Scan barcode
leahjanespeare's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
I think this is one of those scifi books for people who don't actually read hard scifi. It's soft. The writing is pretty, and it's message heavy, so that's probably why it was targeted for the Newberry. Not a great fit for me, as someone who loves super hard scifi stories, not just for a background setting.
Would definitely still recommend to those who don't care for scifi.
Would definitely still recommend to those who don't care for scifi.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Genocide, and Child death
taliahsbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
If you’re anything like me, you probably have some sort of collection. It could be small, it could be big, it could be made of anything. Books, DVD’s, potato chip cans, I don’t know. But I want you to think about that collection. This stuff that means a lot to you, even if it isn’t worth a lot. Then I want you to think of the hidden gem in that collection. The thing you might not think of first when asked about your collection, that you might not think of as the most important one in your collection, that doesn’t necessarily stand out from your collection at first glance. But it’s the one that hidden deep beneath, is secretly your favorite. It’s the one you default to when you’re a little sad, or when you have to remind yourself why you started this collection in the first place.
That’s what reading this book felt like. That little kernel of pure, unbridled joy that feels childlike and limitless. With a plot that packs a punch and characters ready to stand up to it all, The Last Cuentista now sits in its rightful place of honor on my bookshelf.
When I first picked up this book at my local bookstore, it was the cover that drew me in. The bright colors, the whimsical nature tied in with some sci-fi elements. Then I read the summary, and was intrigued by the Latinx culture as seen in a sci-fi genre, with spaceships and aliens. But when I was reading it, it was the story that kept me captivated. The last storyteller, our main character, Petra, was simultaneously a badass and a beautiful, relatable character. She might only be thirteen, but she feels so real that you forget she isn’t standing right next to you.
This book gave off the vibes of the movie Passengers, the book series Percy Jackson, and strangely, somehow, the city of Chicago. I can’t really explain that last one, just like I can’t really explain the way this book was perfection in a beautiful casing.
Read it. Now. I promise you that you will get lost in the story and stay invested until the very last word.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Animal death, Ableism, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
isleoflinds's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Confinement, Child death, and Death of parent
sapphic_in_the_stacks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.5
When a solar flare sets Halley's comet on a collision course to Earth, Petra and her family are among a handful of scientists, world leaders, and influential figures chosen for an interstellar voyage. She will be among those asleep for hundreds of years while the Monitors watch over her for generations. However, when she wakes up she finds that The Collective, a radical faction that formed in the last days of Earth and sought to eliminate war and suffering by creating uniformity among humanity, has taken over the ship. All memories of Earth have been lost, except for those inside Petra. Petra now has to find a way to escape the ship, and keep the memories of Earth alive by telling her cuentos.
This book was incredibly well written, with a combination of flashbacks to Petra's life on Earth and chapters occurring on the ship. Petra is a kind and brave main character, trying to find her way in a confusing world that is completely unfamiliar to her. She must hide the fact that she isn't a programmed part of The Collective, and try to find a way to escape onto the planet, while also grappling with her grief for her family, and maintaining her own identity.
This book was incredibly well written, with a combination of flashbacks to Petra's life on Earth and chapters occurring on the ship. Petra is a kind and brave main character, trying to find her way in a confusing world that is completely unfamiliar to her. She must hide the fact that she isn't a programmed part of The Collective, and try to find a way to escape onto the planet, while also grappling with her grief for her family, and maintaining her own identity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, Murder, and Child death
internationalreads's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Confinement, Grief, Medical content, and Murder
More...