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ainay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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
5.0
headliner's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
Everything about this book is truly beautiful and wonderful. The way Blue Wing always gave her best to fight and her friendship with Maple. At first, I legit thought they wouldn't get along well. I also love how the terms time been mentioned on the book and made me realize a lot of things about it. I also experienced learning some of Papua New Guinea languages thru this book.
The setting-place. The tension. The eagerness. The bond. The time. The tragedy. The ocean. I love it.
The setting-place. The tension. The eagerness. The bond. The time. The tragedy. The ocean. I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
ailuropie's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
dinamakan's review against another edition
4.0
I was quite curious with this novel since the cover illustration caught my attention. Yes, I'm a huge fan of middle-grade and children stories.
I can only give four stars since I really love the story and the cover. I even thought that nobody pays attention to the main character because she's uninteresting for most of the villagers (or probably have a set of difficult traits). However, the fact that she's actually drowned in the sea and some people can see her revenge-mode spirit long enough felt a bit forced for me. I guess it would be better if she's actually a living person who becomes very difficult to please or often angry towards the villagers (especially the Head of the village and his family) after she's saved but her parents couldn't and the Head of the village tried his best to expel her for her decision to avoid math exam.
I can only give four stars since I really love the story and the cover. I even thought that nobody pays attention to the main character because she's uninteresting for most of the villagers (or probably have a set of difficult traits). However, the fact that she's actually drowned in the sea and some people can see her revenge-mode spirit long enough felt a bit forced for me. I guess it would be better if she's actually a living person who becomes very difficult to please or often angry towards the villagers (especially the Head of the village and his family) after she's saved but her parents couldn't and the Head of the village tried his best to expel her for her decision to avoid math exam.
emmanovella's review against another edition
4.0
WOW. I wasn't sure what I was going into with this book, but it was utterly beautiful and I just loved it. I did have a feeling about the end twist but it was still revealed beautifully and I cannot wait to read more from this author asap!
nitaf's review
4.0
What a plot twist sih! Kaget karena tiba-tiba di akhir dibawa ke realitas yang sangaat nggak disangka-sangka.
Bukunya sendiri cukup santai ya dan berhasil menghidupkan suasana yang chill gitu karena latarnya sendiri berhubungan dengan laut. Aku juga baru tahu bahasa Tok Pisin yang digunakan di Papua Nugini berakar dari bahasa Inggris. Jadi beberapa kosakata bahasa tersebut terlihat cukup menarik di novel ini.
Aku juga suka bagaimana penulis membawakan makna kedukaan di mata anak kecil—atau mungkin lebih spesifiknya bagaimana buku middle grade membicarakan duka, terasa tidak terlalu gloomy dan depresif. Mungkin ini jadi bacaan bagus buat reminder kalau aku suatu saat sedang berkabung sih.
Bukunya sendiri cukup santai ya dan berhasil menghidupkan suasana yang chill gitu karena latarnya sendiri berhubungan dengan laut. Aku juga baru tahu bahasa Tok Pisin yang digunakan di Papua Nugini berakar dari bahasa Inggris. Jadi beberapa kosakata bahasa tersebut terlihat cukup menarik di novel ini.
Aku juga suka bagaimana penulis membawakan makna kedukaan di mata anak kecil—atau mungkin lebih spesifiknya bagaimana buku middle grade membicarakan duka, terasa tidak terlalu gloomy dan depresif. Mungkin ini jadi bacaan bagus buat reminder kalau aku suatu saat sedang berkabung sih.
vickylovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
By the shores of Papua New Guinea, Blue Wing argues desperately with Siringen, her waspapi, that she should be a shark caller. It is a tradition that the shark caller position is passed down from uncle to nephew, but Siringen is the last of his family. Instead, Blue Wing is roped into looking after Maple, a visitor to her island. However, Blue Wing and Maple soon learn the importance of friendship, forgiveness and learning to live with grief in this beautiful and moving story.
I didn’t know quite what to expect when I picked up this novel. It had been recommended so many times, all over twitter and so I was keen to read a copy. Oh wow was I impressed. Zillah Bethell transports the reader to the beautiful world of Papua New Guinea with a breathtaking and heartbreaking tale, that left me speechless at times. In fact, I could only tweet emojis when I’d finished – I was that stunned!
The character of Blue Wing was powerful and likeable – the use of her dialect/speech pattern easily helped me to learn more about her character and become a part of this story. Bethell explored the relationship between Maple and Blue Wing slowly and simply and their friendship developed through little actions and shared memories. The plot felt simple, but deep with so many key messages of acceptance of grief and forgiveness of yourself layered throughout. I think central to the story is the idea of guilt and this was handled so beautifully that often I was in tears.
A poignant and exceptional tale of acceptance and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for providing an e-book review copy.
I didn’t know quite what to expect when I picked up this novel. It had been recommended so many times, all over twitter and so I was keen to read a copy. Oh wow was I impressed. Zillah Bethell transports the reader to the beautiful world of Papua New Guinea with a breathtaking and heartbreaking tale, that left me speechless at times. In fact, I could only tweet emojis when I’d finished – I was that stunned!
The character of Blue Wing was powerful and likeable – the use of her dialect/speech pattern easily helped me to learn more about her character and become a part of this story. Bethell explored the relationship between Maple and Blue Wing slowly and simply and their friendship developed through little actions and shared memories. The plot felt simple, but deep with so many key messages of acceptance of grief and forgiveness of yourself layered throughout. I think central to the story is the idea of guilt and this was handled so beautifully that often I was in tears.
A poignant and exceptional tale of acceptance and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for providing an e-book review copy.
boo30's review
5.0
Cantik T___T Pantainya, lautnya, desanya, nuansanya... Blue Wing <3 Aku tau buku ini bakalan bikin nangis banget. Tapi nggak menyangka juga bakal ditampol plot twist sekeras ini. Sungguh cerita yang mengharukan.
Memang cuma waktu yang akan bisa menentramkan kedukaan kita ya....
Cuma waktu yang akan mengenalkan kita dengan orang-orang yang tepat....
Dan melalui waktu juga kita perlahan bisa memaafkan... lebih-lebih diri sendiri.
Children book yang sangat istimewa. Yang banyak banget memberi kita makna tentang kedukaan. Memperlihatkan kita soal bagaimana usaha para karakter ini mencoba untuk berproses terhadap kedukaan masing-masing. Jenis bacaan yang plotnya nggak ngebut. Slow pace, tapi tiap ada karakter yang on scene pasti obrolannya itu bikin kita jadi mikir. Ada yang nohok, ada juga nasihat.
BAGOS INI WAK. MUSTI COBA KALIAN KESAYANGANKU <3 Naratornya Si Pemanggil Hiu pemberani, Blue Wing <3 (Kata Maple saudari Blue Wing tersayang kudu ngetik begini <3 Aku manut aja)
Memang cuma waktu yang akan bisa menentramkan kedukaan kita ya....
Cuma waktu yang akan mengenalkan kita dengan orang-orang yang tepat....
Dan melalui waktu juga kita perlahan bisa memaafkan... lebih-lebih diri sendiri.
Children book yang sangat istimewa. Yang banyak banget memberi kita makna tentang kedukaan. Memperlihatkan kita soal bagaimana usaha para karakter ini mencoba untuk berproses terhadap kedukaan masing-masing. Jenis bacaan yang plotnya nggak ngebut. Slow pace, tapi tiap ada karakter yang on scene pasti obrolannya itu bikin kita jadi mikir. Ada yang nohok, ada juga nasihat.
BAGOS INI WAK. MUSTI COBA KALIAN KESAYANGANKU <3 Naratornya Si Pemanggil Hiu pemberani, Blue Wing <3 (Kata Maple saudari Blue Wing tersayang kudu ngetik begini <3 Aku manut aja)
yonea's review
4.0
Buku pertama dg setting Papua Nugini yg aku baca. Ada glosarium bahasa Tok Pisin. Buku anak2 tapi deep banget.