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ellliesbooks06's review against another edition
5.0
I undoubtedly need a hard copy of this book on my shelf and reread it as much as I can. There are passages that I need present in my daily life. I want my daughters to read it. I want to share it with other people's daughters. Thank you, Mary!
#CallMeAthena #NetGalley
#CallMeAthena #NetGalley
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Excrement
thesassybookworm's review against another edition
5.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
First, I am in LOVE with the cover of this book. It's just beautiful.
First, I am in LOVE with the cover of this book. It's just beautiful.
rowanhill's review against another edition
5.0
This novel-in-verse about love, tragedy, and overcoming adversity was an emotional rollercoaster. The story is told through three different perspectives: Mary, Jeanne, and Gio. Mary’s story takes place in Detroit during The Great Depression as her family struggles to survive in a struggling economy and a society increasingly hostile towards immigrants. Jeanne and Gio’s stories take place during World War I with Jeanne living in France and Gio living in Greece. Each character faces their own hardships and tragedies, but they still manage to find love and dreams for the future. The poetic format in which each story enhances the impact of each moment beautifully no matter where it hits on the emotional spectrum.
What makes this book stand out for me is its almost brutal commitment to realism. Though the book tricks you into believing each character will have a straightforward journey, it turns into something quite different. They are faced with adversities, tragedies and triumphs that shape and change their goals and how they view themselves. Dreams are lost, sacrificed, and/or shifted. People’s minds don’t change easily, but it’s because they think they’re doing what’s right. Nothing is clear cut as the whole range of human experience for each character is explored in turn.
I think that this piece has a lot of depth for a YA book and there are many successful elements. However, I feel that there was some opportunity missed in tying Jeanne and Gio’s stories with Mary’s. Mary finds their letters and reads them, but she does not seem to respond to them in any way other than keeping them secret. As a result, the letters just seem like a handy way to tie in the other stories rather than a meaningful part of Mary’s experience or point of view. We also don’t get much of Jeanne’s and Gio’s perspective in the 1930s which might have added another layer of depth to the story. Additionally, I am a little disappointed Mary calls herself Athena when there is a far more significant and consistent connection to Joan of Arc; a similarly powerful female figure.
As stated previously, this is a book written in verse. It is a good book for those who enjoy this poetic format or who are experiencing it for the first time. I also find that this format makes it enjoyable for both YA and adult readers. However, if you do not usually enjoy the poetic format, you will likely find this book a bit heavy handed. I experienced this book as an audiobook and felt the narrator did a pretty good job. However, given the type of book this is, listening will naturally be a different experience from reading. There are positives and negatives to both types of reading experience and it really comes down to personal preference on this one.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this audiobook ARC!
What makes this book stand out for me is its almost brutal commitment to realism. Though the book tricks you into believing each character will have a straightforward journey, it turns into something quite different. They are faced with adversities, tragedies and triumphs that shape and change their goals and how they view themselves. Dreams are lost, sacrificed, and/or shifted. People’s minds don’t change easily, but it’s because they think they’re doing what’s right. Nothing is clear cut as the whole range of human experience for each character is explored in turn.
I think that this piece has a lot of depth for a YA book and there are many successful elements. However, I feel that there was some opportunity missed in tying Jeanne and Gio’s stories with Mary’s. Mary finds their letters and reads them, but she does not seem to respond to them in any way other than keeping them secret. As a result, the letters just seem like a handy way to tie in the other stories rather than a meaningful part of Mary’s experience or point of view. We also don’t get much of Jeanne’s and Gio’s perspective in the 1930s which might have added another layer of depth to the story. Additionally, I am a little disappointed Mary calls herself Athena when there is a far more significant and consistent connection to Joan of Arc; a similarly powerful female figure.
As stated previously, this is a book written in verse. It is a good book for those who enjoy this poetic format or who are experiencing it for the first time. I also find that this format makes it enjoyable for both YA and adult readers. However, if you do not usually enjoy the poetic format, you will likely find this book a bit heavy handed. I experienced this book as an audiobook and felt the narrator did a pretty good job. However, given the type of book this is, listening will naturally be a different experience from reading. There are positives and negatives to both types of reading experience and it really comes down to personal preference on this one.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this audiobook ARC!
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
I love novels in verse and I love historical fiction, but this one just dragged on.
maryreadstoomuch's review against another edition
4.0
"Call Me Athena. She wasn't a good Greek girl either."
In 1930s Detroit, Mary struggles with the expectations of her Greek immigrant parents and her opposing need to be a modern American girl. This book works particularly well on audio - I loved hearing Mary's voice (read by Gail Shalan) and I could easily relate to her coming of age tale. Mary's narrative is interspersed with letters and flashbacks to her parents' lives, showing the reader how the struggles the three different narrators experience echo each other.
This is a young adult book that I think families would enjoy reading together, since you get all of the different generational perspectives. It's a concise read but definitely packs an emotional punch. I loved that the story is loosely based on real events and that it helped me learn about a period in US history I'm less familiar with.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an ALC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In 1930s Detroit, Mary struggles with the expectations of her Greek immigrant parents and her opposing need to be a modern American girl. This book works particularly well on audio - I loved hearing Mary's voice (read by Gail Shalan) and I could easily relate to her coming of age tale. Mary's narrative is interspersed with letters and flashbacks to her parents' lives, showing the reader how the struggles the three different narrators experience echo each other.
This is a young adult book that I think families would enjoy reading together, since you get all of the different generational perspectives. It's a concise read but definitely packs an emotional punch. I loved that the story is loosely based on real events and that it helped me learn about a period in US history I'm less familiar with.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an ALC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
lilybear3's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This is a beautiful immigrants' story of coming to the U.S. and starting a new life. I loved the different perspectives coming from different time periods. I love novels in verse and this one was so unique.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Pregnancy, and Classism
jterbrack's review against another edition
4.0
Novels-in-verse are always in high demand in my high school library, and I'm so happy to have this one to offer to students! So good!!
agreattopdog's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
thebloggess's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful novel in verse about immigration, the Great Depression, family, love and more.