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emlinthegremlin's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I know what this book was trying to do, but it didn't quite make it in my opinion. I was constantly confused, and I feel like it didn't really have a purpose except to put characters through awful circumstances and then ruin whatever point it was trying to make.
That said, it was written in a style I love, and kept me glued to the page the whole time, hence the three stars.
That said, it was written in a style I love, and kept me glued to the page the whole time, hence the three stars.
tashrow's review against another edition
4.0
This book begins with the death of a boy but the identity of the dead person is not revealed. We are then taken back to the beginning of summer, three months after Iris’ mother has left their family and just as the travelers come to stay in the field near Iris’ home. She lives with her father and Sam, her brother, who continues to struggle with his mother leaving. Iris starts watching the travelers in the field and becomes friends with Trick, a boy who is easy to talk to and easy to listen to. Tensions start to rise as a theft is discovered and the travelers are blamed for it. The long, hot British summer inexorably leads towards the death of one of the boys, but who is it? Is it Trick or Sam?
Flood’s writing is beautiful and detailed. The setting she creates of the British countryside in summer is one that is so finely drawn that you can see it in its entirety. In fact, you can hear it, feel it, smell it too, so clear and strong are her descriptions. The book’s structure of starting with the tragedy that defines the story adds a great amount of tension. Because the boy who dies is not revealed until towards the end of the book, that mystery is a focus. Yet at times one is also lost in the summer itself, its heat and the freedom it provides.
Flood has also created a complicated group of characters in this book. All of the characters have complicated family lives, whether it is a mother who left or an abusive father. Yet these characters are not defined by those others, they are profoundly affected by it, but are characters with far more depth than just an issue. This is a book that explores being an outsider, falling in love, expressing emotions, and most of all being true to yourself and doing what you know is right.
A perfect read for a hot summer day, this is a compelling mix of romance, mystery and tragedy. Appropriate for ages 12-14.
Flood’s writing is beautiful and detailed. The setting she creates of the British countryside in summer is one that is so finely drawn that you can see it in its entirety. In fact, you can hear it, feel it, smell it too, so clear and strong are her descriptions. The book’s structure of starting with the tragedy that defines the story adds a great amount of tension. Because the boy who dies is not revealed until towards the end of the book, that mystery is a focus. Yet at times one is also lost in the summer itself, its heat and the freedom it provides.
Flood has also created a complicated group of characters in this book. All of the characters have complicated family lives, whether it is a mother who left or an abusive father. Yet these characters are not defined by those others, they are profoundly affected by it, but are characters with far more depth than just an issue. This is a book that explores being an outsider, falling in love, expressing emotions, and most of all being true to yourself and doing what you know is right.
A perfect read for a hot summer day, this is a compelling mix of romance, mystery and tragedy. Appropriate for ages 12-14.
bookninja232b4's review against another edition
This book is not tidy. It's not sweet. The players are a mess and their behavior is not always admirable, but that's what makes them painfully authentic. The moments of sweetness are rare which makes them shine all the brighter and the setting is so alive it makes you feel as if you are there. I'll be adding this to my recommended titles table at work.
mikkaybear's review against another edition
4.0
Two months after her mother abandons the family, Iris looks out the window to see a group of Travelers setting up camp in her family's back paddock. What follows is an exploration on themes of friendship, family, and first love in a quiet rural setting, until a tragedy leaves Iris questioning her loyalties and her convictions.
I liked this book. I liked its quietness, its straightforwardness. I especially liked Iris. Naturally, she was the lone voice of reason and the only unprejudiced character, but she was also inquisitive, curious, fierce, and determined. The relationships she had--with Trick, with her brother, with her father, with her mother--were sincere and complicated and authentic. The character development in this book was near perfection.
My only issue stood with the prologue. I do not hesitate to knock off a full star from my rating if a prologue is a) unnecessary and b) detracts from the natural unfolding of plot and/or ruins suspense. The "tragedy" is teased in the summary. We do not need it repeated. If the prologue had not been present, the ending would have been that much more emotional and more meaningful. As it was, I could see through what Flood was doing and thus was unsurprised and (mostly) unmoved by the tragedy I knew was coming. I have literally ripped prologue pages out of books before, and I did it again to this one.
Even so, once you got into the story, it settled around you like a warm, clear night. The setting was simple and rural and beautiful. The people under this sky were infinite. Every character acted in a way they thought was right or necessary. But what is right? What is necessary? What do we hold dear? What do we want to preserve? Family? Freedom? Loyalty? Love? Infinite Sky explored those themes and offers these questions and, most importantly, presses you to find your own answers.
I liked this book. I liked its quietness, its straightforwardness. I especially liked Iris. Naturally, she was the lone voice of reason and the only unprejudiced character, but she was also inquisitive, curious, fierce, and determined. The relationships she had--with Trick, with her brother, with her father, with her mother--were sincere and complicated and authentic. The character development in this book was near perfection.
My only issue stood with the prologue. I do not hesitate to knock off a full star from my rating if a prologue is a) unnecessary and b) detracts from the natural unfolding of plot and/or ruins suspense. The "tragedy" is teased in the summary. We do not need it repeated. If the prologue had not been present, the ending would have been that much more emotional and more meaningful. As it was, I could see through what Flood was doing and thus was unsurprised and (mostly) unmoved by the tragedy I knew was coming. I have literally ripped prologue pages out of books before, and I did it again to this one.
Even so, once you got into the story, it settled around you like a warm, clear night. The setting was simple and rural and beautiful. The people under this sky were infinite. Every character acted in a way they thought was right or necessary. But what is right? What is necessary? What do we hold dear? What do we want to preserve? Family? Freedom? Loyalty? Love? Infinite Sky explored those themes and offers these questions and, most importantly, presses you to find your own answers.
arguemore's review against another edition
3.0
Well, that was depressing. In a cute way, though. Not in a damaging way. I mean, sure, it was tragic and traumatizing, but I wasn't really damaged at all. Maybe it's just me. I don't know why I'm so detached. Perhaps it's because of the prologue which sort of gives out what's going to happen. It decreases the excitement. But on the other hand, if it wasn't put there in the beginning then it wouldn't have intrigued me. The middle parts were pretty placid and were kind of boring to read but as things got deeper, it became even harder to read but it became even more engaging. I liked how concise the chapters were.
Basically, this whole book feels like poetry I'm not very partial to.
Basically, this whole book feels like poetry I'm not very partial to.
ireadbooksnotminds's review against another edition
3.0
At first it was quite boring, and for me it didn't pick up until the last one-third of the book. I wasn't really into Iris' juvenile voice--now that I think about it, I thought she was too young to be a character in a Young Adult book as 13-year-old girls belong more in Middle Grade books than YA, at least in my opinion. There really wasn't much to the story other than their family being broken and Iris' dad and brother being really prejudiced against the Irish travellers, but I liked the way it dealt with a sibling's death and being conflicted between two people you love. But I really think this book could've been written better.
If you liked this book, you might also like:
Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
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If you liked this book, you might also like:
Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Nona & Me by Clare Atkins
More...