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karishoe's review against another edition
2.0
I know this book came from a very personal place but it was too dark for me. I appreciate how brave the author is but found it utterly depressing.
thelaurasaurus's review against another edition
4.0
A harrowing, heartbreaking tale of a young girl dealing with the death of a parent, paedophilia, abuse, neglect, mental illness, prostitution... I wanted a happy ending for her, I kept waiting for her to rise up from all the pain, but the terribly sad ending suited the story, and really, nothing else would have fitted.
I found the style original; written in the first person, through the eyes (and limited vocabulary) of the girl, it was moving and allowed the author to play around with grammatical rules. The ‘thoughts’ section at the end was a bit weird. I don’t think it added anything to the story, it might even have taken away from it.
I found the style original; written in the first person, through the eyes (and limited vocabulary) of the girl, it was moving and allowed the author to play around with grammatical rules. The ‘thoughts’ section at the end was a bit weird. I don’t think it added anything to the story, it might even have taken away from it.
snoakes7001's review against another edition
5.0
This is a tear-jerker of a book. I genuinely couldn't read it last thing at night as it is just too sad.
I'm not a fan of what I term miserylit, but there is nothing sensationalist or voyeuristic about this. It's simply the tragic story of a neglected and deeply unhappy little girl as she tries to find out who and where is Adam, and why her mother has gone looking for him.
I'm not a fan of what I term miserylit, but there is nothing sensationalist or voyeuristic about this. It's simply the tragic story of a neglected and deeply unhappy little girl as she tries to find out who and where is Adam, and why her mother has gone looking for him.
chrissireads's review against another edition
3.0
Given the synopsis I certainly wasn’t expecting a happy read. In Search of Adam is a tough read because it can be incredibly graphic. I think the writing is the strength in this book.
Jude’s story is told very simply, but in an utterly believable way. My heart immediately went out to Jude and I just wanted things to get better for her. It is distressing, so I don’t think this book is for everyone.
I think what was particularly interesting was the way in which Caroline Smailes played with language to help the reader see the world from Jude’s eyes. Lists were used, rhyme and repetition, grammar was also played with. I think the lists attempted to show how Jude had to control her world. Sentences were often fragmented, which can be quite frustrating to read, but really show how Jude had to accept what was happening to her bit by bit.
Caroline Smailes ultimately made me root for Jude and want justice for her. I won’t say what happened because I don’t want to spoil it, but if you’re considering reading this book, read it with an open mind. Be ready to experience some frustrations.
Jude’s story is told very simply, but in an utterly believable way. My heart immediately went out to Jude and I just wanted things to get better for her. It is distressing, so I don’t think this book is for everyone.
I think what was particularly interesting was the way in which Caroline Smailes played with language to help the reader see the world from Jude’s eyes. Lists were used, rhyme and repetition, grammar was also played with. I think the lists attempted to show how Jude had to control her world. Sentences were often fragmented, which can be quite frustrating to read, but really show how Jude had to accept what was happening to her bit by bit.
Caroline Smailes ultimately made me root for Jude and want justice for her. I won’t say what happened because I don’t want to spoil it, but if you’re considering reading this book, read it with an open mind. Be ready to experience some frustrations.
sarah_faichney's review against another edition
5.0
Judging by the reviews, some people seem to miss the point of this book. It is a very tough read but it's one that should be pushed upon every adult in the country. The issues in this book are very real. There are many abused children in our midst. My hope is that this extremely well-written novel makes each of us more aware and alert. Many children don't have a voice. Many children just like Jude. Another important point is that bereavement in children is very often overlooked which can have far-reaching consequences. This novel is realism at its finest. Thank you for writing it, Caroline Smailes.
ceri_reads's review
3.0
I was very unsure of this book. The plot is fabulous but the way it was written was not for me. I understand the main character Jude had a mental illness but I couldn't get into her way of thinking. The story left me feeling sad and uncomfortable. Having said that I would give another book by this author a try.
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