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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Hanna Alkaf only writes bangers, and this book is no exception. Again I am impressed by her ability to tell a heartfelt story that talks about complicated issues like grief and PTSD in a way that feels accessible to young readers, and this book also has a gripping mystery to boot!
emotional
informative
mysterious
fast-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
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
WONDERFUL! Oh I loved this book, which is a mystery/study in grief set at a Scrabble tournament. Pitch perfect YA in that I felt really connected to my teenage self while reading, and a total love letter to language. I learned so many words I could play in Scrabble! And also that I would get creamed in Scrabble by any of these characters, lol. Really fantastic if I'm honest I think everyone should read this, not least because of how quickly i tore through it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Why didn’t my school have a Scrabble team? I feel so cheated! I loved Queen of the Tiles so, so much. Hanna Alkaf was wonderful, as always. Her explorations of grief and friendship blended perfectly with her descriptions of teen life on the Scrabble circuit in Malaysia. I’m going to lend this book to so many people!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
This was a fun book with some cheesy teen romance and a lot of Scrabble vocabulary words. At the heart though, it's a mystery-- what really happened to Scrabble Queen Trina Low? -- and also a story that plays with the the idea of what it takes/means to really win. This book did have me guessing right until the end, which is something I like in a good mystery. While some of the characters were a little too over-the-top to be believable, it was still a good read for the plot twists alone.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-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
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
I really enjoyed the unique setting of a competitive Scrabble weekend in Malaysia. While I felt like some of the characters (Yasmin) were narrated poorly, others were narrated quite well. I really liked listening to the parts where the characters spoke in Malay or ended their phrases with "lah." It really made me feel transported to a country I've never been.
The mystery was interesting. I thought all of the characters were to blame at some point, even wondering if Najwa had something to do with it! The characters, both main and supporting, are all written with a lot of depth and complexity. They feel real.
And the discussion on grief in this story is so true to life. I related to Najwa on an unholy level: the dissociative amnesia, the obsession with old pictures, the panic attacks and triggers... It was good to watch her work through it all and I love the positive representation of getting therapy when you need it.
Also, I'm stealing the phrase, "Kill the ANTs."
The mystery was interesting. I thought all of the characters were to blame at some point, even wondering if Najwa had something to do with it! The characters, both main and supporting, are all written with a lot of depth and complexity. They feel real.
And the discussion on grief in this story is so true to life. I related to Najwa on an unholy level: the dissociative amnesia, the obsession with old pictures, the panic attacks and triggers... It was good to watch her work through it all and I love the positive representation of getting therapy when you need it.
Also, I'm stealing the phrase, "Kill the ANTs."