Scan barcode
crippytay's review against another edition
5.0
This book was my first love. I painted my childhood bedroom in these colors. It helped me first process the suicide of my uncle. I will love it forever.
mallorykjorgensen's review against another edition
4.0
Awards Won: Newbery Honor (2003)
Age Level: Young Adult
What a refreshing book. Mental illness is an important and pertinent topic that is often discussed. However, I rarely see it depicted as it was in this story. Part of me was surprised by the ending, and yet somehow I expected it. I can see why this book was chosen as a Newbery Honor book. The language and details that the main character, Hattie, uses to depict her life are so simplistic, yet the reader is immediately drawn into her story. Anyone who believes that 12 year olds are not people with their own real thoughts and opinions should read this story. They will quickly change their mind.
Age Level: Young Adult
What a refreshing book. Mental illness is an important and pertinent topic that is often discussed. However, I rarely see it depicted as it was in this story. Part of me was surprised by the ending, and yet somehow I expected it. I can see why this book was chosen as a Newbery Honor book. The language and details that the main character, Hattie, uses to depict her life are so simplistic, yet the reader is immediately drawn into her story. Anyone who believes that 12 year olds are not people with their own real thoughts and opinions should read this story. They will quickly change their mind.
ri_lei_gh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I wish this book was written for an older audience. It’s difficult to convey darker and possibly distressing themes in a books for younger readers, but Martin did a fantastic job.
mel_j's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Ableism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicide
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
abigail_lo's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the premise & plot of the book, and the surprise twist at the end was unexpected, but the overall execution of this book was a bit too childish for my tastes. If only Ms. Martin wrote for older teens!
impybelle's review against another edition
4.0
Once upon a time I remembered reading fairly good things about this book along with the fact that it's sad. So my brain filed the sad but good (or good but sad, depending on your mood) and then I promptly did nothing with this knowledge because I've found that AMM's non-BSC books have a way of finding me. And find me this one did, at the top of a bag of books I was given to read.
I debated for a minute not reading this one first but my inner BSC fangirl insisted. And it opens a bit slow, as Hattie's vacation unfolds before her in the summer of 1960. The first couple of chapters really are slow and I can see why this might lose some people, but about the time Hattie learns of her ~secret uncle~ the story picks up and if not for the fact that this was my before bed book, I probably would have finished it in one sitting. But I parceled it out because my brain kept reminding me it was tagged sad.
Which it is. Adam, Hattie's uncle, is what some might've called a bit funny or not quite right back in the day. We're never given anything official as a diagnosis and I don't really think it's required. All we need to know is that Adam sees the world differently from his family and the vast majority of Millerton, the family's home town. He's spent most of his life at a special school that has just been shuttered and now is back at home with parents who very clearly don't quite know what to do with him. As a character, Adam is pretty interesting and it broke my heart when he killed himself. Part of it felt like it came completely out of left field and part of it was choreographed just well enough with a comment here and a look there so the reader feels the same way Hattie does about it. Sad but not entirely surprised once you think about it.
I'm guessing the blow-back for the book came from Hattie's comment about Adam's decision to take his life as being a type of bravery, even if it's not one she'd choose. And by guessing I mean I read the line and went "well, shit, there it is," and flipping through the lower rated reviews on page 1 kind of cemented that theory. I get why it would/does bug people, particularly in a book aimed at younger readers, and I also get why it's worded the way it is.
The combo of being on the fence about that and mostly the calendar trick giving me flashbacks to high school in the worst way knocked a star off, but overall I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
I debated for a minute not reading this one first but my inner BSC fangirl insisted. And it opens a bit slow, as Hattie's vacation unfolds before her in the summer of 1960. The first couple of chapters really are slow and I can see why this might lose some people, but about the time Hattie learns of her ~secret uncle~ the story picks up and if not for the fact that this was my before bed book, I probably would have finished it in one sitting. But I parceled it out because my brain kept reminding me it was tagged sad.
Which it is. Adam, Hattie's uncle, is what some might've called a bit funny or not quite right back in the day. We're never given anything official as a diagnosis and I don't really think it's required. All we need to know is that Adam sees the world differently from his family and the vast majority of Millerton, the family's home town. He's spent most of his life at a special school that has just been shuttered and now is back at home with parents who very clearly don't quite know what to do with him. As a character, Adam is pretty interesting and it broke my heart when he killed himself. Part of it felt like it came completely out of left field and part of it was choreographed just well enough with a comment here and a look there so the reader feels the same way Hattie does about it. Sad but not entirely surprised once you think about it.
I'm guessing the blow-back for the book came from Hattie's comment about Adam's decision to take his life as being a type of bravery, even if it's not one she'd choose. And by guessing I mean I read the line and went "well, shit, there it is," and flipping through the lower rated reviews on page 1 kind of cemented that theory. I get why it would/does bug people, particularly in a book aimed at younger readers, and I also get why it's worded the way it is.
The combo of being on the fence about that and mostly the calendar trick giving me flashbacks to high school in the worst way knocked a star off, but overall I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
blyttgh's review against another edition
4.0
04/19/18 4.5/5 One of those books that will just stick with you for the rest of your life. I’m glad I reread it so many years later.
metricks's review against another edition
4.0
Nicks 4th grade class is reading this. It's a good story, but would not recommend for younger readers. The topic is a dark and the issues the main character encounters are too complicated for kids to fully grasp. That said, it would be a great book for teens. Should spawn some excellent discussions
emcanaday's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.25
absolutely gut wrenching - but a good read to get back into the habit of reading.