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sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
2.0
Sorry to say that I wasn't impressed. The book is fine at first, with these 3 siblings discovering a missing set of siblings just like them in another part of the country, an unexpected cellphone, a secret room... Intriguing! But then it's boring for a while as they go back and forth a lot across town with a sullen teen and her mother. And then the entire genre flips over and around and it gets weird, and not in a fun or cute way. Imagine you're reading The Mysterious Benedict society and suddenly it's 1984. It's just so bizarre. And very adult in complexity and randomly racheted violence? I'm not against violence or gore in books, even for kids, but this was very out of left field. I don't know what kid is an audience for this, because it's nobody I know. If they like it though, great! No hate. Just definitely not a book for me, I clearly don't like being slapped with a surprise genre bend.
librariandest's review against another edition
3.0
If I'm judging this purely as an entertaining genre mystery for kids, this is great. Classic Haddix, which is to say: it's a page-turner that leaves you craving the next in the series.
If I'm judging this as literature, I'm a little disappointed with the characters. I thought Finn seemed more like five years old (he's meant to be eight). Maybe this was due to the audiobook narrator's performance. Either way, he's meant to be the baby of the family and it didn't always feel believable. Chess, Emma and Natalie also fell a little flat -- all were somewhat reduced to one memorable characteristic (Emma = logic, Chess = responsible, Natalie = alpha).
As science fiction, I'm left scratching my head as to how some of the alternate dimension stuff works. For example, But the confusing bits might be explained in later books.
If I'm judging this as literature, I'm a little disappointed with the characters. I thought Finn seemed more like five years old (he's meant to be eight). Maybe this was due to the audiobook narrator's performance. Either way, he's meant to be the baby of the family and it didn't always feel believable. Chess, Emma and Natalie also fell a little flat -- all were somewhat reduced to one memorable characteristic (Emma = logic, Chess = responsible, Natalie = alpha).
As science fiction, I'm left scratching my head as to how some of the alternate dimension stuff works. For example,
Spoiler
Why would the siblings in the alternate world have the same birthdays if they have a different father? That makes no sense to me.cjmedinger's review against another edition
4.0
Great middle grade mystery with just a little scifi thrown in. Very reminiscent of Wrinkle in Time.
tammys_take's review against another edition
4.0
This was really well done. Mystery, suspense, fast pacing, kept me guessing! Definitely reading the sequel.
leslico's review against another edition
4.0
I'm always surprised by how hard-hitting middle grade books can be. This one kept me gripped until the last word, wondering what was going on and trying to figure it out. In the first chapter, the Greystone children hear in the news that 3 children have been kidnapped, and all of them strangely share their names and birth dates. Then their mother leaves for a sudden and unexpected work trip. The characters in this story are also really engaging, unique and well developed. I really related to Emma, who repeats math theorems to calm herself and enjoys solving codes, but each of them has unique talents and they all work together really well to solve the mystery. With so much suspense until very late in the story, I was afraid it would end on a cliffhanger, but it does come to a natural close, and still leaves enough questions to make you want to read the next book in the trilogy right away.
mvocals's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
anieeereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sugaqueen88's review against another edition
4.0
Not what I expected
Reading the summary I was totally expecting the kids to find out that they were all abducted. More of a face on a milk carton fiction rather than the science fiction it turned out to be. I'd probably be a little clearer on that if I looked at the recommended age. That said, it's good. A quick easy read that kept me turning pages. I didn't put it down from start to finish.
Reading the summary I was totally expecting the kids to find out that they were all abducted. More of a face on a milk carton fiction rather than the science fiction it turned out to be. I'd probably be a little clearer on that if I looked at the recommended age. That said, it's good. A quick easy read that kept me turning pages. I didn't put it down from start to finish.
lookingforamandaa's review against another edition
5.0
The Strangers was such a fun and suspenseful story. I loved Haddix’s books when I was growing up so now that I’ve been starting to read middle-grade books again I had to get this when I saw it. I’m so glad that I did.
The Strangers was wholesome and bizarre in the best ways. I thought this was just going to be a fun mystery, which it was, but it took a turn toward science fiction that I was not expecting, but definitely loved.
I adored all three kids that we follow. Emma was smart and clever, but still very clearly loved her siblings and mom. Chess was the oldest and felt responsible for all the others, even though he really shouldn’t have all that weight on him. I liked Finn most of all. He was the youngest and always being underestimated. He played a role just as important as the others.
I loved how obvious their love for one another was. And their love for their mother fueled their mission. I also really enjoyed how they got Natalie in on helping them.
Overall, this book was an absolute delight. I really had fun reading it. The characters were easy to love. I definitely suggest this one to anyone that liked middle-grade books.
The Strangers was wholesome and bizarre in the best ways. I thought this was just going to be a fun mystery, which it was, but it took a turn toward science fiction that I was not expecting, but definitely loved.
I adored all three kids that we follow. Emma was smart and clever, but still very clearly loved her siblings and mom. Chess was the oldest and felt responsible for all the others, even though he really shouldn’t have all that weight on him. I liked Finn most of all. He was the youngest and always being underestimated. He played a role just as important as the others.
I loved how obvious their love for one another was. And their love for their mother fueled their mission. I also really enjoyed how they got Natalie in on helping them.
Overall, this book was an absolute delight. I really had fun reading it. The characters were easy to love. I definitely suggest this one to anyone that liked middle-grade books.
abachiam's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to it in one day. I love the kids and that it’s written from each kid’s POV. The day after I still think of them and what’s gonna happen next. Definately gonna read the next book in the series.