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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
This book was fantastically plotted, and absolutely convinced me. All the threads that I could have unravelled bits of it with, all the criticisms I was planning on making were answered by the end of the book- so if you are reading it and something seems to not ring true or to be a little one-sided hang on. Believability wise it was a bit of a stretch, but we want to romanticise the world a little when we read.
The characters were warm, well rounded and likeable. I thought the reference to "gifted" programs early on in the book was needless and a bit elitist it was sort of thrown in there a bit heavy-handedly, but I am guessing after Lupton wrote such a capable, intelligent, complex 10 year old an editor or someone asked for something like that to make her believable (whereas I am used to the idea that any child who is treated as capable and respected becomes a lot like Ruby- to me her character was believable and one of the strengths of the novel).
I thought the description of the bullying was a little bit mature for 10 year olds...but now I really am nit-picking.
I want to talk about the ending, but that would be a spoiler. A lot about it was good but...
Anyway it's not reality, I can be fooled by how real the issues and relationships and motivations in the book were but it is still make-believe. And a work this brave and this complex deserves the full 5 stars!!!!
The characters were warm, well rounded and likeable. I thought the reference to "gifted" programs early on in the book was needless and a bit elitist it was sort of thrown in there a bit heavy-handedly, but I am guessing after Lupton wrote such a capable, intelligent, complex 10 year old an editor or someone asked for something like that to make her believable (whereas I am used to the idea that any child who is treated as capable and respected becomes a lot like Ruby- to me her character was believable and one of the strengths of the novel).
I thought the description of the bullying was a little bit mature for 10 year olds...but now I really am nit-picking.
I want to talk about the ending, but that would be a spoiler. A lot about it was good but...
Anyway it's not reality, I can be fooled by how real the issues and relationships and motivations in the book were but it is still make-believe. And a work this brave and this complex deserves the full 5 stars!!!!
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another great book by Rosamund Lupton. I really enjoyed this book, the mystery and almost crime-like feel really grabbed me. I also learnt some more about artic animals and fracking which was super interesting!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Although the plot is absurd in places (How does Yasmin know how to drive a huge truck on ice? And how does she know how to fit its snow chains?) this exploration of the relationship of a very bright Deaf girl with the world is fascinating.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
The story is a slow burn psychological horror, as it gets to the last quarter the tone feels more medium/fast paced.
The main storyline is focused on the potential death of the father and the journey through Alaska to his last known location. There is a strong connection between the 3 main characters and we get a glimpse of their past as we see their relationships develop through the story.
We also get a lovely change of perspective between the characters, the young girl is so sweet and you really feel for her.
Overall the descriptions, tone and setting are very immersive. Throughout the story we are constantly left with unanswered questions and a range of frightening possibilities, we know as much as the characters know.
The main storyline is focused on the potential death of the father and the journey through Alaska to his last known location. There is a strong connection between the 3 main characters and we get a glimpse of their past as we see their relationships develop through the story.
We also get a lovely change of perspective between the characters, the young girl is so sweet and you really feel for her.
Overall the descriptions, tone and setting are very immersive. Throughout the story we are constantly left with unanswered questions and a range of frightening possibilities, we know as much as the characters know.
I nearly didn't get to my 100 page mark but then the suspense kicked in. A bit much factual info for me.
A definitely thrill ride but with two issues that bump it down a star:
Both DEFINITE spoilers 1) the MC actually ends up driving a big rig without any prior training and through lots and lots of ice and a huge blizzard. I felt this was pushing the believability envelope just a tad too much. 2) I was not aware that the ending would involve a huge political/environmental issue. Not that I am a fan of the issue and I think it definitely brings awareness to the issue which is good, I was just not prepared to be reading about it. I'm generally not a fan of politics and the issues surrounding politics and bc I was caught unawares I was a bit disappointed.
Other than the spoiler info, I found myself pretty absorbed in the story and found it a good thriller.
Both DEFINITE spoilers
Other than the spoiler info, I found myself pretty absorbed in the story and found it a good thriller.
DNF at page 170
I don't give up on a book once I've started very often, but life's just too short to bother carrying on with this.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
• Extremely far-fetched plot, with too many plot holes. Yasmin drives some massive lorry in icy conditions during a blizzard, with no experience. She's looking for her husband, because she believed he's alive - for some reason? She won't work with the police, as any sensible person would do. We're probably supposed to believe it's the power of love, but it's just all over the place.
• Yasmin thinks it's okay to drive the lorry. Oh god. Okay. This pains me. People tell her it's dangerous. Yasmin? "But my husband!! Nobody else can do this but me!!" Like that makes it okay?? YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PERSON ON THE ROAD. YOU ARE PUTTING THE LIVES OF OTHER DRIVERS AND YOUR DAUGHTER AT RISK. Nope nope nope nope nope. It's horrible, it's selfish, and if there was any hope for me liking this character before there sure as heck wasn't any after this.
• Ruby didn't have to be there. Yasmin endangers her daughter for no good reason. She vaguely insists that 'this is the only way, she has to come with me', but there's no justification. Send Ruby to relatives. Friends. Literally anywhere but taking her into the freezing Alaskan wilderness.
• Ruby's voice. Ruby's voice in this book was inconsistent and not in character for any 10 year old (I think?) that I've ever come across. The language is cringey and silly and unrealistic.
• Constantly changing POV. And without telling us whose view we were getting. Annoying and often unnecessary.
• Unexceptional writing. I wanted intensity and emotion, pretty much got the opposite. I didn't feel remotely attached to any of the characters, I didn't care about the story, and I couldn't get much sense of their surroundings or their emotions.
Wouldn't recommend ever - don't waste your time!
**Disclaimer: I received this book for free through Goodreads. This is no way affects my rating or review.
I don't give up on a book once I've started very often, but life's just too short to bother carrying on with this.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
• Extremely far-fetched plot, with too many plot holes. Yasmin drives some massive lorry in icy conditions during a blizzard, with no experience. She's looking for her husband, because she believed he's alive - for some reason? She won't work with the police, as any sensible person would do. We're probably supposed to believe it's the power of love, but it's just all over the place.
• Yasmin thinks it's okay to drive the lorry. Oh god. Okay. This pains me. People tell her it's dangerous. Yasmin? "But my husband!! Nobody else can do this but me!!" Like that makes it okay?? YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PERSON ON THE ROAD. YOU ARE PUTTING THE LIVES OF OTHER DRIVERS AND YOUR DAUGHTER AT RISK. Nope nope nope nope nope. It's horrible, it's selfish, and if there was any hope for me liking this character before there sure as heck wasn't any after this.
• Ruby didn't have to be there. Yasmin endangers her daughter for no good reason. She vaguely insists that 'this is the only way, she has to come with me', but there's no justification. Send Ruby to relatives. Friends. Literally anywhere but taking her into the freezing Alaskan wilderness.
• Ruby's voice. Ruby's voice in this book was inconsistent and not in character for any 10 year old (I think?) that I've ever come across. The language is cringey and silly and unrealistic.
• Constantly changing POV. And without telling us whose view we were getting. Annoying and often unnecessary.
• Unexceptional writing. I wanted intensity and emotion, pretty much got the opposite. I didn't feel remotely attached to any of the characters, I didn't care about the story, and I couldn't get much sense of their surroundings or their emotions.
Wouldn't recommend ever - don't waste your time!
**Disclaimer: I received this book for free through Goodreads. This is no way affects my rating or review.
I loved everything about this book. The characters, the descriptions and the storyline. This is the first book I have read by Rosamund Lupton, and it won't be the last, more have been added to my wishlist.
Yasmin and ruby head to Alaska to find Ruby's dad who is presumed dead. Yasmin doesn't believe this and they embark on a mission to find him. Their story was fantastic, definitely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.
Yasmin and ruby head to Alaska to find Ruby's dad who is presumed dead. Yasmin doesn't believe this and they embark on a mission to find him. Their story was fantastic, definitely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.