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porlen's review
4.0
I liked the plot, and the writing style, and the characters, and just about everything about this book. The words that David Arnold wrote pierced right through my heart and I felt every feeling that he wanted me to feel.
Great read!
Great read!
night_owl9's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
sc104906's review
5.0
Several children come together and live together and work to make each other better, as well as the world.
I loved the concept and the characters. Each was well developed with a totally unique story. Loved it.
I loved the concept and the characters. Each was well developed with a totally unique story. Loved it.
alexperc_92's review
5.0
Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
While I have known about "Mosquitoland" the first book by this author, I actually began with "Kids of Appetite". And I loved it.
I loved the diverse characters and the issues of immigration, war, alchoolism and family abuse which were touched in an indirect way through the characters' back stories. Vic and the gang, each one of them was amazing and funny and so, so scarred. Coco knows how to steal the spotlight with her bad mouth and her innocence in the dark world she lives in; Zuz and his brother and Mad.
I liked how the story went back and forth as Vic's story and the rest of the gang comes closer and closer. And the ending was bittersweet but so so amazing!
I really liked this book and I'm looking forward for the next release of this author! ;)
While I have known about "Mosquitoland" the first book by this author, I actually began with "Kids of Appetite". And I loved it.
I loved the diverse characters and the issues of immigration, war, alchoolism and family abuse which were touched in an indirect way through the characters' back stories. Vic and the gang, each one of them was amazing and funny and so, so scarred. Coco knows how to steal the spotlight with her bad mouth and her innocence in the dark world she lives in; Zuz and his brother and Mad.
I liked how the story went back and forth as Vic's story and the rest of the gang comes closer and closer. And the ending was bittersweet but so so amazing!
I really liked this book and I'm looking forward for the next release of this author! ;)
dfmaiwat's review
3.0
The story isn’t quite as exciting as the cover made it out to be. This really is just a YA fiction about kids trying to find family in each other. The references towards The Outsiders and other “cutesy” metaphors try to push it to an indie whimsey that felt really forced for me. I feel it’s difficult to properly describe what I mean so imagine TFIOS’s moments of “Maybe okay will be our always” was tripled. It’s just not really my thing anymore. But two stars seems harsh. Just know what you’re getting into.
kblincoln's review
4.0
At a certain level of writing, it's not so much about the quality of the writing, or the ability of the writer to create a sense of the characters only imagined in their own head, but whether the reader is interested in that particular kind of universe. (Or if it was music, if the reader doesn't dig Beethoven, they're not going to give a good rating to the 5th Symphony).
Not that this is Beethoven, but Arnold's writing is definitely a specific flavor: contemporary literary. There's a somewhat nebulous plot-- looking for places to distribute the main character's father's ashes-- and quite a lot of "eccentric facts" that are a main part of the character development. I.e. the main character, Vic, has a paralyzed face (Moebius syndrome) and two other characters are refugees, and the main female foil to Vic has a half-shaved head and thinks in manifestos.
Part of me really likes all the eccentricities. That stuff is cool, man, and by the very focus on the odd, brings into stark relief the longing for normalness of this group of kids-- they're just looking for love and acceptance.
On the other hand, when switching between POV of Vic and Madeline, it was almost the same voice. I sometimes had to go check the chapter heading to remember who was who. And the parts with the police were interesting in a literary way, but I kept thinking to myself "why are the police letting these kids go off on anecdotal tangents so long?" which I know isn't fair to require reality in a literary novel like this, but did bug me.
Some other reviewer made a comparison to John Green's writing. I kind of agree with that, although his characters usually live somewhat more "normal" lives and have to contend with other players in their worlds (such as police) actually acting more realistic. However this book shares with Green's writing a full-throttle embrace of nerdy intellectualism that you either like or turns you off. I did like it, and was drawn in by Vics' emotional, heart-thinking voice and addiction to Opera song "The Flower Duet" (from Lakme, it's beautiful, its been featured in car commercials before, but if you've never heard it before go youtube it, even non opera fans won't be unmoved).
Not that this is Beethoven, but Arnold's writing is definitely a specific flavor: contemporary literary. There's a somewhat nebulous plot-- looking for places to distribute the main character's father's ashes-- and quite a lot of "eccentric facts" that are a main part of the character development. I.e. the main character, Vic, has a paralyzed face (Moebius syndrome) and two other characters are refugees, and the main female foil to Vic has a half-shaved head and thinks in manifestos.
Part of me really likes all the eccentricities. That stuff is cool, man, and by the very focus on the odd, brings into stark relief the longing for normalness of this group of kids-- they're just looking for love and acceptance.
On the other hand, when switching between POV of Vic and Madeline, it was almost the same voice. I sometimes had to go check the chapter heading to remember who was who. And the parts with the police were interesting in a literary way, but I kept thinking to myself "why are the police letting these kids go off on anecdotal tangents so long?" which I know isn't fair to require reality in a literary novel like this, but did bug me.
Some other reviewer made a comparison to John Green's writing. I kind of agree with that, although his characters usually live somewhat more "normal" lives and have to contend with other players in their worlds (such as police) actually acting more realistic. However this book shares with Green's writing a full-throttle embrace of nerdy intellectualism that you either like or turns you off. I did like it, and was drawn in by Vics' emotional, heart-thinking voice and addiction to Opera song "The Flower Duet" (from Lakme, it's beautiful, its been featured in car commercials before, but if you've never heard it before go youtube it, even non opera fans won't be unmoved).
drea_design's review
4.0
More of a 3.5 stars than 4. I received this book in a giveaway. I have never read books from David Arnold before and I must admit, I do enjoy his style of writing. His perspective is unique and a breath of fresh air. I hope to read more of his work.
elkila's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Death of parent
Moderate: War, Ableism, Child abuse, and Murder