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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Absolutely spellbinding from the first word to the last. A rollercoaster of emotions similar to "White Oleander."
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
shit man one of the best books i have read i cried so much in this one
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
very heavy for a kids book, but not too difficult that a kid in middle school wouldn’t be able to understand. read in one night, and made me cry. the main character’s life is very complicated and there are times where you aren’t sure if you are supposed to like her or not, but the book does a really good job of showing how a person who has major flaws can still be loved by the reader and the characters around them. a very well written children’s book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism
This was one of my favourite Jacqueline Wilson books and I repeatedly reread it as a preteen. Thinking back on it, it's horrifically depressing and very dark, so I'm not sure I'd appreciate it to much as an adult. I read it at the age of 12 and I'd say this is the the youngest it's appropriate for. Looking at what Wilson is currently publishing, her writing is definitely getting darker! Nowadays I tend to prefer her stories for younger kids, such as [b:Lizzie Zipmouth|850251|Lizzie Zipmouth|Jacqueline Wilson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178896668s/850251.jpg|499682], probably because they're not as depressing. But still, I used to love this book so I'll keep it for sentimental reasons.
Adored this. So heartbreaking and touching. Intriguing from start to finish. The ending was fantastic.
I was a little bit disappointed when I finished. Not because of the ending, but because the story ended right after it started to get fun. The ending is really good, though, very unexpected!
Since I recently re-read My Sister Jodie to see if it effected me the same as when I first read it as a child, I thought I would do it again, but this time, I read Dustbin Baby. This is another of Jacqueline Wilson’s books that I remember having quite a deep story.
Alongside re-reading the book, I wanted to watch the ITV film adaptation.
Dustbin Baby is a story about 14 year old April who was abandoned in a dustbin just after she was born. When she’s discovered by a pizza restaurant worker, she gets 5 seconds of fame in the newspaper as the “Dustbin Baby.” From there on out, April bounces from foster home to foster home, never quite settling down and making friends. Throughout the book, we follow April on her 14th birthday as she skips school on a quest to find out more about herself.
The film does an excellent job of portraying this as well. All the actors do a very well in filling out their characters and drawing you into the story, keeping you invested. A lot of film adaptations miss out a lot of important details to save screen time, but Dustbin Baby feels very close to the book. There are a few slight changes between the book and the film, but nothing that takes away from the story and its meaning.
Overall, the book is a captivating story of a young girl who has had a difficult childhood growing up, with the theme of self discovery, and also how your family isn’t always the people you are related to by blood. Even when reading as an adult, I was still strongly emotionally effected by this book.
There's an extended version of this review on my blog:
https://loiereads.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/dustbin-baby-a-review-film-adaptation-comparison/
Dustbin Baby is a story about 14 year old April who was abandoned in a dustbin just after she was born. When she’s discovered by a pizza restaurant worker, she gets 5 seconds of fame in the newspaper as the “Dustbin Baby.” From there on out, April bounces from foster home to foster home, never quite settling down and making friends. Throughout the book, we follow April on her 14th birthday as she skips school on a quest to find out more about herself.
The film does an excellent job of portraying this as well. All the actors do a very well in filling out their characters and drawing you into the story, keeping you invested. A lot of film adaptations miss out a lot of important details to save screen time, but Dustbin Baby feels very close to the book. There are a few slight changes between the book and the film, but nothing that takes away from the story and its meaning.
Overall, the book is a captivating story of a young girl who has had a difficult childhood growing up, with the theme of self discovery, and also how your family isn’t always the people you are related to by blood. Even when reading as an adult, I was still strongly emotionally effected by this book.
There's an extended version of this review on my blog:
https://loiereads.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/dustbin-baby-a-review-film-adaptation-comparison/
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Christ this book was dark lmao. The first 20 pages and main character who is 14 btw was talking about child birth and abandoneding a baby. Also the main character is the WORST.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual assault
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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:
No
So depressing!! I mean, a really good, at times poignant book, about love and family and acceptance, but really don't let children who are too young read! Very very strong.
includes subjects like (obviously) an abandoned baby, the troubles of adoption, her first family breaking up, her foster mom's suicide, and bullying in her other homes, until she's finally happily adopted
includes subjects like (obviously) an abandoned baby, the troubles of adoption, her first family breaking up, her foster mom's suicide, and bullying in her other homes, until she's finally happily adopted
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment