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nicolson729's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Vomit, and Bullying
Minor: Toxic friendship, Drug use, Sexual content, and Physical abuse
kitrook's review against another edition
3.75
jesus that was grim. i feel like it really could have benefitted from being longer, but it was an interesting novel because really no one wins. however, I felt like as a reader I didn't really have any stakes in the game because it was too short. I liked the narrative style difference between Todd and Georgia (3rd person vs 1st). It gives you the feeling that Todd's Spirit, his Essence, his Being is already gone.
more information about content warning nuances in spoilers
content warning for minor/adult relationship is because one is assumed, however it does NOT actually happen. it is a false assumption made by others. murder is criminally negligent manslaughter and not a hate crime
more information about content warning nuances in spoilers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, and Bullying
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
february_friday's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have loved Mariko Tamaki's graphic novels for a very long time. So since I heard she has also written a couple of novels, I have been really excited to try them out. This one is a dual POV novel about the murder of a teenage boy. One of the narrators is the ghost of the boy, and the other is Georgia, a girl who has nothing to do with the murder but ends up getting involved in her own investigation.
This book was more of an exploration of the experience of being a queer teenager, which in parts got a bit triggering for how accurate it was. Tamaki's characters always feel extremely real, almost like I was watching security camera footage I wasn't supposed to see. It also has a bit of a plot, making the story's pain bearable. On that same note, this was a great murder mystery! Even though that wasn't the main goal of the author, I found myself as surprised as the main character when she found out what actually happened.
I must admit that the book may not be for everyone, but if you are the type of reader who enjoys character studies that also discuss relevant topics, I think you will love this one.
This book was more of an exploration of the experience of being a queer teenager, which in parts got a bit triggering for how accurate it was. Tamaki's characters always feel extremely real, almost like I was watching security camera footage I wasn't supposed to see. It also has a bit of a plot, making the story's pain bearable. On that same note, this was a great murder mystery! Even though that wasn't the main goal of the author, I found myself as surprised as the main character when she found out what actually happened.
I must admit that the book may not be for everyone, but if you are the type of reader who enjoys character studies that also discuss relevant topics, I think you will love this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Bullying
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Sexual content and Outing
libscote's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Told in alternating view between Georgia, an outcast queer teen, and Todd, the dead teen in question, this story outlines the murder of a boy and the steps that led to that conclusion. It didn't go the way I thought, which was a fun change. It is a book with another dead LGBTQ+ individual, but the author acknowledges why they did it in an author note at the end which I found helpful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual content, and Bullying
caseythereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thanks to Macmillan Publishing for the free advance copy of this book.
- COLD is a quick, gripping YA murder mystery. At less than 250 pages, the story moves along at a clip, dragging you directly into Todd and Georgia's minds as they unravel the events surrounding Todd's death.
- It's sad and tense and terrible and I just had to know what happened. I felt so deeply for these two kids, outcasts in different ways, just trying to be themselves and be accepted for it.
- It does feel very neatly tied up at the end, but I think one can expect a YA mystery to be a little less messy than an adult murder mystery novel.
- COLD is a quick, gripping YA murder mystery. At less than 250 pages, the story moves along at a clip, dragging you directly into Todd and Georgia's minds as they unravel the events surrounding Todd's death.
- It's sad and tense and terrible and I just had to know what happened. I felt so deeply for these two kids, outcasts in different ways, just trying to be themselves and be accepted for it.
- It does feel very neatly tied up at the end, but I think one can expect a YA mystery to be a little less messy than an adult murder mystery novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Fatphobia
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