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anna_c's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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? No
3.0
msethna's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked: I have been reading a lot of dark YA stories lately and this one while deep, was a much lighter read. There was no talk of suicide, drugs, cutting, etc. This is the story of a boy who runs away from home with his dead father's ashes on his way to find all the places his father wanted to be spread after he passed away. Along the way Vic meets Mad and her misfit friends who help him solve some of his riddles. There are themes of friendship, love, and family that carry on throughout the book. The characters are really and have a sweet, caring sense about themselves. There is also a bit of a mystery that is weaves throughout as well. While confusing in the beginning, it all made sense to me later on.
What I didn't love: the plot moves back and forth between present day and two weeks prior. There were times I had to stop and look back to see when the chapter was taking place. Some chapters moved faster than others but even in the end I don't regret continuing to read this story.
What I liked: I have been reading a lot of dark YA stories lately and this one while deep, was a much lighter read. There was no talk of suicide, drugs, cutting, etc. This is the story of a boy who runs away from home with his dead father's ashes on his way to find all the places his father wanted to be spread after he passed away. Along the way Vic meets Mad and her misfit friends who help him solve some of his riddles. There are themes of friendship, love, and family that carry on throughout the book. The characters are really and have a sweet, caring sense about themselves. There is also a bit of a mystery that is weaves throughout as well. While confusing in the beginning, it all made sense to me later on.
What I didn't love: the plot moves back and forth between present day and two weeks prior. There were times I had to stop and look back to see when the chapter was taking place. Some chapters moved faster than others but even in the end I don't regret continuing to read this story.
potatq's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t remember much about this. I just know that I loved the found family trope in this one.
sigridlof's review against another edition
5.0
Such a good book. Intelligent, funny, intriguing.
I'm. In. Love.
I'm. In. Love.
artmushroommoth's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book a while back and wanted to write a review for this book. When I say that I was heartbroken that the book ended, I meant it. This is one of my favorite books of all time, and it is truly such a unique way to portray illnesses, romance and ice cream. I could not set this book down.
tswizzlemcrizzle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.75
eslismyjam's review against another edition
4.0
This is a kind of lovely, quirky read with a John Green-esque tone. I didn't read[b:Mosquitoland|18718848|Mosquitoland|David Arnold|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1402661616s/18718848.jpg|26584442] but it's clear that I should. Arnold creates a vibrant cast of characters. My favorite was definitely Coco with her potty-mouth and precocious attitude.
The whole thing feels like an off-beat indie movie and while there really isn't much new territory covered here, the way that Arnold writes is wholly original. I admit I was a little confused/off-put by the constant use of epilepsies in between lines of text.
The biggest strength of this book is the authenticity of the characters. With a large cast it can be difficult to get all the characters right and feeling truly alive. KOA has characters that certainly feel real. There are a myriad of issues touched on here: grief, homelessness, war refugees, abuse and disability. Somehow despite the sheer number of THINGS dealt with the story doesn't feel cobbled together or overstretched, these things help to create a more complexed, nuanced whole story.
The whole thing feels like an off-beat indie movie and while there really isn't much new territory covered here, the way that Arnold writes is wholly original. I admit I was a little confused/off-put by the constant use of epilepsies in between lines of text.
The biggest strength of this book is the authenticity of the characters. With a large cast it can be difficult to get all the characters right and feeling truly alive. KOA has characters that certainly feel real. There are a myriad of issues touched on here: grief, homelessness, war refugees, abuse and disability. Somehow despite the sheer number of THINGS dealt with the story doesn't feel cobbled together or overstretched, these things help to create a more complexed, nuanced whole story.