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anuskamat's review against another edition
1.0
No hay nada peor que leer un libro y antes de que acabe saber que es lo que va a pasar, pues es lo que me ha ocurrido con este libro, sólo he fallado en un punto, por todo lo demás... un auténtico final feliz americano totalmente predecible.
bryncallie's review
emotional
informative
reflective
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? No
4.5
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
4.0
This reminded me of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" in that it used beautiful writing and an intimate, personal story, to portray horrific violence - in this case, the physical, psychological, individual, and national violence of the Rwandan genocide.
d52s's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing story and one which needs to be told about the Rwanda genocide.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I must say the first half was a bit plodding. I was anxious for things to pick up, and I felt confused by the age of the main character as she seldom updates his age over time. I also found little things in her writing that I felt were way overused - like the constant references to his roommate's tongue.
Once you hit the second half, it's difficult to put this book down or to get the story out of your mind. It's frightening to think this all took place in the 1990s. I highly recommend this book.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I must say the first half was a bit plodding. I was anxious for things to pick up, and I felt confused by the age of the main character as she seldom updates his age over time. I also found little things in her writing that I felt were way overused - like the constant references to his roommate's tongue.
Once you hit the second half, it's difficult to put this book down or to get the story out of your mind. It's frightening to think this all took place in the 1990s. I highly recommend this book.
antidietleah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Death, Police brutality, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Child death, and War
Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Rape
apol27's review against another edition
4.0
In the country so many of us were so ignorant of what was happening in Rwanda, I learned so much from this book. I didn't love the writing style but I was riveted by the story of an love, family, politics, the power of athletics to "almost" overcome the politics of a country. As a Jew, we have learned about the Holocaust- to never forget, but this was happening during our lifetime and the West simply did nothing to stop it.
amorgan43's review
3.0
Not as powerfully written as it could have been or should have been, given the heartbreaking and horrific subject matter.
dobbydoo22's review
1.0
I didn't know when I picked this book up that it's apparently a YA novel, which wouldn't have necessarily been a bad thing...but it's an incredibly poorly written and bland YA novel, and the author manages to take one of the most complex and passionate periods of the late 20th century and turn it into cardboard. To say this book was a slog would be an understatement.
toastyghostie's review
5.0
Beautifully written. One of the few books I'd recommend to anyone and everyone without hesitation.
emmadkreads's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning of the book was fairly slow-paced, but as you continue through the narrative you can understand why. The book encompasses a large span of time in Jean Patrick’s life. Without understanding his childhood it would be harder to appreciate what he goes through as he grows older. The book was beautifully written, and extremely inspiring.