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xabbeylongx's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Book Review:
This is the first book I’ve ever read of Balen’s, and I must say, it’s a lovely, simple read with so many fantastic lessons to be learnt.
The plot is simple, the characters are well-written, and I really like the morals of the story. I think it’s very important to teach children, or even just people in general, that sometimes things don’t happen the way you expect them to, and that’s okay. I also love the fact that as October and Stig are both growing up, at different stages of their life, that we can be there, and be a part of it.
Honestly, I think this book is inspiring and just a nice, simple read. I got through it in a couple of days, and it gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling once I had finished reading it, and I felt a lot more enriched.
Book Summary:
We follow October. She lives in the woods with her dad, and they’re ‘wild’. She is homeschooled, the hardly ever go to rural areas, and if they do, it’s only to pick up bits and bobs from the supermarket. They grow their own food and get their dairy from Bill down the road.
One day, they spot a dead owl. Not long after that, they spot a baby owl. Her dad tells her to leave it, says that a mother owl will be looking for a baby. But October knows that the owl will die if she doesn’t take it. She names it Stig.
October’s mum left when she was very small. She couldn’t hack living in the woods any longer. She tries to visit every once in a while, but October never wants to talk to her. So, on her eleventh birthday, when her mum turns up bearing gifts, she runs. She runs out of the house, into the forest, and all the way up a tree. Her dad tries to follow her, tries to get her down, but the branches break underneath him.
For a few moments, he is lifeless.
They take him to hospital, and he has to stay there for a while. October has to go and live with her mum, who says she’s not allowed to go back into the wild. She hates her mum, and does everything she can to make sure her life is as hellish as October’s is. Stig has to go to a sanctuary, because their home isn’t enough for Stig. The last straw is when she has to go to school.
Everything is loud and upsetting, and all of the other children laugh at her, until the teachers have a word with her. She doesn’t put in any effort, just wills her days to be over. That is, until, she’s asked to make a project with Yusuf.
Yusuf is a ‘misbehaved’ child, and also October’s friend. Instead of doing this project, they just hang out, leaving it all until last minute. They both decide to do their project on mudlarking, which they join a special group for.
October slowly starts to grow. She went from having the worst time of her life to adapting. She now has multiple friends, a hobby, and can cope better with social situations. And when she’s presenting her project to all the school, her dad is there, on the mend, ready to take her back to the wild. But, of course, her mum has decorated her room to resemble a forest, just in case she decides to come back.
And she does!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying
antimony's review
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i had mixed feelings about the writing style but i do think it emphasizes how isolated october feels at parts and the divide between her and the rest of the world. i did tear up at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
manou_r's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book reads like poetry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Injury/Injury detail
booksjessreads's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.5
Katya Balen really has a knack for pulling on the readers heartstrings. This book is so beautiful.
I thought the way that the book was written was creative and excellently depicted the complicated thought processes of someone with anxiety or who is neurodiverse. I certainly related to the writing style a lot. It was told in first person with sentences that flowed with a literary style to the rhythm of a spiral of thoughts. There were also areas where the writing took on more of a verse novel style, or had very large writing for certain words which captured thoughts and feelings visually as well as in the written word.
The story was excellent and there were many moments where I thought the whole thing was simply beautiful. The themes that connected nature, being wild, complicated families and making new friends were all interwoven so well and it crafted such a beautiful world. I thought October's life was also something different and insightful. The themes of being socially excluded, and having to fit in to societal norms is something that a lot of children and adults who read this will identify with. I also found the complicated dynamics of October's family life to be something that people will be able to relate to as well.
Overall, this is beautiful and I can see why it won the Carnegie Award in 2022. I would absolutely recommend!
I thought the way that the book was written was creative and excellently depicted the complicated thought processes of someone with anxiety or who is neurodiverse. I certainly related to the writing style a lot. It was told in first person with sentences that flowed with a literary style to the rhythm of a spiral of thoughts. There were also areas where the writing took on more of a verse novel style, or had very large writing for certain words which captured thoughts and feelings visually as well as in the written word.
The story was excellent and there were many moments where I thought the whole thing was simply beautiful. The themes that connected nature, being wild, complicated families and making new friends were all interwoven so well and it crafted such a beautiful world. I thought October's life was also something different and insightful. The themes of being socially excluded, and having to fit in to societal norms is something that a lot of children and adults who read this will identify with. I also found the complicated dynamics of October's family life to be something that people will be able to relate to as well.
Overall, this is beautiful and I can see why it won the Carnegie Award in 2022. I would absolutely recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Blood
janetsuzanne's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
yolanda_h's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Injury/Injury detail
rcsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
This was very cute and I regretted finishing it in public because I wanted to cry! I loved October and her voyage of self discovery and I liked how her arc tied into Stig the owl's story too.
I was also a big fan of all the mud larking chat and want to go to the museum. (Is the museum real? Has anyone been?)
I borrowed this one from the library and I'm going to renew it so I can read it to Fox and Tabitha.
.
I did have a few problems/questions but they were all geographical or economical and it's a kids book and they're things I wouldn't have thought about as a child so I forgive them. But seriously where was her dad getting money and where was this huge, remote woodland within a short drive from London that no one ever even walked their dog in?
.
I was also a big fan of all the mud larking chat and want to go to the museum. (Is the museum real? Has anyone been?)
I borrowed this one from the library and I'm going to renew it so I can read it to Fox and Tabitha.
.
I did have a few problems/questions but they were all geographical or economical and it's a kids book and they're things I wouldn't have thought about as a child so I forgive them. But seriously where was her dad getting money and where was this huge, remote woodland within a short drive from London that no one ever even walked their dog in?
.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
rubyhosh's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying and Panic attacks/disorders
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