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kitkatpanicattack's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I hate the Cuban government circa early 1990s.
note: read for ENGL 420/Young Adult Literature
note: read for ENGL 420/Young Adult Literature
duobond's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
caragray02's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
lelliereads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
Even though I like novels in verse, this book to me is a case of "I really wish this had been a novel in prose". I learned a lot about Cuba and the author's note at the end really explains the humanitarian crisis and some lore used in the book. This is clearly a personal and own-voices story and I really love some of the ideas that this book brings. My only problem is that I don't think this novel in verse did that story total justice. It feels a little incomplete and I wish that some of the thoughts that were brought up were explored more (ie- how there is plenty of food and government money for tourists while millions starve, how the US and Russia played devastating roles in Cuba's hunger crisis, the dichotomy of trying to build a raft and flee versus stay in a famine etc). I also wanted to know more about the two main characters themselves. I felt that was a bit lacking. Overall, an important YA story centered around the humanitarian hunger crisis in Cuba!
Even though I like novels in verse, this book to me is a case of "I really wish this had been a novel in prose". I learned a lot about Cuba and the author's note at the end really explains the humanitarian crisis and some lore used in the book. This is clearly a personal and own-voices story and I really love some of the ideas that this book brings. My only problem is that I don't think this novel in verse did that story total justice. It feels a little incomplete and I wish that some of the thoughts that were brought up were explored more (ie- how there is plenty of food and government money for tourists while millions starve, how the US and Russia played devastating roles in Cuba's hunger crisis, the dichotomy of trying to build a raft and flee versus stay in a famine etc). I also wanted to know more about the two main characters themselves. I felt that was a bit lacking. Overall, an important YA story centered around the humanitarian hunger crisis in Cuba!
carareadsthebooks's review
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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