Reviews

At the Edge of the Haight by Katherine Seligman

siixteen's review against another edition

2.0

Spoilers in this review!

This book was too rambling for me, and it left a sour taste in my mouth when I realized it was written so authoritativelyby someone without the lived experience of homelessness. However what struck me most was the whole theme of the book was finding a life and family on your own terms, but then Maddy ends up seeking her mom out, and the book ends there like that was all she needed all along. So being like everyone else ends up being a good thing.

cheflegzzz's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Pretty boring

justawesome1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

mkmoore's review against another edition

3.0

Idk not my fave

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.

marcisbookrecs'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