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meetmeinmalkovich's review against another edition
3.0
I found this at a library book sale for 25 cents, and really only picked it up because the cover is cool. Come to find, this is actually a good book. Of course it leaves off on a dreadful cliffhanger, but eventually I will find the other two in the trilogy.
heidimrogers's review against another edition
4.0
I was guessing through the whole book, wondering what, exactly, kind of story this was. Which kind of bugged me. BUT. I loved the characters and the writing. The main character is 12, but I found the material a little heavy for that age, personally. And there was a major cliff-hanger, so now I have to read the second book.
He had me on page 19 with this quote:
"Kids had given up on teasing him back in fifth grade when it became obvious that you can call a guy Captain Catpoop all you want, but if he embraces the name by having it ironed onto his own T-shirt, he basically has you beat."
He had me on page 19 with this quote:
"Kids had given up on teasing him back in fifth grade when it became obvious that you can call a guy Captain Catpoop all you want, but if he embraces the name by having it ironed onto his own T-shirt, he basically has you beat."
turrean's review against another edition
2.0
I can't give this a useful "number of stars" rating, because the book was not my cuppa tea at all. At all. It reminded me very strongly of some of Stephen King's best stuff: the terror of the mundane gone twisty, and a feeling of distance from the horrific events from one's childhood. Another reviewer on Goodreads compared it to Stephen King's It, which I thought was very apt.
The writing is sophisticated and atmospheric. The very first chapter was spine tingling--the image of those dead eyes opening under the water! The otherworldly Aquavania sequences, in particular, are wonderful: bizarre and dreamlike and increasingly terrifying. This is an author who has high expectations of the literary savvy of his YA audience. For example, when Alistair describes Fiona as "not the girl next door," Starmer obviously expects the reader to know that this is a literary trope, and what that cliche might imply for the relationship between Fiona and Alistair.
But as the story progressed, it just felt so dark and hopeless to me. There are some moments of, for lack of a better word, humanity: Alistair's parents are obviously concerned for their son's well-being. There's a sympathetically portrayed principal at the school. And the main character himself obviously tries to do the right thing. But among the YA characters, there is practically zero authentic kindness. Mostly there's name-calling and mockery, including at the school assembly after a student is involved in a horrific accident.
This is one of those books where cruelty in the pre-teen and teen set is a stand-in for "realism." I remember the callousness and the mockery, yes. What person ever really forgets how kids can be toward one another? But I also remember friendship and good humor and hope for the future, of which there is very little among the 13 to 18 year-olds in The Riverman. I see it's the beginning of a trilogy, making the cliffhanger ending more understandable. But I doubt I'll be back for further installments.
And wow, the cover art was a dreadful choice. Not that it's bad in and of itself, but it makes the book appear to be for a much younger audience. I wouldn't hand this to anybody under the age of 14. Though the main characters are supposed to be around 12, their self-reflection and their conversation belong to much older kids. In fact, this strikes me as a book mismatched to its audience. I know plenty of adult horror fans who would be thrilled by the fantastic storytelling. But the marketing and the cover art will keep it out of their hands.
The writing is sophisticated and atmospheric. The very first chapter was spine tingling--the image of those dead eyes opening under the water! The otherworldly Aquavania sequences, in particular, are wonderful: bizarre and dreamlike and increasingly terrifying. This is an author who has high expectations of the literary savvy of his YA audience. For example, when Alistair describes Fiona as "not the girl next door," Starmer obviously expects the reader to know that this is a literary trope, and what that cliche might imply for the relationship between Fiona and Alistair.
But as the story progressed, it just felt so dark and hopeless to me. There are some moments of, for lack of a better word, humanity: Alistair's parents are obviously concerned for their son's well-being. There's a sympathetically portrayed principal at the school. And the main character himself obviously tries to do the right thing. But among the YA characters, there is practically zero authentic kindness. Mostly there's name-calling and mockery, including at the school assembly after a student is involved in a horrific accident.
This is one of those books where cruelty in the pre-teen and teen set is a stand-in for "realism." I remember the callousness and the mockery, yes. What person ever really forgets how kids can be toward one another? But I also remember friendship and good humor and hope for the future, of which there is very little among the 13 to 18 year-olds in The Riverman. I see it's the beginning of a trilogy, making the cliffhanger ending more understandable. But I doubt I'll be back for further installments.
And wow, the cover art was a dreadful choice. Not that it's bad in and of itself, but it makes the book appear to be for a much younger audience. I wouldn't hand this to anybody under the age of 14. Though the main characters are supposed to be around 12, their self-reflection and their conversation belong to much older kids. In fact, this strikes me as a book mismatched to its audience. I know plenty of adult horror fans who would be thrilled by the fantastic storytelling. But the marketing and the cover art will keep it out of their hands.
carstensena's review against another edition
4.0
I don't read a lot of middle grade, but I am really glad I gave this one a go. Read for HVLA bookgroup. Great premise, characters, and writing. I didn't realize until I was finished that it is the first in a trilogy, and I will gladly keep reading! But that fact does explain the rather odd twist at the end. Or at least excuse it.
While the cover makes it look younger, this is probably best for 7th or 8th graders.
While the cover makes it look younger, this is probably best for 7th or 8th graders.
lphel's review against another edition
4.0
I never considered reading this book until a student recommended it. I'm glad I did! It was much darker than expected and definitely went in a direction I wasn't expecting, but Starmer has a way with words and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Recommended for more mature readers, as there is some questionable content. The protagonist was 12 years old but would have been much more believable as 15 or older.
sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
In this magically real world, Fiona Loomis is able to travel to a fantasy world of her own creation. However, while there a dangerous presence begins appearing and she wants to tell her story before something deadly happens. Alstair is the chosen weirdo, who is charged with listening to Fiona's story and making sense of it. Alstair is caught between believing Fiona and finding out what is truly troubling her. All the while, he must deal with his growing romantic feelings for her and the fact that his best friend blew off his fingers with fireworks.
This book is what I imagine a Tim Burton film would be in book format. I wasn't completely a fan, but I was able to get into the groove a fourth of the way in. I will not be finishing the series, but it is perfect for the offbeat loners. This book was set in the 1980s, though it didn't really impact the story.
This book is what I imagine a Tim Burton film would be in book format. I wasn't completely a fan, but I was able to get into the groove a fourth of the way in. I will not be finishing the series, but it is perfect for the offbeat loners. This book was set in the 1980s, though it didn't really impact the story.
biblialex's review against another edition
3.0
A dark bit of magical realism for... kids? It's a very interesting book, but I can't really say yet whether I actually liked it or not.
froydis's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for early access to this title.
What a great story! Very fun to read, and has some very suspenseful moments in it. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Kyle and Alastair. It doesn't say on Goodreads, but this has to be the first in a series. The story is no where near finished. I'm on pins and needles to see what happens next!
What a great story! Very fun to read, and has some very suspenseful moments in it. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Kyle and Alastair. It doesn't say on Goodreads, but this has to be the first in a series. The story is no where near finished. I'm on pins and needles to see what happens next!
msseviereads's review against another edition
5.0
Uh.... what just happened? I want to start this book over. Clearly I'm missing something, or I've missed really important clues as I went through. Alastair and Charlie and Fiona feel like real people to me -- not characters in a book. I will keep trying to make meaning of this...
antimony's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i read this book a long time ago (when i was in fifth grade, because my dad and i saw it at a bookstore and he said the cover art reminded him of wildwood, and since i have always loved the cover art on wildwood i got this from the library and read it) and then reread today. and HOWWWW did it not leave a more lasting impression on me it was really good. and yet i forgot every single detail.
(though i do think it should not have been middle grade. i would age the characters up a bit. whenever i remembered that they were 12 (or at least that alistair was 12, since fiona technically wasn't) i was thrown for a bit of a loop.)
also i sadly convinced myself before reading that there were interior illustrations and i was quite sad that there were not. but that did not detract from my enjoyment! the writing was really good and i really enjoyed the way that it's an outside perspective of a portal fantasy like from the pov of someone who is not in the portal fantasy but knows the person who is i don't know if that makes sense.
(though i do think it should not have been middle grade. i would age the characters up a bit. whenever i remembered that they were 12 (or at least that alistair was 12, since fiona technically wasn't) i was thrown for a bit of a loop.)
also i sadly convinced myself before reading that there were interior illustrations and i was quite sad that there were not. but that did not detract from my enjoyment! the writing was really good and i really enjoyed the way that it's an outside perspective of a portal fantasy like from the pov of someone who is not in the portal fantasy but knows the person who is i don't know if that makes sense.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
A big part of the plot is kids going missing, but since it isn't graphic and it's in a fantasy sort of way I am not quite sure how to trigger tag it.