Scan barcode
scherer5127's review against another edition
2.0
This book was just not my cup of tea. Not just because the story was depressing, but because I could find no point in it. The homeless people were totally fine being homeless. There were people to help them, but they don't want help. There was a murder, but it went unsolved and no one seemed to care. Countless options for a better life, a way off the street, but none of them taken. Friendships that were only there for a time. I'm just not sure what to take away from it.
rebbles's review against another edition
3.0
Everything in this book is a loose end. I’m fine with books not tying everything up neatly with a bow at the end - in fact, that usually seems very artificial - but nothing here develops enough to be tied up. The main plot line gets exciting for about four pages and then fizzles out. The only characters she forms relationships with are a controlling boyfriend and a creepy couple that want her to live with them to replace their dead son. Then the novel ends right before what will be the most significant emotional event of her life. There are also quite a few continuity errors throughout (like a scene starting in the morning and then two paragraphs later being in the evening). This book has an interesting premise and I appreciate the effort to spotlight runaway teens, but it could have been so much more impactful with better editing.
everythingawesome's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a hard read for me right now. I don’t usually do bleak. I did like having a look into what it might be like to be homeless and the stigmas, hardships, and choices that come with that. There’s so much we don’t know about people and what has made them who they are or what will lead them to become something different. I mostly feel sad after reading this and so aware of all the things people have to go through in a lifetime.
hcarver's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.25
rachelshattuck's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
guperez's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
kaiteb's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
directorpurry's review against another edition
2.0
CW: assault, description of a corpse, animal death, child abuse, child neglect, foster home neglect/abuse, institutionalization for mental illness, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, spousal abuse
Read for the "Read the States" Challenge for: California
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
**The copy I read was an ARC, not a finished edition**
This is an incredibly important story to tell but... I don't know if I liked the way it was told.
Seligman clearly did thorough research for her story. Both the setting and characters had a lot of depth to them, painting a clear picture of the varieties of reasons people end up homeless, as well as some reasons some of those people might remain so.
But I found the plot overall to be underwhelming. There's very little urgency to it. The story meanders for a while, never really building tension. Maddy's fear always seems distant from the actual plot, never fully realized.
The writing itself is somewhat plain, though it does create an authentic first person narration. While it wasn't to my taste, I can certainly see others enjoying the style.
An important story about marginalized communities, but one that never reached its full potential, even dragging a bit despite its barely-300-page length.
Read for the "Read the States" Challenge for: California
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
**The copy I read was an ARC, not a finished edition**
This is an incredibly important story to tell but... I don't know if I liked the way it was told.
Seligman clearly did thorough research for her story. Both the setting and characters had a lot of depth to them, painting a clear picture of the varieties of reasons people end up homeless, as well as some reasons some of those people might remain so.
But I found the plot overall to be underwhelming. There's very little urgency to it. The story meanders for a while, never really building tension. Maddy's fear always seems distant from the actual plot, never fully realized.
The writing itself is somewhat plain, though it does create an authentic first person narration. While it wasn't to my taste, I can certainly see others enjoying the style.
An important story about marginalized communities, but one that never reached its full potential, even dragging a bit despite its barely-300-page length.
pdxpiney's review against another edition
Monotonous, short, declarative sentences felt as patronizing as the gross “othering” blurbs on the jacket. I identified with Maddy’s story—minus the murder—but could not read on.