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kim_lommaert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Murder, War, Kidnapping, Fatphobia, Bullying, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Animal cruelty
kementari's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was cute. I picked it up as an audiobook to listen to on Libby while I worked, and I enjoyed the whimsical, adventurous "Middle Grade"ness of it all. I did feel like the character arcs got a little repetitive: Our main characters go through multiple downfalls and redemptions throughout the course of the story, which could have been slightly consolidated.
I liked both our main characters though, despite their flaws. I appreciated the way they played off of each other. I was far more interested in their story than the story of most of the characters around them, and I felt like the boys got very little development despite being a very steady presence throughout the book. Hort and Dot were some stand-out side characters that deserved better.
By the end of this book, I still wasn't sure if it was the gayest straight romance or the straightest gay romance I've ever read. I'll probably give the sequels a listen and see if there's any clarity there.
Over all, a solid middle grade book that I feel like both adults and children would enjoy.
Minor: Fatphobia
An odd reoccurring issue in this book was casual fat-shaming. It was usually presented as a bad thing, like insults coming from villainous characters or through the pressure of conformity and vanity among the princesses, but it was never adequately deconstructed and felt a little jarring. I had to look up the book to see when it was written, because it felt more 2003 than 2013.avaa1000's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Bullying
strawberrymushie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Classism, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Death of parent
catherinedsharp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship
lct's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Bullying
Minor: Death of parent and Homophobia
cozywithraven's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gore, Genocide, Misogyny, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Slavery
soph22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Fatphobia and Body shaming
niseag's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexism