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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I absolutely loved this book. It kept me interested and I finished it in less than 24 hours. It may help that I have always been interested in the Canadian Pacific Railway (that's what happens when you worked for a rail company I suppose...), but this took The Last Spike and wove a tale with it at the core. The fact that it wasn't sugar coated and showed some of the dark history behind the building of the railway made it that much better of a novel. Obviously this is Canadian literature and, to me, that is the cherry on top! I love finding Canadian authors that I have not read and I have a feeling like this novel is a jumping off point for me when it comes to others written by Kenneth Oppel. I already have his other books added to my TBR pile. Read this book. You will not regret it.
*3.5 stars
This book is.......strange. The magic system is very poorly done. Sasquatches, muskhogs, and many other very strange and unexplained creatures are present. The author was trying to go for a mysterious atmosphere , but fell short at confusing. The one thing I did love was the train. It was very well described, and I felt like I was there with the characters. Overall plot? Meh. The whole “murder” took up one sentence and was very underwhelming.
My rating is thus because I have read this book before. Though I have no memory of reading this book at all, one scene in the book I have a very vivid recollection of. So my 3.5 rating stands because my 5th grade self probably loved this, even if my high school self didn’t.
This book is.......strange. The magic system is very poorly done. Sasquatches, muskhogs, and many other very strange and unexplained creatures are present. The author was trying to go for a mysterious atmosphere , but fell short at confusing. The one thing I did love was the train. It was very well described, and I felt like I was there with the characters. Overall plot? Meh. The whole “murder” took up one sentence and was very underwhelming.
My rating is thus because I have read this book before. Though I have no memory of reading this book at all, one scene in the book I have a very vivid recollection of. So my 3.5 rating stands because my 5th grade self probably loved this, even if my high school self didn’t.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dude I freakin loved this book when I was a kid. Idk but 12 dyslexic me ate this up.
I wasn't a fan of the other Oppel book I read (The Dark Endeavor), but I really enjoyed this middle reader (young adult?) adventure! His playful addition of the fantastical/magical to the storyline was clever and well done. It isn't often your life is saved by a sasquatch in circus captivity! Overall, a playful, exciting, adventure story. I would recommend this for the middle reader who is okay (whose parents are okay) with a little PG violence.
If ever there was a book to throw in a fire it would be this one.
I don’t usually read middle grade books but this book had great reviews on Goodreads and the cover and summary looked so fun. Set in an alternate Victorian era, The Boundless is about a teenage boy’s journey on the world’s largest train as he tries to flee from grave robbers, yetis, and evil spirits by joining a traveling circus. Doesn’t that sound like such a fun book for a middle schooler to read?! 100%!!!!!
Except that for no kidding 1/2 of this book the white main character is in brown face disguised as an Indian swami. Can you imagine watching a movie targeted towards 11-14 year olds where the white main character is in brown face for 1/2 the movie?! How did this get written only 10 years ago?! Why are so many reviewers completely ignoring this huge racist plot point?! I DON’T GET IT!
I’ll share one more (of the many) creep-tastic part. I’m fairly certain that the main character will grow up to be an incel. He’s kind of an average boy crushing on this legit fierce girl and every time she tries to be a bad ass he gets in her way and ends up annoying her which he doesn’t understand because he’s “just being nice” and “wants to protect her” and “why doesn’t she like me”….blah blah blah.
If anyone else has read this book and liked it please tell me why! I couldn’t get past the brownface incel vibes and I legitimately don’t know how anyone else could either.
Are there any books you would take to a book burning?!
⭐️
I don’t usually read middle grade books but this book had great reviews on Goodreads and the cover and summary looked so fun. Set in an alternate Victorian era, The Boundless is about a teenage boy’s journey on the world’s largest train as he tries to flee from grave robbers, yetis, and evil spirits by joining a traveling circus. Doesn’t that sound like such a fun book for a middle schooler to read?! 100%!!!!!
Except that for no kidding 1/2 of this book the white main character is in brown face disguised as an Indian swami. Can you imagine watching a movie targeted towards 11-14 year olds where the white main character is in brown face for 1/2 the movie?! How did this get written only 10 years ago?! Why are so many reviewers completely ignoring this huge racist plot point?! I DON’T GET IT!
I’ll share one more (of the many) creep-tastic part. I’m fairly certain that the main character will grow up to be an incel. He’s kind of an average boy crushing on this legit fierce girl and every time she tries to be a bad ass he gets in her way and ends up annoying her which he doesn’t understand because he’s “just being nice” and “wants to protect her” and “why doesn’t she like me”….blah blah blah.
If anyone else has read this book and liked it please tell me why! I couldn’t get past the brownface incel vibes and I legitimately don’t know how anyone else could either.
Are there any books you would take to a book burning?!
⭐️
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A 3.5 but since I can't give half stars - I will round up to a 4. I enjoyed the setting of the book, the circus characters, and the Canadian historical events (i.e. the last spike). The language didn't flow for me but I have to try and put myself in the shoes of a young reader.
adventurous
funny
2.5 rounded up. A fun YA adventure, but having it from Will's POV negated any awesomeness the single (1! No other females were main or secondary characters, nor did any have more than a bit part in small scenes) female character may have had. It's a good yarn for the age group it's aimed at.
The train's pretty cool too, though I could only think of Snowpiercer (graphic novel turned film with the same premise, but dystopian/post-apocalyptic) as I read the descriptions of the various cars and class separation.
The train's pretty cool too, though I could only think of Snowpiercer (graphic novel turned film with the same premise, but dystopian/post-apocalyptic) as I read the descriptions of the various cars and class separation.