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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
I actually listened to this as an audiobook, which I haven’t really done before. I remember listening to one when I was about 11, and The Truth About Alice earlier this year, but other than that audio books aren’t really my thing.
It was nice to be able to listen to it while I did other things, and to hear the voice the speaker gave to the different characters. I think she did a good job, making them distinct, but not too overdone.
The title was what caught my attention at first. The cover isn’t very flashy, and I didn’t read the description, I just requested the book from my library. As it began, it took me some time to adjust to getting used to her switching between the different viewpoints of the characters. There were a few times when I wasn’t completely sure who was talking, but other than those times it was fairly easy to follow.
The plotline wasn’t too common, and it was simple enough to follow. The writing was done well, using a professional tone, yet conveying the youth of the characters. The characters were written with depth, and clearly portrayed the adolescent emotional changes that teens go through, instead of making them completely constant.
The low points weren’t what I expected, and I could only vaguely predict when they would be. The story showed the teens going through their depression or struggle for identity, but then showed them overcoming that, while not making them a super human.
I do think this was a really good book, and I would recommend it to most people 16+. There is a bit of language and sexual content.
Rating:
4 out of 5 stars
It was nice to be able to listen to it while I did other things, and to hear the voice the speaker gave to the different characters. I think she did a good job, making them distinct, but not too overdone.
The title was what caught my attention at first. The cover isn’t very flashy, and I didn’t read the description, I just requested the book from my library. As it began, it took me some time to adjust to getting used to her switching between the different viewpoints of the characters. There were a few times when I wasn’t completely sure who was talking, but other than those times it was fairly easy to follow.
The plotline wasn’t too common, and it was simple enough to follow. The writing was done well, using a professional tone, yet conveying the youth of the characters. The characters were written with depth, and clearly portrayed the adolescent emotional changes that teens go through, instead of making them completely constant.
The low points weren’t what I expected, and I could only vaguely predict when they would be. The story showed the teens going through their depression or struggle for identity, but then showed them overcoming that, while not making them a super human.
I do think this was a really good book, and I would recommend it to most people 16+. There is a bit of language and sexual content.
Rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Way too many characters, stories kept switching and it was hard to keep up. Because there were so many characters it was hard to see any of them really grow throughout the book.
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed reading this book. This book shows the lives of 5 teenagers- Gregor, Zoe, Jake, Whitney, and Mia all over the course of their high school careers. All of them come together on Freshman Orientation Day and write letters to their future selves for their senior years. Even though all of them are not all that close with one another, I still found their lives quite interesting all throughout their high school years. I really like the formatting of the chapters of the book- some chapters are arranged by month and we get a glimpse of each of the 5 main characters' POV. I enjoyed reading and understanding the lives of all the characters. I think the ending could've been a bit better wish that Mckler had differentiated all the character's storylines more rather than focusing so heavily on the characters' lives romantic-wise.
To be honest I was going to give it two stars because when I initially read this book I thought it was going to be them becoming friends over time and I mean they did but at the very end! I'm not even sure if it was that that I didn't like I think it was how the points of view were so brief and so random. I got confused quite a bit or got focused on a character and forgot other ones. The ending was really sweet and I liked it and it made it worth reading but I probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone and if I did they'd be like a freshman or sophomore in high school
This is a really interesting premise with some fascinating characters. Overall, I think Mackler dealt with the complexity of teenage life with empathy and understanding. However, I wanted more tension and interaction between the characters who met on the first day of school. I feel like that absence would make it hard for them to care one way or another on graduation day, even with some of the events that were happening.
I was bummed not to like this. I found the characters super flat, and the structure somewhat ineffective (and it definitely contributed to the flat characters). The concept of the book was sweet and intriguing, but there were so many things that I found to be unrealistic, and just underdeveloped, that I couldn't, ultimately, get on board.
Several problems I had. This book embodies American stereotypes...like, a lot of them. Underage drinking, underage driving, teen pregnancy, constantly hooking up and breaking up, and sex. Lots of it. I've read too many YA novels set in the US so that's why I keep associating these things with the US, even though they must appear in other schools in other countries. I must have a sheltered life compared to these kids.
I didn't connect with any of them. I didn't stop to read slowly one perspective over another. You can't really tell the difference between any of them, except for maybe Mia, because she's freaking creepy.
There was way too much. Nothing was ever in full depth, like,
The ending...that ending. Not satisfying but it leaves room for wonder. I guess.
I kept seeing this on my Tumblr and the blurb made me sort of excited to read this. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I'm not glad I read it and really, it just made me confirm I need to read more Canadian YA.
I didn't connect with any of them. I didn't stop to read slowly one perspective over another. You can't really tell the difference between any of them, except for maybe Mia, because she's freaking creepy.
There was way too much. Nothing was ever in full depth, like,
Spoiler
Gregor getting stung by a bee and his dad dying. The bee sting was random and doesn't affect him much at all. His dad dying, on the other hand, only affected him after his death. We don't get to see their relationship so to be suddenly slammed with a death makes you think Oh. Okay. And then you flip the page.The ending...that ending. Not satisfying but it leaves room for wonder. I guess.
I kept seeing this on my Tumblr and the blurb made me sort of excited to read this. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I'm not glad I read it and really, it just made me confirm I need to read more Canadian YA.
Ah, you know - there are just some books that are little gems in contemporary. I read a lot of Mackler's books when I was younger and when I heard about this book I bought it right away.
And then I sat on it for a year, which was a huge mistake. This book is what I love about contemporaries.
And then I sat on it for a year, which was a huge mistake. This book is what I love about contemporaries.
This book was alright, but somehow I was expecting more. I was drawn in by the premise that otherwise unconnected people were drawn together because of a freshman assignment. I figured that they would be in each other's lives throughout the four years and we'd get to witness the dynamics develop between this core group. In some ways this did happen, but not in the way I expected.
Instead, each chapter was devoted to each member of this group, but for most of their high school tenure, these chapters were in isolation. Sure, Gregor was in love with Whitney from afar, and even Mia was obsessed a bit with her. But none of them really connected until senior year. At that point it felt a bit forced and false. I would have liked to see them intersect more because of being thrown together in the beginning of the book, but that was not the case. In fact, my least favorite moment was probably when Whitney called Mia to say she got into college. Besides a passing conversation at the pharmacy, there was NO reason for this phone call. It's something small, but it's moments like this that irked me.
In some ways I feel like a sucker. I was drawn in by the uniqueness of the premise and how it would all play out. And kudos to author Carolyn Mackler for reeling me in. But all in all, Infinite in Between was infinitely predictable.
Instead, each chapter was devoted to each member of this group, but for most of their high school tenure, these chapters were in isolation. Sure, Gregor was in love with Whitney from afar, and even Mia was obsessed a bit with her. But none of them really connected until senior year. At that point it felt a bit forced and false. I would have liked to see them intersect more because of being thrown together in the beginning of the book, but that was not the case. In fact, my least favorite moment was probably when Whitney called Mia to say she got into college. Besides a passing conversation at the pharmacy, there was NO reason for this phone call. It's something small, but it's moments like this that irked me.
In some ways I feel like a sucker. I was drawn in by the uniqueness of the premise and how it would all play out. And kudos to author Carolyn Mackler for reeling me in. But all in all, Infinite in Between was infinitely predictable.