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hayleynoellereads's review
2.0
I don’t know how this book found it’s way into my kindle because I never bought it. But I decided to read it because the premise was so ridiculous and I am a sucker for retellings. I’ve read a few Wizard of Oz retellings and I don’t think I’ve liked any of them. This one is no exception. It is beyond silly but in a way that made me want to see it through to the end. Nothing about this book is believable but that’s okay. It was entertaining. I think what would have made it better would be to hike up the blood and guts and and overall unbelievability of it. But good try.
mlboyd20's review against another edition
3.0
Review coming on August 23rd. Come check it out that date on my blog, Word to Dreams. http://wordtodreams.blogspot.com
charleyreads's review against another edition
2.0
This YA over-the-top fantasy apocalyptic romance follows Zipporah (aka Zippy) as she tries to find her way to Seattle to be united with her online first love. The story starts with Zippy boarding a plane on her way to an ‘anti-gay’ camp being sent there by her authoritative super religious father. On a whim she stows herself away in a strangers suitcase and in a completely unbelievable (seriously, unbelievable) turn of events she ends up in the cargo hold when the plane mysteriously crashes.
The story unfolds as Zippy meets a boy with no brain (concussion), a man with a heart that doesn’t work (heart defect) and a random dog (called Judy, yes really, Judy).
I was expecting this book to be a quirky fairy tale retelling with LGBT twist. I was unfortunately disappointed. The story was fast enough paced but some of the themes seemed completely random. There was no real reason for the dinosaurs, oh yeah, did I mention that the world is being over taken by dinosaurs? It seemed completely random and I felt like the story would have advanced just fine without the dinosaurs and it felt very cluttered with that addition.
Overall the characters were cute, the romance was realistic given the time (it’s set in the late 90’s) and the throwbacks to the 90’s were lovely. Even though all these things were great it was over shadowed by the bizarre additives and twists.
Overall it’s a good novelty novel but unfortunately that’s where it ends. It could have been an amazing coming of age fantasy LGBT novel but it fell short by trying too hard. Such a shame.
The story unfolds as Zippy meets a boy with no brain (concussion), a man with a heart that doesn’t work (heart defect) and a random dog (called Judy, yes really, Judy).
I was expecting this book to be a quirky fairy tale retelling with LGBT twist. I was unfortunately disappointed. The story was fast enough paced but some of the themes seemed completely random. There was no real reason for the dinosaurs, oh yeah, did I mention that the world is being over taken by dinosaurs? It seemed completely random and I felt like the story would have advanced just fine without the dinosaurs and it felt very cluttered with that addition.
Overall the characters were cute, the romance was realistic given the time (it’s set in the late 90’s) and the throwbacks to the 90’s were lovely. Even though all these things were great it was over shadowed by the bizarre additives and twists.
Overall it’s a good novelty novel but unfortunately that’s where it ends. It could have been an amazing coming of age fantasy LGBT novel but it fell short by trying too hard. Such a shame.
lenoreo's review against another edition
https://celebrityreaders.com/2018/07/31/over-the-rainbow-by-brian-rowe/
DNF @ 22% — Uhhhh…. I got this one almost 5 years ago, I think because someone whose reviews I follow loved it. I can honestly say that we must have different tastes. I was NOT a fan of the writing style at all. It felt…simplistic? The characters came across really flat and almost like caricatures. I didn’t care about Zippy at all. There were no subtleties here, if that makes any sense. Honestly, I could tell in the first few pages that this was likely not going to be for me, so I highly recommend checking out the sample beforehand, and if you feel similarly to me, you should know fairly quickly.
Honestly, I was trying to push through b/c I don’t read a lot of books containing lesbians, and I wanted to switch in a non-contemporary book (since I read a lot of contemp). But then we got to the rum part, and then the trippy dream, and I got bored and couldn’t do it anymore. At a certain point you just have to admit when a book isn’t connecting with you.
DNF @ 22% — Uhhhh…. I got this one almost 5 years ago, I think because someone whose reviews I follow loved it. I can honestly say that we must have different tastes. I was NOT a fan of the writing style at all. It felt…simplistic? The characters came across really flat and almost like caricatures. I didn’t care about Zippy at all. There were no subtleties here, if that makes any sense. Honestly, I could tell in the first few pages that this was likely not going to be for me, so I highly recommend checking out the sample beforehand, and if you feel similarly to me, you should know fairly quickly.
Honestly, I was trying to push through b/c I don’t read a lot of books containing lesbians, and I wanted to switch in a non-contemporary book (since I read a lot of contemp). But then we got to the rum part, and then the trippy dream, and I got bored and couldn’t do it anymore. At a certain point you just have to admit when a book isn’t connecting with you.
bibliocat4's review against another edition
3.0
arc from net galley
I don't know why this was called a modern day telling of the Wizard of Oz, I really don't see it. This book was what I would call magical realism and it really isn't my genre. Dinosaurs and the rapture just don't make any sense to me at all.
I don't know why this was called a modern day telling of the Wizard of Oz, I really don't see it. This book was what I would call magical realism and it really isn't my genre. Dinosaurs and the rapture just don't make any sense to me at all.
hayleynoellereads's review against another edition
2.0
I don’t know how this book found it’s way into my kindle because I never bought it. But I decided to read it because the premise was so ridiculous and I am a sucker for retellings. I’ve read a few Wizard of Oz retellings and I don’t think I’ve liked any of them. This one is no exception. It is beyond silly but in a way that made me want to see it through to the end. Nothing about this book is believable but that’s okay. It was entertaining. I think what would have made it better would be to hike up the blood and guts and and overall unbelievability of it. But good try.
amburhostyn's review against another edition
5.0
I have been intrigued with Over the Rainbow ever since I heard about its Kickstarter campaign and helped back it...and now that I've read it, I have to say that it was pretty amazing, and I am definitely proud to have helped Brian Rowe get Zippy's story out into the world. Not only did this story broach the subject of homophobia and the heinous idea that someone can be "straightened out" as Zippy's dad put it, it also just told a wonderful story about overcoming obstacles, adversity, and finding the one you love.
I absolutely loved Over the Rainbow. The characters were wonderful, and I loved the parallels between it and the Wizard of Oz. Zippy's friends were all clearly in homage to the group that Dorothy has with her in. Frankie = Scarecrow, Mr. Balm = The Tinman, Elle = The Cowardly Lion, Judy = Toto and I also presumed that the dog alluded to the wonderful Judy Garland as well, and of course, Zippy acts as Dorothy and her father as the Wicked Witch of the West. I loved that the characters shared similarities with those in the Wizard of Oz, but I also loved that they fully became characters of their own and I loved the relationships that they all had with Zippy. I also enjoyed Zippy and Mira's relationship. I loved getting to read their email exchanges and I won't tell you if they actually meet up because that's totally a spoiler...but I will say that this book definitely does have a happy ending, so that may give you a hint about all that. ;)
Overall, I thought that Over the Rainbow was a truly wonderful story. I also appreciated Brian Rowe's efforts to get it out there! There really aren't many stories with lesbian main characters, and I may not be a lesbian myself, but I really don't think having a different sexual orientation from the narrator will hinder readers in any way, and it really shouldn't. Zippy isn't a stereotype, and she isn't defined by her sexual orientation...she's just herself, and she's trying to be happy, and to be happy she needs to be with the girl she loves, even if her father thinks the fact that she loves girls is a complete blasphemy.
Over the Rainbow is set in 1999 (for the most part, it also has several flashbacks that go further back), but I think that the different reactions to both Zippy and Frankie's sexual orientation are definitely authentic, and I like to think that we have come some way from there...and hopefully, with fantastic books like this, those that might think poorly on others based on their sexual orientation will finally see that who we love and are attracted to shouldn't be what defines us, and it really shouldn't be something that we judge each other for. We're all people who deserve to be treated with kindness, equality, and allowed the freedoms and rights that we all have been granted thanks to the people who have come before us.
I would recommend Over the Rainbow to anyone who enjoys a story that deals with overcoming obstacles to reach someone you love with the help of your friends. I also think fans of the Wizard of Oz who like quirky narrators, or people who like journeys and stories about friendship will enjoy this one. Also as I mentioned, the narrator is a lesbian in this book, so I definitely have to mention that anyone looking for interesting stories dealing with overcoming judgement and facing adversity because of sexual orientation will like this. Plus...there are dinosaurs, and some pretty trippy Alice in Wonderland-like moments, which I thought were pretty awesome. I loved it though, and I hope that you give it the chance and that you love it, too!
I absolutely loved Over the Rainbow. The characters were wonderful, and I loved the parallels between it and the Wizard of Oz. Zippy's friends were all clearly in homage to the group that Dorothy has with her in. Frankie = Scarecrow, Mr. Balm = The Tinman, Elle = The Cowardly Lion, Judy = Toto and I also presumed that the dog alluded to the wonderful Judy Garland as well, and of course, Zippy acts as Dorothy and her father as the Wicked Witch of the West. I loved that the characters shared similarities with those in the Wizard of Oz, but I also loved that they fully became characters of their own and I loved the relationships that they all had with Zippy. I also enjoyed Zippy and Mira's relationship. I loved getting to read their email exchanges and I won't tell you if they actually meet up because that's totally a spoiler...but I will say that this book definitely does have a happy ending, so that may give you a hint about all that. ;)
Overall, I thought that Over the Rainbow was a truly wonderful story. I also appreciated Brian Rowe's efforts to get it out there! There really aren't many stories with lesbian main characters, and I may not be a lesbian myself, but I really don't think having a different sexual orientation from the narrator will hinder readers in any way, and it really shouldn't. Zippy isn't a stereotype, and she isn't defined by her sexual orientation...she's just herself, and she's trying to be happy, and to be happy she needs to be with the girl she loves, even if her father thinks the fact that she loves girls is a complete blasphemy.
Over the Rainbow is set in 1999 (for the most part, it also has several flashbacks that go further back), but I think that the different reactions to both Zippy and Frankie's sexual orientation are definitely authentic, and I like to think that we have come some way from there...and hopefully, with fantastic books like this, those that might think poorly on others based on their sexual orientation will finally see that who we love and are attracted to shouldn't be what defines us, and it really shouldn't be something that we judge each other for. We're all people who deserve to be treated with kindness, equality, and allowed the freedoms and rights that we all have been granted thanks to the people who have come before us.
I would recommend Over the Rainbow to anyone who enjoys a story that deals with overcoming obstacles to reach someone you love with the help of your friends. I also think fans of the Wizard of Oz who like quirky narrators, or people who like journeys and stories about friendship will enjoy this one. Also as I mentioned, the narrator is a lesbian in this book, so I definitely have to mention that anyone looking for interesting stories dealing with overcoming judgement and facing adversity because of sexual orientation will like this. Plus...there are dinosaurs, and some pretty trippy Alice in Wonderland-like moments, which I thought were pretty awesome. I loved it though, and I hope that you give it the chance and that you love it, too!
tween2teenbookreviews's review
3.0
Over the Rainbow was a fun, interesting, cute novel. It was a quick read that I couldn't put down. The characters are spunky, the plot is well-done, and it's filled with humor. To get an idea of the story, imagine a cross between The Wizard of Oz and Jurassic Park. An unlikely cross that make for a very good story. Anyone who knows the plot and characters of The Wizard of Oz can accurately predict the course of the book, but it's still very fun to watch it pan out before your eyes. Over the Rainbow takes place in 1999, but it addresses issues we still have in today's society. It shows the character's development and how they deal with these issues remarkably well. I was intrigued when I read the synopsis and the story did my hopes justice.
The main character is named Zippy. I can't believe she put up with her home life for as long as she did. Zippy is lesbian, and when her father sends her to an anti-gay camp, she sneaks off in someone else's suitcase to see the girl she's in love with. Throughout the course of the book, Zippy shows courage and loyalty. The friends she meet on the journey are ones that she won't give up on. Each character resembles a character from The Wizard of Oz. They're remarkably personified and endlessly adorable. I love the characters with all my heart.
The story is done in an interesting way, each section having a date above it, almost like a diary. It's a very quick read that will leave readers wanting more. The ending, while concrete, leaves room for imagination. The story itself is kinda cheesy, but the good kind. It makes me giggle and I feel each emotion that Zippy does. I dug into the story and didn't stop until I'd finished. I will must likely read it again and enjoy it just as much. The story leaves almost nothing unsolved. The characters are constantly contemplating what is real and what isn't, giving them deeper meaning. I can relate to the characters and enjoy them. It's a quirky, cute story that everyone will enjoy! The story is fully deserving of it's five stars.
The main character is named Zippy. I can't believe she put up with her home life for as long as she did. Zippy is lesbian, and when her father sends her to an anti-gay camp, she sneaks off in someone else's suitcase to see the girl she's in love with. Throughout the course of the book, Zippy shows courage and loyalty. The friends she meet on the journey are ones that she won't give up on. Each character resembles a character from The Wizard of Oz. They're remarkably personified and endlessly adorable. I love the characters with all my heart.
The story is done in an interesting way, each section having a date above it, almost like a diary. It's a very quick read that will leave readers wanting more. The ending, while concrete, leaves room for imagination. The story itself is kinda cheesy, but the good kind. It makes me giggle and I feel each emotion that Zippy does. I dug into the story and didn't stop until I'd finished. I will must likely read it again and enjoy it just as much. The story leaves almost nothing unsolved. The characters are constantly contemplating what is real and what isn't, giving them deeper meaning. I can relate to the characters and enjoy them. It's a quirky, cute story that everyone will enjoy! The story is fully deserving of it's five stars.
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