA book with characters to root for should pick this one up.
this book was one of the first books that i read this month, and it was a great start to the summer! a fresh, enjoyable read that nevertheless deals with some intense and important issues and also so full of hope and healing. our main characters, freddy and violet, meet in an uncommon way: freddy, who is homeless and was living on the streets, is living in violet's family's attic. throughout the course of the book, freddy and violet, both who are struggling with loneliness and family history, slowly become friends....and eventually something more. i loved freddy and violet a lot, and i really enjoyed reading about their friendship and romance. on a more negative note, throughout the book violet makes some choices and reacts to events in ways that although are very realistic and human, were also very insensitive and harmful. i do wish that violet had owned up to some of the more harmful things she did. although she regretted them, you didnt really see her apologizing for the hurt she caused. overall, this book was great and i really enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A story unlike any other, Freddie and Violet will renew your faith in human kindness, friendship and love.
I try to reserve 5 stars for stories that will stay with me for years to come. Sometimes, one gets so caught up in a story we think it will last forever. But it fades. This one will not fade.
To be honest, it started out slow for me. The uniqueness of the storyline kept me going. And then, BAM, I was hooked. I had to know Freddie’s story. What was his past? What caused his pain and how did he end up where he was?
I can’t answer these questions for you. You have to get inside of him. Meet Violet and spend a night in the attic.
Read this book. See the pain we overlook everyday as we self absorb in our own lives. Find hope in the people who dare to take chances and look beyond themselves. I was left starry eyed and longing for more.
A story unlike any other, Freddie and Violet will renew your faith in human kindness, friendship and love.
I try to reserve 5 stars for stories that will stay with me for years to come. Sometimes, one gets so caught up in a story we think it will last forever. But it fades. This one will not fade.
To be honest, it started out slow for me. The uniqueness of the storyline kept me going. And then, BAM, I was hooked. I had to know Freddie’s story. What was his past? What caused his pain and how did he end up where he was?
I can’t answer these questions for you. You have to get inside of him. Meet Violet and spend a night in the attic.
Read this book. See the pain we overlook everyday as we self absorb in our own lives. Find hope in the people who dare to take chances and look beyond themselves. I was left starry eyed and longing for more.
~"She made me see that there is still light in the dark. There’s still good. There’s still hope”~
REVIEW- The Boy Who Lived In the Ceiling by Cara Thurlbourn
*I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
This reading pleasantly surprised me.
Reading the plot, I thought it would be a heavy reading and not a leisure one, but in reality, it was very beautiful and profound.
The author has managed to treat issues not very much considered in the Young Adult panorama (such as the life of homeless young people) with delicacy, without them becoming heavy and boring.
The author's style is simple and straightforward: it makes you immerse yourself in history even - according to me - not from the beginning. Precisely for this reason, I decided to give him four stars: I felt a slight lack of pathos at the beginning of the book.
I leave below a part of the plot that I think does not involve many spoilers:
Freddie’s life isn’t like it used to be – he’s alone, homeless, and carrying a secret that threatens to swallow him up. Every day is a struggle. Until he meets Violet Johnson.
Violet’s life is going down-hill. Her parents argue, her little brother’s stopped speaking, and she’s about to move schools. She used to be popular, she used to be happy, but now every day is a struggle. Until Freddie enters her life.
REVIEW- The Boy Who Lived In the Ceiling by Cara Thurlbourn
*I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
This reading pleasantly surprised me.
Reading the plot, I thought it would be a heavy reading and not a leisure one, but in reality, it was very beautiful and profound.
The author has managed to treat issues not very much considered in the Young Adult panorama (such as the life of homeless young people) with delicacy, without them becoming heavy and boring.
The author's style is simple and straightforward: it makes you immerse yourself in history even - according to me - not from the beginning. Precisely for this reason, I decided to give him four stars: I felt a slight lack of pathos at the beginning of the book.
I leave below a part of the plot that I think does not involve many spoilers:
Freddie’s life isn’t like it used to be – he’s alone, homeless, and carrying a secret that threatens to swallow him up. Every day is a struggle. Until he meets Violet Johnson.
Violet’s life is going down-hill. Her parents argue, her little brother’s stopped speaking, and she’s about to move schools. She used to be popular, she used to be happy, but now every day is a struggle. Until Freddie enters her life.
I would like to personally thank Wise Wolf books for giving me the opportunity to read Cara Thurlbourn’s The Boy Who Lived In The Ceiling! The book is about two teenagers Freddie and Violet. Freddie is homeless and has a secret that has stuck with him. The other main character is Violet, her parents argue a lot, her little brother is not talking, and to top it off Violet is switching schools. One day Violet and Freddie meet. They both get to know one another and things start looking better for one another, until Freddie’s past begins to catch up with him. This book was very well done! I didn’t want the book to end! Violet and Freddie are both such good characters. They felt like real people and despite the fact that they have completely different lives they uplift one another. They truly want what’s best for one another. They try their best to help each other out. I loved Freddie and Violet’s relationship at first they were more of reluctant friends considering the unusual circumstance on how they meet. Then that turns into friendship and then a real relationship. It was done in such a realistic way! It seems I’m so many books it goes till straight to romance and suddenly the two are professing their undying love after knowing one another for a short time! But Violet and Freddie truly took their time in their development! Freddie was so kind and respectful to Violet. They both wanted to help the other overcome their problems! It was so refreshing! If this sounds I like a book you would love to read I would recommend picking up a copy of this book. The Boy Who Lived In The Ceiling is out now!
This was a heartbreakingly beautiful story of homelessness, grief, and everything in between.
Thurlbourn's style meant this was was easy to read, and flowed flawlessly form one scene to another, and the development of both the plot and characters worked beautifully.
Although some moments felt slightly forced or underdeveloped, overall I felt myself completely drawn into the story, and there were multiple moments where I felt myself tearing up.
I found it difficult to put down 'The Boy Who Lived in the Ceiling', and I think the very real themes and images will stick with me for a long while.
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC!)
Thurlbourn's style meant this was was easy to read, and flowed flawlessly form one scene to another, and the development of both the plot and characters worked beautifully.
Although some moments felt slightly forced or underdeveloped, overall I felt myself completely drawn into the story, and there were multiple moments where I felt myself tearing up.
I found it difficult to put down 'The Boy Who Lived in the Ceiling', and I think the very real themes and images will stick with me for a long while.
(Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC!)