Reviews

Improper Order by Deirdre Sullivan

ihatefantasy_carebear's review

emotional relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

Ah
May
Zing✨✨✨✨

foggy_rosamund's review

4.0

Opening approximately a year after the events of Prim Imperfect, this follows Prim as she navigates her ongoing grief at the loss of her mum, her unsteady relationship with her dad, as well as friends, boys, school and animal companions. Deirdre Sullivan pulls off a really neat narrative trick here: usually writers of YA either create a funny, spunky narrative full of jokes or grapple with serious problems, such as grief, self-harm, and depression. Sullivan manages to do both without making light of the weighty problems, or making the funny moments less entertaining. In doing so, she makes Prim a very rounded characters, and creates a sense of realism: too often, we forget that hurt can go hand in hand with humour, and that mischief can be a positive coping mechanism. Life contains both great word-play and great emotional pain, and it is to Sullivan's credit that she can evoke both in one narrative.