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tomstbr's review against another edition
5.0
Damn. Short, sharp and to the point. Great voice, which is something that can be said of Viva la Novella winners in general. Brutal but tender. Does so much in so few pages. There really is no reason not to get it now.
ninj's review against another edition
4.0
Great story about a late teen at a future dystopian orphanage in Australia (Sydney?), what it's like there. Fairly bleak, with control aspects, even though there's a good mix of secondary characters and the various relationships going on. Does have an aussie vibe.
romcm's review against another edition
5.0
Young orphan lives in a terrible dystopian future group home, gets up to mischief (sex, drugs, tattoos, black market trading) and is beaten for it. Narrowly escapes a life in prison... And we'll have to read the next instalment to find out what happens on the outside!
joshsimp's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
littleelfman's review against another edition
5.0
Bleak, sexy and powerful, this bite-sized novella will fight back while it's in your mouth and be difficult to swallow. But this is only because it captures so many of the feelings around children in detention and mistreated youth perfectly. This dystopia is only a couple of government sanctions away. Wake up and smell the injustice.
emilyob's review against another edition
I'm adding this, even though I just read the sequel, [b:Psynode|34118457|Psynode|Marlee Jane Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486284691s/34118457.jpg|55150960].
And what I want to know is why aren't you sci-fi, futurist loving diversity-loving readers all over this book?
This book is slightly horrifying, strangely beautiful and unabashedly queer. And, for a non sci-fi-loving, non-futuristic-dystopia-loving type, it was bloody good. I mean, it won awards here in Australia. For a reason.
It's short, but it's quite a ride.
Get on it!
(Oh, and I suspect there will be a third book, too.)
(I don't rate YA books because what kind of *hole YA writer judges other YA writers? Out loud, anyway? But if I wasn't, there'd be, like, all kinds of stars.)
And what I want to know is why aren't you sci-fi, futurist loving diversity-loving readers all over this book?
This book is slightly horrifying, strangely beautiful and unabashedly queer. And, for a non sci-fi-loving, non-futuristic-dystopia-loving type, it was bloody good. I mean, it won awards here in Australia. For a reason.
It's short, but it's quite a ride.
Get on it!
(Oh, and I suspect there will be a third book, too.)
(I don't rate YA books because what kind of *hole YA writer judges other YA writers? Out loud, anyway? But if I wasn't, there'd be, like, all kinds of stars.)
kieralesley's review against another edition
5.0
Tough and beautiful, Welcome to Orphancorp is incredibly good. Mirii has a unique and important voice and her experience pulls us through her last seven days at an Orphancorp – a realistically developed, original, and terrifying world. What really makes this story though, is the emotional core of it. The flickers of hope and secretive care the kids have for one another is simultaneously heartbreaking and heart healing. This is funny, raw, and makes you want to kick down the door of wherever you are and run for your own freedom.
melf74's review against another edition
5.0
I read this today during two one-hour trains trips. (I wouldn't recommend reading on public transport due to all the giggling and crying it caused). I want to read more books like this. Actually I want to write books like this. Thank you Marlee.
loosetoothfool's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
second time reading:
loved this again!!!! it's so well written, the main character has such a strong voice I love her. feel like people might find this book weird because of cuddle party (I also find it a bit weird to be honest) and I never want to recommend this book to anyone because I love this series and I don't want my friends to think I'm weird LOL but apart from those weird bits I love it it's my weird unknown favourite
first time reading:
(the last book read for my adolescent lit class!!) this was so good. a gripping well-written moving dark story with such a diverse cast of characters including an indigenous bisexual lead which i did not know going into the book and I was so happy to find out. the cutest sapphic romance ever, which I thought was going to happen from the first chapter but thought it was too good to be true and then it ended up actually happening!!! made me so happy. a fantastic protagonist, such a strong voice. the book opened conversation and dialogue about important topics including abortion, aboriginal history and the horrors of this dystopian orphanage that seem all too real. i was so pleasantly surprised by this book, especially by the queerness of it - including an important non-binary side character - that wasn't explained or questioned by anyone, it was just there, and didn't need an explanation. my favourite kind of rep. beautiful powerful writing, poetic at times. so much fit in this tiny book! i will for sure be continuing this series which is not something I have wanted to do in many years. (*major trigger warnings for a range of things*)
loved this again!!!! it's so well written, the main character has such a strong voice I love her. feel like people might find this book weird because of cuddle party (I also find it a bit weird to be honest) and I never want to recommend this book to anyone because I love this series and I don't want my friends to think I'm weird LOL but apart from those weird bits I love it it's my weird unknown favourite
first time reading:
(the last book read for my adolescent lit class!!) this was so good. a gripping well-written moving dark story with such a diverse cast of characters including an indigenous bisexual lead which i did not know going into the book and I was so happy to find out. the cutest sapphic romance ever, which I thought was going to happen from the first chapter but thought it was too good to be true and then it ended up actually happening!!! made me so happy. a fantastic protagonist, such a strong voice. the book opened conversation and dialogue about important topics including abortion, aboriginal history and the horrors of this dystopian orphanage that seem all too real. i was so pleasantly surprised by this book, especially by the queerness of it - including an important non-binary side character - that wasn't explained or questioned by anyone, it was just there, and didn't need an explanation. my favourite kind of rep. beautiful powerful writing, poetic at times. so much fit in this tiny book! i will for sure be continuing this series which is not something I have wanted to do in many years. (*major trigger warnings for a range of things*)
shazzea's review
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Torture
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Abortion, and Pregnancy
The story takes place in an 'orphancorp' which is an orphanage but is closer to a prison in terms of how it functions. The orphans are required to do manual labour and are punished with torture if they disobey. The rooms aren't segregated by gender so it's common for the orphans to get pregnant and have abortions. This is only mentioned in the book and isn't shown. The main character does engage in sexual acts with other orphans, including a steamy orgy. It's mentioned that one of the orphans is sexually involved with a guard, hence the adult/minor relationship tag. A slur for Aboriginal people is used once in the book and it's quickly condemned and corrected by the main character.