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zoiejanelle's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
like many of the blurbs/reviews say, this is an insta-classic for me. this book incorporated all the poetry and depth of books like Atonement and To Kill a Mockingbird, but the age-appropriate scope and themes like those in The Book Thief.
Annabelle was a full fleshed, believable girl that remained true to her era and her character throughout. her troubles with independence, honesty, friendship, and guilt were all so vivid and relatable. and through her eyes we saw the gorgeous scenery around her and the warmest colors of everyone she met—most of all, Toby.
Toby himself was a sympathetic character i couldn’t help but to hope for. and his guns, his pictures, his silence, were all such apt metaphors for his experience with PTSD and loss. though i didn’t think (spoilers) he needed to have been awarded the Congressional medal of honor to have been worthy of our love and support throughout the book.
on top of how three dimensional Annabelle was, her ENTIRE FAMILY felt so tangible and real to me. i found myself totally fascinated by her mother and father, and i even found her annoying little brothers to be lovable in the end. though i couldn’t relate to the family structure, i felt like i was there at the dinner table feeling all of Annabelle’s feelings, hearing all the same familiar words.
i would love to give this book a 5/5, but DAMMIT it gave us a classic beginning, middle, AND end. why does everything always have to be tragic? why can’t justice be done and feel done, too? i felt teased for a happy ending and got something quite tragic and sad (despite the lessons on guilt and choice and honesty and judgement) that made me weep quietly in a car alone. now that i know there is a sequel, i plan to read it… though i know it’s probably a bad idea to hope for some more joyful closure there.
overall a very moving book, full of unexpected twists and turns and absolutely gorgeous writing, that i really enjoyed.
Annabelle was a full fleshed, believable girl that remained true to her era and her character throughout. her troubles with independence, honesty, friendship, and guilt were all so vivid and relatable. and through her eyes we saw the gorgeous scenery around her and the warmest colors of everyone she met—most of all, Toby.
Toby himself was a sympathetic character i couldn’t help but to hope for. and his guns, his pictures, his silence, were all such apt metaphors for his experience with PTSD and loss. though i didn’t think (spoilers) he needed to have been awarded the Congressional medal of honor to have been worthy of our love and support throughout the book.
on top of how three dimensional Annabelle was, her ENTIRE FAMILY felt so tangible and real to me. i found myself totally fascinated by her mother and father, and i even found her annoying little brothers to be lovable in the end. though i couldn’t relate to the family structure, i felt like i was there at the dinner table feeling all of Annabelle’s feelings, hearing all the same familiar words.
i would love to give this book a 5/5, but DAMMIT it gave us a classic beginning, middle, AND end. why does everything always have to be tragic? why can’t justice be done and feel done, too? i felt teased for a happy ending and got something quite tragic and sad (despite the lessons on guilt and choice and honesty and judgement) that made me weep quietly in a car alone. now that i know there is a sequel, i plan to read it… though i know it’s probably a bad idea to hope for some more joyful closure there.
overall a very moving book, full of unexpected twists and turns and absolutely gorgeous writing, that i really enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: War, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Blood
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