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giuliana_ferrari's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm clearly not the right audience for this book, and I still think young boys and girls would greatly take lessons from it. However, I wasn't a fan on how the story so quickly wrapped up and I felt a lot of development was missing. I've seen more detail and construction in even shorter novels. On and all I won't think too deep, it's a story about growing up and it's well done. Also wasn't a big fan on how fatphobic all the characters are; I know the book is a couple of decades old but it made me uncomfortable to read how all of the bad characters are described as flabby, giants, fat, etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Fatphobia
felixmarauder's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I was prepared and not prepared for the ending of this book and the author did a good job of pulling feelings from me. But the constant fat shaming didn't age well and bothered me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Child death, and Body shaming
bruhmantics's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Child death
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can always count on this book as a re-read to make me feel feelings. And it definitely hits different as a parent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Fatphobia
aely's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Cursing, Sexism, Cancer, and Misogyny
mamreads0816's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
goobslayer9019_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think this is a really powerful book that should be shown to children everywhere! There are a few flaws though. The book is leaking with fat phobia. Every character in the book that has a bad personality also happens to be overweight. There's no need for this in any novel and it is angering that is so present in a children's novel. The friendship between the two main characters is done beautifully and it really hits you at the end of the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Child death
alesehunter's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Child death
Moderate: Child abuse
desiderium_incarnate's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's difficult for me to rate this book. I will try my best though.
1. There is so much fatshaming in the first half of it, it's awful, but a lot of the things in there are.
2. I was debating rating this book sad, but it isn't. Not in it's entirety. Maybe 10-15 pages of it are. Full of shock, anger, denial, grief, exactly what you would expect (very nicely done btw to describe some stages of grief), but the most part is two kids becoming friends and creating their own imaginary world.
3. I never watched the movie and only knew a spoiler before reading, that Leslie dies at the end . So the whole book I was anxious and worrying about what would kill her and when and how and why etc. Parallel Jess was also anxious about everything so it got even more.
4. I think you need to reflect on this book quite a bit. A lot of subjects are just brought up but never really evaluated properly. I mean, of course, the narrator is a child, so it makes sense, but that is exactly why having discussions on some of the topics is so relevant this is a children's book, it's necessary to think about the content and what stays with the children that read it, so maybe talk to them about it, if they want.
5. I think this book hits hard anyways but if it brings up your own associations to stuff, that digs in very deep.
All in all, very easy to read, good storyline and stays in your head. I understand now that the story means so much to many people.
1. There is so much fatshaming in the first half of it, it's awful, but a lot of the things in there are.
2. I was debating rating this book sad, but it isn't. Not in it's entirety. Maybe 10-15 pages of it are. Full of shock, anger, denial, grief, exactly what you would expect (very nicely done btw to describe some stages of grief), but the most part is two kids becoming friends and creating their own imaginary world.
3. I never watched the movie and only knew a spoiler before reading
4. I think you need to reflect on this book quite a bit. A lot of subjects are just brought up but never really evaluated properly. I mean, of course, the narrator is a child, so it makes sense, but that is exactly why having discussions on some of the topics is so relevant this is a children's book, it's necessary to think about the content and what stays with the children that read it, so maybe talk to them about it, if they want.
5. I think this book hits hard anyways but if it brings up your own associations to stuff, that digs in very deep.
All in all, very easy to read, good storyline and stays in your head. I understand now that the story means so much to many people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, and Fatphobia