Scan barcode
michael_martinez's review
3.0
I picked up this book because David Arnold's Mosquitoland was one of my favorite books of last year. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one as much. For me the first half of the book was just really slow and a tad boring. I didn't start to get invested in the story and the characters until the later half, but when I did I couldn't put it down.
dolnick's review
4.0
This book is hard for me to properly define. It's very similar to Mosquitoland (namely in its uniqueness), yet very different. It is a compelling love story between two teenagers, while - alternatively - being a very heartbreaking tale about learning to let go after someone beloved does. There is something about the book (though I cannot place what exactly that "something" is) that made it not completely live up to my expectations, while there is also something about the book that made it incredibly hard to put down. The main character of the book, Vic, is very interested in "simultaneous extreme opposites," which is very fitting, given my feelings for the book. In the end, it is definitely a worthwhile read, though not my favorite book from 2016.
supergirlkk's review
4.0
Did not like as much as Mosquitoland, but once I got into it I thoroughly enjoyed it.
maaikemmm's review against another edition
4.0
prachtig boek, soms even lastig om te volgen maar uiteindelijk wordt alles duidelijk. grappig en emotioneel.
readwithpassion's review
5.0
I fell into this book. From the moment I started reading, I had difficulty putting it down. David Arnold has true talent at engaging readers in a thought-provoking story in which the characters have great depth. The allusions to The Outsiders will not be lost on readers. This group of kids captured my heart just like the kids within the classic. Comparing the two stories is interesting, but this book explores very different issues, and I appreciated that the author didn't seem to intentionally align the texts too much.
The point-of-view alternates between two characters, Vic and Mad. Vic has Moebius Syndrome, which causes partial facial paralysis. He is grieving the loss of his father and struggling to come to terms with his mother's new relationship (and the mean-spirited step-brothers that come along with this). Mad is a tortured soul---dedicated to her grandmother but struggling with the losses of her parents and a very difficult situation (no spoilers here). The other members of the crew, who don't have their own narrative sections but whose voices are very powerful, have individual struggles that weigh on them. This group of kids finds solace in each other, and the dynamic between them is unforgettable.
I'd love to include this book in a group of literature circle books that all reflect disability. I think it would be particularly interesting to explore the intersections between friendship and disability. Students might examine and conceptualize their definitions of normal. The ALAN Review's Fall 2016 issue is about (Re)Defining Normal, and many of the articles would be very useful for this very topic.
Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=11113 (Full review will go live on my blog on September 26.)
The point-of-view alternates between two characters, Vic and Mad. Vic has Moebius Syndrome, which causes partial facial paralysis. He is grieving the loss of his father and struggling to come to terms with his mother's new relationship (and the mean-spirited step-brothers that come along with this). Mad is a tortured soul---dedicated to her grandmother but struggling with the losses of her parents and a very difficult situation (no spoilers here). The other members of the crew, who don't have their own narrative sections but whose voices are very powerful, have individual struggles that weigh on them. This group of kids finds solace in each other, and the dynamic between them is unforgettable.
I'd love to include this book in a group of literature circle books that all reflect disability. I think it would be particularly interesting to explore the intersections between friendship and disability. Students might examine and conceptualize their definitions of normal. The ALAN Review's Fall 2016 issue is about (Re)Defining Normal, and many of the articles would be very useful for this very topic.
Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=11113 (Full review will go live on my blog on September 26.)
lurdes_oliveira's review against another edition
2.0
Peguei neste livro porque adorei "Viagem à procura de mim". No entanto, este livro foi difícil. A história segue Vic e a sua jornada para espalhar as cinzas do seu pai. Mas depois transforma-se num livro do John Green…
A maneira como os adolescentes nesta história pensam, falam e agem é demasiado peculiar. Fá-los parecer pretensiosos e não autênticos. As pessoas não falam em metáforas o tempo todo. Os adolescentes não falam assim!
E a Mad… a Mad é uma Manic Pixie Dream Girl, é um clichê. Puro e simples.
E o "Super cavalo de corrida" é tão irritante ...
I picked this up because I enjoyed Mosquitoland so much. However, I really struggled with this one. The story follows Vic's journey to scatter his father's ashes. But then turns in to a John Green book…
The way the teenagers in this story think and talk and act is too quirky. It makes them seem pretentious and unauthentic. People just don't talk in metaphors all the damn time. Teenagers don't speak like this!
And Mad… Mad is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, she's a cliché. Pure and simple.
And the thing with the "Super Racehorse" was so annoying…
A maneira como os adolescentes nesta história pensam, falam e agem é demasiado peculiar. Fá-los parecer pretensiosos e não autênticos. As pessoas não falam em metáforas o tempo todo. Os adolescentes não falam assim!
E a Mad… a Mad é uma Manic Pixie Dream Girl, é um clichê. Puro e simples.
E o "Super cavalo de corrida" é tão irritante ...
I picked this up because I enjoyed Mosquitoland so much. However, I really struggled with this one. The story follows Vic's journey to scatter his father's ashes. But then turns in to a John Green book…
The way the teenagers in this story think and talk and act is too quirky. It makes them seem pretentious and unauthentic. People just don't talk in metaphors all the damn time. Teenagers don't speak like this!
And Mad… Mad is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, she's a cliché. Pure and simple.
And the thing with the "Super Racehorse" was so annoying…
sverville's review
5.0
An amazing and emotional journey. A must read for fans of contemporary literature.
greatolcatsby's review
3.0
TRIGGER WARNING FOR ABUSE
This is a Super Racehorse of a book. This book is a nicely written, touching story with an interesting concept. I may not have felt a personal connection to the characters but that didn’t stop me from liking the book for what it was.
This is a Super Racehorse of a book. This book is a nicely written, touching story with an interesting concept. I may not have felt a personal connection to the characters but that didn’t stop me from liking the book for what it was.