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susanjanette's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sylvia221's review
4.0
It's my first WW11 novel set in America. I was really excited to read it and it didn't disappoint me. It showed the beautiful way of friendship forming between four boys and the struggles that fell upon them.
I hated his mother for her controlling nature and their whole family had no love for each other. They just sat together and ate, that's all. Not even small talk. It's family, only in name.
Steven was exactly like me. A socially awkward kid and a person who examines every word that comes out of his mouth. I was able to connect with him quickly because of it.
I really enjoyed everytime he went to the mountains but the first time is still buried in my mind. It felt like I was sitting beside Nick and Steven and was watching the stars myself rather than reading it.
It was so sweet of him to offer to hide them and keep that promise. Not many of them would do it and he took care of Nick through the hard times till he went away.
I loved how brave Steven was. He went to see both Nick and Suki but had no luck but the way he tried was better than nothing. The last letter from Nick devastated me. I cried so many times while reading this book. It was beautiful story.
I hated his mother for her controlling nature and their whole family had no love for each other. They just sat together and ate, that's all. Not even small talk. It's family, only in name.
Steven was exactly like me. A socially awkward kid and a person who examines every word that comes out of his mouth. I was able to connect with him quickly because of it.
I really enjoyed everytime he went to the mountains but the first time is still buried in my mind. It felt like I was sitting beside Nick and Steven and was watching the stars myself rather than reading it.
It was so sweet of him to offer to hide them and keep that promise. Not many of them would do it and he took care of Nick through the hard times till he went away.
I loved how brave Steven was. He went to see both Nick and Suki but had no luck but the way he tried was better than nothing. The last letter from Nick devastated me. I cried so many times while reading this book. It was beautiful story.
imkevbo's review
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
Such a beautiful and unexpected journey this author took me on!
ben009's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
kathieboucher's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story with likable characters marred by a number of plot holes that moved everything into a realm where I was unable to suspend disbelief that much.
1. How was Steven able to successfully hide his friend in the root cellar for months without any suspicion whatsoever from his parents, brother, or other adults?
2. Did root cellar Nick ever bathe? Shave? Cut his hair?
3. Ollie wrote not one but two letters to friends detailing his deployment with the military to New Guinea. No. Soldiers' letters were heavily censored during wartime. You might--might--be able to get through with a hint or two, but never your actual destination.
4. For parents who were so controlling, Steven's were very laissez-faire about letting him, at 14, go camping in the mountains with boys they did not even know he was friends with. Maybe parenting was different in 1940, but I can't imagine it was that different.
And on and on. I liked Steven's basic story and how he took control of his own life, but it felt like there were details not thoroughly thought through.
1. How was Steven able to successfully hide his friend in the root cellar for months without any suspicion whatsoever from his parents, brother, or other adults?
2. Did root cellar Nick ever bathe? Shave? Cut his hair?
3. Ollie wrote not one but two letters to friends detailing his deployment with the military to New Guinea. No. Soldiers' letters were heavily censored during wartime. You might--might--be able to get through with a hint or two, but never your actual destination.
4. For parents who were so controlling, Steven's were very laissez-faire about letting him, at 14, go camping in the mountains with boys they did not even know he was friends with. Maybe parenting was different in 1940, but I can't imagine it was that different.
And on and on. I liked Steven's basic story and how he took control of his own life, but it felt like there were details not thoroughly thought through.
bpelle0207's review against another edition
4.0
A month later and I’m still thinking about this book. It was painful and beautiful and haunting. A coming of age story that now lives inside of me.
susanthebookbag's review
5.0
Boy Underground is another spell-binding story by a wonderful storyteller. I fell in love with Steven and the group of misfit boys that end up becoming his life-long friends. Catherine always writes such heartwarmingly beautiful stories rich with memorable characters that stay with me for a long time.
Her characters never seem to have an easy go of it but they somehow make it through life and become better people because of their circumstances. Steven is just trying to fit in. Being a teenager is tough, especially when you don't really conform to the mold. He befriends three other boys who accept him for who he is and who are there for each other. As the war ramps up, the turmoil in all of their lives ram up as well, with plenty of drama and trauma.
I thoroughly enjoyed Boy Underground and highly recommend it. You can never go wrong with a Catherine Ryan Hyde story!
Her characters never seem to have an easy go of it but they somehow make it through life and become better people because of their circumstances. Steven is just trying to fit in. Being a teenager is tough, especially when you don't really conform to the mold. He befriends three other boys who accept him for who he is and who are there for each other. As the war ramps up, the turmoil in all of their lives ram up as well, with plenty of drama and trauma.
I thoroughly enjoyed Boy Underground and highly recommend it. You can never go wrong with a Catherine Ryan Hyde story!
mugglemom's review
3.0
Loved all the messages in the story but I don't know about the whole keeping a teen boy in a root cellar for months on a farm? Some parts of the story were hokey pokey but I was able to grit through it.
In the end, the messages about love and friendship made the story a rememberable one.
In the end, the messages about love and friendship made the story a rememberable one.
heather626's review
4.0
Catherine Ryan Hyde returns to historical fiction in Boy Underground, taking us to the beginning of WWII. Steven, Nick, Ollie, and Suki come together as friends and their bond is disrupted by the war. Suki is taken away to one of the Japanese internment camps, Ollie goes to fight in the war. And Nick is accused of beating a man into a coma. Suddenly Steven is all alone again with feelings he can't explain.
I can't imagine growing up in a time when people were put into interment camps for being a certain race. This book enlightening me to some historical parts I hadn't even thought of. Catherine Ryan Hyde does an amazing job. She is one of my favorite storytellers. Her books flow so very nicely. The characters are easily identified and easy to follow. The book follows chronological order so there is no going back and forth between times.
I will be recommending this book to others and will always continue to look for works by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Special thanks to Catherine Ryan Hyde, NetGalley, and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars for me.
#BoyUnderground #NetGalley
I can't imagine growing up in a time when people were put into interment camps for being a certain race. This book enlightening me to some historical parts I hadn't even thought of. Catherine Ryan Hyde does an amazing job. She is one of my favorite storytellers. Her books flow so very nicely. The characters are easily identified and easy to follow. The book follows chronological order so there is no going back and forth between times.
I will be recommending this book to others and will always continue to look for works by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Special thanks to Catherine Ryan Hyde, NetGalley, and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars for me.
#BoyUnderground #NetGalley
spowers2627's review against another edition
5.0
Catherine Ryan Hyde has such a talent for pulling the reader into the world with the characters. In this mesmerizing tale, the narrator is looking back upon his life. He begins his story with finding camaraderie with three other high school boys. Set in California in 1941, during WW2, Steven, Itsuki, Ollie and Nick come from different backgrounds, each grappling with unimaginable changes in their world. I highly recommend this story that is told with wisdom and heart.