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seclement's review
4.0
This was an engaging story with relatable characters, and I really enjoyed it. With the caveat that I am more a nonfiction reader than a fiction one, I offer two minor criticisms that made me give it a 4 and not a 5: 1) it could have been longer. The story could have been fleshed out in a longer book. I gather from its title on Goodreads that it may be the first in the series, but is that really an excuse? It didn't really end on a cliff hanger. And 2) the setting is Guernsey but Dawn O'Porter doesn't make enough of this in terms of the plot or characters. Considering how unique this place is and the fact that this was clearly an explicit choice, I was disappointed that more wasn't made of this.
I love Dawn O'Porter, but I admit that I would probably be more underwhelmed by this book if I didn't love her so much. This is good but not great.
I love Dawn O'Porter, but I admit that I would probably be more underwhelmed by this book if I didn't love her so much. This is good but not great.
patchworkbunny's review
5.0
It’s 1994 on Guernsey and the girls of Tudor Falls are returning to school. Flo’s father has just moved out and she’s left holding the baby; well her 4 year-old sister, Abi, who her mother refuses to look after. At school, she lives in the shadow of her controlling best friend, never making any choices for herself or holding her own. Outgoing Renée lost her mother when she was seven but still misses her. Struggling to live under her grandparents’ roof she is also concerned about her sister Nell, who refuses to eat and wants to go live with their father in Spain. The two girls live their lives apart until one drunken night brings them together, and the friendship starts to blossom with the help of notes folded into paper aeroplanes.
If you were at high school in the 90’s you should read this. It not only transported me back through time but also felt completely believable. There are no romantic liaisons or incredibly beautiful yet modest and kind girls in this story. Partly based on Dawn’s own diary entries from her teens, Flo and Renée act like real teenagers, right down to getting ridiculously drunk and being completely embarrassing. If you can remember any of yourself in them, you will laugh but their story is also a sad one.
Both girls are struggling with the loss of parents and a lack of support from their existing guardians. Flo is “best friends” with Sally but doesn’t like her all that much and certainly can’t talk to her about her problems. Sally is controlling and verging on a bully but Flo prefers that fake friendship to being alone. Renée on the other hand is outgoing, flirts with boys and has plenty of friends but no real, meaningful relationships with any of them. The other girls are nice enough but they have their own bonds. I think both girls’ scenarios are ones that are common in schools, even today. So many children don’t have anyone they can talk to about the things that matter. In addition to their broken families, you really feel for them, egging them on to close the gap.
How refreshing is it to not have dreamy love interests? Yes the girls are interested in boys but they are not romanticised in the slightest. Sexual encounters are fumbling. Feelings are not always mutual. Sometimes teenagers settle for one person just because they’re there.
I can see the 90’s becoming a more popular setting, especially for young adult fiction. It’s hard to write about growing up now without the internet and mobile phones being involved. Whilst we had the internet in the 90’s it was pretty basic and much more about finding out information. It’s the last time you can set something where a paper aeroplane is a viable form of communication.
The only downside was that I often found myself getting confused between Flo and Renée. The first person narrative alternates between the two girls and their voices are pretty much the same. With them both having problems at home, it took me a long time to be able to differentiate between them. But this is minor issue in an otherwise fabulous book about being a teenager. It’s tough but we get through it the best we can.
If you were at high school in the 90’s you should read this. It not only transported me back through time but also felt completely believable. There are no romantic liaisons or incredibly beautiful yet modest and kind girls in this story. Partly based on Dawn’s own diary entries from her teens, Flo and Renée act like real teenagers, right down to getting ridiculously drunk and being completely embarrassing. If you can remember any of yourself in them, you will laugh but their story is also a sad one.
Both girls are struggling with the loss of parents and a lack of support from their existing guardians. Flo is “best friends” with Sally but doesn’t like her all that much and certainly can’t talk to her about her problems. Sally is controlling and verging on a bully but Flo prefers that fake friendship to being alone. Renée on the other hand is outgoing, flirts with boys and has plenty of friends but no real, meaningful relationships with any of them. The other girls are nice enough but they have their own bonds. I think both girls’ scenarios are ones that are common in schools, even today. So many children don’t have anyone they can talk to about the things that matter. In addition to their broken families, you really feel for them, egging them on to close the gap.
How refreshing is it to not have dreamy love interests? Yes the girls are interested in boys but they are not romanticised in the slightest. Sexual encounters are fumbling. Feelings are not always mutual. Sometimes teenagers settle for one person just because they’re there.
I can see the 90’s becoming a more popular setting, especially for young adult fiction. It’s hard to write about growing up now without the internet and mobile phones being involved. Whilst we had the internet in the 90’s it was pretty basic and much more about finding out information. It’s the last time you can set something where a paper aeroplane is a viable form of communication.
The only downside was that I often found myself getting confused between Flo and Renée. The first person narrative alternates between the two girls and their voices are pretty much the same. With them both having problems at home, it took me a long time to be able to differentiate between them. But this is minor issue in an otherwise fabulous book about being a teenager. It’s tough but we get through it the best we can.
caffeineaddict980's review
5.0
I'm giving this book 5 stars!
'There's a paper aeroplane by my foot with my name on it'
How do I start this?
The writing is original as well as the storyline.
The story revolves around two girls called Renee and Flo and the challenges they face in their day to day lives. Until one night when Flo gets badly drunk and Renee helps her. The next day Flo finds a paper aeroplane at her feet.
So the friendship begins.
Good:
Story structre
PLOTLINE AND CONTEXT
Characterisation
Original and Unique feel to the book
Constant Plot twists
Bad:
There was nothing bad about it at all
The Characters:
Renee:
Renee is my other favourite character. She has a younger sister called Nelly. Her Mum died when she was younger and her Dad left them too, she is now living with her nan and grandad. Renee has to mainly be the one that looks out and looks after her younger sister.
Flo:
Flo is probably one of my favourite characters in the book, she had to deal with her dad's death by heart attack. She is seen to be quite emotionally vunerable, yet strong at the same time due to the death that had happened in her family.
Nelly:
Nelly is Renee's younger sister, we don't really see much of her in the book, just the ocassional mention in different chapters. Nelly is quite secretive but tried to voice her opinons when she needs to.
Sally:
What.
A.
Bitch
I think that's all I really have to say in all honesty.
'There's a paper aeroplane by my foot with my name on it'
How do I start this?
The writing is original as well as the storyline.
The story revolves around two girls called Renee and Flo and the challenges they face in their day to day lives. Until one night when Flo gets badly drunk and Renee helps her. The next day Flo finds a paper aeroplane at her feet.
So the friendship begins.
Good:
Story structre
PLOTLINE AND CONTEXT
Characterisation
Original and Unique feel to the book
Constant Plot twists
Bad:
There was nothing bad about it at all
The Characters:
Renee:
Renee is my other favourite character. She has a younger sister called Nelly. Her Mum died when she was younger and her Dad left them too, she is now living with her nan and grandad. Renee has to mainly be the one that looks out and looks after her younger sister.
Flo:
Flo is probably one of my favourite characters in the book, she had to deal with her dad's death by heart attack. She is seen to be quite emotionally vunerable, yet strong at the same time due to the death that had happened in her family.
Nelly:
Nelly is Renee's younger sister, we don't really see much of her in the book, just the ocassional mention in different chapters. Nelly is quite secretive but tried to voice her opinons when she needs to.
Sally:
What.
A.
Bitch
I think that's all I really have to say in all honesty.
abookloversdiary's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
caffeineandclassics's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
sian_mcbride's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
phillyvanillyy's review
3.0
I love Dawn O'Porter's writing - the characters and attention to detail in Paper Aeroplanes took me right back to my teenage years in the early-90s (albeit I was much more a Flo than a Renée!)
My 3-star review may seem a bit stingy, but it's because I think I would have enjoyed Paper Aeroplanes more if I was 15 years younger. I did struggle somewhat to identify with the characters; probably because I am more the age of the parents now, rather than the main protagonists! That said, I am interested to read the sequel and see where the Renée saga takes her...
My 3-star review may seem a bit stingy, but it's because I think I would have enjoyed Paper Aeroplanes more if I was 15 years younger. I did struggle somewhat to identify with the characters; probably because I am more the age of the parents now, rather than the main protagonists! That said, I am interested to read the sequel and see where the Renée saga takes her...
thetamari's review
3.0
Really enjoyable read, but the characterisation of people other than the two protagonists can be two-dimensional, so the writing is a let down. O'Porter gives us some beautiful heartfelt moments when writing about friendship and grief, and the strength of this writing is that a lot of readers will connect with it on a personal level. It's just such a disappointment that in the face of these truths are unrealistic renderings of characters, like the bitchy girl, or the mum who can't connect with her daughter. I feel like the author could have spent more time fleshing the other players out, in order to do justice to the content of the novel. Even more difference in writing style or narrative voice between Flo and Renee would have made it easier to differentiate between the two girls. I'd still look forward to more of her writing, and hope that she finesses it a little more to make it everything it deserves to be.
gemjar321's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death of parent, Blood, Eating disorder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Sexual content