Scan barcode
dearbhlanoonan's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, and Death
hamandaj's review
1.0
UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
That is how I felt about this book. I just did not like it. At all. I mean, there was a good twist, but come on. I get it, she's a poet, but does the entire last quarter of the book have to be in slam poetry-esque fragmented thoughts? (and that is coming from someone who has competed in slam poetry) I just wanted to know what happened. That is the reason I finished this book. I tried to like it, I really did, but it just was too discombobulated for me.
That is how I felt about this book. I just did not like it. At all. I mean, there was a good twist, but come on. I get it, she's a poet, but does the entire last quarter of the book have to be in slam poetry-esque fragmented thoughts? (and that is coming from someone who has competed in slam poetry) I just wanted to know what happened. That is the reason I finished this book. I tried to like it, I really did, but it just was too discombobulated for me.
lilibetbombshell's review
5.0
I’m looking at other reviews for this book on various sites and I’m seeing that my rating–and even my interpretation and reading of this book–is very different from most others. Mainly in that I loved every single bit of this book and totally understood every choice the author made.
It started out a little rough in the first 10% or so, as I tried to get my bearings and figure out what exactly was going on and why the author chose the narrative and prose styles used. Once I had that down I totally tucked into this beautifully-written, tragic, and yet triumphant book.
Some readers will have an issue with the prose and narrative in this novel, and that’s understandable. It’s a mix of lyrical prose, a touch of freeform poetry, and an ephemeral time-stream-of-consciousness. It’s definitely experimental, but devastatingly beautiful and perfect for this book (unlike some other books with experimental writing I’ve read this year so far).
There are just so many layers and themes in this book: misogyny, halcyon summers, how there are some places where you are always your authentic self to the exclusion of all others, and how there are some people you can only be your authentic self around without worrying about the eyes of the world outside judging you and holding you to certain expectations.
I especially loved the constant references to the term “naiad”. Naiads, in mythology, are female guardians of still waters. They can be deadly (look at what happened to poor Hylas), and the waters they inhabit have the ability to heal. In Greek mythology, boys and girls cut off a lock of their hair and tossed it into the local spring inhabited by their naiad at their coming-of-age ceremony. Once you read the book you’ll see why the double-meaning of naiads (both in an etymological way and an unmentioned mythological way) makes a stunning amount of sense in a macabre and beautiful manner.
Also, There’s a poem mentioned, quoted, and repeated in parts by Emily Dickonson called “My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun”, which is about keeping women silent–about taking away their voices. And this theme looms very large in the book.
I was entranced by this stunning book, written so carefully and gorgeous I couldn’t stop reading. I knew what was going to happen. I knew what was happening. But that was absolutely okay with me because it let me get lost in the words… and those words were worth the entire trip.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for early access to this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.
It started out a little rough in the first 10% or so, as I tried to get my bearings and figure out what exactly was going on and why the author chose the narrative and prose styles used. Once I had that down I totally tucked into this beautifully-written, tragic, and yet triumphant book.
Some readers will have an issue with the prose and narrative in this novel, and that’s understandable. It’s a mix of lyrical prose, a touch of freeform poetry, and an ephemeral time-stream-of-consciousness. It’s definitely experimental, but devastatingly beautiful and perfect for this book (unlike some other books with experimental writing I’ve read this year so far).
There are just so many layers and themes in this book: misogyny, halcyon summers, how there are some places where you are always your authentic self to the exclusion of all others, and how there are some people you can only be your authentic self around without worrying about the eyes of the world outside judging you and holding you to certain expectations.
I especially loved the constant references to the term “naiad”. Naiads, in mythology, are female guardians of still waters. They can be deadly (look at what happened to poor Hylas), and the waters they inhabit have the ability to heal. In Greek mythology, boys and girls cut off a lock of their hair and tossed it into the local spring inhabited by their naiad at their coming-of-age ceremony. Once you read the book you’ll see why the double-meaning of naiads (both in an etymological way and an unmentioned mythological way) makes a stunning amount of sense in a macabre and beautiful manner.
Also, There’s a poem mentioned, quoted, and repeated in parts by Emily Dickonson called “My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun”, which is about keeping women silent–about taking away their voices. And this theme looms very large in the book.
I was entranced by this stunning book, written so carefully and gorgeous I couldn’t stop reading. I knew what was going to happen. I knew what was happening. But that was absolutely okay with me because it let me get lost in the words… and those words were worth the entire trip.
Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for early access to this title in exchange for a fair and honest review.
curlyheadedone's review
2.0
Every summer Margaret and her friends, Rose, Flor and Nisreen return to Marshall Naval School. They spend their summer together in their own Neverland…away from all the worries of the world. Everything changes when Margaret meets a boy and their perfect summer slowly falls apart.
So I’m a little bummed that I did not enjoy this book more. To be honest the cover is what caught my attention and when I read the synopsis…it made me super interested in reading this book. *Sigh* however it didn’t really live up to what I expected. The book is written in this very beautiful kind of poetic style which gives the whole book this haunting feel. However that it also kind of its downfall because it honestly took me forever to understand what was going on. The book also jumps timelines, which kind of added to the confusion. There was a brief moment in the middle of the book were it made sense but for a good 60% I was kind of confused. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it was different writing style. It just really stinks that I didn’t enjoy it more.
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the advanced digital copy!
*I received a advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
spelton27's review
5.0
*Arc provided by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for am honest review.*
Haunting and hearbreaking. I Am Margaret Moore is the story of Deck Five and the two summer's that completely changes their lives. The sisterhood in this book is something anyone who enjoyed summer camp and bonded with their roommates/cabin mates would enjoy. Margaret is an aspiring poet so the way she speaks is just feels different. She's incredibly relatable when it comes to balancing being a child but old enough to have her actions have real life changing consequences. It's a story about growing up, friends, and how sometimes you things happen that change the course of your life forever.
Haunting and hearbreaking. I Am Margaret Moore is the story of Deck Five and the two summer's that completely changes their lives. The sisterhood in this book is something anyone who enjoyed summer camp and bonded with their roommates/cabin mates would enjoy. Margaret is an aspiring poet so the way she speaks is just feels different. She's incredibly relatable when it comes to balancing being a child but old enough to have her actions have real life changing consequences. It's a story about growing up, friends, and how sometimes you things happen that change the course of your life forever.
carleneinspired's review
3.0
Margaret Moore lives for the summers, for the day she heads back to Marshall Naval School and her best friends from Deck Five. She can't wait for the days filled with drill practice, late night sneak outs, and the perfect summer days where they leap in the water and visit her family's summer home. With past and present perspectives, we experience the summers leading up to this one, the one where things seem just a bit different and Margaret has a hard time remembering why it is so different. This summer there are whispers, there's missing girls, boys who have died, and with time soon Margaret's friends soon disappear too. Margaret must remember if she wants to finally know the truth.
I admit, by the middle of the book I had entirely forgotten that I Am Margaret Moore was also classified as paranormal, so hello, hi, I was totally taken by surprise with the twists. Insert embarrassed emoji face here. Honestly, had it not been I think I would have loved it way more, because experiencing the summers the girls had was incredible and Hannah Capin did such an excellent job bringing the characters to life. The drills, secret languages, and naval terms really took me into the setting and helped me understand just why the girls went to the school for the summer. Unfortunately, like others, I felt like even though the story truly took off in the second half that I was even more confused by the end. Yes, we get resolution, we know what has happened, why the girls are different now, but it doesn't happen easily. Time is difficult to track and there's really not a thriller within these pages, it's more of a coming-of-age paranormal.
I am Margaret Moore features a beautiful story of friendship, loss, and the difference between truths and lies. Unfortunately, it suffers from a confusing chapter layout and a paranormal touch that's hard to keep track of. It is a true young adult read, one I think many will enjoy, but just wasn't it for me.
ARC provided.
I admit, by the middle of the book I had entirely forgotten that I Am Margaret Moore was also classified as paranormal, so hello, hi, I was totally taken by surprise with the twists. Insert embarrassed emoji face here. Honestly, had it not been I think I would have loved it way more, because experiencing the summers the girls had was incredible and Hannah Capin did such an excellent job bringing the characters to life. The drills, secret languages, and naval terms really took me into the setting and helped me understand just why the girls went to the school for the summer. Unfortunately, like others, I felt like even though the story truly took off in the second half that I was even more confused by the end. Yes, we get resolution, we know what has happened, why the girls are different now, but it doesn't happen easily. Time is difficult to track and there's really not a thriller within these pages, it's more of a coming-of-age paranormal.
I am Margaret Moore features a beautiful story of friendship, loss, and the difference between truths and lies. Unfortunately, it suffers from a confusing chapter layout and a paranormal touch that's hard to keep track of. It is a true young adult read, one I think many will enjoy, but just wasn't it for me.
ARC provided.
rigel's review against another edition
1.0
Overall this book was just confusing to me... most of the story was just flowery writing and I ended up getting lost and really knowing what was going on. I was going to DNF it but when I checked how far in I was, I was at about 86% and just figured that I'd suck it up and finish. Was it worth it? In my opinion, no. Oh well.
thekentuckyfriedbibliophile's review
3.0
I was so excited to listen to this audiobook for the paranormal premise, but I was rather disappointed. The audio was in constant lyrical verse. Poetry is not my jam, so I feel like this is why I didn't really connect with the book.
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
Man, this book packed a punch, I loved these characters, and I loved reading their story!