bmpicc's review

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funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Banned Book Club: This YA novel doesn't say anything that most high school students haven't already heard (or said) themselves. At the end of the day, for me, this was a book about friendship, family, bullying, and learning to stand up for yourself. There were things I liked (illustrations, grandma, the honestly about alcoholism on the reservation, etc.) and things I didn't (ex. billionaire Ted).

I'm not mad I read it, but I'm grateful I borrowed rather than purchased. Especially when I realized why I recognized the name Sherman Alexie. 

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agenericmirkwoodelf's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

3.5 round up! Important story, a few icks! 
I think this is a book that needs to exist. It’s a powerful story with a lot of charm and wit, yet it remains incredibly grounded throughout. It says a lot of things that need to be said, and being semi-autobiographical, every character feels real. 
That said, I do think it handles some issue poorly. Obviously, being autobiographical as it is, the author is free to discuss the protagonist’s issues however he likes. However, I felt like some of the other issues in the book were handled pretty poorly- particularly surrounding the character Penelope. I understand the POV character is an unabashedly thirsty teenage boy, and the narrative style is allowed to reflect that, but it felt absolutely wrong to read about-

 [Spoilers + TW] 


- how “incredibly sexy” this character was immediately after learning she struggled with ED.




That’s just my take, though! :)

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dch7's review

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challenging emotional sad 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

3.0


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te_ss_i's review against another edition

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

2.0


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gabbyolsen's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75


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rachelditty's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-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? It's complicated

3.5

First read for the banned books journal that came out in 2022. Really great ending, and very funny narration and voice. Good read. 

"That silence got so big and real that it felt like three people sat on the porch." (49:17).

"When anybody, no matter how old they are, loses a parent, I think it hurts the same as if you were only five years old, you know? I think all of us are always five years old in the presence and absence of our parents." (3:39:02).

"He may not have loved me perfectly, but he loved me as well as he could." (4:28:33).

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heatherchrisman's review

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emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

4.0


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dancingprince's review

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emotional inspiring sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Real and necessary.

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kajasversion's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Its definitely a really interesting book and a fun read overall, but at the end of the day it is written for kids younger than i am and the writing style is appropriate for the age demographic. I really resonated with Junior when he was going through his grief and i do feel like the themes of the book were approached in an easily comprehensive way. However i think the story is very unrealistic, especially when referring to the racism since i don’t think they are willing to just look past it so easily.  

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nina17's review

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challenging emotional funny sad fast-paced

4.0


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