Reviews

The Meadows by Stephanie Oakes

hbecker0944's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

decacat's review

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

leemac027's review

dark emotional hopeful medium-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

4.0

An LGBT version of Handmaid’s Tale - chilling but hopeful.

bowlofspaghetti's review

emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

adhesivedolphin's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I cried during this one in the best way. The trauma that the characters experience early in the novel and where that takes them in their lives is heartbreaking. But it's also deeply loving of the queer experience and the truth of who we are. To its strength, this book never uses words like lesbian, queer or trans-- we just experience people who are these things. The idea that removing language can't change who we truly are was a beautiful concept executed perfectly. 

tschuulia's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

midnightbooklover's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I have not read a dystopian novel in a very long time. Once upon a time it was all I read. I was obsessed. And I’m actually sad that I stopped.

This book was really interesting and disturbing. It’s scary when you start to realize that some of this already happens. 

The Meadows is truly beautiful and so heartbreaking all at once. This book is so important. While this is YA, I think it could be read by older folks too. Please look up the triggers if you need them.

I highly recommend reading this one. The audiobook was also fantastic.

marthe1998's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

clairefrances_8's review

Wasn’t in the mood.
The trigger warning about conversion camps for queer kids was well founded and I didn’t want to get to a point where there was harm done to the main characters.

fictionalmandy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25