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weisserbastelkleber's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sabbygee's review
2.0
This review and more at Sab The Book Eater
Thin Ice is about a boy with a terrible home life and his quest in finding a real home. This book was simply not for me. There were certain aspects of it that I liked but as a whole, but I couldn't connect with it on any level.
The characters in the book seemed really flat and quite odd, especially the ones in the small town Mik's Aunt Lena lives. You'd think that them being a bunch of odd townsfolk would give them a bit of depth. However they all seemed just that: odd. It's almost as if they were odd because they were townies and townies are supposed to be odd. They were fun to read about because they definitely made the story livelier by just how weird they all are (there's this girl who sucked on Mik's earlobe when they met. How weird and inappropriate is that?) but I just didn't care about them at all. Their weirdness was entertaining but not endearing. Mik was well developed, I got to give him that. He went through a lot of pains living with a perpetually drunk father then eventually being passed around by social services. However there were more moments where I felt like he was being a big brat. I guess I can't blame him though - he's just a kid, clueless to everything that's happening around him, forced to deal with a really difficult situation. I did like reading about his gradual (bordering on too slow) transformation.
I do have to say though that what the story lacked in character development made up for with adventures. Considering the protagonist in the book is a boy with kids around the same age as him, I'd say their adventures were well written and highly imaginative. Sadly though, that wasn't enough for me to like the book entirely. The way the story ended wasn't really appealing. It was almost like everything happened because that's what happy endings are about but it wasn't written in a better way. Speaking of writing, I had trouble getting into the story because of how the chapters were cut and sentences were formed. It was almost like most of the time, the writing felt....distant. Detached. Emotionless. (Awkward.) I could only feel Mik's emotions whenever he wrote to his brother Tony about the weird things he witnessed, or how he felt when he went to a new school, or what he did whenever he was scared. But I didn't get as much insight from him as I'd hoped. 6th graders are allowed to have some insight, right? Maybe this could be due to the fact that this is an English translation. Perhaps things got "lost in translation." I don't know. The writing was a bit off. I can see how this book could work for some readers, especially those who's read enough books in this category but for me... not so much. At most, I thought it was okay.
Thin Ice is about a boy with a terrible home life and his quest in finding a real home. This book was simply not for me. There were certain aspects of it that I liked but as a whole, but I couldn't connect with it on any level.
The characters in the book seemed really flat and quite odd, especially the ones in the small town Mik's Aunt Lena lives. You'd think that them being a bunch of odd townsfolk would give them a bit of depth. However they all seemed just that: odd. It's almost as if they were odd because they were townies and townies are supposed to be odd. They were fun to read about because they definitely made the story livelier by just how weird they all are (there's this girl who sucked on Mik's earlobe when they met. How weird and inappropriate is that?) but I just didn't care about them at all. Their weirdness was entertaining but not endearing. Mik was well developed, I got to give him that. He went through a lot of pains living with a perpetually drunk father then eventually being passed around by social services. However there were more moments where I felt like he was being a big brat. I guess I can't blame him though - he's just a kid, clueless to everything that's happening around him, forced to deal with a really difficult situation. I did like reading about his gradual (bordering on too slow) transformation.
I do have to say though that what the story lacked in character development made up for with adventures. Considering the protagonist in the book is a boy with kids around the same age as him, I'd say their adventures were well written and highly imaginative. Sadly though, that wasn't enough for me to like the book entirely. The way the story ended wasn't really appealing. It was almost like everything happened because that's what happy endings are about but it wasn't written in a better way. Speaking of writing, I had trouble getting into the story because of how the chapters were cut and sentences were formed. It was almost like most of the time, the writing felt....distant. Detached. Emotionless. (Awkward.) I could only feel Mik's emotions whenever he wrote to his brother Tony about the weird things he witnessed, or how he felt when he went to a new school, or what he did whenever he was scared. But I didn't get as much insight from him as I'd hoped. 6th graders are allowed to have some insight, right? Maybe this could be due to the fact that this is an English translation. Perhaps things got "lost in translation." I don't know. The writing was a bit off. I can see how this book could work for some readers, especially those who's read enough books in this category but for me... not so much. At most, I thought it was okay.
annastarlight's review
4.0
It's hard for me to write a review of Thin Ice because I'm not familiar with the genre, and haven't read a book like it in years. I'll just stick to my thoughts while reading it, and hope that it gives you an idea of what the book is like.
Mik has a Snake inside him with wrong-way scales. They grate against his insides when he sees his father passed out from liquor again, when his older brother leaves to go sleep at a friend's house, when he has to tell his friend Ploppy that no, they can't play at Mik's house. Thin Ice is the story of Mik trying to find a home.
There are two things that influence the writing in this book. First, Thin Ice is a translated work. That means sometimes a joke will sound better in Swedish than it does in English, and sometimes a sentence will come across a bit choppy. I'm used to reading works in translation myself, but for someone that has read original English for their entire life it might feel different. Secondly, Thin Ice is a children's book. It has short sentences and short scenes, that make them readable for kids that don't have that high a reading level yet. If you're used to the flowery adult kind of writing, it might seem extra choppy and short to you.
Personally I thought the writing in Thin Ice was a perfect fit for the book. The descriptions were endearing and sounded exactly like a child would make them. It added a realistic atmosphere and prevented the book from turning preachy or condescending. Mik's situation is often bleak and horrifying. He doesn't have an easy life at all, and it rubs off on him. The way Thin Ice is written made me connect with him and feel for him.
Sometimes nerve-wrecking and constantly engaging, I very much enjoyed Thin Ice. The author kept us in suspense whether or not Mik would find a safe and loving home until the very end. Thin Ice is a lovely contemporary book about issues as alcoholism, abuse and the foster system, without it being depressing or offensive. Mr Engström handles all sensitive subject in an honest but non-graphic way. I think children will enjoy Mik's adventures as well as adults.
Mik has a Snake inside him with wrong-way scales. They grate against his insides when he sees his father passed out from liquor again, when his older brother leaves to go sleep at a friend's house, when he has to tell his friend Ploppy that no, they can't play at Mik's house. Thin Ice is the story of Mik trying to find a home.
There are two things that influence the writing in this book. First, Thin Ice is a translated work. That means sometimes a joke will sound better in Swedish than it does in English, and sometimes a sentence will come across a bit choppy. I'm used to reading works in translation myself, but for someone that has read original English for their entire life it might feel different. Secondly, Thin Ice is a children's book. It has short sentences and short scenes, that make them readable for kids that don't have that high a reading level yet. If you're used to the flowery adult kind of writing, it might seem extra choppy and short to you.
Personally I thought the writing in Thin Ice was a perfect fit for the book. The descriptions were endearing and sounded exactly like a child would make them. It added a realistic atmosphere and prevented the book from turning preachy or condescending. Mik's situation is often bleak and horrifying. He doesn't have an easy life at all, and it rubs off on him. The way Thin Ice is written made me connect with him and feel for him.
Sometimes nerve-wrecking and constantly engaging, I very much enjoyed Thin Ice. The author kept us in suspense whether or not Mik would find a safe and loving home until the very end. Thin Ice is a lovely contemporary book about issues as alcoholism, abuse and the foster system, without it being depressing or offensive. Mr Engström handles all sensitive subject in an honest but non-graphic way. I think children will enjoy Mik's adventures as well as adults.
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