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frankiec's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Murder
nelsey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
2.5
i was really liking the book in the beginning, but it kinda fell off for me in the end. the fact that newt was learning how to spell as the book was going on made it a little more difficult to understand, but luckily didn’t completely take me out of the book. what did take me out of it was the lack of worldbuilding; i had no idea where anything was going on in the book. most of the events played out in a void in my head and i found myself getting confused and i was just lost overall for the majority of the book. the story didn’t hit like it should’ve unfortunately
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Underground dystopia, bleak YA with its own language and world.
4.5 stars.
You feel the blackness from the start. The whole story is set under the ground, where men and boys work for reward in a future life in exchange for back-breaking manual labour mining coal. Bearmouth life is hard, dangerous and frugal. All await their payday as much as the future afterlife with their Mayker. Newt is lucky to be in a dorm with Thomas, a learned man who teaches him 'letters', though as every reader will soon notice, his attempts to spell everything correctly are valiant if not entirely correct.
For many readers, this phonetic approach to reading Newt's narration will be tiring and off-putting. It took some time to get used to, but I did actually enjoy interpreting his spellings, and found it made the whole story more authentic somehow.
Newt is a Young, pre-adolescent and sent to Bearmouth to support a mother and siblings unable to manage any other way. He can barely remember what it was like above the ground. He accepts the way things are, that pay is poor, that the men pay for their own candles and boots, that they deserve no better and that any rewards will come to them in the far-off future. But a new boy arrives, one who clearly does not want to be there and questions the way things are. And that makes Newt see Bearmouth through new, unblinkered eyes. But is there anything they can do, two small cogs in the system?
There are shocking and graphic scenes to be managed along the way, brutal treatment and behaviours that you would expect to see in adult dystopic fiction. Teenagers will need mature heads on their shoulders to grapple with the world and life of Bearmouth.
Newt is a credible narrator and young character, with an arc many might be surprised by, though I did think this turn of events could have given more psychological pondering and time. Devlin too was more bare-bones of a persona than I would have expected. And I did want to learn more of what life outside Bearmouth was like, if the Mayker and related religious doctrines was reserved for the mines alone, created solely to control and subdue the workers.
With many parallels and similarities to the contemporary world, there is lots to discuss for readers. The themes of friendship, of breaking out of regimes and theocracies, of standing up for yourself and what is right - all relevant and well-covered. Nominated for awards, this is unusual, ground-breaking (pun not intended) and impressive.
With thanks to Pushkin Children's Press, for providing a sample reading copy in exchange for my thoughts.
4.5 stars.
You feel the blackness from the start. The whole story is set under the ground, where men and boys work for reward in a future life in exchange for back-breaking manual labour mining coal. Bearmouth life is hard, dangerous and frugal. All await their payday as much as the future afterlife with their Mayker. Newt is lucky to be in a dorm with Thomas, a learned man who teaches him 'letters', though as every reader will soon notice, his attempts to spell everything correctly are valiant if not entirely correct.
For many readers, this phonetic approach to reading Newt's narration will be tiring and off-putting. It took some time to get used to, but I did actually enjoy interpreting his spellings, and found it made the whole story more authentic somehow.
Newt is a Young, pre-adolescent and sent to Bearmouth to support a mother and siblings unable to manage any other way. He can barely remember what it was like above the ground. He accepts the way things are, that pay is poor, that the men pay for their own candles and boots, that they deserve no better and that any rewards will come to them in the far-off future. But a new boy arrives, one who clearly does not want to be there and questions the way things are. And that makes Newt see Bearmouth through new, unblinkered eyes. But is there anything they can do, two small cogs in the system?
There are shocking and graphic scenes to be managed along the way, brutal treatment and behaviours that you would expect to see in adult dystopic fiction. Teenagers will need mature heads on their shoulders to grapple with the world and life of Bearmouth.
Newt is a credible narrator and young character, with an arc many might be surprised by, though I did think this turn of events could have given more psychological pondering and time. Devlin too was more bare-bones of a persona than I would have expected. And I did want to learn more of what life outside Bearmouth was like, if the Mayker and related religious doctrines was reserved for the mines alone, created solely to control and subdue the workers.
With many parallels and similarities to the contemporary world, there is lots to discuss for readers. The themes of friendship, of breaking out of regimes and theocracies, of standing up for yourself and what is right - all relevant and well-covered. Nominated for awards, this is unusual, ground-breaking (pun not intended) and impressive.
With thanks to Pushkin Children's Press, for providing a sample reading copy in exchange for my thoughts.
jrm0202's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
lillianaleser's review against another edition
4.0
Håpløs å lese fysisk pga språket, men lydboka var veldig bra! Spennende og original.
caitsidhe's review against another edition
Every now and then my library sends me a YA book as part of their 'book rec' things, and every time I think 'well, I'll give it a fair shot'. And it never works for me.
I think, fundamentally, I am no longer 14. There is nothing wrong with being 14, but I am 38. They just aren't written for me any more, and they shouldn't be.
14 year old me would have probably devoured this. Wish I could go back in time and give it to them.
I think, fundamentally, I am no longer 14. There is nothing wrong with being 14, but I am 38. They just aren't written for me any more, and they shouldn't be.
14 year old me would have probably devoured this. Wish I could go back in time and give it to them.
tashva's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
carolineroche's review against another edition
5.0
This book is extraordinary! I was just breathless after reading it. The story is set down a mine, in Victorian conditions, and deals with a child worker, Newt, and the small gang he works with. Conditions are brutal and harsh, but Newt narrates it all as if such things were normal (which they would have been to him). Written in a phonetic English, as Newt was unschooled, it is nevertheless easy to follow. This is a fantastic book, and is sure to be nominated for the Carnegie next year. A must-have for your shelves.
brompton_sawdon's review against another edition
5.0
Bearmouth is an enthralling read that is dark to the core. Liz Hyder has invented her own pidgin English for this book. At first, it's difficult to read and understand, so used was I to be reading our language. However, it gets much easier and makes this book stand out as a genuine gem.
Bearmouth is a mine set in an alternative reality, or maybe Victorian mine practices. It's a dark ruthless place where the interests of the owners are put way before the workers. Miners in Bearmouth don't live on the surface, they live deep down in these huge mines. Children are virtually born into the caves, never seeing the surface. Beneath all this darkness though is an organised world where the old look after the young and help educate and protect them.
I admit to struggling at first with this book due to the phonic style of conversation. Yet you're soon drawn into the world of Newt and though it's a dark world you soon warm to the various workers. The story is brilliantly told through the narration of Newt. There's plenty of twists to the tale to keep you reading and a great ending.
A five star book that's unique. Read it, you won't regret it.
Bearmouth is a mine set in an alternative reality, or maybe Victorian mine practices. It's a dark ruthless place where the interests of the owners are put way before the workers. Miners in Bearmouth don't live on the surface, they live deep down in these huge mines. Children are virtually born into the caves, never seeing the surface. Beneath all this darkness though is an organised world where the old look after the young and help educate and protect them.
I admit to struggling at first with this book due to the phonic style of conversation. Yet you're soon drawn into the world of Newt and though it's a dark world you soon warm to the various workers. The story is brilliantly told through the narration of Newt. There's plenty of twists to the tale to keep you reading and a great ending.
A five star book that's unique. Read it, you won't regret it.