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redfae's review
5.0
Wow! You must read this book.
The voices of the characters were so vivid. I could see them as real people. Even Al. These people will stay with me forever.
The story was heartbreaking and expertly written. I had to find out what happened next and sometimes I had to calm down before going to bed. I had no idea how it would end. I was shocked by the revelations but it made sense.
Never has a novel caused me to shake with anger, fear and sadness all at once. OMG! As a writer I want to learn from Danielle’s mastery. As a reader I am desperate for more!
Despite all the sadness and ugliness the novel still has a happy ending. But, there is also a strong message about bullying and suicide. This book should be read in every high schools and discussed. This book could save lives.
The voices of the characters were so vivid. I could see them as real people. Even Al. These people will stay with me forever.
The story was heartbreaking and expertly written. I had to find out what happened next and sometimes I had to calm down before going to bed. I had no idea how it would end. I was shocked by the revelations but it made sense.
Never has a novel caused me to shake with anger, fear and sadness all at once. OMG! As a writer I want to learn from Danielle’s mastery. As a reader I am desperate for more!
Despite all the sadness and ugliness the novel still has a happy ending. But, there is also a strong message about bullying and suicide. This book should be read in every high schools and discussed. This book could save lives.
linwearcamenel's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
anakuroma's review
4.0
TW: suicide and description of body, suicide ideation, racism, homophobia, severe and graphic bullying, PTSD
This is a story centering suicide. A harrowing yet important one of grief, anger, loss, betrayal and cruelty, but also hope, love, care, and burning brightly no matter what, because we are made of the stars.
This is a story centering suicide. A harrowing yet important one of grief, anger, loss, betrayal and cruelty, but also hope, love, care, and burning brightly no matter what, because we are made of the stars.
xabs3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
smbrady15's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book made me experience so many different emotions, it made me cry multiple time but it also made me want to throw hands at some of its characters. This book is such an amazing book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Suicide
elliemayxox's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Suicide
thebookguru's review
5.0
Wow just wow. This book!!! So beautifully written and just a stunning debut!
mazza57's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book via netgalley and Simon and Schuster Childrens UK. First of all let me say this is definitely not my description of a children's books. Its themes are far too dark and deeply explored to be suitable for anyone under 13 (in my opinion). Goodreads has it as a young adult book and this sits better with how it reads for me. Even with these readers i think it is a book that should be read or discussed with an adult whilst reading.
The author has written a book that carries a message deeply personal to her and this is apparent in the beautifully scripted narrative. It has a multitude of thematic lines - not just bullying but also the emotions surrounding death such as guilt and despair. This is all wrapped up in something which is almost an homage to individual beauty and the meaning of individual lives. I loved the imagery of the stars.
Perhaps from personal knowledge she has captured the desire to conform, the horrors of the web used wrongly and the characterisation perfectly. This is a powerful novel and should form part of the literary oeuvre in senior schools.
The author has written a book that carries a message deeply personal to her and this is apparent in the beautifully scripted narrative. It has a multitude of thematic lines - not just bullying but also the emotions surrounding death such as guilt and despair. This is all wrapped up in something which is almost an homage to individual beauty and the meaning of individual lives. I loved the imagery of the stars.
Perhaps from personal knowledge she has captured the desire to conform, the horrors of the web used wrongly and the characterisation perfectly. This is a powerful novel and should form part of the literary oeuvre in senior schools.
secre's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This is one of those books that I really wish I had liked more than I actually did. It's a heavy book that deals with important topics, and by and large it handles them sensitively. Nathan's brother Al took his own life and Nathan is now struggling to comprehend a world without his brilliant brother in it. In his quest for answers, he finds that Nathan was hiding some troubling secrets. The novel is clearly trying to educate on how damaging bullying - even cyber bullying - can be and the long term effects it can have. It also depicts the effects of suicide on those closest to the individual.
With the topic matter being so raw, I almost feel guilty picking it apart, but I did find that the narrative dragged a bit and was slower than it needed to be suggesting that the book really could have done with being edited down. The first hundred and fifty pages just dragged and whilst things did click together as Nathan discovers more about Al's life and his final days, it took a long time to go anywhere. The message when it finally comes is important, but it's not as impactful as it could have been given tighter pacing and framing.
The writing style also didn't really work for me. The two character perspectives had the same 'voice', which is always problematic when they are meant to be very different characters. I also struggled with the dialects used; the overuse of 'wot' and 'summat' for example just grated on me. The characterisations felt fairly thin with few of the characters really leaping off the page at you. Nathan is perhaps the strongest character, but everybody else felt fairly lack lustre.
So in some ways an important book, but it's also one that didn't click with me the way I thought it would.
With the topic matter being so raw, I almost feel guilty picking it apart, but I did find that the narrative dragged a bit and was slower than it needed to be suggesting that the book really could have done with being edited down. The first hundred and fifty pages just dragged and whilst things did click together as Nathan discovers more about Al's life and his final days, it took a long time to go anywhere. The message when it finally comes is important, but it's not as impactful as it could have been given tighter pacing and framing.
The writing style also didn't really work for me. The two character perspectives had the same 'voice', which is always problematic when they are meant to be very different characters. I also struggled with the dialects used; the overuse of 'wot' and 'summat' for example just grated on me. The characterisations felt fairly thin with few of the characters really leaping off the page at you. Nathan is perhaps the strongest character, but everybody else felt fairly lack lustre.
So in some ways an important book, but it's also one that didn't click with me the way I thought it would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Bullying, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Toxic friendship